3 Checkmate!
"We are trapped, Kallen! We are trapped! We are vastly underestimated the boy." hissed the leader, desperation coloring his words as they found themselves cornered in the desolate streets of Shinjuku.
The Resistance, in a bid to secure the release of their captured comrades from Clovis, had taken the bait, unaware of the sinister trap awaiting them.
As the boy issued his challenge, promising captives' freedom in exchange for confrontation, the Resistance fell for the ruse, only to be ensnared by Britannia's overwhelming might.
From the thunderous roar of Knightmares to the ominous whirring of helicopters, the relentless onslaught included tanks, bombardments, and even poisonous gas, leaving the rebels scrambling for cover.
The acrid smoke of war choked their senses, rendering them blind to the unfolding tragedy.
"Boom!" The deafening sound of mecha explosions from the terrorist forces echoed as they were trapped by Britannia's knightmares on all sides.
Despite the constant bombardment, the terrorist forces couldn't break free from the encirclement.
One of the Resistance leaders stood defiantly in front of the bombardment, piloting his Sutherland to protect his comrades and buy them time to escape.
Seeing their leader, Ougi, take the frontline, the remaining members hastened to flee without hesitation.
"No, Ougi!" Kallen cried out as she watched her friend's mecha blazing by fire, and Ougi sacrifice himself for their lives.
Overwhelmed with anger, she decided to confront Britannia instead of retreating like a coward.
Unbeknownst to Kallen, Viletta had been waiting for the perfect opportunity. As Kallen turned her attention to the battle, Viletta struck, knocking Kallen unconscious with a swift blow from behind as her mecha was crushed to the ground.
Thus, the remaining terrorist forces were defeated, and Kallen was captured by Britannia.
...
"Is this all they've got?" Lelouch couldn't help but brim with disappointment as he crushed Lloyd in a chess battle and witnessed how the terrorists who annoyed his brother, Clovis, to no end were easily defeated by him, as they were crushed effortlessly by Britannia under his command.
The epic battle that he had imagined didn't happen, as all terrorist forces captured by him effortlessly.
Fuck this shit, how could Clovis not even defeat them until now with such a feeble existence like them?
"You think highly of them, Your Highness," Lloyd shrugged.
"So, you think it was Clovis being too incompetent, the terrorists underestimating me, or I was too smart?" Lelouch asked after he checkmated Lloyd's king.
"I think all three are correct answers to your question, Your Grace," Lloyd smirked, completely unfazed by being defeated by his own boss in a chess match and confident in his answer.
"After all, we haven't even used Lancelot yet, but they have already lost," he added, shaking his head in disappointment.
He wanted to show his mecha masterpiece to the world, yet the terrorists had already been defeated by his boss before everything even started.
His boss himself only used his genius and tactics and didn't even bother to use Lancelot or take action to defeat them, which left both of them completely disappointed at how feeble the terrorists were.
Knowing Lancelot's capabilities, Lelouch assured, "You will use them in the future for sure; I think they are just beginning."
With that, they smirked at each other, looking forward to their future opponents, hopefully not as feeble as the terrorists they fought.
As they were about to rematch in chess, the sound of an opened door made them halt their decision.
"Emperor Charles has decreed you the title of Imperator, Your Grace. Emperor Charles has granted you the privilege of ruling Area Eleven in reward for your service and victory over Shinjuku. However, the reward he gave is not as viceroy, but Imperator, a title that has never been used in the Empire even once," Lloyd's scientist assistant, Cecile, interrupted their conversation as she conveyed Emperor Charles's decree to Prince Lelouch.
"Interesting..." Lelouch playfully raised the chess piece in his hand as he stared at the assistant. "Is there anything else Father has added in his decree?"
"No... But your sister, Cornelia, suddenly sent a message saying she wanted to meet with you, Imperator."
"You are dismissed," Lelouch ordered as he wanted to have a private chat with the man in front of him.
"Yes, Imperator," she saluted nervously and left.
"What do you think, Lloyd?" Lelouch dropped the chess piece in his hand onto the chessboard, then stared at the genius scientist in front of him with a solemn atmosphere.
"I don't think I can say anything about the affair between siblings, Imperator Lelouch," Lloyd casually shrugged.
Unknowingly, his neutral answer triggered Lelouch's suspicion as he lowered his head in silence.
So, that's it, his loyalty is not leaning toward him, but Britannia.
If he revealed his hatred or ambition to overthrow Britannia, Lloyd would betray him without hesitation.
His threat was too great for him to let him be free. His sister's ideal, his ambition, all of them would be void if he made one wrong move.
The stake was too great; Lloyd's threat was too great for him to ignore.
His Geass began to glow red with the symbol of a bird mark as he stared Lloyd in the eye. "I, Lelouch vi Britannia, hereby give you an order: you will completely obey me, me alone, not Britannia, not my sister, not anyone else, but me. Your loyalty is with me."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Lloyd saluted.
A twisted grin formed on Lelouch's face.
When Lloyd awoke from his Geass-induced state, he hurriedly asked, "Ah, what did you ask previously, Your Grace? Do you want me to explain the purpose of your imperial sister's arrival? I think I can explain," he said eagerly, completely different from his neutral state and disinterest when Lelouch asked him about his sister's arrival purpose.
That's the difference between a loyal subordinate and a not-so-loyal one. When a loyal subordinate is asked a sensitive question, they will answer their leader without hesitation, even at the risk of being put in danger.
"You don't need to concern yourself with my sister, Lloyd. I just wanted to test your loyalty, that's all. Hahaha," Lelouch cheerfully let out a dry laugh.
Lloyd had no choice but to accompany the prince's awkward laugh as he scratched his head.
It seems he passed the test.
Doesn't he?
