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Reida and the 'Dawn' Knights' Order had just left.
Leos, his face livid, was leading his guards away, pulling Faltz by the arm.
Allen was inherently Water God Style; certain subtle changes in demeanor were exceptionally clear in his Sense Flow. Thus, he vaguely inferred that Chermon's and Faltz's relationship was not what it seemed.
Faltz seemed unaware of his brother's particular behavioral logic and motivations.
But that was normal. Faltz, as the legitimate eldest son of the Eolus family's legitimate wife, couldn't empathize with certain matters, and the attitudes of those around him obscured his perception.
One cannot see the true face of a mountain while in it.
It was not a good time to remind him, and it was still unknown whether Chermon would accept his interference to ease the brothers' relationship.
Thinking this, Allen saw Faltz constantly winking and making faces at him, seemingly wanting Allen to speak up and make him stay.
Allen glanced at Pilemon, who was still looking sullen amidst nobles trying to engage him by the side of the ring.
He smiled and walked up to Leos and Faltz.
He spoke.
"Pardon me, Master isn't here, so I'll see you out."
Faltz's face froze. He stared at Allen in horror.
—No, brother, did you just sell me out?
Allen didn't even look at him.
—Just kidding. If I left you, do you believe your father wouldn't beat you to death later?
However, the favor should be acknowledged.
Faltz's?
No, Chermon's.
Chermon was clearly a character designed to act as Allen's ultimate safeguard for gaining fame. In all likelihood, he was personally trained by Sinos to contend for the Water King seat in the Sword Sanctuary challenge, and this 'safeguard' action also implicitly aimed to test whether he could truly, as Reida said, replace Chermon's role.
So throughout the entire process, Chermon had intentionally or unintentionally cooperated with him, bringing about tonight's situation.
Leos, seeing this clearly amicable gesture, his expression softened slightly. This patriarch, typical of a martial artist, was not one to be a sore loser. He simply sized up Allen.
Then he spoke.
"Boreas has indeed produced a talent of exceptional aptitude. Water God Style, Sword God Style, advancing side by side?"
He paused.
"Are you truly thirteen?"
Allen chuckled.
"Absolutely true."
Leos turned to look at Faltz, whose face was even stiffer, and snorted.
"I have no intention of challenging Her Majesty the Water God's prestige, but tonight, by some unfortunate coincidence, there was indeed some provocation. It is the Eolus family's fault. I will trouble Her Majesty the Water God on another day and personally explain it clearly."
Allen chuckled.
"You're overthinking it."
Leos remained noncommittal, pulling Faltz along and leaving.
The latter looked at Allen, utterly lifeless.
Allen, meanwhile, gently waved at him, as a gesture of blessing.
Soon, he saw the two out of the dojo, but he did not return inside.
Outside the dojo, the central courtyard of the training ground was bustling with people, even more lively than inside the dojo. Many nobles, seeing Allen emerge, fixed their gaze on him.
All sorts of emotions were visible on their faces, varied and mixed.
Allen's face was calm. He walked straight through the crowd, coming to the courtyard area separated by the 'cross-shaped' walkway, near the Direct Instruction Dojo. It was precisely outside the main banquet area that connected the Advanced Dojo, the walkway, and the Intermediate Dojo.
It was very quiet.
Allen leaned against a tree, hidden in the shadows, quietly watching the main gate of the junior dojo.
Before long, the nobles outside gradually lost interest in him. They hadn't witnessed Allen's 'atrocities,' naturally lacking concrete knowledge, still believing that what happened inside the dojo was merely a staged act.
Without even the intention of understanding, they once again plunged into their conversations with each other.
Engaging in proper business talks.
Engaging in improper flirting with each other's wives.
Engaging in even more improper flirting with their husbands in front of their wives.
Truly Asura's nobility. It seemed to have become a prevailing trend, and they all thought it fashionable.
Absurd and hard to bear.
As for the news that would spread the next day, it was only then, in their belated realization, that these nobles would discover what the thump-thump sounds of sparring inside the dojo truly meant. And whether Allen, as they had thought, had merely cooperated with Reida in a publicity stunt, being all show and no substance, or if he was genuinely a top genius of the Water God Style in these recent years.
This would be the famous topic of conversation at dinner the day after.
As for now.
Not long after everyone's attention returned to the banquet, Darius's conspicuously bulky figure emerged from the dojo. Wherever he went, the crowd naturally parted for him. He simply casually dealt with the fawning nobles who approached him, glancing left and right.
But he didn't see Allen's figure hidden beneath the tree.
His expression remained unchanged. After exchanging a few more polite words, he left the dojo with light steps.
This scene was clearly seen by Allen, but unfortunately, no obvious traces of Human God's influence could be seen on this almost openly identified Human God's Apostle.
Allen straightened up, but then Reida's face flashed through his mind. He paused for a moment, then leaned against the tree again.
He was not yet fully prepared to act against Darius.
He would have to plan anew after everything settled down on May 10th.
Acting now might be counterproductive, disrupting his current arrangements.
Amidst his thoughts, a figure darted into his sight.
Someone walked out of the junior dojo's main gate.
But it wasn't the person Allen was waiting for. He raised an eyebrow in surprise, watching Derrick Redbat's figure. Then he saw Derrick Redbat glance left and right, looking very anxious. He then twisted and returned to the dojo.
Before long, he walked out again. The latter, having spent a few days with Allen, had understood Allen's 'habits.' He actually wandered around and managed to catch him.
In just one glance, Derrick Redbat grabbed Allen's sleeve. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, breathing slightly.
"I found you, Mr. Allen. Your Highness Princess was so invested in today's banquet that she spent two hours choosing her attire, which made us late. We haven't had a chance to speak with you..."
Allen tilted his head, looking at Derrick Redbat.
"What was she wearing? I didn't notice. What color was it?"
Derrick Redbat's lips twitched. He felt like his punch had landed on cotton.
I was emphasizing that Her Highness takes Mr. Allen very seriously, and you're actually going to evaluate her attire based on what I just said?
Allen subtly pulled Derrick Redbat into the shade beneath the tree. He turned to look at the dojo entrance and spoke.
"What do you want from me? Speak. Don't beat around the bush with useless talk."
Derrick Redbat showed a pained expression. Remembering Allen's display of violence, threats, and repeated force to intimidate the nobles in the dojo earlier, he deliberated for a moment before speaking.
"I think you are too fixated on power. Tonight... if you don't appease Duke Pilemon in the end, and don't ease tensions with Duke Leos to put on a show for the nobles, I fear you will offend all the nobles in the royal capital. Even if you gain fame this way, what good would it be?"
As he spoke, Derrick Redbat furtively glanced at the nobles behind him. He stepped closer, leaning into Allen's ear.
His words were fast, but his pronunciation was very clear.
"Nobles without strategy! Ministers with little wisdom! Misjudging people! Short-sighted! Confusing right and wrong! Claiming politeness! Full of audacious nonsense! Mediocre beings, only capable of cawing!"
His eyes brightened. After saying this, he actually showed an expression of 'I got to enjoy that first.' But then he suddenly realized he hadn't come to praise Allen, so he immediately straightened his face and continued.
"How could you say that in today's setting? You clearly have a composed side, so why insist on putting on an arrogant display in front of them?"
Allen looked at Derrick Redbat in confusion.
"You recited that quite well, didn't you? I see you clearly enjoyed it."
Derrick Redbat's face stiffened, then he looked a little exasperated. He didn't know why he always lost his composure in front of Allen. He just reached out, grabbed Allen's sleeve, and said earnestly.
"Mr. Allen, gaining fame is inherently for better participation in the royal capital's power struggles. If, with the prestige gained tonight, no nobles are willing to interact with or ally with Mr. Allen, what good is it? Wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse?"
"To put it another way, even if you don't pledge allegiance to Her Highness the Princess, this isn't a good thing for you. Weren't those superficial conversations to ease tensions with the nobles handled very well? You clearly have the ability to navigate the royal capital's social circles and manage noble relations, so why are you intentionally avoiding it?"
Allen looked at Derrick Redbat.
"You're overthinking it. My whispered conversation with Pilemon was a threat to him."
Derrick Redbat: "Huh?"
The former continued: "As for Leos, that was to make Faltz's night a little better. If I kept speaking so directly, Faltz would probably be beaten so badly tonight he couldn't get out of bed. Leos's Water God Style should be Saint rank. Returning so early, he's definitely going to have a good practice match with his son."
Derrick Redbat's mouth hung open. He looked at Allen in astonishment, then took a deep breath.
"Mr. Allen, let me advise you. I know you possess powerful swordsmanship talent and extraordinary personal martial prowess, but being overly fixated on power won't work in the royal capital. Even if you gain immense prestige in the Water God Style Main Dojo, what good is it? Even if you can help the Water God Style Main Dojo reclaim the Sword Sanctuary, what good is that?"
"You'll have to follow the Water God Style Main Dojo to that barren northern town. What will become of Asura?"
"Crows are perching on the glorious cedars of the Central Continent, centuries old, heavy with decay! Didn't you say that yourself?"
"Do you intend to let the crows continue to hold Asura's power in their beaks, and continue to corrupt Asura's glory with ignorance?"
Allen looked at Derrick Redbat, and couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The provocative words he had casually spouted to enhance the effect of his persuasion had actually been taken to heart by Derrick Redbat.
Seriously? Reciting it word for word, is that normal?
Derrick Redbat, seeing Allen unmoved, spoke with more urgency.
"You want to gain fame, you want to leave a magnificent mark on Asura! Other candidates for the succession won't do; they lack the temperament to restore Asura's glory! Her Highness Ariel is your best choice!"
"She cares for Asura's commoners; she's the least royal of the Anemoi succession candidates! You disdain to collude with nobles; you're the least noble of the Four Great Noble families' legitimate heirs! You and Her Highness the Princess are a perfect match!"
"With your help, as long as Her Highness ascends the throne..."
"Ten years, twenty years, even a hundred years later."
"Asura's historical records will also lovingly write your and Her Majesty's names, as the most enlightened King who turned Asura's decline around, and as Asura's most outstanding Prime Minister of all time. You two will be remembered for generations."
"...He can twist it even to this point. What kind of jobless strategist is this?"
Derrick Redbat, caught up in his enthusiasm, completely ignored what Allen was muttering.
He grabbed Allen's sleeve, word for word.
"I implore you to reconsider joining Her Highness the Princess's faction. With your help, in less than ten years, Her Highness will surely defeat the First Prince and the Second Prince will ascend the throne. By then, wouldn't the position of family head be within your grasp?"
"At that time, as Prime Minister, as head of Boreas, and even as Her Highness Ariel's favored one, your prestige will reach its peak. Power will naturally flow to your feet like water."
"When you possess power, strength will naturally gravitate towards you."
"This is the path you should take."
At this, Allen frowned. He suddenly looked down, directly at Derrick Redbat.
His dark eyes stared fixedly into Derrick Redbat's.
Allen raised an eyebrow.
"Philip?"
Derrick Redbat froze, his face a little awkward.
But then Allen continued.
"Familiar rhetoric of power and authority. He wrote to you?"
Derrick Redbat clutched Allen's sleeve tightly.
"Master Philip did indeed write to me. I'll be direct with you."
"You cannot rashly kill James! That would ruin everything!"
Allen suddenly chuckled.
He patted Derrick Redbat's shoulder, raising his hand. The sword, now re-sheathed at his waist, drew out an inch.
Cold light swept across Derrick Redbat's eyes, firmly drawing his gaze to the blade's edge.
Then, he heard Allen's voice enter his ear.
He said this.
"When I possess power, strength will naturally gravitate towards me?"
"No, Derrick Redbat."
"When I possess strength, power will fawn and cling to my blade."
Derrick Redbat stared blankly at the sword at Allen's waist. He fiercely looked up at Allen. "Mr. Allen, you..." He was about to retort, but then he involuntarily stopped the words on his tongue.
Dark pupils stared at Derrick Redbat.
His gaze, in the latter's eyes, was even deeper than the night.
The owner of those eyes spoke calmly, his voice as usual.
Clear, beyond dispute.
Stating, elucidating facts.
"Strength."
"Is the reason to become King."
Derrick Redbat looked at Allen's face, listened to his words, his lips parting and closing several times, but he couldn't say anything.
The latter, however, shifted his gaze from Derrick Redbat and waved his hand.
"Go back. The main guest has arrived."
"?"
Derrick Redbat realized something and turned his head.
At some point, Ariel, in a lake-green, open-fronted court dress, was already standing behind them, her skirt, held up by a hoop, blooming like a flower, her waist slender enough to be clasped by a hand.
Asura's most dazzling, alluring beauty was now in full bloom.
Smiling as splendidly as the Oriole flowers blooming in the Silver Palace, drawing the gazes of the nobles.
Derrick Redbat froze, then tactfully slipped away.
Allen, meanwhile, frowned at the approaching gazes.
He narrowed his eyes.
Non-existent waves were crashing.
And so, killing intent flowed over them like water.
All the nobles jolted, then turned and went about their business.
Allen glanced at the dojo entrance, then turned to Ariel.
"Why are you out here? And also..."
"??????????????????????????????????"
Allen's initially calm expression, the moment he turned his head, transformed into utter astonishment.
In his line of sight, Ariel calmly lowered her skirt.
She pursed her lips and smiled.
She had spent two hours choosing her dress tonight, specifically pairing it with a hoop skirt, all for this very purpose.
You see.
From behind, there was no sign of anything unusual.
So, what color was Ariel wearing today?
—Sheer black.
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if you want more updates == supports with power stones
Power Stones==Bonus Chapter