The bald Strong Man stepped down the stairs. His muscles bulged all over, and he looked like no slouch in close combat. Yet he wore no armor, only a set of light brown leather armor.
Strong Man clenched both fists, producing crisp cracking sounds. He wore a pair of black gloves, with metal plates set into the knuckles, wrapping his fists like a layer of metal scales.
"I'm Joseph Ke. In your nobles' words, I'm just a peasant now—a hyena mercenary willing to do anything for money."
A smile spread across Joseph Ke's face. Combined with the lizard tattoo on his bald head, it gave him a vicious, savage air. Yet there was a trace of loneliness deep in his eyes, though he deliberately hid it.
"I heard the Iron Hand is skilled with a blade. I wonder whether my fists are harder or your blade sharper. Let's have a fair duel, using that unique etiquette of your nobles."
Joseph's green eyes narrowed, and green light began to radiate from them.
At that moment, Su Xiao suddenly shifted sideways.
A faint sound of something slicing through the air flew past his cheek. Just 0.2 seconds earlier, something had shot straight toward Su Xiao's head. It was an invisible weapon, extremely fast and tiny.
Joseph claimed he wanted a duel, but he had actually prepared a sneak attack long ago.
"Oh? You actually dodged it."
Joseph was somewhat surprised. His bulging muscles and special gauntlets were all meant to mislead his enemies. In truth, his close-combat ability was not particularly strong.
The moment Joseph opened his mouth, Su Xiao suddenly leaped backward. While in midair, he raised his left arm in front of him.
With a bang, rubble flew from the spot where Su Xiao had been standing. The ground caved