He’s gone mad, this guy... absolutely mad!
George Narry couldn't believe things had escalated to this point. What made the new king think they wouldn't resist but would obediently surrender?
Facing over sixty people with just six, did he really think those guards were made of iron?
Even if they had witches, they wouldn't stand a chance against nobles wearing God's Stone of Retribution!
Following the new king’s command, the six female guards didn't rush in all at once. Instead, two guarded the exit and stood before Roland, while the other four drew their short swords and advanced step by step toward the nobles.
The crowd erupted with the sound of swords being drawn—with such a disparity in strength, no one was willing to lay down their weapons and kneel in surrender.
“Yo-Your Majesty...!” The lord of Clearwater City's face changed drastically. “Everyone, calm down! We can discuss any grievances slowly!”
It was too late for that now. George and Guy exchanged a look, instantly confirming their thoughts. Plan change: make their move in this manor!
Although this place wasn’t suitable for defense, it had the advantage of gathering almost all Clearwater nobles. As long as they could control Roland, he was confident in swaying the majority to their side—just as the Fourth Prince had said, power was the measure of everything. Unfortunately, in Lakeside Manor, power wasn't on their side!
“I cannot accept this!” Guy roared, stepping out of the crowd with his sword in hand—finally abandoning his previous amiable demeanor, he turned serious. “If it were a trial with concrete evidence, I would have nothing to say. But such a ridiculous verdict, no true noble can possibly comply with. Even if Wimbledon III asked me, I would still insist on this answer! Your Highness, you forced my hand!”
He was followed by four tall attendants, each standing with their heads held high, showing no fear despite their opponents being royalty. In terms of presence, the Earl of Three Rivers even surpassed the new king and his entourage.
Well done, George thought. Such a righteous declaration would be hard for even a prince to refute. The latter half included all the nobles, both encouraging and inciting. Next, they just needed to capture Roland to seal the deal!
And the other side would never expect that this nearly forty-year-old earl, with half his hair already gray, was an absolute expert.
Guy Yurian possessed innate monstrous strength. At the age of fifteen, he led two knights in clearing out a band of robbers entrenched at the river mouth. As an adult, he became proficient in all kinds of weaponry, rarely meeting his match in noble duels. Some called him "Giant" Guy and believed that if he weren’t a great noble but a knight, history would record his name as the strongest knight.
As for the four attendants, they were all at the level of quasi-knights. As long as they could keep the new king’s guards occupied for a moment, Roland Wimbledon would have no chance against the Earl of Three Rivers!
“Go give him a hand,” George instructed his attendants. “Keep an eye on Edith xiaojie.”
“Yes.” Several more people stepped out of the crowd.
Facing the approaching Guy, the smile on Roland's face didn't diminish in the slightest, but rather intensified, as if he was completely unaware of the current situation. This made George clench his fists. Smile now, it’s your last moment of triumph! Soon, you'll be crying without tears!
“Haa!” When the distance between them closed to within ten steps, Guy suddenly accelerated, swinging his sword directly at the female guard!
The force was so great that it created a whistling sound as it cut through the air.
This attack could only be dodged, not blocked!
And once she moved aside, there would be no one left in front of Roland.
“Clang—Thud—”
Then George heard two sounds. The first was the sound of metal colliding, crisp and clear. The second was the slight scraping sound of a blade coming into contact with flesh and blood. Half of a long sword flew into the air, spinning several times before plunging into the wooden floor, point first.
Followed by the Earl of Three Rivers' head.
It slid smoothly off his neck, landing on the floor with a thud. It bounced a couple of times before coming to rest, the blood spurting from the severed point tracing a bright red arc.
What... what just happened?
He actually used only one sword strike, along with his weapon, to sever “Giant” Guy’s neck?
How is that possible!?
Before he could come to his senses, the sounds of clashing swords and chaotic screams rang out from all around the crowd. That one sword strike seemed to have been a signal. The four female guards attacked simultaneously from multiple directions, instantly unleashing a bloody storm. George discovered in horror that their movements were almost too fast to be captured by the naked eye, and their strength was astonishing. Anything in their hands could become a deadly weapon—even fists and fingers could inflict grievous wounds. It was as if they weren't fighting humans, but steel statues!
Monsters, they're a bunch of monsters, he roared inwardly. How could mortals possibly hone their bodies to this extent?
“But... if you resist, your rebellion will become a reality, and the mines will no longer be able to accommodate you. Your only destination will be death.”
In that instant, George Narry suddenly remembered the new king's words.
A lightning bolt flashed through his mind—
Was this the moment the other party had been waiting for?
He turned his neck with difficulty and looked in the direction where Roland Wimbledon was standing.
An uncontrollable chill rose from the soles of his feet, shooting straight up his spine—at this moment, he finally understood the meaning of that smile.
This was a complete and utter trap!
Deliberately leaving the First Army outside the city, traveling with only a hundred guards, and bringing only six guards into the banquet; stubbornly acting as if he couldn't see the situation, giving no room for retreat—all these actions were just to lure them into making a move!
Escort to the mines? No... the other party never intended to let the remaining nobles go. If they surrendered obediently, the new king would probably only feel disappointed.
That's right... it was a smile of anticipation.
Anticipating that they would step into the abyss he had laid out, step by step, anticipating that they would dig their own graves—only in this way could the new king feel pleased. It was just that this smile was full of malice for George, so he couldn't detect the joy it should contain, and instead felt an endless chill.
“Le-Let us go...”
“Your Majesty, I surrender!”
“Me too! The Leviathan family vows to be loyal to you!”
“You can have anything you want! Please, forgive me!”
The situation took a sharp turn. The nobles who saw the situation turning bad knelt down and begged for mercy. Clearly, they still outnumbered the enemy, with only four opponents, but it was as if they were the ones being surrounded.
It was too late. George lowered his sword powerlessly. The moment they drew their weapons from their waists, they had already become rebels in Roland's eyes.
Feelings of unwillingness, frustration, fear, and anger came and went, but were ultimately reduced to nothing by a long sword that struck from behind.
The sounds of fighting and begging gradually faded away. The last thing he saw was the tilting hall and the pool of blood rushing towards him.