Chapter 133: Willing to fight with Your Excellency
“Lord Nicholas.”
“Lord Nicholas, how is your health?”
“Lord Nicholas, is this young man beside you Lord Claude? Truly a dragon among men, worthy of being called the top talent in the northern part of the empire!”
“Yes, Lord Nicholas, you are becoming more and more beautiful. We are truly captivated by your presence.”
Flattery after flattery echoed around, but Nicholas only smiled faintly without replying. These people were just here to flatter him. Their true purpose was not this banquet but to make connections with high-ranking officials and dignitaries, which would make their future endeavors much easier.
Claude was indeed polite, always responding to greetings with courtesy. Many people nodded to themselves in approval. Regardless of whether Claude was truly the top talent, his modest and humble attitude was enough to win people’s favor.
Tyr and his companion were also among the crowd. However, when Tyr’s gaze fell upon Claude, the latter suddenly turned his gaze, and their eyes met for a brief moment. Although Tyr’s heart skipped a beat, his expression remained calm and composed. Claude smiled and nodded, while Tyr’s expression grew solemn, a slight tug at the corner of his mouth serving as a response.
“A rumor has it that the top talent of the Northern Empire is none other than Claude, the grandson of the Duke of Falexis from the current Cyril Grand Duchy.” Suddenly, a discordant voice rang out from among the crowd. Everyone present was deeply intelligent. Before coming here, they had heard rumors of someone boasting about defeating Claude at the Duke’s banquet. At this moment, it seemed as if everyone had agreed to a silent pact. Some looked hopeful, some sneered, some whispered to each other, but not a single person showed surprise.
Nicholas frowned slightly, but the discordant voice continued unabated.
“I am Diaz Moremit. I hope to spar with you, Your Excellency. Regardless of the outcome, I will be grateful.”
To discerning eyes, it sounded like Diaz was blatantly provoking, but having seen Claude’s excitement earlier, there was a sudden realization in the hearts of many. They couldn’t help but feel that this seemingly refined man had somehow changed fundamentally.
If we put it plainly, it becomes even more challenging.
Just like…
“I heard that Your Excellency Diaz was defeated a few months ago in the Magical Girl Tournament by a youth who had barely reached the Qi Gathering Realm. Is this true?” A middle-aged man dressed in the attire of a count smiled kindly, but the disdain in his eyes was palpable and uncomfortable to witness.
“Yes,” Diaz said bluntly, his straightforward admission eliciting several disdainful chuckles from the surrounding crowd. They thought, “How can you even compare yourself to the Empire’s Northern prodigy, Claude? You can’t even defeat gas and martial artists, let alone compete with someone like Claude.” Some noble girls even let out giggles, making the scene quite grating to the ears. Tyr was among them, frowning slightly. It was evident that everyone was targeting Diaz for several reasons. First, Diaz lacked power and wasn’t someone they could curry favor with. Second, Claude had been famous since childhood, known for his kindness and renowned reputation, unlike Diaz, whose family was not only troublesome but also rose to prominence suddenly. The disparity between the two was akin to that of an established rich family and a nouveau riche. Third, Diaz’s defeat in the Magic Girl Tournament had instantly shattered the reputation he had gradually built up. Tyr couldn’t help but shake his head and smile bitterly at the thought. Diaz had become famous overnight because of that battle, with countless people across the empire knowing about a guy wearing a black mask who fought against billions of powerful opponents with gas and martial arts. However, it was all just a sensational headline for the Empire’s television. Tyr hadn’t actually fought many people before it ended, but he ended up being dubbed with a title called “Masked.” Tyr couldn’t help but wonder, could this so-called title of “Masked” be considered a title at all? Others were called things like “Shining Star,” “Fist of Cataclysm,” or “Heavenly Dragon,” but his title seemed lacking in comparison, leading to millions of people coincidentally giving him such a name. At that time, Tyr, who knew the news, felt like being laughed at by the whole world.
“That’s right. Lord Diaz is nothing more than a defeated underling of gas and martial arts. What qualifications does he have to challenge Master Claude?” This middle-aged man clearly intended to kill Diaz’s prestige to earn favor with Nicholas and Claude. However, Diaz wasn’t buying it. Despite his refined appearance, he harbored an indomitable spirit, completely disregarding the man’s words with his keen and unwavering gaze.
The middle-aged man furrowed his brow slightly, about to speak again to reprimand. But he was interrupted by Claude, who spoke first, saying.
“Count Salmis, thank you, but let me handle this matter.”
Count Salmis was taken aback, as he had never met Claude before, and logically, the latter should have had no recognition of him whatsoever. Yet Claude had clearly spoken his name, giving Salmis a feeling akin to being remembered by a genius, which left him pleasantly surprised. Diaz glanced at Claude with a faint smile, and Claude returned it with a smile.
“It seems that His Excellency Diaz hasn’t wasted these two months.”
“So, Your Excellency’s meaning is…”
“Why not accept it, what’s the harm? A battle with a strong opponent is exactly to my liking. Besides, the Duke’s banquet has yet to truly begin. Let this battle serve as the opening act, a chance for us to show our skills before everyone.”
Tyr was taken aback by Claude’s response, as he had never seen this bold side of Claude during their time together. It felt particularly unfamiliar to him now.
