Changing Swords to Kill (Seeking Recommendations)

Not long before Rein and Piscis entered the Hyacinth Tavern.

In a cabin several miles away, a knight clad in full heavy armor was intently focused on the direction of the tavern.

The heavy armor knight exuded the powerful aura of a top-tier expert. Anyone else would have immediately recognized him as Rein Rutt, the Royal Court Enshrined Grand Enshrinee and Chief Court Knight of the Oma Empire, a Magic Swordsman!

He was one of the Oma Imperial family's peak combat forces.

For some reason, Rein felt an inexplicable unease today.

Known as the foremost knight of the court, his intuition was terrifyingly accurate.

"Your Highness Princess, I hope there are no unexpected incidents during your negotiation..."

He prayed silently, his hand gripping the broadsword beginning to sweat slightly. If there was the slightest disturbance, he would immediately rush to reinforce.

Just then, a gust of wind swept through the room, and Rein's brow furrowed sharply.

Someone had entered the room!

With a sharp "clang," the double-edged greatsword, imbued with a keen sword qi, spun around in a counter-slash.

The movement was fluid and seamless.

Rein's sharp combat instincts made him draw his sword and parry like lightning, poised to cleave the intruder in two!

But abruptly, just as the blade was a finger's width away from striking the black-robed figure behind him, the greatsword stopped steadily.

And from beginning to end, the intruder showed no sign of panic, allowing the sword's energy to wash over him.

Clearly, Rein recognized the identity of the newcomer, and his killing intent instantly subsided.

However, their relationship did not seem harmonious.

The Knight Commander asked coldly, "Metternich, why are you here instead of staying by the Empress's side?"

"Captain Rein, your swordsmanship is becoming more and more refined..."

The newcomer gave a slight smile, his face obscured by a black cloak, making it impossible to discern his features.

As he spoke, the poker card he was idly flipping between his nimble fingers finally stopped, and he drew out a "Jack of Spades."

Rein seemed uninterested in catching up, immediately issuing a dismissal: "I am on duty, and it is inconvenient to reminisce with you. Please leave."

Despite his words, the Knight Commander felt a bad premonition.

Rein was confident that his combat strength, even facing off against Bazel, the White Wolf, one of the Top Ten Legendary Demon Hunters, would not falter.

Yet, this chilling figure before him, as sinister as a viper, was the one person he least wanted to see.

This person was like a plague god; trouble always followed wherever he went. Moreover, he had traveled all the way from the imperial capital to the southern Storm Lake.

"Captain Rein, meeting an old friend like this is quite boring."

The man in the cloak chuckled.

Seeing that Rein had no intention of paying him any mind, he shrugged.

He had no intention of continuing to make a fool of himself and got straight to the point: "Since you don't want to talk to me, I'll deliver the order and leave."

"An order?"

Rein's pupils contracted sharply, and the bad premonition intensified.

"Yes~"

Then, a hint of playfulness flickered in the black-robed man's eyes, and he suddenly switched to a stern tone, commanding, "Royal Court Enshrined, Chief Court Knight Rein Rutt, heed this order! You are commanded to immediately surround and kill Bazel, the White Wolf!"

"What?"

Kill Bazel?!

Upon hearing this, Rein's expression changed drastically, thinking he had misheard.

He stared at the black-robed man, who maintained a relaxed smile throughout, with disbelief.

Rein suppressed the chill in his heart and sneered, "Hmph! You are merely an aide to the Empress. Her orders cannot command me."

"Oh, of course, it's not the Empress's order."

The man in the black robe's tone was unhurried, as if he had anticipated this. As he spoke, he took out a golden emblem from his embrace.

Upon seeing this, Rein blurted out, "The Golden Griffin Emblem!"

He looked at the medal before him, engraved with a golden vulture surrounded by a tricolored ribbon, and immediately knew that something was terribly wrong.

This was the exclusive emblem of the Oma Imperial family's Spuglin; seeing the emblem was like seeing His Majesty.

This was the Emperor's command!

How could this be...

The man in the black robe's lips curved slightly, and he commanded again, "By secret imperial decree, immediately surround and kill Bazel, the White Wolf!"

With these words, there was no room for turning back.

Even though Rein was the personal guard of the eldest princess, he had to obey the highest command.

"Damn it! How did you get the Griffin Emblem?!"

Rein's forehead veins bulged, clearly enraged.

He couldn't afford to keep the secret any longer and spoke directly, "Metternich, you bastard! Do you know how much preparation the Eldest Princess made to subdue the White Wolf Gang? As long as Bazel is subdued, the southern bandit problem will be completely resolved. Your actions will cause the Eldest Princess's years of effort to go to waste!"

"Heh, amnesty?"

The man in the black robe seemed to know the inside story, a hint of disdain curling his lips.

He shook his head dismissively and chuckled, "The Empress and His Majesty want to see the bandit problem completely wiped out, not this rabble appeased. And after today, this campaign to eradicate the southern bandits will become the Grand Prince's achievement, recorded in history."

His tone was light, yet it carried a killing intent that made one's scalp tingle.

"You!"

Seeing that success was within reach, someone suddenly appeared to disrupt everything. These selfish individuals would ruin the Eldest Princess's years of planning!

Although Rein was furious, he was also helpless.

The Eldest Princess, the Empress, and the Grand Prince – this clearly involved internal royal power struggles, and he, as a retainer, couldn't say too much.

However, he still hadn't given up. Pointing at the assembled band of thieves not far away, he questioned, "Eradicate? Do you see the situation here? With over a hundred thousand bandits, how are you going to eradicate them!"

The southern bandit problem had persisted for decades. If it could be resolved by force, would the empire still allow these bandits to run rampant until now?

"Oh, others really can't do it."

The man in the black robe waved his hand indifferently, as if the hundreds of bandit groups, large and small, before him were nothing but sitting ducks.

He paused, then grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, a dangerous and incredibly confident glint flashing in his eyes. He said faintly, "Well, I'm here, aren't I?"

Hearing this, Rein's expression completely froze.

Although he didn't believe anyone could accomplish something so fundamentally impossible, this person before him…

had never failed!

And just as the Eldest Princess Ymir of the Oma Empire and the [White Wolf] Bazel were having a secret talk in the tavern, another group also quietly infiltrated the "Black Market Trade Fair" and secretly headed towards the "Hyacinth Tavern."

"Prince William, according to the contract, that woman is yours."

"Heh heh, your Oma royal family is truly lively. Who on earth came up with this 'kill with a borrowed knife' scheme? It sends shivers down my spine just hearing about it."

"..."

"And also, someone with such commanding talent, just discarded like that? Is old Doppler not going to live much longer?"

His Majesty is in good health, and there's no need for you to worry. Prince, please fulfill our contract as agreed. Other matters are our Oma nation's internal affairs and do not require your meddling.

"Tsk tsk… Don't worry, Sid will gladly help with this. After all, if that woman ascends the throne, it won't be good for us. But remember our contract: after this is done, hand over the seven mines in the southern three provinces. Also, that filthy werewolf Bazel must die this time!"

"No problem! Bazel will be handed over to us. Four retainers have come to the palace this time, and Lord Blackmoss Zacharia himself is here. That guy is as good as dead."

"Oh, [Enma] Blackmoss Zacharia is here too? Heh heh, then Ymir Spuglin will be handed over to us. Happy cooperation!"

"..."

Rein followed Piscis to the second floor of the tavern, completely unaware that the trade fair was already brewing with undercurrents.

The second floor of the tavern had a large reception room. Rein sensed his surroundings intently, finding no immediate ambush.

Of course, there was the thief on the ceiling who had been watching him for many days.

Piscis said, "You rest here for a bit. I'm going to meet some friends. There will be an Alchemist exchange meeting here later, so don't wander off."

"Okay, Teacher."

Rein couldn't figure out what Piscis was up to.

But he figured it must be some kind of plan.

After speaking, Piscis turned and left the room.

Inside, Rein was once again alone.

"Seventy-five steps, seventy-six steps, seventy-seven steps… Huh? Piscis didn't leave the tavern; he entered a room upstairs?"

Rein's ears twitched slightly. His super-hearing allowed him to easily discern Piscis's movements after he left.

So, the "reinforcements" were upstairs!

Rein knew very well that Piscis, that old fox, felt confident leaving him alone in the room because of the veteran assassin lurking on the ceiling…

Heh, feigning weakness, now he finally had an opportunity!

"I must act now!"

The opportunity was fleeting.

Rein couldn't be sure what kind of powerful reinforcements Piscis would find after going to that room.

But he himself was confident he could kill the assassin on the ceiling instantly!

The moment he made up his mind, Rein shed his previous timid, weak demeanor, and a sharp, knife-like killing intent erupted in his eyes.

In the next instant, he coiled his legs like a frog, then powerfully pushed off the ground and lunged upwards.

With a "boom," his speed was so fast that no one had time to react.

His fist smashed through the ceiling, and he violently ripped a human leg from it.

A crisp crack echoed as the bone in his ankle snapped.

Then, with Rein's immense strength pulling, a large section of the ceiling cracked open, and an assassin with terror in his eyes was smashed heavily onto the ground.

Severely wounded by the surprise attack, the assassin turned pale with shock, his mind screaming, "This guy only advanced to Transcendent a few days ago!!!"

How can this strength be so outrageous!

Thanks to 'Blazing Fire Burning Song' for the generous reward, thank you. Also, please cast your recommendation votes, I beg of you~