Seeing the situation in the hall take a sudden turn for the worse, the hostage, Baron Doyle, cried out repeatedly through the pain:
"Wait! We can still talk this over..."
But Anke had been pushed past his limit and clearly had no interest in hearing pleas. He clamped an arm around the old baron's neck, choking off the rest of his words.
"I've had enough of your family's malice and hypocrisy, Doyle!"
The hostage-taker roared:
"Men, women, young, and old!"
Behind Tales, D.D., who was still hesitating, glared with bloodshot eyes, his arms trembling.
Piloga had no choice but to hurry over and help Gollor hold him down.
As captain, Marius remained silent. He merely studied the hostage-taker with a cold gaze.
The old baron was clearly having trouble breathing. His face quickly flushed crimson, prompting the baroness to scream:
"Ah! You cold-blooded little bastard! How dare you lay a hand on my husband! I swear, I'll—"
Seeing that things were going badly, Count Godwin hurriedly gestured for several female relatives to restrain the baroness. After much coaxing, they dragged her back into the crowd, preventing her from provoking the hostage-taker further.
Fear and worry spread through the hall. The guests began whispering among themselves again, with the guards barely managing to maintain order.
"You! Doyle's son!"
Anke's hair and beard bristled as he pointed his sword at D.D. on the steps, furious beyond measure:
"Stop hiding behind women!"
"Come down!"
Tales watched Anke from afar, looking like a madman, and felt heavy-hearted.
That man is desperate.
Tales thought silently.
He's hysterical.
All for the sake of a duel.
But he's only a pawn. His existence is meant to complete a small step in someone else's game.
The thought made Tales feel even more sorrowful.
The guards separating the crowd