A Stir

"Your turn!"

With a flash, Andres rushed in front of Gallo.

Gallo hurriedly threw a punch at Andres, but Andres merely reached out and firmly caught his fist.

"You're only a Level Six Warrior. The resources you enjoyed growing up should have been the best in the Oga Kingdom, yet this is all the strength you have. What gives you the right to be so arrogant?" Andres said coldly.

"My father is the Ninth Prince, the future king. I'll be king someday too. What are you, that you dare show me such disrespect?" Though restrained by Andres, Gallo was not flustered. His tone remained exceedingly forceful.

He did not believe Andres would dare do anything to him.

Crack!

Andres exerted force with his hand, and the arm of Marquis Gallo, which he held, immediately bent at a grotesque angle.

His right arm was broken!

"Argh!"

Gallo screamed miserably. Clutching his broken right arm, his expression twisted into extreme pain and savagery.

"You... you dare hurt me!"

He glared at Andres like a beast ready to devour someone.

"I'll make you die! You must die! Even Inori can't save you! Your entire family will be buried with you!"

Andres shook his head and sighed. "It seems you still haven't recognized the situation."

Two more sharp cracks rang out, and Gallo's body immediately dropped lower.

Both his legs had been broken by Andres's kicks, and he collapsed directly onto the ground.

Only then did he finally realize that his life was in Andres's hands.

"You... what do you want?" Gallo finally panicked. Supporting himself with his only uninjured left hand, he scooted backward across the ground, slowly moving away from Andres.

"You broke my younger brother's left hand and right foot, and you wanted to break all four of my limbs. I'm a fair person—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Naturally, I'll break all four of your limbs too," Andres said with a faint smile.

"No, no, you can't! Aren't you afraid the kingdom will punish you for this?" Gallo said urgently. At this point, the only thing he could think of was using royal authority to pressure Andres.

But Andres did not take it to heart.

From Ivan, he had learned that news of the battle at Black Mountain City was about to reach Oga City.

With the strength and potential he had displayed, the Oga Kingdom would not dare—and did not have the ability—to do anything to him.

Andres stepped closer to Gallo and kicked out.

Crack!

Gallo's intact left hand broke at once.

"Argh!"

Gallo collapsed to the ground in agony. Both his hands and feet were broken. The immense pain made it impossible for him to remain calm, and he screamed madly, "Andres, just wait! My father and my grandfather won't let you off! They'll definitely avenge me!"

"Fine. I'll wait." Andres wore a faint smile. Within the Oga Kingdom, even the commander of the Kingdom Knights, the strongest person there, was no match for him, much less anyone else.

As for the Ninth Prince cultivating in the Holy Alliance, Andres had also learned some things about him from Trevor.

The Ninth Prince was nearly sixty years old and at Peak Level Nine.

Yet despite reaching Peak Level Nine, he had been unable to enter the Saint Domain. Clearly, he had yet to comprehend Momentum.

At his age, if he had still not reached the realm of Momentum, it could only be said that his talent was quite ordinary. It was hard to say whether he even possessed the talent to become a Demigod.

Even if they fought now, Andres might not lose. As time went on, Andres's advantage would only grow greater.

The only thing Andres was concerned about now was his family.

No one in the Oga Kingdom could do anything to him, but if they used his family to threaten him, Andres would be in a difficult position.

If he completely fell out with the Oga Kingdom, his current strength would only be enough to protect himself. He could not safely take his family away with him.

It was precisely because of this that Andres had not intended to kill him.

He could tell that this Gallo was the kind of person who would seek revenge over the slightest grievance. Leaving him alive might cause trouble in the future, but killing him now would leave no room for reconciliation between him and the Oga Kingdom. He might be able to escape the Oga Kingdom himself, but his family would be in danger.

Before entering the Saint Domain, Andres did not intend to take things too far.

No matter how Gallo shouted and threatened him, Andres paid him no further attention and calmly walked outside.

Although the guards had been following Andres all along, not one of them dared step forward to stop him.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps and clashing armor rang out. A group of Kingdom Knights clad in Platinum White Armor rushed inside.

When Andres first arrived at Marquis Gallo's residence, an emergency meeting was being held in the Royal Palace's cabinet.

King Oga was already advanced in years. Ordinary state affairs were usually handled by the cabinet before being reported to the king.

The cabinet consisted of a small number of Royal Palace nobles, including the commander of the Kingdom Knights, the Left Prime Minister, the Right Prime Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Military Affairs, the Minister of Economy, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs.

It was already late at night. Under normal circumstances, the cabinet members would have returned to their respective residences, but tonight, they had all gathered together.

Because Inori had returned.

The battle at Black Mountain City had been of the utmost importance, and every cabinet member wanted to know its outcome.

The cabinet was located in a luxurious hall within the Royal Palace. At the center of the hall stood a round table, around which the cabinet members sat.

Inori was also seated at the table. She had already given the cabinet a full and detailed report on the battle at Black Mountain City.

"Good! Excellent! How many years has it been since our Oga Kingdom won such a great victory?" The Minister of Economy was an old man with white hair and beard. At that moment, even the wrinkles on his face had eased considerably from his smile.

"Resior is dead. The Beastmen should settle down for a few years now." The Minister of Military Affairs let out a long breath. Since the war began, he had been among those under the greatest pressure. Now, he could finally relax.

"Inori, congratulations on becoming a Holy Alliance Trainee." The commander of the Kingdom Knights, Balzan, was already over a hundred years old, but he looked no more than fifty. He had a stocky build and a thick beard.

There was concealed envy in the way he looked at Inori.

He had once desperately wanted to become a Holy Alliance Trainee as well, but in the end, he had failed to qualify.

"Thank you, Mr. Balzan," Inori said.

"And that young man named Andres—he was the greatest contributor to this victory over the Beastmen. Inori, I heard that he used to be your subordinate and holds the title of baron." The Left Prime Minister looked at Inori.

"Yes." Inori nodded.

The Right Prime Minister praised, "This Andres is not only a Level Eight Warrior, but he also killed Resior after he broke through to Ninth Rank. He has even become a Holy Alliance Trainee. We must build a good relationship with such talent and strive to have him serve the kingdom."

"Indeed." The cabinet members present all nodded in agreement.

"By custom, a Level Eight Warrior may already be granted the title of marquis and bestowed territory. But Andres possesses the strength to kill a Level Nine Expert and has rendered such great service. I propose that he be directly granted the title of duke, hereditary in perpetuity, with an estate bestowed at the highest rank as well," said the Right Prime Minister.

"Agreed."

"Agreed."

The Left Prime Minister, who was presiding over the meeting, looked around. Seeing no objections, he said, "Then it is settled. The appointment document shall be presented to His Majesty the King for his signature. In addition, the report of this battle must be made public. Such a great victory can greatly strengthen the people's patriotism."

"Of course it must be made public, and widely publicized to exalt our kingdom's might!" said the Minister of Military Affairs.

"Haha!"

The atmosphere was thoroughly harmonious.

Just then, a servant rushed in with a panicked expression.

"My lords, something has happened! Someone forcibly broke into Marquis Gallo's residence and injured Marquis Gallo!"