I was a knight in the Middle Ages

“Remember, within the territory of the Ottoman Empire, no power of light may be used,” Achilles warned, looking at the group who were getting used to their equipment.

"These devices have been specially treated. Any light energy you emit will be purified by the internal array and transformed into ordinary battle qi. If anyone loses control and exposes their identity, don't blame us for being ruthless."

After saying this, Achilles fell silent.

All daily command was handed over to Athena, the nominal squad leader.

Alpha, the "nominal captain" who was forcibly placed in the team at the beginning, has long been marginalized and is no longer being paid attention to.

Alpha felt the warmth of the stars inside its equipment and sneered inwardly.

Alpha finally understood the truth behind this mission.

This isn't about needing his strength; it's clearly an extreme test of his loyalty!

The Vatican didn't trust him at all; they arranged for themselves to join the organization simply to better monitor him.

If Alpha is willing to cooperate obediently and follow them into the lion's den, then the Vatican will continue to provide him with cover.

By not revealing Alpha's true identity for the time being, we can preserve his value as a pawn.

Conversely, if his Alpha refuses, or shows the slightest sign of disobedience along the way.

He will likely be confronted by these ten Silver Knights, and an even more terrifying force lurking in the shadows.

This is a high-stakes gamble, but also an invitation that cannot be refused.

Alpha clenched his fists. He knew that from the moment he stepped into this equipment, he had no way out.

Alpha had no choice but to play along and see where this murky water would ultimately flow.

"Remember your code names and squad numbers." Athena's voice sounded particularly cold and hard in the cramped cabin.

Her sharp eyes swept over everyone present, as if checking whether every part was in place.

“We are the 8th Squad, 19th Detachment, 10th Knights of the Ottoman Empire. For ease of communication and disguise, we are using the codename ‘Element’.” Athena paused.

His gaze finally settled on Alpha, and his tone carried an undeniable command: "Now, I am 'Wind.' You are Thunder, Water, Fire, Earth, Metal, Wood, Darkness, Ice, and Sound. Choose your corresponding codenames based on your abilities and attack methods."

Upon hearing this, Alpha's gaze swept over the people around him.

This was not just an assignment of code names, but also a silent test of allegiance and a probing exercise.

Alpha's mind raced, and it quickly made a choice.

Since we're going to choose, let's pick the most unruly and unpredictable one.

“Ray,” Alpha said in a deep voice, which was not loud but carried an undeniable sharpness.

Thunder represents speed, ferocity, and unpredictability, which perfectly matches his current state of mind.

“Darkness, it is me.” Peter the Dark Elf’s voice, like his name, echoed faintly from the shadows.

His eyes, gleaming red in the dim light, coldly stared at the crowd, as if ready to merge into the darkness at any moment.

The remaining code names—water, fire, and earth—were quickly and silently taken away by the two paladins and the cardinal.

As for the unknown knights whose armor was fused with the "Equipment Master" ability, they chose codenames such as Gold, Wood, Ice, and Sound.

As for the knights whose identities were "copied" beneath the armor, no one knows who they are or where they come from, and no one dares to investigate further.

In this mission filled with lies and betrayals, identity itself is the greatest secret.

The moment the codenames were chosen, the standard armor worn by everyone seemed to come alive, with each person displaying an emblem representing a different element.

On Alpha's chest armor, a silver lightning bolt pierced the deep blue, lifelike, as if it could unleash destructive power at any moment.

Just then, a shimmering light shone through the cabin window.

Athena walked to the window, gazing at the massive silhouette gradually becoming clearer on the distant horizon, and said in a deep voice, "Our target has been reached. Remember, once you're on that ship, you are knights of the Empire. Don't ask what you shouldn't ask, don't look what you shouldn't look at. Any unnecessary words or actions could lead to our utter destruction."

As Athena finished speaking, the hatch opened, and a plank slowly extended outwards.

The group filed out and boarded the seemingly dilapidated but actually deadly medium-sized warship.

On the deck, several pirate-looking sailors were busy with their work, heads down, completely ignoring the group of fully armed "guests".

Clearly, the Pirate Alliance had also given a firm order: they chose to remain silent in the face of this "deal" from the Papacy.

The warship slowly started up, cutting through the waves and moving forward at an astonishing speed on the vast ocean.

The sea breeze howled, blowing the cloaks of the crowd.

Alpha stood on the ship's railing, gazing at the boundless sea, but felt no relief whatsoever.

He knew that the sea was now the domain of the pirate alliance, and even the powerful Ottoman Empire had to be wary of these waters.

This delicate balance of power among the three parties is their only chance to fish in troubled waters.

After a day and a night of rough seas, the warship finally anchored on the edge of a desolate island.

This is an inconspicuous coordinate on the Aegean Sea, but it is the first stop in their planned handover with the "Empire".

"Disembark." At Athena's command, everyone climbed down the rope ladder and stepped onto the wet sand.

The island was silent, with only the sound of waves lapping against the shore.

They need to wait here for the Imperial warships to "receive" them.

While waiting, Athena revealed the background of this "Eighth Squad" to Alpha.

They are the Imperial garrison that has been stationed here for ten years, and now they are finally rotating out and about to return to the Imperial homeland.

As for those true Imperial Knights...

Alpha didn't ask, and Athena didn't answer.

Alpha knew in his heart that those people had probably already been "dealt with," becoming silent nourishment for the vast machine of the Vatican.

The less you know about these things, the longer you live.

To avoid suspicion and to prepare for their upcoming roles, the group began intensive training on the beach.

They only removed their heavy helmets, revealing faces that looked tired and numb, while the rest of their equipment was worn meticulously.

Alpha sized up its "comrades-in-arms" beside it.

Standard plate armor, fine spears and javelins, sharp scimitars, and heavy warhammers were all standard equipment.

But what Alpha found most strange was the oddly curved battle shield in their hands.

“Lady Athena,” Alpha said lazily, leaning against a black rock smoothed by the sea.

Before he could finish speaking, Alpha felt Athena's sharp gaze and quickly changed his tune, "Captain Feng, this shield... is it really equipment for Imperial Knights? Why does it look like a pot lid?"

Athena was inspecting her scimitar when she heard this. She looked up and a mocking smile appeared on her lips: "Don't you know that the Ottoman knights have another nickname among the common people: 'Cooking Knights'? Their battle shields were originally evolved from cooking pots. They can block arrows and cook when they're hungry. How convenient!"

Upon hearing this, Alpha's lips twitched, and he could only shake his head helplessly: "Okay, no wonder."

"Lord Alpha, look! So many beautiful seashells!" A clear cheer broke the oppressive atmosphere.

Like a little girl, Fanxing ran barefoot along the shallow beach, carrying a bunch of colorful and differently shaped seashells in her hands.

She was only sixteen or seventeen years old, and the innocent smile on her face was completely out of place in this desolate environment.

"Okay, keep it if you like it." Seeing her happy expression, Alpha's cold heart melted a little.

Alpha stood up and, in front of everyone, deftly removed his heavy standard armor, revealing the tight-fitting inner lining.

To everyone's astonishment, Alpha plunged into the clear seawater.

“Lord Feng,” the usually taciturn “Knight Jin” frowned upon seeing this scene.

Jin lowered his voice and said to Athena, "His reckless behavior not only damages the dignity of knights, but may also ruin our disguise plan! Imperial knights are disciplined elites, not frivolous hooligans like this! I suggest we report to Lord Achilles immediately and remove him from the squad!"

Upon hearing this, Athena turned her head and looked at "Knight Gold" with an expression as if she were looking at an idiot.

Alpha was personally appointed by the Pope as the "Captain of the Ten Commandments," and was nominally the core figure in this mission.

They are pawns used by the Vatican to balance the power of various factions, so how could they be removed so easily?

This "Knight Gold" may be quite strong, but he doesn't seem to be very bright.

"Are you talking about me behind my back?" Just as "Knight King" finished speaking, Alpha's voice, tinged with the saltiness of the sea, came from not far away.

Alpha walked out of the seawater step by step, water droplets sliding down his angular face.

What's even more surprising is that Alpha was also carrying two enormous lobsters, their claws still flailing weakly.

"The Knights of Light are no longer the ascetic paladins of yesteryear, and the Imperial Knights are no different," Alpha said indifferently, tossing the lobster onto the beach.

It's as if stating a very simple fact: "Comfort leads to decadence, and hundreds of years of peace and pleasure have long since eroded the spirit of chivalry."

As Alpha spoke, he skillfully gathered dry branches, lit a campfire, and began processing the two lobsters.

In this era of scarcity, the gifts of the wild are especially precious.

These two large lobsters are enough to fill Alpha's stomach.

"You...! This is the greatest insult to us Discipline Knights!" Upon hearing this, "Knight Gold" blushed crimson.

Knight Jin seemed to have suffered a great humiliation, his hand already on the hilt of his sword, his whole body exuding a chilling killing intent.

“That’s just how it is.” Alpha didn’t even look up, his hands continuing their work.

“Look at this island, look at this so-called ‘ten-year-old’ squad. Imperial knights? They are nothing more than gilded tools for noble children to gain merit, and a narrow bridge for commoners to exchange for promotion.”

Alpha sneered, placing the cleaned lobster on the fire: "Those true nobles only need to hold the title to enjoy wealth and luxury in the capital, while their names are written on the merit list. Those actually sent to this godforsaken place are nothing but forgotten expendable pawns. They see no hope, rotting away in despair day after day. Do you think, under these circumstances, they would still train diligently like recruits, maintaining their so-called 'elite' demeanor?"

Alpha's words were like a sharp blade, piercing through the illusory sense of glory in "Knight Gold's" heart.

Alpha discovered this as soon as it arrived in this world.

Whether it's the Papacy or the Empire, the so-called knightly class.

They have long been reduced to tools for vying for power and maintaining rule; there is no essential difference between the two.

"I challenge you to a duel!" Knight King could not tolerate this complete denial of the Knights Order.

In his view, this was a desecration of faith.

"Enough!" came a deep command, and Achilles strode over.

His deep eyes were fixed on Alpha, and after a moment, he slowly spoke: "What Knight Alpha said... is true."

Everyone was shocked.

Even Lord Achilles thinks so?

“My ‘Ring of Lies’ can distinguish truth from falsehood,” Achilles said in a deep and powerful voice.

"Moreover, before landing on the island, I had already made a preliminary assessment of the team's condition. They were lazy, corrupt, and undisciplined, and were no longer the force they once were."

Achilles glanced at Alpha, who was grilling lobsters, a complex light flashing in his eyes: "Alpha's behavior, seemingly unrestrained, actually perfectly matches the psychological state of this group of 'Forgotten Ones.' In such a desperate environment, if one still acts like a sanctimonious saint, that would be truly out of place."

Achilles paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on the flushed "Knight King": "Our purpose here is to complete our mission, not to uphold some vague chivalrous spirit. If we're going to pretend, we must pretend thoroughly. Alpha's actions are not destructive, but remedial."

“Yes, sir!” Although “Knight Jin” was still unwilling, he could only bow and accept the order in the face of Achilles’ authority.

He glanced at Alpha by the fire, his eyes now filled with a mixture of hatred and apprehension.

“That’s right.” Alpha tore off a piece of tender lobster meat, stuffed it into his mouth, and mumbled indistinctly.

"During the mission, everyone should learn from my 'thunder' style. After all, the Imperial Knights these days aren't some law-abiding gentlemen, but a group of 'madmen' who seek thrills in despair."

Achilles did not refute, but simply gave Alpha a deep look.

He knew perfectly well that the problems within the Papacy were no less than those within the Empire.

Alpha's "madness" may be the only variable that will allow them to succeed in this mission.