Hearing Viktor's self-introduction, the demi-humans were slightly stunned.
Although they looked like humans, having lived in the forest for so long, their habits were still like those of beasts.
With information blocked, and most demi-humans barely able to read, even though the broadcast of Viktor's naval battle had once spread across various countries, that naturally did not include the demi-humans.
Demi-human slaves wouldn't get to see it, and those living in the jungle would only focus on hunting and the dangers of daily life.
Not to mention, how could the kingdom's demi-humans possibly recognize a mage from the empire?
And among those demi-humans who could understand Viktor's words, especially those who had just been rescued from slavery,
their fur bristled, their eyes widened, and their sharp fangs were bared in the air.
Viktor's single word, "master," made them recall all the oppression they had once suffered.
Even though they had broken free with the help of their kin, those painful memories still brought them an overwhelming sense of suffocation.
Demi-humans also knew pain. Having tasted freedom, they could no longer endure living in captivity.
They opened their mouths full of sharp teeth, stretched their necks, and under the pouring rain, howled angrily toward the gloomy sky.
The long, echoing cries of beasts mixed with the heavy rain, making the air itself unbearably noisy.
Those roars made Viktor frown slightly.
The surrounding rain seemed to grow more violent because of his annoyance, large raindrops swirling wildly with the wind.
The chaotic rain almost blocked everyone's vision.
It was like a waterfall falling from the sky, smashing completely onto the golden ground, exploding into white sprays of water.
Countless demi-humans felt a chill at their ankles, sensing something was wrong.
Looking down, they discovered that the water level in the auction hall had risen significantly, already submerging their ankles.
As the water kept rising, Viktor's indifferent voice echoed above everyone, "Make another sound."
"And I'll drown all of you."
The roaring stopped instantly at that moment.
The visibly rising water level finally forced the demi-humans to shut their mouths.
But the anger hidden within the rain remained just as intense as before.
Boss Tiger also watched this scene, his tiger face calm.
He knew that Viktor in front of him had the power to threaten all of them.
And he wasn't just making empty threats.
If he flooded this place, the kingdom's nobles here would likely be buried along with it.
But Viktor was not from the kingdom.
Even if the tiger-man didn't understand nations, he understood factions.
Viktor wasn't even on the same side as those kingdom people, so why would he care about their lives?
But Boss Tiger couldn't ignore it.
Even if the flood swallowed everything, he himself could escape.
But the remaining demi-human kin would all perish under the water.
He couldn't gamble with Viktor.
The arrogant human in front of him was undoubtedly the strongest mage he had ever seen.
Controlling the weather, flooding a city, even turning his own body into flowing water, making it impossible to strike him.
Very likely, he was at the same level as that duke.
But looking at Viktor, a surge of extreme excitement rose deep within the tiger-man.
He could clearly feel his heart pounding rapidly, blood rushing through his limbs and brain.
His breathing grew heavy, his muscles slightly bulging.
Even though a sense of powerlessness spread through his body, he was still thrilled, a kind of excitement that drove him to fight.
But the male tiger also knew that if they truly fought, he didn't know when he could defeat Viktor, or if Victory was even possible.
If they clashed, he would have to defeat the opponent in the shortest time possible.
But against such a powerful mage, that was almost impossible.
If the fight dragged on too long, once the kingdom's reinforcements arrived, regardless of the outcome, it would be difficult for him to lead the demi-humans out of the royal city.
After weighing it again and again, the tiger-man suppressed his excitement.
He even clasped his fists toward Viktor in a gesture of respect, "Your Excellency is probably not from the kingdom. There is no grudge between us."
"We only want to rescue our kin and, at the same time, teach these shameless kingdom people a lesson."
"Let's both take a step back. If you do not interfere, in the future, we will surely repay you."
Hearing this, the other noble lords couldn't help but feel anger.
But along with anger, there was also a deep sense of helplessness.
Some of them even slumped into their seats, their bodies going limp.
If Viktor didn't help, then even if all the lords present attacked together, they likely wouldn't be a match for this tiger-man.
Among those present, only a few counts could be considered strong.
Most were viscounts, or wealthy merchants with no real strength.
The truly powerful counts and marquises already had high enough status that they had no need to attend this kind of auction meant to strengthen noble ties.
Moreover, this was inside the royal city.
No one had expected something like today to happen.
Even King August had only brought a third-tier Hilda as his guard.
With such a gap in strength, they had no way to defeat that tiger-man.
Not to mention the other demi-humans, who were also not weak.
If Viktor didn't step in, then the nobles present, even August himself, might die under that tiger-man's claws.
Some people already felt deep regret and anger.
If this had been on their own territory, with sufficient troops, how could these demi-humans act so arrogantly?
How had these demi-humans chosen such a perfectly timed moment to attack the royal city?
At this moment, they could only place all their hope firmly on Viktor.
At this time, Viktor listened to the tiger-man's words without responding.
His hands were in his pockets, his expression calm, as if weighing the pros and cons.
The deep blue windbreaker behind him swayed continuously in the air, crackling under the heavy rain.
"Before this, we indeed had no grudge."
Hearing this, despair rose again in the hearts of the nobles and merchants.
But in the next second, Viktor's words made them overjoyed.
"But you just hurt my person, threatened the princess of our country, and tried to take my maid away."
"Now, we have a grudge."
Hearing this, the tiger-man froze for a moment, recalling the knight and catgirl from the private room earlier.
But threatened the princess?
Had he?
However, he understood that the mage in front of him was clearly just using this as an excuse.
The other party simply wanted a reason to keep him here.
"And...", Viktor continued slowly.
"I've already paid."
"As goods I bought, you're just going to walk away like this."
"So who is going to compensate me for that hundred million I lost?"
Hearing Viktor say this, the nobles present immediately felt anger rising in their chests, their earlier joy turning into dissatisfaction.
Just moments ago he told the auctioneer that the merchant guild should compensate him, and now he was turning to the tiger-man.
So he planned to profit from both sides.
But their lives were still in Viktor's hands, so they could only suppress their dissatisfaction.
Boss Tiger looked at Viktor, his clasped hands slowly lowering, a dangerous light flickering in his eyes.
His gaze was extremely sharp, as if it could pierce through Viktor's body.
Suddenly, a massive pressure swept across the entire auction hall, heavy energy circulating around him.
The tiger-man's breathing gradually steadied, each inhale and exhale carrying a clear rhythm.
His body also swelled slightly, seeming larger than before.
"Looks like you intend to fight no matter what."
"In that case, I have the same intention."
His expression became extremely serious, a fierce aura constantly bursting from his brows.
The tiger-man raised his head and issued an order to the eagle-men in the sky, "Take our kin and leave."
Hearing this, the eagle-women in the sky flapped their wings and nodded heavily.
Then they circled in the air a few times, flew out through the dome, and let out a sharp cry toward the sky.
Screech!!!
The piercing cry echoed across the empty night sky, carrying far into the distance.
As if receiving a command, all the demi-humans in the hall turned around at once.
More than a dozen bull-men turned back and charged toward the already broken golden walls.
With heavy footsteps, they rushed at the front of the group, breaking through the structure and clearing a path for the others.
Now, they had to leave at full speed.
Even though they currently held the advantage, that was only because the kingdom's defenses were weak and many nobles had gathered in the auction hall.
Once the kingdom reacted and armies converged on the royal city from all directions,
these few thousand demi-humans would be unable to withstand that steel army like a raging flood.
They had to withdraw before the kingdom's reinforcements arrived.
The chaotic footsteps made the ground tremble. Amid the overwhelming rumble, countless demi-humans hurriedly left.
Watching the demi-humans they had once raised and imprisoned gradually leave, the noble lords felt deep pain.
After all, these demi-human slaves had lived in their homes for a long time.
Every meal they had eaten could be converted into heavy gold coins.
They hoped Viktor would stop them, but Viktor simply stood there, his gaze completely calm.
He just watched as the demi-humans gradually dispersed.
Until, looking into the distance, their figures could no longer be seen.
Boss Tiger once again fixed his sharp, terrifying gaze on Viktor.
His eyes were filled with heavy fighting intent.
"Now, only we remain."
Viktor's expression didn't change. He raised one hand slightly.
Immediately, the female tiger-man who had been suppressed deep into the shattered platform felt her body lighten.
The moment she broke free, she sprang up from the ground.
With a flip, she landed on her feet and immediately stood behind Boss Tiger.
Her orange fur was already soaked, dripping into the puddles below, creating ripples.
Only after she shook off the water and recovered her state did Viktor speak again, "Looks like your kin trust you very much."
"They were even willing to leave the two of you behind."
Hearing this, Boss Tiger's somewhat relaxed pupils suddenly shrank.
Compared to before, he was now even more ferocious, his tone cold, "In their eyes, I am their invincible king."
"King against king, general against general. Isn't that the rule your humans have always followed?"
Viktor replied calmly, expressionless, "But it seems two against one isn't very fair to me."
"But it doesn't matter."
As his words fell, green natural elements turned into vines, slowly climbing up his arm.
In his palm, brown vines extended, intertwining together.
Finally, they formed a sharp wooden blade.
Seeing Viktor conjure a sword out of thin air, the noble lords opened their mouths in shock, completely confused.
August also stared at the wooden sword in Viktor's hand, his eyes wide.
'What is Viktor doing?'
'As a mage, is he really going to fight two demi-humans in close combat?'
He couldn't help but turn his head toward Aurelian.
Only to find that the princess from the empire showed no surprise at Viktor's actions.
As if it were completely natural.
Suddenly, he recalled Aurelian's impressive close combat before, and then thought of Viktor's identity.
This Councilor Viktor seemed to be… Aurelian's teacher?
Likewise, seeing the wooden sword in Viktor's hand, the two tiger-men also showed surprise.
And along with that surprise came a trace of anger.
He was clearly a powerful mage, yet instead of using his magic, he chose to fight them with a wooden sword?
At this moment, the flames in the tiger-men's hearts ignited completely. They wanted nothing more than to burn that wooden sword in Viktor's hand to ashes.
"Are you… looking down on us?"
Viktor let out a breath and slowly raised the wooden sword in front of his eyes.
His expression remained calm, his gaze as cold as ice, locking onto the two tiger-men, "I'm just giving you a chance to challenge me."
"In the fairest way."