Chapter 170: Before the ‘Baptism’ Ceremony – Part 2

The sudden, stubborn standoff between both sides made the expression of Marquis Vauban, who sat in the main seat, turn gloomy, while Shiva, standing beside the Lord Marquis, frowned.

Apparently, both Marquis Vauban himself and the Silver Knight felt a hint of disappointment towards the three young people selected by their side.

Despite being warned in advance, they impulsively challenged an unbeatable opponent.

This was absolutely not heroism, but pure recklessness!

“Young people really have so much energy! Lord Marquis, we shouldn’t stop them!”

Bishop Deholl, with a kind smile on his face, looked at Marquis Vauban and spoke slowly.

“Mmh!”

Marquis Vauban nodded with a dark expression.

Dean, who had been watching the situation on the field, walked towards the empty space on the opposite side of the viewing stand at the moment Marquis Vauban nodded.

As for any confusion about such a decision by Marquis Vauban?

Dean had none at all.

In fact, in such a situation, Marquis Vauban had limited choices, to agree or not to agree—

If he agreed, the three young people would humiliate themselves.

If he disagreed, the three young people would lose face, especially during the ‘Knight’s Baptism’, which would spread a bad reputation.

They would face more questioning from others.

After all, for some people, the ‘Knight’s Baptism’ was merely a formality.

However, for others, it was a chance to change their fate—therefore, the competition for spots in the ‘Knight’s Baptism’ in various regions was quite fierce.

Taking Vauban County as an example, the ‘Knight’s Baptism’ ceremony held in Vauban City under the jurisdiction of Marquis Vauban occurred only once a year according to convention. The excellent young people went through multiple rounds of screening from outposts and military camps to attend this ritual that could change their destiny; and in these repeated screenings, while some succeeded in advancing, naturally, there were also failures.

If Marquis Vauban did not want the considerable number of losers to have complaints, he absolutely could not stop this duel.

As for the ‘Knight’s Baptism’ quota recommended by various lords in the territories under Vauban County?

That was closely related to the taxes they paid themselves.

Simply put, for a true aristocratic County King, the ‘Knight’s Baptism’ was just something not much cared about, but for commoners and minor nobles, it was a change in destiny.

As the ruler of Vauban County, Marquis Vauban naturally knew what to do.

To cause the people to question him for something he didn’t care about?

Marquis Vauban would never be so foolish.

Furthermore, if the opponent had not been Bishop Deholl, who represented the Divine Church, Marquis Vauban wouldn’t even have shown anger.

Dean, standing aside and observing, saw this very clearly.

As for those three very good young people?

As mentioned before… it was merely self-humiliation!

Of course, Dean understood even better that the future of these three young people had once again been changed—Dean was certain that before this, either Marquis Vauban or others must have specifically advised these three young people, but at the critical moment, the three young people still disobeyed that advice because of their own ‘confidence’.

Regarding disobedient subordinates who acted on their own authority…

In the capacity of a County King, Marquis Vauban would absolutely not give them more opportunities.

Therefore, the marginalization of the three after this incident was certain.

As for Dean’s attitude towards the three?

In fact, there was really no attitude, nor could it be called any friendship, after all, the two parties had only met for the first time—and that excessive ‘confidence’ and lack of self-reflection led Dean to choose to observe from the sidelines.

In fact, Dean once again thought of his own subordinates.

Although none of them could reach the level of the three people before him, they were more like Warriors and soldiers.

At least, they would not disobey his orders.

“Arrogance cultivated after winning through layer upon layer of screenings?”

Dean thought this, and then silently shook his head.

He was not denying such practices.

He was only denying the ignorance of these three young people—

They never understood that Vauban County was merely one of the Four Counties of the Emerald Northland.

And the opponents they faced were just peers, people of similar backgrounds.

Yet, under such premises, arrogance was cultivated?

Apart from pity, Dean felt nothing else.

Following Dean, the Knight named Higgs also walked over, continuing to stand beside Dean. However, throughout the process, after merely glancing at Dean once, he looked at the duel about to happen, as if he hadn’t seen Dean at all; Dean did not care in the slightest.

His gaze seemed firmly attracted by the duel about to take place—

“Both sides separate, fifteen feet!”

The old steward of Marquis Vauban acted as the referee, standing in the center of the hall, and asked with his eyes the first of the three young people who was impatient to participate in the duel, and the Divine Church Knight Gulodal.

Both sides shook their heads, indicating that there were no problems.

Immediately, the old steward took out a Gold Pulton—

Clink!

In the crisp sound, the Gold Pulton flew into the air, and then slammed down heavily.

“Ha!”

At the instant the Gold Pulton touched the carpet, the first young man swung his two-handed sword, roaring as he charged towards Gulodal—although full of Strength, those with an eye for detail shook their heads at the first moment.

Apparently, they did not favor this young man.

Perhaps, the two-handed sword itself was proof of power, but facing someone who used a long-handled Warhammer and still wanting to prove oneself with power,

one could only say he was brainless.

Clang!

With a loud collision sound, the young man’s Longsword flew out straight, and his entire body was shaken back by the immense force, retreating several steps before finally losing balance and falling to the ground.

And throughout this, Gulodal did not move a single step.

“Fragile, next!”

Muttering such words, Gulodal didn’t even look at his opponent in front of him, but turned his gaze to the remaining two young people.

“I’ll do it!”

When the first young man walked back in shame, the second young man stepped forward.

Then, the old steward walked over and announced the start once again.

The second young man, evidently learning from the first one’s lesson, although rushing up immediately after the Gold Pulton dropped, his attack carried considerable skill, not only creating an elegant arc while swinging his sword to bypass the opponent’s Warhammer, but also adjusting his steps to place himself at a more advantageous angle to dodge.

Undoubtedly, compared to the first young man, the second was much stronger, possessing not only skills but also the ability to think.

But—

Clang!

Another dull metallic collision sounded, and the Warhammer, which had originally been dodged, suddenly spun rapidly. The large hammerhead, like an electric fan, not only covered the area where the young man’s Longsword had dodged before, but also swept up the young man’s arm.

Crack!

The Longsword flew out unintentionally, and the young man’s arm holding the sword was completely shattered. The huge force lifted his entire body up.

He landed eight or nine feet away, rolled continuously for two circles, and fainted directly.

Two of the Marquis’s Guards immediately stepped out and dragged the young man away—Knight duels did not care about life or death; naturally, disabilities were also taken for granted.

“Boring, next!”

Gulodal’s face showed strong impatience as he looked at his last opponent and shouted directly.

The last young man, facing the defeat and disability of his two companions, finally showed a trace of hesitation in his expression—evidently, he remembered the words of his Martial Technique Teacher, that Grand Knight.

However, at this time, he obviously could not escape.

Once he escaped, it would be a shame for life!

Therefore, the next moment, this young man stood out resolutely, and the changes in his heart were reflected in his expression; a faint aura began to appear on him, causing those present to look at him with surprise.

“Finally, a somewhat interesting guy has come!”

Gulodal smiled, and his voice carried strong excitement and… killing intent.

His status made him clearly know what he should do—

The first opponent was the type that was most brainless and would never have any future, so Gulodal let him go.

The second opponent was a bit better, having skills and knowing how to think; continuing on, he might have become a Grand Knight, so Gulodal disabled him, ending his future.

And the third person in front of him, upon feeling that faint aura, Gulodal harbored the heart to kill him.

Because the aura on the opponent showed that the opponent had enough Talent to become a Grand Knight. Facing such a promising young person from Marquis Vauban’s side, Gulodal would naturally not show mercy.

It was still the old steward announcing the start—

The third young man did not charge up immediately but moved quickly around Gulodal, while his Longsword trembled continuously in his hand, as if trying to cover all the vital points of Gulodal’s body.

Moving continuously, when he came to Gulodal’s back once again, the Longsword in the young man’s hand thrust straight out.

Whoosh!

Like an arrow shot from a Crossbow, the Longsword, carrying a sharp whistling wind, demonstrated the ‘Thrust’ in basic Knight Sword Technique vividly.