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"Today, I, this old woman, grant him his long-delayed Water King title, declaring it well-deserved."
"Any objections?"
As her words fell, Reida looked around, her smile exceptionally clear in Allen's eyes.
The reason for her pleasure was simple.
One, Allen was upholding the dojo's honor, which proved that Allen still considered himself a part of the Water God Style Main Dojo.
Two, Allen was upholding his own reputation, which proved that he regarded her as his master from beginning to end. And thinking of Isolte, the deeper implications here were also self-evident.
Three, and most importantly:
Allen's Water God Style, to date, was still superior to Sword God Style.
Reida was greatly pleased.
Upon their reunion, learning that he had already mastered Sense Flow and Thought Flow, she had originally intended to find an opportunity to properly instruct Allen before they went to the Sword Sanctuary.
—How to combine Sense Flow and Thought Flow, learn his original Ougi, Deprivation Sword Realm, and increase his chances of victory.
But to her surprise, Allen had already mastered the core essence of the Deprivation Sword.
Even if it still seemed not quite proficient, not quite fluid; even if his battle aura usage had many subtle differences from Reida's own, and his fine control over battle aura seemed a bit crude; even if his sword intent appeared more like the aggressive fire of Sword God Style, rather than the immovable mountain of Water God Style.
But, without a doubt.
He had already grasped the divine essence, which precisely proved his aptitude for a Sword Emperor and his future as a contender for the next Water God.
And after this, whether he could continue to cultivate deeply in the Water God Style and create his own unique, new Ougi.
It was truly something to look forward to...
And.
So fast... In just two short years...
He was only thirteen years old.
Even if the Sword Sanctuary couldn't be reclaimed in this challenge, what did it matter?
As long as Allen continued to identify as an apprentice of the Water God Style Main Dojo.
Then the Sword Sanctuary would, sooner or later, be within the Water God Style's grasp.
Garl, this generation's exceptionally talented swordsman, was already in our Water God Style Main Dojo.
I truly look forward to the moment you see Allen...
Thoughts flashed through Reida's mind in the time it took to turn her head.
The dojo was utterly silent. No one raised any objections.
Thanks to this.
Certain sounds could penetrate Reida's and Allen's ears more clearly.
Click.
—20:07.
Reida turned to glance at the tall grandfather clock by the dojo door, then nodded.
"Very well, let it be so."
"From this day forward, Allen shall be the Water God Style Dojo's newly promoted Water King."
"I wish you all a wonderful evening enjoying the banquet."
"This old woman will take her leave first and will not spoil the mood any further."
After saying this, Reida twisted and walked away. The crowd naturally parted like waves cleaved by a knife, forming a path.
Reida nodded slightly and walked out of the dojo, amidst the nobles exchanging bewildered glances.
Click.
—20:19.
Allen did not watch Reida leave. He was looking at the grandfather clock.
[Persuasion] was still in effect.
Remaining: 1:12 seconds.
He turned to look at Pilemon, not far from the side of the ring, whose face was as foul as excrement.
He took a step, and his figure shifted, bringing him before Pilemon, who also wore a grim expression as he watched Reida's retreating back.
Like the wind, his footsteps were silent.
As Pilemon suddenly turned, his constricted pupils reflected Allen's face, which abruptly filled his vision with a smile.
He embraced Pilemon's shoulder with great familiarity, as if meeting an elder from his family.
This was an 'intimacy' that could not be refused, because Pilemon simply couldn't keep up with his movements. It wasn't until Allen's hand gripped his shoulder that he realized Allen's face...
...was already close.
Then, a voice, deliberately lowered so only the two of them could hear, entered his ear.
"Duke Pilemon, do you have any objections?"
He stepped, embraced his shoulder, and spoke.
All in one smooth motion, in just two seconds.
The Sword Saint guard beside them suddenly jolted. He had watched Allen's match from beginning to end. Allen's displayed strength had exerted immense pressure on him. In the face of this sudden change, he didn't have time to consider whether he could contend; he instinctively pressed the sword at his waist.
Drawing his sword would mean the Sword of Light.
This was very Sword God Style.
However...
Snap!
The 'light' that had just emerged an inch was pressed back into the scabbard by Allen's palm against the end of its hilt.
The latter didn't even look. He merely tilted his head and whispered to Pilemon, who was completely tensed.
"In the royal capital, a blade should obediently return to its sheath. You just said that last night, but your guard here doesn't seem to think so?"
"I'm curious, who was 'he' in your words about being able to arrange for someone to kill me last night if you could freely wield a blade?"
His words were relaxed, even carrying a smile, yet Pilemon dared not shake off Allen's arm.
Killing intent lingered at the back of his neck, making his hairs stand on end.
His voice stirred the air, sweeping across the skin beneath his hair.
Bringing with it a profound chill.
"A blade should be sheathed. So I want to ask you, is your blade sheathed?"
Allen stared at Pilemon. "Or, even now, do you still want to test if I dare to kill you?"
Pilemon stiffly twisted his neck, meeting Allen's gaze.
The latter looked at Pilemon's trembling pupils and chuckled. Amidst the sound of [Persuasion], he casually patted Pilemon's shoulder with a leisurely air, speaking rapidly.
"Why the expression? Relax."
"Weren't you the first to object to me, quite assertively, just now? Why so different now?"
"Your shock, your defiance, your thoughts and feelings—I understand them all, because they are too crude, too direct. With just one glance, I can see right through them."
"The fact that I am a Sword King is more unacceptable to you than the fact that I am a Water King, isn't that right?"
"Your Notos family, you, inherently admire Sword God Style, right?"
Allen eyed Pilemon's head, as if trying to see through his skull, to his Notos brain.
After his rhetorical question, Pilemon's eyes darted towards 'Dawn' not far away. His lips moved, wanting to speak.
Allen, however, leaned into his line of sight, blocking his view, interrupting his attempt to speak, and continued to speak rapidly.
Giving him no chance to relax his mind or catch his breath.
Words poured into Pilemon's ear like a machine gun.
"The Water God Style Main Dojo is in the royal capital, yet you champion Sword God Style. Luke, your second son, you clearly trained him as a Guardian Knight, yet you chose Sword God Style for him, which focuses on offense, striving for instant kills, rather than Water God Style, which focuses on defense and counterattacking."
"Why? Why go to such lengths? The Water God Style Main Dojo is clearly right under your nose, and a Guardian Knight, named for guarding, shouldn't they be more concerned with the safety of the person they serve, rather than striving to kill enemies, shouldn't they?"
"..."
"Hmm? Unwilling to answer? Then I'll answer for you."
"Because the Notos family's innate talent is more suited to Sword God Style."
"You weren't unwilling to choose Water God Style for your child; you simply couldn't."
"Notos isn't like the Eolus family, with their mature swordsman training experience. You're all intuition-based. How could you learn Water God Style, which is built on sensory analysis?"
"So you naturally don't believe Sword God Style can coexist with Water God Style."
At this, Allen chuckled and patted Pilemon's shoulder, gesturing with his chin for the other man to look down at their feet.
As if by some supernatural influence, Pilemon followed his gaze.
What met his eyes was a sword.
Hanging at his guard's waist.
But gripping its hilt was Allen's hand.
At some point, Allen had forcibly pried open the guard's hand on the sword, and instead, grasped the hilt.
This hilt, which originally belonged to 'Notos.'
His sleeve, around his wrist, subtly swelled due to the wind generated by battle aura.
The two were locked in a struggle of strength.
The guard's face turned purple, his trembling legs proving he was exerting his utmost effort.
But the blade was still being drawn, inch by inch.
Slicing.
A sliver of white blade pierced Pilemon's eye.
It gave him a jolt of fright.
Allen's voice came close to his ear.
Very intimately.
Like an ethereal mist, a chilling breeze, possessing a magic that could pierce the human heart.
Precise, ruthless, cold, sharp.
One strike, another strike.
Stabbing deep into his heart.
"You don't believe me? Then I'll prove it to you."
Hearing this! Pilemon was so horrified he almost jumped!
The next instant!
Allen released his grip from the struggle. Clack! The blade instantly slid back into its scabbard. This sudden release of force made the guard stumble in place.
Allen even had the leisure to steady the guard, making the scene utterly absurd.
Allen felt Pilemon's body constantly releasing battle aura before him, easily neutralizing it with Flow Ougi.
He clicked his tongue.
"Relax, Duke Pilemon. This is, of course, just a joke."
"If I truly wanted to kill you and seize your position as family head, it certainly wouldn't be today. Why are you so tense? Isn't that right?"
"At least, before you, I have someone else to deal with, and that's my dear father. You see, he's smarter than you. He didn't even dare to come to my commendation banquet tonight; he only sent a butler to gauge the situation."
"You're not afraid, but he is."
"You, should be honored."
At these 'strange words,' Pilemon trembled all over, speechless in his shock.
Click.
—20:19.
[Persuasion] ended.
Allen's voice still sounded like a devil's, with an enchanting magic.
"Wait, no, you seem to be trembling. It seems..."
"You're still afraid."
"In that regard, you're far inferior to my uncle, Paul Notos Greyrat."
"However, don't worry. I said I wouldn't kill you, and I won't."
"Because you pose no threat."
"You have a sword, yet you dare not draw it."
"Resentment, yet you only tremble."
"The struggle for the succession, you hesitate, you hear no 'voice'."
"The First Prince, the Second Prince, the Second Princess—you haven't even bet on any of them."
"You mistake cowardice for prudence, weakness for caution."
"Short-sighted, myopic."
"Dull and narrow-minded, with shallow strategies."
"So feeble, so uninteresting, so mediocre, so incompetent."
"This position as head of the Notos family."
Allen leaned close to Pilemon's ear.
Word by word.
"Wait for me to come and take it."
Allen straightened up and looked around. The surrounding nobles had already shifted their gaze from Reida's retreating back. Now, they all noticed the intimate demeanor between the two.
They all showed somewhat awkward smiles.
You see, even Duke Pilemon, who was the loudest just now, has reconciled with this Boreas kid.
So let's just put this matter aside for today.
After all, it's hard to lose face.
Allen's lips curled into a smile. He patted Pilemon's shoulder, then moved away from him.
The latter instinctively let out a sigh of relief.
But then he was engulfed by a fierce sense of humiliation, staring fixedly at Allen's retreating back.
The latter's steps were leisurely; he was no longer in a hurry, slowly walking back to Sinos.
He bowed.
"Martial Uncle."
Although he said nothing, Sinos understood that the other party was truly thanking him for his cooperation.
He nodded.
"Since you have already been crowned Water King, and Her Majesty Reida has also left, it's certainly not appropriate for us to remain here, being uninteresting."
"We'll go ahead."
Allen nodded.
"Go."
Sinos gave Allen a deep look, a flicker of imperceptible admiration in his eyes. Then he stepped towards the dojo's exit.
The knights behind him, however, all avoided looking at Allen, appearing somewhat embarrassed.
Everyone came to a realization—they had all been used by Allen as 'stepping stones.'
Those words were clearly meant to be the last, to make them act.
Only when they moved could the other party's Deprivation Sword be unleashed.
Because they were wearing knight's armor and had no psychological anticipation of Allen's Deprivation Sword, they were the best targets.
If anyone had been a little more focused, they wouldn't have found themselves in such an embarrassing situation where everyone was cut with one strike.
One could only say that this boy was very Water God Style: skilled at planning and analysis. They even had a vague illusion of dealing with the cunning North God Style Maverick Faction.
They departed, filled with indignation, quickening their steps.
When Allen was [Persuading] Pilemon, Chermon, who had already 'rejoined' the group, followed behind them.
He looked at Allen, his expression already recovered from his initial shock.
The two looked at each other for a moment.
They subtly nodded to each other, then passed by.
Chermon stepped forward. In his line of sight, were his father, Leos, and his brother, Faltz.
Neither of them looked at him.
The former's face was livid, staring fixedly at Allen's retreating back, a hint of defiance and subtle dissatisfaction in his eyes.
The defiance stemmed from the Eolus family falling behind Boreas in martial arts training, which left him with mixed emotions.
And the dissatisfaction, of course, was for Chermon.
At this moment, he wouldn't even glance at this 'proud' illegitimate eldest son, who had been seduced by a maid and born into a higher position.
Chermon's expression remained unchanged. He simply bowed to his father, who ignored him, then stepped forward, coming to stand beside Faltz.
He turned to look at Faltz.
The latter finally looked up, looking at Chermon.
The two brothers' gazes briefly intertwined.
Chermon's eyes were as still as an ancient well.
Faltz's eyes, however, were intensely burning.
They passed by each other.
Chermon walked step by step towards the main gate, but then he heard a scolding voice from behind him.
He tilted his head slightly.
He saw that his father seemed to be scolding Faltz again, but the latter stood with his neck stiff, staring intently at Allen in the distance.
His previous defeated demeanor was gone.
Flames burned in his eyes.
Chermon paused for a moment. After a long while, he finally smiled for the first time that night.
He turned and left.
Outside the dojo, 'Dawn's' mission tonight had fallen through. Everyone was dispirited and silent.
Sinos then naturally dismissed everyone to go rest.
He simply stood by the river outside the Water God Style Dojo, quietly letting the night wind blow.
But after a long moment, a figure returned and stood beside him.
It was Chermon.
"Martial Uncle."
Sinos looked at the moon swaying on the river, stirred by the wind.
"You worked hard today. I owe you a favor, and you also lost face."
"I thought that would be the case, but it seems that losing face was justified."
"Heh heh. You're still so straightforward. After tonight, you must focus even more on swordsmanship."
"Naturally."
The two were silent for a moment. The gurgling sound of the Artir River at night filled the air before them.
Sinos spoke again.
"That brother of yours? How much longer will you protect him?"
"Protect him? I'm just suppressing him. And it seems, from now on, it won't be necessary. I can finally breathe a sigh of relief too."
"..." Sinos was silent for a moment, then said, "Why this extent?"
Chermon, however, shook his head and turned to look at the brightly lit Water God Style Main Dojo not far behind him.
"My mother was also disdained by my father. My illegitimate birth is my original sin; I have no place in the family."
"That's why I want to reclaim the Sword Sanctuary with you, Martial Uncle. Swordsmanship is my best refuge."
"My father is such a character. Not only can he effortlessly cultivate a Water King, but he also believes he can cultivate a second Water King, or even a Water Emperor, perhaps even a Water God?"
"I'm willing to be the fire that Faltz pursues. Faltz's swordsmanship level is still quite lacking, so a little spurring is good."
He paused for a moment, a hint of regret on his face.
"However, it's still a bit regrettable. In my expectation, reclaiming the Sword Sanctuary should have had a strong contribution from Faltz and me. But currently, it seems the Boreas family has a better option."
"But I respect him, Allen Boreas Greyrat."
"A Sword King and a Water King in one. His monstrous talent is truly admirable. Faltz also has a better goal now. This is a good thing."
Sinos was silent for a moment, then thought of Reida's figure. A gentle breeze brushed past his face.
He shook his head.
"You know, what I meant by 'why this extent' wasn't asking you that."
Chermon stiffened, a smile forming on his thin, seemingly cruel lips.
"My 'genius' name has always been a joke within the family. Servants praising me was to flatter my father. My father praising me only thought the family was full of talent, unrelated to me personally."
"Only Faltz, that kid, didn't understand. And since childhood, he was the only one willing to look at me, this useless brother, directly in the eye, and even took pride in me."
"But how can a future family head bow to an illegitimate child? This situation is good; it's the outcome everyone expects."
Sinos let out a long sigh. He was about to say something else, but then he was interrupted by Chermon, this fallen son of the Eolus family, who was ostensibly his nephew but actually his beloved disciple.
He heard him say with a teasing tone.
"But what about you, Martial Uncle? You've never expressed your feelings for years, only focusing on swordsmanship. Can that truly last forever? Master, she..."
"...Shut up."
"Oh, okay."
In the dojo, after a brief moment, the nobles grew lively again.
They raised their wine glasses and chatted with each other, as if the embarrassing scene from a few minutes ago had nothing to do with them.
Quite thick-skinned.
But unlike before.
In different people's words, more or less, the same name was mentioned.
—Allen Boreas Greyrat.
Presumably, the next day.
The entire noble circle.
Would spread the name of this scion of the Boreas family.
Where the lights dimmed.
Darius, who had intentionally hidden his presence tonight, merely acting as a passerby, quietly watched Allen from outside the crowd.
His eyes, however, sparkled with vitality and excitement.
"The oracle was right. It truly is you!"
"Allen Boreas Greyrat!"
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