"My uncle was still the Honorary Viscount of Archsea City back then. At the Empty Palace, that title was like the Duke of Star Lake's at the Revival Palace—of immense importance and great prestige at the time."
Amid thunderous cheers, Duke Jann sat in the stands, applauding as he nodded to a smug-looking vassal in the neighboring section—the warrior sponsored by the latter had just won.
"Like the Duke of Star Lake?"
Tales applauded the victor as well. Smiling, he looked to outsiders as though he were merely making small talk with the Duke of South Bank. "That special?"
Shilai glanced at him, apparently finding him insufficiently humble.
"My father once relied on my uncle as his right-hand man and entrusted him with handling political affairs. You can imagine how much trust Sona once enjoyed, as well as his status within the family and the extent of his power and influence." Amid the cheers, Jann paused. "And the weight he carried in the hearts of the people of Emerald City and the entire Southbank Territory."
And the weight he carried in my father's heart.
Jann silently added.
"Let us welcome Bishof's opponent this round: the Heaven-Blessed Warrior Women from Red Earth! The warrior Dossalan! The time for bets has arrived!"
Another match began. A powerful female warrior named Dossalan—something rarely seen—stepped onto the field, and the audience erupted.
So Sona had once been deeply trusted, even wielding power over the entire court—Tales pondered this until the drums announcing the beginning of the battle interrupted him.
After round upon round of slaughter, the contestants remaining in the Selection Tournament grew steadily stronger, while the bloodshed and brutality rose just as sharply. Yet Tales had long since grown weary of it all—whether forcing himself to look fascinated, enduring scenes of bloodshed that