Chapter 92

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 92

Chapter Title: The Mercenary's Challenge

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His exposed chest gleamed smoothly, his sharp jawline and elegantly curved lips forming a smile so captivating it made people pause in their tracks.

The banquet guests thought to themselves that, had it not been for the burns, this man would have made a name for himself across the continent.

Of course, he was already famous in other ways.

'Akkres, was it?'

Jared immediately recognized the white mask.

It belonged to the mercenary from Facade—the one the imperial princess's maid had blabbed about earlier, claiming he was so strong, which had irritated him.

'Hmph, what's so special about him? He doesn't even look that tough, and they're making a fuss.'

Having fallen out of the emperor's favor due to the first prince's schemes, Jared hadn't been permitted to join the continental war.

Yet this mercenary had shone there, igniting an inexplicable rivalry within him.

Jared's dark eyes flashed as he glared at the white-masked mercenary.

The Fourth Imperial Princess was taken aback as well.

Why was Facade suddenly butting into the confrontation between Kazen and Baldina?

"That was a misthrow, right? Facade, this has nothing to do with you."

The princess wanted no part of Facade's interference.

She glanced at Garo as if seeking an answer, but he had none to give.

He was just as furious inside.

'How should I know? With all those Kazen swarms around, and my lord charging forward with a half-mask and a curse to boot—do you think you know why, Fourth Princess?'

But he couldn't say that aloud, so Garo just grunted and shrugged.

"My lord won't listen to a word I say. If he insists, there's nothing I can do."

"Nonsense!"

The Fourth Imperial Princess snapped sharply. She had to win this duel.

"This is between Baldina and Kazen. How dare a foreigner meddle!"

Her maid had said that mercenary was terrifyingly strong. She couldn't give Jared any excuse to lose.

"Ahaha, Your Highness, foreigners? We're just wandering arms dealers without a country..."

As Garo added that with what seemed like intent to rile her up, Cezare let out a soft chuckle.

But it wasn't aimed at the Fourth Princess—it was directed at Jared.

"Is Kazen's imperial princess afraid her handpicked champion might lose to me?"

"You...!"

Jared's face twisted at the Fourth Princess's reaction, which she couldn't flatly deny.

Did she truly believe he couldn't beat this lowly mercenary?

"A dead man flapping his jaws."

"That's usually said over a corpse."

A rich, rhythmic voice flowed from beneath the white mask.

"Ah, you've never seen a battlefield, so you wouldn't know."

Jared's face contorted into something demonic.

"Step up for the princess, and no one will compensate your dog's death. Still want to fight me?"

Pfft. The mercenary's lip curled again.

"Long tongue."

This bastard—!

No more words were needed. Jared lunged.

"Come forward, Facade's dog."

Having taken Cezare's bait, Jared beckoned with a flick of his hand.

"Jared!"

The Fourth Princess stepped forward to stop him, but flinched at his savage glare.

"Fourth Princess, since he's fighting in Your Highness's stead, let him choose his opponent."

The threat was clear: otherwise, he'd back out.

There was no one stronger than Jared in this delegation.

As Jared refused to yield with his iron will, the Fourth Princess glared at him irritably.

"You chose this, so you will win."

"I'll leave you with at least an arm to believe in him."

Jared had despised him ever since hearing how this mercenary he'd loathed had aided the first prince he hated and shone in the continental war.

This was his chance to carve him up and show Facade's arrogance what for.

Seeing his confidence, the Fourth Princess finally relaxed.

After all, Jared was one of the continent's premier Ten Star Knights. His prowess was no lie.

A faint smile played on her lips as she murmured low.

"Not just an arm—kill him outright. Use your secret technique if you must."

Jared paused, then grinned wickedly.

"Then I'll need to switch weapons. But can you handle it, facing Facade?"

"You'll handle that wench too, won't you?"

If the mercenary who stepped up for the princess died, it would sour relations between Baldina and Facade.

"Jason wants you. Win today, and I'll take you under my wing."

The princess smiled cruelly.

"Wouldn't I be better than that frayed old rope? Time to remind Father you're still around."

Jared snickered.

He relished this situation, with both the princess and the grand duke vying for him.

All he had to do was get rid of that white mask. Cruel anticipation gleamed in Jared's eyes.

Soon enough, preparations for the rematch between the two warriors were complete.

One was Kazen's Ten Star General; the other, Facade's mercenary captain.

With both boasting high infamy and skill, no one could easily predict the winner.

Cezare, clad in armor, met the gaze of the princess watching him.

Her green eyes remained calm, unruffled even by his sudden intervention. He'd undoubtedly disrupted whatever plan she'd prepared.

He couldn't read her thoughts at all—like a still surface that swallowed even ripples.

'Does she think a pathetic Ten Star is no match for me?'

As he idly wished to see those surprised eyes looking up at him again, from when he'd subdued the hydra long ago—

The princess walked toward him.

Her steps halted right before Cezare.

"Akkres."

His name slipped from her pale lips, and

"You've taken my place here, so for now... you can consider yourself my knight."

Her clear voice rang out.

The princess personally tied a light green handkerchief to Cezare's right arm.

Facade's emblem was covered, revealing Baldina's crest embroidered atop it.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.

After tying a firm knot, the princess tapped his arm four times where others wouldn't notice.

As Cezare looked down questioningly, she pressed her ring finger firmly once more on the embroidered crest.

"......"

"Please take care."

With her task done, she stepped back, and Cezare bowed.

"I'll bring victory to the princess."

He kissed the knot on the handkerchief tied to his arm.

It was a kiss so reverent, no one would believe it came from a battlefield-hardened mercenary.

The sight of the valiant knight and the pure lady praying for his fortune drew gasps of admiration.

"Hmph. Quite the generous treatment for a stray dog."

Jared swallowed hard, staring at the handkerchief on Cezare's arm.

Seeing the princess he'd coveted treat some nobody from Facade with such affection boiled his blood.

Jared drew his sword with a shing.

As per the princess's order, he'd swapped blades just before the duel, coating the new one with deadly poison.

This colorless, odorless elixir had eliminated his rivals and forged the Jared of today.

"You'll regret touching this body."

He taunted darkly, but all he got in return was a mocking curl of the lip.

The rematch began.

Jared's skill was no fluke.

As if to prove a Ten Star Knight's might, his aggressive opening assault whipped up a storm. Grayish aura surged wildly.

But Cezare parried it by a hair's breadth.

"Facade's dog, draw your aura if you don't want your head lopped off."

"No need."

Cezare shrugged. He made no secret that he could handle Jared without aura.

Treated like an amateur, Jared ground his teeth in humiliation.

"Fine, I'll humor you. No excuses later."

He withdrew his gray aura, but his killing intent grew even fiercer.

Scattered sword ki pressed in from all sides, squeezing Cezare.

The golden eyes behind the mask swept over Jared with amused spins, just as Medea had earlier.

'Why four?'

He was pondering the signal the princess had left.

It couldn't be just about his skill—or simply defeating Jared.

"What are you doing, Jared? Finish him already!"

The anxious Fourth Princess shouted.

The exchanges dragged on without conclusion. The precarious sword lines seemed like Jared was deliberately holding back.

'Think I want to?'

Jared panted, eyes bloodshot.

He'd sworn to carve up the white mask in twenty exchanges, but twice that had passed, and he hadn't even nicked the man's clothes.

In that instant, the mercenary's blade exploded toward Jared.