Chapter 271: The Adventurers Association
“Am I dreaming?”
Clyde sat up abruptly and rubbed his eyes. He was entirely oblivious to his injuries. He grimaced in pain due to the movement, but the ache in his body was not as severe as the shock in his heart.
When he first encountered Watson, he had only felt that that youth was mysterious. He had been unaware of the youth’s strength. He had even made a point of observing him. There were no changes in the youth’s combat aura. It was apparent that he had not trained. However, the youth could kill a monster that even he could not handle.
Was it not annoying to employ them as bodyguards when they were that powerful? Who was protecting whom?
It was not only Clyde, but Arthur and the others also struggled to get to their feet. Their faces were filled with surprise as they looked at the dark liquid that appeared on the ground after the evil eye monster exploded. It was particularly true for Arthur. Apart from shock, his eyes glowed with anxiety. He had not anticipated Watson, who he wanted to take hostage, to be so powerful.
Fortunately, the captain intervened just in time. If he was truly determined to forsake Watson, well, Arthur shivered subconsciously as he glanced at the liquid on the ground. He had the distinct impression that his fate would be no better than that of the evil eye monster in front of him.
“Nightingale, clean up the scene. The body fluid of that evil eye monster is too smelly.”
Watson clapped his hands casually after he crushed the evil-eyed monster with one foot. He turned around and moved in front of Clyde and the others, waving his hand at Nightingale. He helped them up and asked with concern.
“Are you okay?”
“Young Master Watson, who are you?”
Clyde felt a warm flow from Watson’s hands into his body once he stood up. It was the combat aura, which flowed like a river, healing his wounds and aiding in his recovery, that caused him to address Watson with the honorific title instinctively.
He was aware that the teenager in front of him was an elite stronger than him. He must be a silver-tier warrior, at least, and possibly even gold-tier. So young and yet so powerful meant that he was not an ordinary person.
“Please allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Watson, and I’m from the border. I’m here to enroll at the Royal Academy.”
“The Royal Academy?”
Clyde’s face lit up as he heard that. The Royal Academy was the finest institution in the kingdom. It attracted only geniuses under the age of eighteen and served as a focal point for the kingdom’s greatest talents. Many individuals wished to be a part of it. Given that the child in front of him was a freshman at the Royal Academy, his strength was unsurprising.
However, the boundary was the kingdom’s most isolated location. It had been a long time since a genius was admitted to the Royal Academy. Not even the City of Steel had such a talent, let alone somewhere from the border. Furthermore, based on his attire and manner, Watson appeared to be the descendant of great nobility, perhaps the border count.
He asked, “Are you related to the border count, Young Master Watson?”
“There’s no special relationship. We just live together,” Watson replied casually.
His inadvertent words sent a tremendous tsunami through Clyde’s heart.
He must have meant that they were very close.
Who else could live with the border count? Other than the maids and servants in residence, Watson could only be a relative of Sylvan. Based on his age, Watson was very likely to be Sylvan’s son.
“It’s not strange for the border count’s son to have such a talent.”
While Clyde was guessing, the other two adventurers shouted from the side.
“Hey, how long do you want to talk?”
“This area is still unsafe. I believe we should go now.”
“Indeed, it’s more important to go out first. Young Master Watson, do you have any way to take us up?”
Watson took no action in response to his words. He fixed his gaze on Nightingale, who was cleaning the ground. “Nightingale, that’s good enough. Please take us up.”
“Yes, Young Master Watson,” Nightingale responded respectfully.
She clapped her palm gently above her head at the passage. The tunnel collapsed with a loud boom as a result of the strong vibration. A massive hole punctured the ground, connecting it to the sky. Sunlight streamed through the hole, illuminating everyone’s wide-open jaws.
An adventurer’s voice could be barely heard from above. “Who are you? Why are you so unruly? Why are you stealing the monsters from the lower levels? If you are so powerful, don’t bully the monsters on levels lower than ten. Continue to the 30th or 40th level.” Everyone there exchanged glances when they heard that. They fixed their gazes on Nightingale and stayed silent for an extended period.
They were at least 100 meters away from the ground, but Nightingale had penetrated the ground with a single palm strike. What level of strength was that? Watson’s stomp on a gold-tier monster had been enough to shock them. However, at that moment, Nightingale’s action was even more terrifying.
When Clyde watched that scene from the side, he swallowed his saliva. His guess about Watson as the border count’s son was purely speculative. At that moment, he was positive that Watson was the border count’s son. Otherwise, which noble on the border would have such a formidable bodyguard?
..
Clyde and the others sat on the ground 20 minutes after exiting the underground maze, greedily enjoying the sunlight. There was a lingering fear as they reflected on their recent underground adventure.
The two adventurers from the Holy Sword Adventurer team, who had nearly averted death, continued to nod and express their gratitude to Watson, stating that they would inform their leader about the incident. Then, they limped away in unison.
“Everyone, the matter has been resolved. It is now time for us to leave! Kindly do not tell anyone about what had occurred in the underground city. After all, I am merely a student en route to the royal city. I am trying to avoid causing too much trouble.”
Watson gave Clyde and the others a wink. Just as he was about to lead Nightingale back to the carriage parked outside the basin, Clyde abruptly jumped up and walked in front of Watson, frantically extending his hands. “Wait, Young Master Watson! You saved our lives. We haven’t thanked you properly for such a big favor. If you leave, we’ll feel guilty.”
“That’s right, Young Master Watson. We received your money and assured you that we would escort you to the City of Steel. We haven’t done it yet. As adventurers, our credibility is paramount.” Annie rose to her feet, approached Watson, and hugged his arm. It was as though she were clutching a priceless treasure.
“Young Master Watson is only passing by the City of Steel. He won’t stay here for long.” Nightingale coughed and discreetly separated Annie and Watson.
“Then you’d require our assistance even more. We are very familiar with the city. We know where the best food is, where the most comfortable hotels and cheapest are.”
Annie rubbed her aching arm; she did not dare to be angry at Nightingale. Then, she continued to speak enthusiastically. “The best place in the City of Adventurers is the Golden Feather Pavilion. It is the ideal location in the city, where entertainment and rest are integrated into one. If you visit the City of Steel but do not see the Golden Feather Pavilion, it is the same as if you did not come! However, to enter the Golden Feather Pavilion, you should go to the Adventurers’ Association to do a strength assessment first, Young Master Watson. The Golden Feather Pavilion has one rule—the strong shall rule. It means the stronger you are, the better the treatment you will receive. A strong individual such as yourself will undoubtedly receive the best care.”
“The Adventurers’ Association? Strength assessment? What’s that?” Watson was a little puzzled.
“Haven’t you heard about that, Young Master Watson? The City of Steel is one of the largest gathering places for adventurers in the kingdom. Due to a comprehensive adventurer system in this town, anyone interested in forming an adventurer team must take a test at the Adventurers’ Association. Following the test, the association will assign a level nameplate to the team based on the result. For example, we are a bronze-tier adventurer team.”
Then, she took out a bronze nameplate from her chest; it was inscribed with a word—bronze.
“The adventurer and professional ranking systems are regarded as the kingdom’s two most powerful systems. Each citizen is required to take a test and register themselves. The nameplate issued after the test is equivalent to a person’s identity certificate. With that, not only will you receive preferential treatment in the City of Steel, but also in every city in the kingdom.”
Chapter 272: A Test Of Strength
Outside the City of Steel.
The city walls, formed like iron barrels, flickered with a metallic luster. A closer inspection revealed that those city walls were not composed of metal. Instead, they were embedded with different colored nameplates, such as bronze, silver, and gold. Those nameplates formerly belonged to elites from various adventurer teams. After their deaths, their nameplates were molded onto the city walls, turning them into a unique monument.
The city wall was adorned with nameplates, demonstrating the city’s enthusiasm for adventure.
Watson was successfully enticed to enter the Adventurers’ Association after Annie’s introduction. Nightingale drove the carriage slowly into the City of Steel. Meanwhile, Clyde and the others were in charge of negotiating with and paying the guards at the gate.
When Watson realized that Clyde and the others were injured, he wanted them to sit in the carriage while he walked. Finally, Clyde and the others were adamant about it, so he had no choice but to return to the carriage.
He observed the countryside via the carriage window, which was in stark contrast to the border. He also saw many adventurers that went past the carriage. Then, Watson asked, “Why is there an Adventurers’ Association in the City of Steel, Master? Additionally, adventurers must pass a ranking test each year. I have never heard of this while we were at the border.”
“The border is like a pool of stagnant water. Sylvan made numerous sacrifices to rule the border. As I’ve already stated, the Holy Dragon Kingdom is enormous and magnificent. I brought you here to experience it for yourself.”
Antonio’s arms were wrapped around the Diamond World Tree staff, which had been disguised to appear ordinary. He rested his back against the carriage and closed his eyes. “Watson, I heard that you just entered the most famous underground city in the City of Steel, the labyrinth. Did you show your strength in front of outsiders?”
“Yes, Master. I had to show my strength because we encountered a gold-tier magical beast. If I didn’t do anything, others would have died,” Watson replied carefully.
After they left the border, he had to hide his strength, and Antonio also warned him to be careful. He did not know if his actions would make his master angry.
“Using your strength to protect others is not a bad thing! You have seen many ruins on the border. How does that underground maze feel compared to what you know?”
Watson heaved a sigh of relief when he realized that Antonio did not care about that. “I think the underground maze is more of a training ground than a ruin. It includes a reward mechanism. That is different from everything I know. I think that the underground city is man-made.”
Perhaps like when he had fused the ruins.
“It is as I had expected, Watson. You are my most outstanding disciple. You immediately saw through the labyrinth! That’s right, that maze was man-made. It was created by the founding emperor, Landhar I. Its purpose was to train the people in the kingdom, including the reward system set up in the maze’s deepest levels. We are not making a hasty visit to the royal city but to cultivate. The underground city is your first trial. We will stay here until you pass it before we set off again.”
“Yes, Master. I understand.” Watson nodded in understanding.
He was a platinum-tier elite. Regular training would not have any effect on him. Since his master said that the underground maze was helpful for his training, it must have been beneficial. “Today, I went down more than ten levels in the underground city and encountered an evil gold-tier magical beast. I heard that the entire maze has a hundred levels. I don’t know about the difficulties down there. I feel like I don’t have complete confidence in passing this test! The late king who created that underground maze must have been an impressive elite.”
“Don’t you think that only the current sword saint could have successfully navigated that underground city since its inception? Of course, it’s very difficult.”
Antonio smiled. He turned his head and spoke softly where Watson could not see him.
“What’s going on? What’s in the labyrinth that could rattle a little monster like Watson? I’ve been there before, but there’s nothing special there. I only let Watson go down because the things at the bottom levels would be useful to him. Did something change while I was away?”
..
Ten minutes later, at the Adventurers’ Association.
The Adventurers’ Association was located on the City of Steel’s main road. As soon as they arrived, they could almost see it. The entire structure was composed of a cluster of spiky structures. A giant sign—Adventurers’ Association—was hung in front of the door, and an endless stream of adventurers entered and exited the building.
A stretch of a courtyard surrounded the Adventurers’ Association. There were lovely decorations throughout the space, such as a fountain garden in the yard, as well as huge open spaces for duels.
At the moment, a significant number of magnificent carriages were parked at the association’s entrance. Numerous silver and even gold-tier monsters were used to pull the carriages. Watson’s carriage was not conspicuous among those gorgeous carriages.
“Young Master Watson, we have arrived at the Adventurers’ Association.”
Clyde assisted Watson in exiting the carriage. Nightingale, Denise, and Antonio also got down from the carriage.
“Let me introduce you to my master.”
After exiting the carriage, Watson introduced Antonio to the entire group. Clyde and the others did not dare to ignore him; they hurriedly bowed respectfully to greet him. Watson was already a force to be reckoned with; how powerful was his master?
With that thought in mind, they observed Antonio thoroughly. They discovered that his master was actually quite young. Additionally, he appeared to be asleep. He was so handsome that he did not look like a human. Plus, he seemed to be somewhat familiar. However, they had no idea where they had previously seen that individual.
“Do not just stand there like a fool. Let’s go in for the test.” Watson prodded him as he noticed that Clyde and the others were staring at Antonio. He was not worried that others would recognize his teacher. After all, he had changed so much that even those closest to him might not recognize him.
Watson entered the Adventurers’ Association’s hall, slightly excited. It was densely packed with many other adventurers. Women in black gauze and exposed clothing, while muscular men wore heavy armor. It was the first time he had encountered such a fresh sensation since he transmigrated to that world.
“Young Master Watson, if you want to test your strength, please come over here. There’s a counter here! I recommend that you establish an adventurer team after this test. If you think that it’s too troublesome, you can join our adventurer team. We’ve wanted to rise from bronze to silver-tier for a long time. I’ll be satisfied with silver-tier, let alone gold-tier.”
Annie held Watson’s hand affectionately as she pulled him toward the counter. Then, Clyde interrupted with a solemn expression. “Annie, don’t be ridiculous. Don’t you know Young Master Watson’s identity? Why would he join our adventurer team?” As he spoke, he glanced at Watson with faint anticipation.
“Joining your adventurer team doesn’t appear to be all that bad. After all, I lack the time to manage my own adventurer team. It’s decided then.” Watson massaged his chin as he nodded in agreement.
“Yay! Long live Young Master Watson! With you, the Blood Rose Adventurer Team can finally be promoted!” Annie cheered excitedly in front of the counter. Her speech displeased a slender, silver-haired man who was also queuing in front of the counter.
“Blood Rose? Isn’t that a bronze-tier adventurer team? An insignificant bronze-tier adventurer team dares to make a ruckus here? What a disgrace! If I were you, I’d get the hell out of here right now!”
Chapter 273: Absolute Reflection
“Who are you? Why are you speaking so arrogantly?” Annie shook her head and fixed her gaze on the man in front of her.
The silver-haired skinny man’s lips twisted in mockery in response to her question. He extended his hand and pointed at the intersection of the two blades on his chest. “I am the vice-captain of the Holy Sword adventurer team, the largest adventurer team in the City of Steel. My name is Claude. Do you know who I am now?”
“The Holy Sword adventurer team? Vice-captain?”
Annie’s face paled, and her voice started to tremble.
“Is the Holy Sword adventurer team very powerful? It seems that the two people we saved in the dungeon are also members of the Holy Sword adventurer team,” Watson whispered. Clyde’s expression darkened as he said, “We can’t say that they are powerful, but they are the largest gold-tier adventurer team in the entire City of Steel because their captain is the swordmistress, Christina Von Frederick.”
“Who is the swordmistress?”
Watson became intrigued at hearing the name of the Holy Sword adventurer team as Clyde appeared to be in awe.
“Young Master Watson, you haven’t heard of the Lady Swordmistress?” It was Clyde’s turn to be surprised.
“I haven’t heard of her at all.”
“The swordmistress is...”
Just as Clyde was about to explain, Antonio, who had been sitting beside Watson and resting with his eyes closed from the moment he got off the carriage, suddenly said, “If my guess is correct, the swordmistress is the young miss of the current sword saint family! The Frederick family is the most famous sword saint family in the entire Holy Dragon Kingdom.”
“That’s right. Miss Christina is their only daughter. She’s already a peak gold-tier warrior at the age of 20. Furthermore, she’s not an ordinary peak gold-tier warrior. Her strongest battle record is defeating 20 gold-tier at the same time. That’s why she’s known as the swordmistress! Many people in the kingdom think that she will surpass her father someday. She has also established the Holy Sword adventurer team.”
“What is the daughter of a great sword saint family doing in such a remote place like the City of Steel? Was she here for the labyrinth as well?”
Watson thought as he stroked his chin. Antonio had said that only one sword saint had managed to clear the dungeon since the labyrinth’s establishment. That swordswoman might be there to challenge her father’s record.
While he was contemplating, Claude, who had introduced himself as the Holy Sword adventurer team’s vice-captain, scoffed at them. “It appears that the Blood Rose adventurer team is not only low-tier, but you are also a group of country bumpkins. Who hasn’t heard of our captain? Our team has already conquered the underground city’s 70th floor. Our captain discovered a treasure on the 70th floor and advanced to the platinum tier the day before yesterday. I am here to change our team’s ranking. The Holy Sword adventurer team will become the City of Steel’s first platinum-tier adventurer team.”
Advanced to the platinum tier?
Claude’s statements stunned the Blood Rose adventurer team members and the other adventurer teams around them. Everyone looked at Claude; their eyes widened in surprise.
The swordmistress was only 20 years old, but she had already achieved platinum-tier elite status at a young age. Her abilities were comparable to the present sword saint. She would undoubtedly become a diamond-tier elite in the future. The Holy Sword adventurer team would also be the first platinum-tier adventurer team in the city. The city’s strongest adventurer team had been a mere gold-tier team. One of the criteria used to determine an adventurer team’s level was the strength of the strongest person on the team.
Platinum-tier elites were held in high regard across the Holy Dragon Kingdom. Typically, such an elite would not organize an adventurer team in a remote location. There were relatively few ladies who were independent and maverick, such as the swordmistress.
Claude’s expression subconsciously changed to smug in response to the envious gazes from his surroundings.
Thanks to the swordmistress’ assistance, their adventurer team had always been the largest in the City of Steel. With the swordmistress’ platinum-tier advancement, their team had grown even stronger. His position as vice-captain would also improve. Even a gold-tier elite had to be respectful in front of him. As a peak silver-tier fighter, he would not usually have the chance to enjoy such treatment.
“The Holy Sword adventurer team’s promotion to platinum-tier can’t be announced so casually. We must use a special and impressive method to show the strength of our team.”
Claude pondered it, and his gaze became filled with malice as he stared at Annie.
Normally, he would react as if he had spotted a bug when he encountered someone like Annie. He would disregard her obliviously. That day, though, was different. He could not wait for someone to provoke and establish the Holy Sword adventurer team’s authority. However, only a few people would dare to provoke the Holy Sword adventurer team. Well, if no one would do it, then he would start it. It just so happened that he was annoyed with Annie.
He would use the unremarkable Blood Rose adventurer team as a stepping stone for establishing the Holy Sword adventurer team’s supreme status in the City of Steel.
Claude aimed his finger at Annie once he made up his mind. “You were causing a stir in the Adventurers’ Association just now. I told you to get lost. Didn’t you hear me?”
“I—”
Annie bit her lips, clearly enraged. She scanned around for help, but everyone there who felt her gaze kept silent.
Claude was thrilled with her response. “Not only do you have to get out of here, but you also have to kneel and apologize to me sincerely. The Adventurers’ Association’s air is filthy because of you country bumpkins! I am going to count to three. If you do not kneel and apologize, the Blood Rose adventurer team will be expelled from the City of Steel today. Three, two—”
“I got it. Can’t I just apologize?”
Annie’s face was flushed with embarrassment. She bent her legs and was about to kneel on the ground.
She was a courageous woman. She would rather die than apologize if she were the only one there. However, her team members and their benefactor, Watson, were behind her. She was adamant about not involving them. After all, the Holy Sword adventurer team was too powerful. Their members numbered in the tens of thousands, and their captain was a platinum-tier elite.
She thought that Watson and the others were formidable too, but they had not yet achieved the platinum tier.
Just as Annie was about to kneel, a slender hand grabbed her shoulder and helped her up.
“Miss Annie, we’re here to test our strength. We just need to do what we’re here to do. We don’t need to worry about others finding fault with us for no apparent reason.”
“But—” Annie was still hesitating when Claude, who was next to her, said fiercely, “Brat, who are you saying is finding fault with you?”
“Is there anyone else troubling us around here?”
Watson deliberately looked around him and laughed. “At first, I heard that the Holy Sword adventurer team is the largest team in the City of Steel. Their captain is the daughter of the current sword saint family, a platinum-tier elite. I do admire that adventurer team! Now, it seems like the Holy Sword adventurer team is merely average. If this is their vice-captain, I’m guessing the rest of their team members are not much better. How disappointing!”
“Brat, it’s fine if you slander me, but you dare slander the Holy Sword adventurer team and our captain? Are you courting death?”
Watson’s bare mocking words inflamed Clyde’s rage. He rushed toward Watson and raised his right hand, which was encircled by a flaming red combat aura, in an attempt to strike Watson in the face.
Clyde was a fire-elemental peak silver-tier warrior. The power in his palm was enough to melt several layers of steel plates. If it had landed on Watson’s body, it would melt his bones. Many adventurer teams around him turned their heads away. They could not bear to watch it.
At that moment...
Bang!
A shocking scene occurred. Clyde’s palm landed on Watson’s face with a muffled sound, but Watson was unscathed. On the contrary, someone appeared to have punched Clyde in the face. It distorted and became charred black. He screamed in pain as he spun around and flew more than ten meters backward. He crashed into the wall, creating a deep pit.
The entire Adventurers’ Association fell silent upon seeing that scene.
Chapter 274: The Swordmistress Arrives
“Claude attacked someone else but was sent flying. Am I seeing things?” A member of an adventurer team standing in line rubbed his eyes and muttered to himself.
Another adventurer said, “I saw it too. Claude did not become the Holy Sword’s vice-captain because of his strength but his extraordinary skills. However, he is still a fire-elemental peak silver-tier warrior. How could that youth send him flying without moving an inch? How strong is he?”
One by one, the adventurers began to discuss among themselves. Their eyes filled with reverence as they looked at Watson.
The Blood Rose adventurer team members were not particularly surprised because they had seen Watson in action. They quickly reacted, especially Annie. She held Watson’s hand worriedly as she tried to walk out.”Young Master Watson, you’ve caused a huge problem! The Holy Sword is influential all over the city, and you’ve just beat up their vice-captain. They will not let that matter rest. I think we still have the time to leave the city if we move now.”
On her way back to the City of Steel, she heard that Captain Clyde suspected Watson was the border count’s son. However, they were not at the border, and the swordmistress’ father, the sword saint, would not be afraid of the border count.
“We haven’t done the strength test yet. We’ll leave after we complete the test.”
Watson gently broke away from Annie’s grip and walked to the counter as she looked at him worriedly. The adventurers in the queue made way for him.
When he approached the counter, he locked his gaze on the two young ladies behind it, who seemed terrified. Watson had a sweet smile that was unique to only him. “Sisters, I am interested in being a member of the Blood Rose adventurer team. Additionally, I would like to do a new strength assessment of our team. Is that okay?”
“Of course, sure. You must first complete a form and register your details. Following that, one of our staff members will conduct a battle test with you. Your combat level will determine your adventurer team’s level! Of course, when fighting with the staff, you might choose to fight in a team. Adventurers are more inclined to fight in a group than they are to fight alone.”
“I understand. Then, I’ll choose to fight as a team.”
Watson nodded in response and quickly filled out the form. Then, he waved to Clyde and the others behind him. “It’s time for the test. Everyone, come here quickly.”
“Young Master Watson, why are we still here for the test? It’ll be too late when the Holy Sword adventurer team members arrive if we don’t leave now.”
Arthur could not refrain from saying that; he seemed anxious. Even though it was good that the test could increase their team’s level, it was not as important as their lives. If the Holy Sword adventurer team members caught them, it was very likely that they would lose their lives.
“Where would you go? None of you will be able to leave today,” Claude growled as he wiped the fresh blood on his charred face. Watson had used the angel race’s special ability, Absolute Reflection, on Claude that sent him flying backward. He had crawled out of the ruined wall in a pitiful state.
He clapped his hands as soon as he finished speaking.
Clap, clap.
More than ten adventurers appeared outside the Adventurers’ Association in response to a muffled sound. Their white armor had the Holy Sword’s cross mark on their chests, and they radiated with the ferocity of a silver-tier warrior. A blue-haired adolescent led the group. Additionally, he had the aura of a gold-tier warrior; even his armor was unique. Two unique Holy Swords were carved on the breast of his golden armor.
“Captain of the Holy Sword’s First Unit, Blake, is here to greet you, Vice-captain. Is there anything I can do for you, Vice-captain?”
The blue-haired young man had a handsome face. He looked at Claude with narrowed eyes. Although he spoke respectfully, his eyes were casual, as if he did not care about Claude’s status.
It was understandable. Although Claude was the team’s vice-captain, his strength was only silver-tier. The young man, on the other hand, was at the peak of the gold tier. He was unquestionably stronger, but he was in a lower position. Additionally, he was responsible for Claude’s protection at all times. That was why he did not like Claude.
In addition, he and Claude admired the swordmistress. As a result, he did not appear immediately even though he had seen what had happened in the Adventurers’ Association. Instead, he waited until Claude summoned him.
“Blake, these people from a small bronze-tier adventurer team not only spoke rudely about the Holy Sword adventurer team, but they also hit me. Go and inform Lady Swordmistress.” Claude spat out a mouthful of blood. His expression twisted as he continued to say, “I’m going to destroy the Blood Rose adventurer team today.”
“I understand.”
Blake nodded and waved his hand. One of the adventurers behind him immediately turned around and walked toward the street outside.
No matter how happy he was when Claude made a fool of himself, the man was still the Holy Sword’s vice-captain. His embarrassment meant an insult to the Holy Sword adventurer team, and that affected the team’s reputation. He could not tolerate it.
“The Blood Rose adventurer team is just filth; trash at the bottom of the tier! Tremble to your heart’s desire. You will repent for your crimes when our captain arrives!”
Claude laughed impudently, his laughter resonating throughout the Adventurers’ Association. It was as if he wanted to see the ugly expressions on Watson and the others’ faces. However, he was startled when he realized that Watson was still expressionless. The young man simply waved his palm in Claude’s direction. “You are so irritating. You should remain silent.”
Bang!
Claude flew more than ten meters backward with a muffled sound. It was as if numerous galloping carriages had struck him. He landed on the wall that had just been smashed, widening the hole in the wall. He knelt on the ground and vomited blood; he looked miserable.
Watson’s actions made everyone in the entire Adventurers’ Association twitch their lips, including Blake and other people outside. It would have been reasonable if Watson had just attacked Claude in self-defense, but his actions at that moment were like a severe slap on the Holy Sword adventurer team’s face.
“Kid, let go of our vice-captain. I’ll fight you.”
Blake could not stand it anymore. He drew the longsword from his waist and strolled into the Adventurers’ Association. Just as he was about to fight Watson, he heard his companion call out from behind him. “Lady Swordmistress is here!”
“Lady Swordmistress is here? So soon?” Blake was surprised. It had only been a few minutes since he sent someone to inform her. It would take longer than that before Lady Swordmistress received the news.
Puzzled, Blake stepped back and said, “Greetings, Lady Swordmistress.” Then, he knelt on one knee respectfully.
“Greetings, Lady Swordmistress.”
The other adventurers also spoke one after another; they sounded respectful.
Watson followed the crowd’s gaze and scanned the area. He noticed a yellow-haired girl dressed in a simple robe entering the Adventurers’ Association. The girl swayed with her movements as she wore a tiny sword around her waist. Her eyes were as bright as the stars, her nose was straight, her lips were petite and delicate, and her fair skin was nearly translucent.
Not only did she possess an extraordinary appearance, but she also had a piercing sword-like aura and crown-like shield on her head. Her entire demeanor was sharp and honorable.
That was the swordmistress—Christina.
As the swordmistress walked, the entire area fell silent. Only the crisp sound of boots slamming onto the floor was audible. The crowd’s hearts pounded in response to the sound.
“Lord Swordmistress, you’re finally here. These people from the Blood Rose adventurer team were rude to you just now. I tried to stop them, but they beat me up. Lord Swordmistress, please get justice for me.” Claude rushed forward, rolling and crawling, and told the story of what had happened.
Christina walked right by him toward Watson as if she could not hear him. Watson stiffened.
“Is this him?”
Christina opened her mouth, and the three little words sounded like an angel had uttered them.
“Yes, that’s him. We encountered a strange change in the labyrinth just now. He was the one who saved us.” Two adventurers with bandages wrapped around their bodies stood behind Christina. Due to Christina’s overwhelming presence, no one else saw them before they spoke.
“I got it.” Christina nodded and turned her head to look down at Watson. She was a woman, but she was more than 1.7 meters tall. “Your name is Watson, right?”
“That’s right.” Watson did not want to be outdone; he stared at Christina. He did not expect that the two adventurers he saved in the maze would look for their leader. He did not know whether Christina was there to thank him or if she wanted to punish him for what had happened to Claude.
Of course, he was not afraid of either situation.
Chapter 275: The Sword That Severed The Sky
“Watson,” Christina muttered his name. Then, she said something shocking under everyone’s apprehensive gaze.
“Are you interested in joining the Holy Sword adventurer team?”
What?
“The swordmistress is inviting someone to join her adventurer team? Did I mishear her?” an adventurer asked in surprise.
The swordmistress, Christina, was famous for her pride in the City of Steel. As a result, the entry requirements for the Holy Sword adventurer team were extremely stringent. Numerous individuals who sought to join her team had been refused. Otherwise, the number of people in the Holy Sword adventurer team would have increased tenfold. No one had ever known her to extend a personal invitation to another person.
“Lady Swordmistress, are you sure you want me to join your team?” Watson asked as he pointed at himself as if he did not hear her clearly.
He thought Christina was there to punish him or to thank him for saving two members of her Holy Sword adventurer team. He did not expect she would invite him to join her team; it was not something he would ever imagine.
“Yes, you heard correctly. I would like to invite you to become a member of the Holy Sword adventurer team! We now have more than 50,000 members, and there are only less than a million people in the City of Steel. If you agree to join us, then I’ll make you a vice-captain. You have the authority to command those in your immediate vicinity.”
“A vice-captain?”
The crowd gasped. They had been pretty surprised when Christina invited Watson to join her team, but that had changed to shock after the swordmistress’ latest offer. If Watson joined her adventurer team, he could be promoted as the vice-captain. What was that preferential treatment? Did Christina overestimate Watson’s importance?
“Lady Swordmistress, if you allow that young man to become the vice-leader, then I—” Claude, who was standing on the side, asked nervously.
“Just demote yourself to an ordinary member, Claude. I remember telling you that an adventurer from the Holy Sword team must be upright, no matter what they do. But it seems like you don’t want to listen to what I said. Virtue comes first, followed by ability, if one were to join the Holy Sword adventurer team. That is our creed, or have you forgotten about that?”
Christina tilted her head slightly and glared at Clyde sternly. The man’s body trembled. It was as if he could not withstand the intense pressure in her eyes. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
“I did not forget, Lady Swordmistress. Everything I did was for the team.”
“A poisonous seed can’t bloom into a brilliant flower, just like how a wrong move will never get the right result. This time, I won’t expel you from the team. Instead, I shall demote you. On account of your past contributions, you should go back and reflect on your actions! Blake, take him away and give him a lesson while you’re at it.”
“Yes, Lady Swordmistress.”
Blake rose to his feet in response to Christina’s request and went in front of Clyde. He dragged him outdoors, holding his arms. Clyde struggled and shouted, “Lady Swordmistress, everything I did was for the Holy Sword adventurer team’s benefit. You can’t treat me like this—”
Gradually, the voice grew weaker. Clyde was no match for Blake, especially after his serious injuries at the hands of Watson. No matter how hard he fought, it was in vain.
“Watson, I am aware of all that Clyde has done to you. The Holy Sword adventurer team is at fault here, and I am also to blame for not strictly disciplining my subordinates. I wonder if this offer would satisfy you,” Christina asked after she had gotten rid of Claude.
“Miss Christina, since you have already punished Claude, let’s put that subject to rest! I am sorry, but I cannot join the Holy Sword adventurer team since I have already pledged to join my friend’s team.”
“Really? That is truly regrettable.”
Christina’s face was filled with unconcealed regret.
“That young man actually turned down the offer? Is that right? Is he a moron?” Numerous adventurers in attendance expressed shock when they saw Watson’s rejection. Christina had taken the initiative to invite Watson into her team, for Watson’s sake. She had even offered a high price and punished Claude in front of him. Every step she took was sincere.
Given Christina’s identity and strength, few people in attendance would be able to resist that temptation. Numerous adventurers’ lips quivered. They wanted to replace Watson, so they shouted, “I am willing to join the Holy Sword adventurer team.”
Clyde’s and the others’ gazes were similarly wrought with conflicted emotions. They might not have had the courage to refuse if Christina had asked them. However, Watson, the young master they had just met, had rejected her because of them. They were moved and instinctively looked up to Watson.
Of course, they might not have thought so if they had known what Watson was thinking.
Watson did not join the Holy Sword adventurer team because he wanted to conceal his strength. If he joined the Holy Sword and was constantly exposed to platinum-tier elites, he might not be able to hide his secret. It would be easier to fool Clyde and the others.
“Is there anything else, Lady Swordmistress? If there’s nothing else, we will continue with the Adventurers’ Association’s test.”
Watson’s words were implying to Christina that she should not bother him if there was nothing else. However, Christina did not leave. Instead, she looked contemplative. “You have not taken the strength test? Well, then I can test you on behalf of the Adventurers’ Association. I don’t think I’m overstepping my bounds by doing that, right?”
The second half of Christina’s sentence was directed at the two ladies behind the counter.
“Of course, Miss Christina. With your strength, you are the best candidate to be the tester,” the two counter ladies responded feebly.
“The test is a little tedious. Perhaps a wager, Watson? Let’s bet on whether you can withstand a stroke of my sword. You won’t need to join my team if you can do that, and I won’t bother you again. But if you can’t, then you’ll take up the role as my vice-captain. What do you think?”
Christina remarked unhurriedly, gently pressing her right hand against the slender sword at her belt.
Watson smiled bitterly. “Lady Swordmistress, I can agree to a duel, but I want to know one thing. Why are you so persistent with me?”
It was one thing for Christina to invite him to her team, but after he refused, she continued to pester him. Had she seen through his background?
He noticed Christina took a big breath as he contemplated; the air entered her nose at a speed visible to the naked eye. “I don’t know. My gut says to keep you, and it has always been right. Well, let’s not waste time. You should be careful of the next attack. My weapon is a platinum-tier item that my father had given me. It is called the Sky Severing Blade.”
Slash!
The swordmistress took a stride toward Watson as soon as she finished speaking. She yanked her razor-sharp sword about an inch upward. The exposed blade emitted a cold light in all directions, shining so brightly that everyone there had to close their eyes. Christina retracted the blade just as everyone thought she would draw it.
Watson squinted his eyes as he sensed a piercing cold sword aura that went straight at him. That sword aura was so swift that it transcended everything. It passed in front of him in an instant, snatching a strand of hair near his ear.
“What happened?”
“Did Miss Christina not use her sword technique?”
The adventurers ‘ conversations came from all directions. They had no idea what had occurred. They watched Christina draw a part of her sword and then sheathed it again. It appeared as though she made no move at all, and all of them had reservations about it.
Crack!
Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed from the Adventurers’ Association. Then, a straight line spread out and covered the entire Adventurers’ Association. It started at where Christina and Watson stood.
Then, the Adventurers’ Association was split in half. On the damaged ceiling, a faint outline of blue sky and white clouds could be seen. There was a faint trace in the middle of the white clouds. The sword seemed to have cut through the building and soared toward the sky.
That was the sword that severed the sky.