Later... of course, there was no later at all.
After confirming the state of the humanoid armored beetles in the underground city, Rozen had no further reason to stay there. He turned around and left without paying any attention to the others.
Naturally, this behavior only led to the others hurriedly chasing after him.
The group entered the streets of the city, where they started to make quite a bit of noise.
"Hey, little Rozen, why are you walking so fast? Big sis can't keep up."
"Didn't big sis's proposal just now sound good? This is a rare opportunity, you know?"
"Ah, could it be you're concerned about whether big sis has experience? Don't worry, even though I look like this, it's actually my first time too. Are you satisfied now?"
"Still not satisfied? Then tell me how you want big sis to cooperate with you. Big sis can do anything."
Emilie followed behind Rozen, incessantly saying these embarrassing things, causing Rozen to quicken his pace.
In contrast, River and Cris, following behind the two, found Emilie's words more and more unbearable as they listened.
"Miss Emilie, could you have a little shame?"
"This is a public street, please, Miss Emilie, stop saying such embarrassing things."
River and Cris had said this more than once.
Unfortunately, Emilie paid no heed to it, continuing her relentless stream of increasingly explicit remarks behind Rozen.
Eventually, even Rozen could barely stand it.
"Aren't you getting thirsty from all this talking?"
Rozen couldn't help but throw a sarcastic remark at Emilie.
However, seeing Rozen finally responding to her, Emilie wasn't angry at all but instead became even happier.
"Then how about you treat big sis to a cup of coffee, just like I said before, at your place?"
Emilie was now being so blatant that it felt like her words could make anyone blush.
To this, Rozen calmly replied:
"Sorry, I don't have a home here, but if you want to come back with me to Mistgun, I don't mind."
Rozen said this very directly.
"Uh..."
This time, Emilie was speechless.
She had almost forgotten that Rozen wasn't originally from Vebel but was still a student studying at Mistgun.
At this point, Emilie bluntly posed a question.
"Don't you have any desire to fight for humanity?"
Finally, Emilie asked the crucial question.
This question caused River and Cris to look at each other seriously before both fixed their gazes on Rozen, hoping to glean something from his reaction.
But, even under their scrutiny, Rozen's expression remained unchanged.
"I..."
Just as Rozen was about to say something, a commotion interrupted them.
From the other side of the street, a group of people hurried toward them, their footsteps chaotic.
"That is..."
Seeing the approaching group, River, Cris, and even Emilie's expressions darkened, and they fell silent.
Rozen also looked over.
It was a group of thugs wearing flight suits with red lines.
Rozen instantly recognized those suits as the protective gear worn by Sky Wizards from Vebel.
"There are other Sky Wizards in this place besides you guys?"
Rozen was a little surprised and asked River.
Generally speaking, not only in this underground city but even in Vebel itself, Sky Wizards were a rare sight.
Because the Sky Wizards of Vebel were mostly dispatched to serve on the frontlines at fortress floating cities, apart from the guards tasked with protecting the Pope, it was rare to find Sky Wizards within Vebel.
This was also why Annerose had to use the excuse of the Sky Wizards Martial Arts Festival to gather Sky Wizards from all over the world into Vebel. With the Sky Wizards stationed at the frontlines defending, there weren't enough forces to fight Zeth, so they had to call upon the strongest from floating city academies around the world.
And if this was the case for Vebel, then it was even truer for this underground city, which was practically unknown. Otherwise, they wouldn't have said that their only notable fighters were River and Cris, while Emilie was responsible for the humanoid armored beetles.
If it were someone from Annerose's side, there might have been some guards who always served the Pope.
But the thuggish Sky Wizards in front of them were clearly not Annerose's guards—otherwise, it would be a disgrace.
Moreover, judging by their aura, they clearly didn't come with good intentions.
As expected...
"Is it them?"
"Surround them!"
"Don't let them escape!"
The thuggish Sky Wizards immediately wore fierce expressions as they spotted Rozen and the others. Without saying a word, they rushed over and surrounded them.
Seeing this, River and Cris's expressions worsened, while Rozen and Emilie, on the other hand, seemed to just watch quietly, like spectators, observing the situation.
Then...
"You still dare to walk the streets openly, huh?"
Saying this, a middle-aged man walked into the encirclement from outside.
He was a man with a beard on his chin and slicked-back hair, exuding a rebellious aura.
The middle-aged man scanned River, Cris, and Emilie with sharp eyes, finally settling his gaze on Rozen, as if evaluating him.
That gaze was not only rude but also carried an air of superiority, as if he naturally placed himself above everyone present, which was quite annoying.
However, in terms of status, this man indeed held the highest position among them.
"May I ask what you mean by this, Mr. Dambelcrew?"
River stepped forward to speak, representing the group as the secretary of the Council President.
But...
"The son of Hartmann, huh?"
The middle-aged man called Dambelcrew looked at River, his words dripping with disdain.
"If you're here and still allow these people to brazenly walk the streets, should I assume you're covering up for them?"
Right off the bat, he threw a heavy accusation at River.
"You... You're accusing me of what?"
River widened his eyes in disbelief.
"Of course," Dambelcrew sneered, pointing at Emilie and Cris. "If that's not the case, then why haven't you taken these filthy troublemakers into custody?"
Hearing this, Cris's face changed, and Emilie's temper flared, nearly prompting her to step forward.
But before that could happen, Rozen stopped them.
"Who is this guy?"
Rozen didn't hold back at all, directly asking in a voice that everyone present could hear clearly.
"Ro... Rozen...!?"
River, finally realizing Rozen's tone, felt alarmed.
Cris also saw that the expression on Dambelcrew's face was becoming increasingly dark and hurriedly explained.
"Mr. Rorelei, this is a former member of the Council, Mr. Jamira Dambelcrew."
Cris introduced the man's identity to Rozen.
"A former councilman?"
Rozen looked at the man.
His expression was filled with mockery, as if he had seen through everything.
Jamira Dambelcrew.
Rozen had heard this name before.
It was said that this individual inherited a large-scale energy supply manufacturing company from their family.
Due to the high influence of their company, they were recruited into the Council, becoming one of the hawkish members.
They had been consistently advocating for a large-scale offensive by human Sky Wizards to reclaim the continent, drive the Armored Beetles out of the human world, and restore humanity's dominance.
Although they had retired now, Dambelcrew still often appeared at the Council, speaking brazenly. They were notorious for making grandiose statements without considering the practicalities, drawing criticism from many citizens.
The thuggish Sky Wizards accompanying Dambelcrew were no less infamous.
"Those people are this former councilor's lackeys."
Emilie whispered to Rozen.
"About three months ago, using the pretext of defending the underground city, this former councilor secretly transferred Sky Wizards connected to him from the frontline fortress city. And in doing so, he allowed them to learn about the existence of this place without permission."
As a result, since these Sky Wizards learned of this place, in order to protect its secrecy, they were all forced to stay here and could no longer return to the floating fortress city.
But it seemed that this was Dambelcrew's real objective. He had exploited the need for secrecy here to increase his manpower, leading to the appearance of this gang of thuggish Sky Wizards.
Seeing their intense disdain for Cris and Emilie, looking at them as if they were something filthy, these people must have often shown hostility towards the humanoid Armored Beetles during their time in the underground city, which explained why River and the others had dark expressions upon their arrival.
Rozen recalled the two brutes who had sarcastically commented about monsters being on the other side when he headed towards the humanoid Armored Beetles. They seemed to be comrades of these people in front of him.
Now, with Dambelcrew leading these individuals here, they were surely planning to make an issue out of the disturbance caused by Rozen and Emilie's fight, just as River had mentioned.
Rozen's guess was naturally spot on.
"It was you who caused the disturbance just now, almost resulting in significant damage to this underground city, wasn't it?"
Dambelcrew directed his words at Emilie and Cris.
"Don't deny it. The source of the battle was clearly in your filthy creatures' territory. Only you would be so indifferent to the countless lives living here, fighting without regard for human survival. You wish all humans would just die off, don't you?"
Dambelcrew's words dripped with hostility and malice towards the humanoid Armored Beetles.
"You...!"
Emilie and Cris were instantly enraged.
"Mr. Dambelcrew! Please mind your words!"
River loudly rebuked.
"Shut up, son of Hartmann!" Dambelcrew shouted even louder. "In the past, I tolerated you sheltering these filthy creatures, but this time, they are the ones who started the trouble. You, as the bodyguard of Her Holiness and the son of the Speaker of the Council, should at least execute them on the spot. Yet, you allow them to roam the streets without restraint. Aren't you afraid they'll go on a rampage and slaughter everyone here?"
Dambelcrew's righteous-sounding accusations only served to stoke the anger of those present.
Perhaps River and Cris could still hold back their fury.
But, unfortunately, they were not the only ones here.
"Miss Emilie!"
Cris hurriedly called out.
For Emilie had already stepped forward, ignoring everyone's attempts to stop her.
"Yes, I'm the one who started it," Emilie said, staring at Dambelcrew with a sarcastic smile. "What is the esteemed former councilor going to do about it?"
Upon hearing this, Dambelcrew's expression grew even more disgusted.
"Emilie Witbern, don't think that just because you're the only Collapse Force wielder in humanity's hands, we won't dare to punish you. Without needing Her Holiness to intervene, I'll personally teach you a lesson today."
As he spoke, Dambelcrew waved his hand.
"Take this filthy creature down."
At his command, the surrounding Sky Wizards immediately closed in on Emilie eagerly.
Emilie instinctively began to gather her jutsuryoku.
However...
"Do you plan to resist?" Dambelcrew shouted angrily. "Don't forget who you are. If you fight back, all those kids you've been protecting will be exiled!"
These words caused the jutsuryoku Emilie had gathered to dissipate, leaving only a grim expression on her face for the first time.
Seeing this, Dambelcrew's face showed a look of satisfaction, as if he had already won.
The surrounding Sky Wizards sneered as they moved closer.
"Stop!"
"Wait!"
River and Cris could no longer remain silent and both shouted.
At the same time...
"I say, former councilor, fights require at least two people, don't they?"
Rozen suddenly smiled, looking at Dambelcrew with a half-smile.
"If you're going to punish someone, why not punish me too? After all, I'm the other person who started this fight."
His words instantly drew the attention of everyone present to Rozen.
Including Dambelcrew.
"You must be Rorelai Arneet, correct?"
Dambelcrew glared at Rozen with a serious expression.
"Oh? So the esteemed former councilor knows me?"
Rozen remained unfazed.
"Of course I've heard of you. You're the hero of humanity, the developer of countless magi-techniques. And apparently, you're the only human who possesses the strength to fight those detestable humanoid Armored Beetles on equal terms, aren't you?"
Though Dambelcrew's words were phrased as questions, his tone was full of certainty.
Clearly, Dambelcrew was well aware of Rozen and had likely been following his actions for some time.
"I admire you greatly," Dambelcrew declared. "Until now, humans have had to rely on the power of these humanoid Armored Beetles to fight against the monsters of the Zeth faction. The only Collapse Force wielder we had was a humanoid Armored Beetle. The development of the repeller that protects this underground city was also done by one of those creatures. I've always been ashamed of this situation, but there was nothing I could do—until you appeared and changed everything."
Dambelcrew seemed genuinely pleased by this.
However...
"And so?" Rozen said with a neutral expression. "Does the esteemed former councilor plan to pardon my 'crimes' in light of my achievements?"
His question was met with an unexpected response.
"Join me."
Dambelcrew spoke with a sense of authority.
"Join you?"
Rozen raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with mockery.
But Dambelcrew remained oblivious.
"I'll give you the best treatment and shape you into a true hero." Dambelcrew tried to persuade him. "So come to my side. Together, we'll make these monsters pay."