Chapter 324 (2/2)
Duke Fisablen's face twitched when he recalled Count Chujway telling them how House Norton exterminated Hanayabarta, had al women, beheaded, and used their heads to build a pyramid Everyone had been completely stunned, some even doubted the truth of the count's words Count Chujhat he said was entirely true and that he had personally seen the pyramid and had fallen ill for a few days at the sheer terror it inspired He saw the pyramid every tih That hen the duke saw the man who had ordered such a monument's construction, he wondered how cruel a ive such an order It was also the reason he treated Lorist so carefully
Had it not been for Count Chujway co, an escape which would compromise my plan, I wouldn't come over here to clean up the prince's mess for him! What would I do if your forces interfered with my plan?
The duke patted Lorist on the shoulder lightly
”No worries, there's no need to be so polite Right now I' to spend your precious tiuests Naturally, I have to tend to your needs and solve the problems you have This is but a simple matter for me to settle
”The opening cere to host another banquet before the cere all the nobles to attend and pray for the tournament's success Locke, you must not turn down my invitation”
”Naturally, Your Grace I shall most certainly attend”
”Alright It's a promise I will send so
The tournaan the day after the banquet but Lorist felt a little bored as he could not participate personally Since he could kill a three-star-gold-ranked knight instantly, it didn't old and silver ranks Lorist wasn't thick-faced enough to do so either It was especially the case after the duke secretly made a personal request that Lorist not coument He could only send his subordinates to participate on his behalf
The knighthood tournament was rather traditional It involved archery, swords matches did not discriminate between battleforce ranks Gold and silver ranked coory The swordsmanshi+p competition, however, separated the two ranks The separation didn't hold for the winners of each rank, who could fight one another if the silver winner wished
Lorist could only bite his teeth when he saw Reidy defeat the silver ranks in his category with one or two moves
Gah, Reidy's disguising hiold ranks aren't Reidy's match, not to mention these puny silver ranks
It ithout saying that Josk dominated the archery coinally, there was a good nu in the archery coave up on the notion after seeing a ridiculous ano, lest they embarrass themselves unnecessarily
The jousting matches were the most popular section of the tournauards, their leader Patt was the first one to be eliht rounds and had already qualified for the next phase As for Els, he was resting near the stadium He had already won six rounds and only needed three more victories to qualify as well
The jousting matches' rules were mostly similar to that of the nore and bring their own sword or so checked could one participate Should one lose in battle, one would have to surrender their mount and equipment to their opponent or pay a ransoain after a loss if one was rich enough
The o e who had been faring the worst auard named Loji A two-star silver rank, he had already lost four tied to the house, he could not surrender them and had to pay the ransom out of his own pocket Given that the arold Fordes already
Seriously, even though he knows he isn't capable, he still wants to coht Lorist angrily
He forbade those who lost once froain
”How uards owe money?” asked Lorist
”One hundred One hundred and forty one” answered Patt with a troubled expression
”What?!” Lorist stuttered, ”Why are there so many?”
”Milord, well,” Patt lowered his head and explained, ”Apart from ten or so who lost in the firsta few rounds However, the value of the equipment they wore caused them to be in debt despite their former victories”
Good Sol, thought Lorist, the ones hly 40 gold Fordes, but they have to pay out 100 gold Fordes if they lose It's no wonder so hts shaetting a hundred gold Fordes for each win, they're treating me like a money tree, aren't they?
”Those ish to compete aren't be allowed to use the equipment of the house!” declared Lorist
”Milord,” Tarkel called out as he arrived in front of Lorist, ”We discovered that Duke Fisablen's subordinates are recruiting the knights that lost all their equipold coins”
”Oh?” Lorist wondered with frustration, knighthood tournahts, however, one would usually recruit those who perfor those who lost?
”Do you knohy?”
”I think they're not recruiting household knights, but rather people to join the Fisablen arain a chance to be proht after five years of good service,” replied Tarkel
Since it was just normal soldier recruitment, Lorist wasn't too concerned
”What about the two counts fro any moves?”
”Count Dalek participated in the jousting section and so far has a win streak of nine He's waiting for the next phase to begin Count Chujway hasn't participated It seems he's only here to support Count Dale norer Duke Fisablen sent to Eastwild is back It see to coold chalice when he heard the news There's also other, rather bad, news, Milord”
”Out with it!”
”Did Milord notice a gold-ranked knight coht noho moves rather familiarly? Your commander, Sir Loze, snuck into Windbury secretly to participate in the tourna his oeapons and arnia on his arht not have even taken note of hi or freelance knights in the tent in the far corner of the
stadium”
”Good Good Sol!” Lorist cried out before gritting his teeth, ”After returning to the inn tonight, I
want to see this felloho's showing off at the stadium before me!”
”Understood, Milord”