Chapter 62 Duel? Sorry (1/2)

”Mr. Clinton.”

Marlene coldly retrieved her hands from his grasp.

”We're not that familiar with each other. Please uphold your dignity.”

”Tsk, tsk,” the young man curled his lips and clicked his tongue, then he replied, ”that's where you're wrong, Marlene.”

Despite receiving a direct refusal, the young man did not retreat; rather, he became increasingly bold.

”Our family are close friends, am I right? When we were kids, our parents have been—”

”That was a long time ago.”

Marlene interrupted him coldly.

”Since your family migrated to the Country of Light, any sort of relationship we had is now void. Please mind your conduct. Don't act like a ruffian who likes to chase after skirts. It is very much impolite.”

”Marlene...” Billy sighed, ”it was just a few years since we last met, when did you become so stubborn?”

Even though he spoke these words, his proud smile on his face didn't fade one bit.

”As they say, men struggle upwards, and water flows downwards. The reason why our Clinton family did what we did was so we could live a better life. Now, we are in a free land, enjoying unprecedented peace and tranquility. We never have to worry about encountering any disturbances... don't you think that's wonderful, Marlene? The elders' era has already passed, we now live in the present, and we are the ones who will craft the future. Aren't you curious about the world, the TRUE reality of it...? You are still young, do not be bound by tradition or lies. If you wish so, I can give you a tour around the Country of Light, perhaps you would change your point of view then.”

”...Traitor.” Marlene glared at the man with disgust in her eyes. She no longer hid her repulsion towards this proud man and said, ”I'm not interested in someone who abandoned their dignity to become a watchdog. You can leave now, Mr. Clinton. I hope that we will never meet again.”

”You're wrong again, Marlene.”

However, it was clear that Billy's face was thicker than Marlene had imagined. Even though many people were looking at him with strange expressions, he spoke to Marlene as if they were the only two people in the hall.

He revealed a brilliant smile and continued, ”How can it count as abandoning my dignity? Don't we all live under the protection of the Light Dragon? Moreover, don't we have a common enemy? Why are you hostile towards the Country of Light? We are fighting for the sake of all of us... we shouldn't be treated like traitors. It's unfair to us.”

The young man eloquently projected emotional words effortlessly. However, Marlene wasn't moved at all. She maintained her cold expression and glared at him in disdain, as though watching a clown.

”This place doesn't welcome the likes of you, Mr. Clinton. If you choose to ignore the words that I've said, then...”

The young genius mage suddenly raised her wand and pointed towards him.

”Then I will have to make you leave with a more direct method.”

Billy's face finally revealed a stiff expression with the appearance of her wand. His mouth twitched slightly, but soon he recovered his usual composure.

”Ah...” he shook his head in dismay, ”you've really changed. Marlene. You weren't like this when we were younger. What made you change this drastically? Oh, right... I heard that you're together with a man. Where is he? Did he run away after seeing me?”

”You!!”

Marlene was extremely furious. She clenched her teeth and prepared to curse him. As she was about to do so, suddenly, a calm voice sounded from within the crowd.

”I've heard that people from the Country of Light are well-versed at speaking nonsense. Today, I've managed to grace myself with the presence of the real deal, truly, as they say, knowing a man by reputation is not as good as meeting face-to-face.”

Rhode emerged from the crowd and walked towards Billy.

”Esteemed young sir, you are wrong.”

Even when faced with Rhode's ridicule, Billy's elegant demeanor didn't change at all.

”Is that so?”

Rhode studied the man in front of him and nodded his head with satisfaction.

”Hmm... it does appear that you are indeed a patriotic person. I apologize for my rude behavior.”

”Mr. Rhode..!”

Marlene was displeased with Rhode's stance and opened her mouth to voice her complaints, but she was interrupted by Billy.

”Oh ho... it looks like you're a sharp one to be able to understand my underlying reason. I've done everything for the sake of my country, but unfortunately...” Billy paused for a moment and turned his head, glancing at Marlene, ”unfortunately not everyone can understand that.”

”Well, I can understand you.”

Rhode expressed himself as though he could sympathize with Billy's situation which made his impression of Rhode improve. Frankly, when he heard that Marlene attended a banquet with a man, he was quite mad and even intended to make things difficult for him. But now that he realized that this man was intelligent enough to understand him, his anger dissipated slightly. Since his opponent was willing to play nice, he would give him some face. However, unfortunately, Rhode's next sentence immediately caused his face to turn pale.

”This is the so-called survival of the fittest, eh? Keep the good and take out the trash. To help the Munn Kingdom prosper, you took the initiative to leave by your own accord. Not everyone can make these kinds of patriotic sacrifices for the country. I really do admire your selfless mindset.”

”Pfft!”

”Haha...”

The nobles weren't fools. Naturally, they understood what Rhode meant. Right after Rhode finished, a few of them were already on the verge of laughter. Many nobles present at the banquet secretly loathed that man from the Country of Light, but since he was a special envoy, they did not dare to speak out their complaints. Now that Rhode spoke their mind, it made them somewhat happy. Even Marlene's tense expression relaxed slightly. She looked at Rhode and smiled to herself. With her identity, she had interacted with many people with high statuses of the same age, but none of them were as smart or as calm as Rhode. Furthermore, Rhode looked attractive, and he was also powerful; in other words — a perfect man, only if he would smile more often.

As much as she tried to hide it, Billy still noticed Marlene's subtle giggle. And when he recalled that ever since he arrived, she had never given him as much as a smile, he boiled on the inside.

Furthermore, this man simply said a few words, and she smiled just like that?

”Good, good! Since that's the case...!”

Billy raised his voice and pointed his cane towards Rhode. A hint of anger was apparent in his tone.

”I hereby challenge you to a duel!”