Shinji Matou At Your Service

Chapter 285: Recruitment

This was a scheme set up by Trhvmn Ortenrosse and orchestrated by his second-generation descendant White Feather.

The process is quite simple - create an excellent opportunity, using White Feather himself as bait, to lure out the Chelon Canticle Brigade, and then devour this young troop belonging to Barthomeloi.

The most brilliant part of the entire scheme is that all the intelligence is genuine, including Ortenrosse visiting Las Vegas to pay respects to Van-Fem. The key point is that Ortenrosse boarded a private jet arranged by Van-Fem and flew directly to Italy, sealing the plan.

The White Wing Lord, Trhvmn Ortenrosse, one of the oldest Dead Apostle Ancestors, the King of Dead Apostles - although only nominally so, but obtaining this title alone is sufficient to demonstrate his strength.

Whether it's enemies or friends, be it the Mage's Association, the Holy Church, or the circle of the Dead Apostles themselves, it is widely acknowledged that this ancient monster whose age is calculated in millennia is one of the most supreme powerhouses in the world. (Excluding the ORT, which can directly destroy the surface of the earth, but the number who know its true power is exceedingly few.)

In the eyes of the White Wing Lord's descendants and subordinates, he is a god.

In the eyes of his enemies, he is a demon that exudes terror, an unfathomable monster.

Now, this monster's great hammer stands before the Chelon Canticle Brigade, blocking their retreat.

"Trhvmn Ortenrosse!"

Seeing that trademark white pillar of light, Chariot leading the squad immediately changed expression.

Although they had already received news of the White Wing Lord coming and had mentally prepared for a desperate battle when they truly encountered this figure, Chariot's heart could not help but be filled with panic.

If the second-in-command of the squad was already like this, not to mention the other members. Especially the eight recruits, their legs were all trembling, and it was a miracle that they could even stand.

A person's name, a tree's shadow - the reputation of the White Wing Lord is truly too resounding. That feeling is like a freshly-started software company trying to compete with the hegemon Microsoft in computer operating systems, completely existing on different planes of existence.

Seeing the Chelon Canticle Brigade trembling, White Feather, who had lost more than twenty of his subordinates, felt a surge of delight.

Relying on the prestige of his father, White Feather shouted in a stern voice, "Disrespectful magus, how dare you directly invoke my father's name, and not atone for it with your deaths!"

This scolding, however, strengthened the resolve of Chariot. He raised his left hand, signaling everyone to prepare for battle - the Brigade was not cowards, and the members of Barthomeloi would not bow to the Dead Apostles.

"What a bold move!"

A fierce killing intent flickered in White Feather's eyes. He was just about to order his remaining subordinates to attack when a voice of "Stop" was heard from the pure white column of light.

Hearing the order from his lord, White Feather immediately suppressed all his emotions, lowered his head, and stepped aside.

For all the dead apostles, the command of a superior clan member was absolute and must not be disobeyed.

In the next moment after White Feather stepped aside, the white light column surrounding Ortenrosse unexpectedly spread forward, seemingly intending to engulf the entire Brigade with a single strike.

"Unified defense!" Chariot's eyes bloodshot, quickly erected a bounded field, being an expert in earth-based magecraft and defensive spells.

Under his lead, the Brigade members quickly coordinated their defense, with some erecting barriers and others providing various buffs. Each person contributed their power according to their innate abilities, and the entire Brigade acted as a unified whole to resist the attack of the King of the Dead Apostles.

After an unknown length of time, perhaps a minute or even ten minutes, the powerful white light gradually dissipated. By then, the Brigade members were drenched in sweat, and many were bleeding profusely as their magic circuits had exceeded their limits.

The only unchanging thing was the expression on their faces. Facing life and death, they had forgotten fear and trembling, united in resisting the powerful enemy, including the recruits who were in their first battle.

"Not bad," Ortenrosse said indifferently, not sounding disappointed by the futile strike.

He was indeed disappointed, as this was a situation he had carefully orchestrated. The previous attack was precisely calculated - even if the Brigade had united as one, they would not have survived intact with his full power.

The reason he did this was to test the temperament and strength of this magus, and the results exceeded his expectations.

He moved forward a few meters, looking down at the young magus from above:

"You all, are quite impressive."

"There are even more impressive ones," Chariot said defiantly, having already thrown caution to the wind.

"I am looking forward to it. But before that, I have a question for you all—" Ortenrosse said in a tone unchanged, "—are you willing to become my servants and serve me?"

This was the true intent of Trhvmn Ortenrosse and the reason he had traveled from Las Vegas to the Po River Plain.

He indeed wanted to "consume" this magus troop, but this "consumption" had two meanings - annihilation is "consumption", and absorption for his use is also "consumption". If the performance of the Brigade did not satisfy him, it would be the former kind of "consumption"; if it did, then it would be the latter.

This Brigade that had cost Lorelei and Shinjii a great deal of thought and effort had greatly pleased this usually fastidious Demon Lord, stirring his desire to recruit them.

In response, Charitio uttered an interjection- "Ptui!"

"How dare you—"

White Feather's rebuke was once again stopped by Ortenrosse.

"What a pity, I had thought you were a commander who cared for his subordinates, it seems I was mistaken."

"No, you weren't wrong." Chariot shook his head, "It's just that compared to becoming dead apostles, true death is the real way to care for them."

"Do your subordinates also think the same way?"

The pure white pillar still obscured the figure of the White Winged Lord, but every Brigade member present felt the oppressive gaze behind the pillar.

"Those willing to be used by me, step forward, and I shall grant them the honor of becoming my direct offspring."

Not a single magus moved, and a few of the bolder ones even made the same "Ptui!" gesture as Chariot. [: Are they spitting or something? Lol]

As Loreeli's direct subordinate, the Magus Brigade born to hunt the dead apostles could be defeated, and could die, but they could never betray humanity and become dead apostles!

"Barthomeloi's obstinacy is as unyielding as ever." Trhvmn Ortenrosse's voice grew cold, "But no matter what you think, you will eventually become my brethren, to be used by me."