Chapter 39: A Duel
The banquet hosted by the Kasein Family under the pretext of Monica’s birthday was not only aimed at expanding and consolidating the family’s influence, but also served another crucial purpose: to renegotiate the distribution of benefits with the current representatives of various merchant guilds in Red River City.
For instance, the Bruno Merchant Guild.
As one of the top-tier major guilds renowned in the Southern Region, the Bruno Merchant Guild held over seventeen fire-element, twelve water-element, and six ice-element Bloodline potion formulas and material sources. Among these were five complete advancement paths capable of reaching Fifth-Tier Bloodline Users.
However, a business of such scale and foundation could never have survived without substantial backing, it would have been devoured long ago.
Therefore, when Atork previously mentioned that the guild was backed by the Golden Lion Family and the Golden Flower Family, it wasn’t a rumor, but a fact.
In fact, to ensure the safety of their trade routes and to avoid excessive exploitation by local lords, the Grand Lords behind the Cold Ridge Territory and Fertile Territory were naturally involved in the profit-sharing as well.
Previously, the Kasein Family had not fully controlled the entire Red Eagle Territory, so they could only look on with envy at such a merchant guild.
But now that the Kasein Family had firmly grasped the whole of Red Eagle Territory, Marquis Visen naturally intended to claim a share.
To Marquis Visen, securing Red River Territory and cementing his authority over the Red Eagle Territory marked only the beginning of the war.
After all, the benefits the Kasein Family had missed over the years extended far beyond the dividends of the Bruno Merchant Guild alone.
Negotiations of this “bigwig” caliber were naturally entrusted to Marquis Visen and Monica’s third uncle, Wade Kasein.
While clinking glasses continued in the banquet hall below, that was Monica’s true battlefield.
Or rather, it was a scenario deliberately crafted by Marquis Visen for Monica: all the “main players” of the Red Eagle Territory for the next twenty or even forty years were present at this banquet.
As long as they didn’t perish early, each of them would eventually make their appearance on this stage named “Red Eagle Territory.”
Early acquaintance, affirmation of stances, mutual support, this was the exclusive “battlefield” of the nobles.
Yam stood in a corner of the banquet hall, quietly observing the bustle like an outsider.
In such a formal setting, Atork naturally had his own agenda and couldn’t possibly serve as Yam’s “guide.”
In fact, if not for his father’s instructions, he wouldn’t have approached Yam in the first place.
Now that the greeting was done and they had a basic impression of each other, he naturally didn’t stay and instead flowed into the social circle like a swimming fish, beginning to establish his own network.
After all, he was one of the three most dazzling figures in this social circle, and many surrounded him.
“Heh, nobles.” Yam chuckled softly and tilted his head back to drink the last drop from his cup.
At that moment, he fully understood, although his father-in-law had secured him an “entry ticket,” that was all it was.
The Bole Family’s name wasn’t well-known, and the Soderbell Family’s reputation was even more lacking.
If Giggs were here, perhaps two or three people might have come forward to talk, and it wouldn’t have been so cold.
But Giggs wasn’t here. So who was “Yam Soderbell”?
Could he really represent the “Bole Family”?
Perhaps some astute individuals might suspect something upon seeing Yam appear here as a Bloodline Knight.
But a Household Knight who had already pledged loyalty had no value worth stopping to converse with in such settings.
A bloodline family couldn’t claim the title merely by possessing a “surname.”
Monica’s statement about “no three-generation legacy” wasn’t just idle talk, it was a conclusion forged through the passage of millennia.
The vast majority of Bloodline Users existed only for a single generation.
Two were rare, and three practically unheard of. Therefore, in the eyes of the Bloodline Nobles, only those who could pass down to the third generation truly deserved to be called a bloodline family.
The outside world did not know that Yam, Akar, and their father Ion had only recently become Bloodline Users.
What they did know was that starting from Ion, Yam and Akar were the second generation of the Soderbell Family.
If their descendants were confirmed to have Bloodline Aptitude, even if they remained First-Tier Bloodline Users for life it would still signify the emergence of a bloodline clan.
A bloodline family that could bear a family crest.
…
Akar was not standing in the cold breeze with Yam.
When it came to the fine delicacies at this banquet that no one else touched, he certainly wasn’t shy.
What he especially favored was meat.
There were some who laughed at him, but perhaps because of the scandal involving several youths from the Bruno Merchant Guild, most around only let out light chuckles and didn’t dare mock him openly.
Naturally, many Bloodline Users who recognized his identity behaved differently.
Third-Tiers, confident in their strength, made no comment. Second-Tiers were more cautious, unwilling to provoke him when the internal factions of Red Eagle Territory remained unsettled.
As for the First-Tiers, they stayed as far away as possible. Even without Akar’s famed Blazing Bow at his side, they dared not provoke him.
Because in just one day, Akar’s unruly arrogance had spread throughout the entire Marquisate, he was the only one who had dared to wield a weapon and attempt to kill within the Marquis’s residence and still lived.
“That…”
Just as Akar remained unfazed by the surrounding snickers and continued eating the delicacies he had never tasted before, a voice, timid and clear, suddenly rang out behind him.
When Akar turned around, surprise instantly showed on his face.
Standing beside him now was Anna Billy.
Akar hurriedly swallowed the meat steak in his mouth. Perhaps due to his haste, he seemed to choke on it, urgently pounding his chest.
Anna was slightly startled as well, but she remained relatively calm and quickly raised her hand to summon a server, handing one drink after another from the tray to Akar.
Akar was never a refined person. Having grown up in a mercenary group, he was more familiar with rough conduct. Naturally, his action of taking the drinks appeared quite crude.
In this situation, physical contact between Akar’s hand and Anna’s fair hand was inevitable.
However, Akar seemed completely unaware, while Anna’s face quickly turned red like a ripe apple. This blush, for a moment, made her even more charming, and even several young men nearby watching the scene found their breathing hasten slightly.
Anna felt a bit strange inside.
She cautiously observed Akar using the corner of her eye.
Yet she found that Akar didn’t care in the slightest about such minor physical contact.
Or rather, he hadn’t noticed it at all.
Anna had always been very confident in her appearance and figure. She knew clearly that if such an opportunity for physical contact arose, no one would refuse it. To put it bluntly, most of the men she had encountered actively sought such contact.
But if anyone else had done the same, Anna was certain she would have felt deeply repulsed, even disgusted.
However, facing this tall young man before her and the unintentional contact, she felt no aversion, instead, her heartbeat accelerated. It resembled the little daydreams she used to have about her and Burton.
“Are… are you alright?” For some reason, Anna even felt like gently patting Akar’s back to help him breathe easier.
Yet in the end, she only raised her wrist slightly before lowering it again, even pulling back a little to increase the distance between them.
“I’m fine,” Akar suddenly let out a deep breath with no regard for image, visibly relieved. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Anna smiled and shook her head. “I should be the one thanking you. After all, yesterday…”
“Oh, then we’re even.” Akar interrupted her before she could finish. “I helped you yesterday, and you helped me today. That’s fair.”
He placed the cup back onto the tray, then glanced at the server who seemed like he was about to roll his eyes and muttered, “What’s your problem? Who are you giving that face to?”
Seeing that Akar didn’t seem to mind the distance she had kept from him, Anna felt a faint trace of disappointment for some reason.
But when she heard Akar’s mutter, she covered her mouth and let out a quiet laugh. “You ate so much food. Of course they’re unhappy.”
“What do you mean?” Akar looked puzzled. “Aren’t these things put out for eating?”
“That’s true,” Anna replied with a smile, “but people attending such banquets usually don’t eat the food. They come mostly for socializing, expanding their network or solidifying their alliances. In short, no one comes to banquets to actually eat, and many don’t even finish a glass of wine.”
“These foods are ultimately given as rewards to the servers in the banquet hall and the other servants in the Marquis’s manor. Now that you’ve eaten so much, there’ll be very little left for them. That’s why they’re upset.”
Akar shook his head, clearly not understanding this kind of reasoning. “What a waste.”
Anna blinked her bright eyes and watched as Akar nonchalantly muttered a few more words and then continued eating. She couldn’t help but find it amusing.
“By the way, can I take some of this food with me?” Akar suddenly asked while eating. “My brother hasn’t eaten yet. I should bring him some.”
Anna opened her mouth, unsure of how to respond.
But then, a figure suddenly rushed over.
Joshua’s face was filled with excitement. “Anna, I’ve been looking for you! Come with me, there’s a Knight’s Duel happening outside!”
“Knight’s Duel?” Anna asked, puzzled. “What’s going on? Why would there be a Knight’s Duel tonight?”
“Your brother, either drunk or something, suddenly challenged the knight from White Mountain Territory…”
White Mountain Territory!
Akar, who was biting into a steak, immediately froze.
Anna, too, was stunned for a moment.
She looked toward Akar with concern because she already knew that the Akar Soderbell before her was a Bloodline Knight from White Mountain Territory.
Since there were only two Bloodline Knights who had come with the White Mountain Baron this time, and one was standing right here, the identity of the other was self-evident.
Akar placed a firm hand on Joshua’s shoulder.
This gesture made Joshua a bit annoyed, but just as he was about to turn and complain, he saw Akar chewing the half-eaten steak with a grim expression, and his first thought was that a magical beast had snuck in. Then came the second thought: this was the Blazing Bow, Akar Soderbell!
“You said the Knight’s Duel, where is it?”
“Just… right outside the banquet hall,” Joshua replied, pointing toward the main entrance.
At this moment, Anna and Akar noticed that the once lively banquet hall had become rather quiet. Nearly everyone was heading toward the exit.
Akar narrowed his eyes slightly, then turned and followed.
A chilling murderous aura had begun to steadily build up within him.
Seeing Akar like this, Anna’s heart skipped a beat. Then she suddenly pulled at Joshua and asked urgently, “What kind of duel did Andre propose?”
“Li… life or death is not considered.”
Anna’s face instantly turned pale.