Two days have passed in the blink of an eye.
By August 5th.
It was a little after nine in the morning.
At the entrance of the Silver Lizard Club on Umber Street in North Muse, many exquisite and high-end private carriages and black cars were already parked on the gray stone square.
On both sides of the porch, there are two rows of "A"-shaped notice boards.
Dozens of bulletin boards displayed the same poster: a watercolor painting of two gentlemen in suits and top hats striking each other with their canes.
It also features the words " Silver Lizard Annual Young Cane Masters Tournament " in large red letters.
Many gentlemen and ladies came from far and wide, including many members of the capital's elite. Some even traveled from the West Muse just to witness this staff-walking competition.
Of course, the main reason was to use this event as a rare social occasion to build relationships with other powerful figures.
Perhaps this is one of the goals of the Silver Lizard Club.
People came and went through the porch, and some men lingered in groups of three or five on one side of the porch, smoking and chatting.
A group of elegantly dressed ladies gathered around a large notice board inside the porch, pointing at the list of participating members, seemingly discussing something.
At this moment, several cars drove up and stopped by the roadside. The two groups of young people got out of the cars and then walked together towards the club.
" Prince, you've signed up for the competition too?"
The handsome, dark-haired Kordel addressed the four siblings of the Fahan Family.
"I didn't have the guts last year, but I'm much braver this year."
"I hadn't even obtained my ' Instructor ' qualification certificate yet, so what was the point of participating in the competition?"
Prince glanced at Kordel and said calmly.
"Unlike some people who signed up but were eliminated in the first round. Isn't that embarrassing, Kordel?"
"I hope you'll still be this confident later."
Kordel wasn't annoyed and chuckled.
Besides him, Zigui, Franz, Dadeier, and Jenna also came, along with the four Fahan Family siblings, making a total of nine young people standing on the porch.
"Miss Nancy, where is your brother, Mr. Gilan?"
Dadeier glanced around and suddenly asked.
Today, she wore a round-neck gray-gold dress, exuding an exceptionally aristocratic air.
"I sent the steward to invite him, but my brother hasn't replied."
Nancy turned her head and answered.
She was wearing a small top hat, with a red and black feather from an unknown bird tucked into the brim.
"They're probably too busy and don't plan to participate."
"It's better if he doesn't come," Prince said softly. "He always looks gloomy, like someone owes him money."
"Be careful, if Brother Gilan hears you, he'll beat you up."
Milinda said with a grin.
Prince was startled and instinctively turned around to look. Finding no one there, he realized he had been tricked and glared at his sister.
At this moment, Franz of the Jacob Viscount Family laughed:
" Prince, I think you have a very good chance of winning the staff competition this year."
"Most of the champions in previous years were only at the level of seasoned ' Instructor ' level, but after a year of training, your strength must have improved even further."
" Joann also has a good chance."
Prince was pleased with his cousin's words, but he didn't show excessive pride. Instead, he patted his younger brother on the shoulder.
"I'm still a bit behind my brother; I'll be satisfied if I can make it into the top three."
Joann scratched his head and chuckled.
"There are quite a few formidable figures in this year's staff fighting competition. Not to mention Kordel... I heard that Hart Norman, Rio, and Kud have all signed up. These guys are all geniuses from ' Triumph Kingdom Academy '."
As they talked, Prince and Kordel seemed eager to try their luck, as if they wanted to test their skills against the other opponents.
Suddenly, everyone heard Milinda exclaim in surprise.
They turned their heads and saw the girl standing behind a group of women, tiptoeing to look at the notice board.
"What's wrong, Milinda?"
Nancy asked.
"Come and see!" Milinda said without turning her head.
Everyone went to investigate and immediately saw Milinda pointing at the list of participants, with one name standing out prominently—
Gilan Iros.
"Huh?" Miss Dadeier exclaimed in surprise, her eyes showing interest. "So Mr. Gilan has also signed up for the competition."
"Haha, Prince, Milinda can see you and Gilan sparring again!"
Milinda, dressed in pink, turned around and giggled.
Prince's expression changed slightly.
But he was unwilling to admit that he was inferior to the other in his most proficient skill, staff fighting, so he said in a deep voice:
"He specializes in unarmed combat and has never learned cane fighting. I really don't know what the point is of secretly signing up for the competition."
Upon hearing this, Kordel, who was standing to the side, also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He was initially a little nervous when he learned that the illegitimate son of the Fahan Family was participating in the competition, since the four siblings unanimously agreed that he had the strength of a master.
It now appears that he was merely a martial arts master, not skilled in staff fighting.
But Kordel did not let his guard down.
After all, a master is a master, and even if he hasn't learned staff techniques, his physical abilities, which far exceed those of an ' Instructor ', make him extremely difficult to deal with.
While techniques are useful, their effectiveness is likely to be greatly reduced when facing an opponent who is physically stronger and faster.
"Are you scared, Prince?"
Milinda looked disappointed.
"Afraid?" Prince glanced at Dadeier almost imperceptibly, and when she looked at him, he couldn't help but say:
"This is a staff-fighting competition, not a combat competition. What am I afraid of?"
At that moment, Dadeier's eyes flickered.
A voice suddenly came from behind Prince:
"You look good, Prince."
Everyone present was taken aback.
Turning his head, he saw a young man in a black overcoat and top hat standing behind Prince, his expression indifferent.
"Brother Gilan."
Nancy greeted her politely.
Jenna, standing next to Dadeier, narrowed her eyes.
My heart trembled.
When did he start standing here?
I didn't even realize it!
Prince heard the voice behind him and cursed under his breath. He stiffly turned his head and whispered:
"Big brother."
Gilan glanced at him but didn't say anything.
Instead, he nodded to Nancy and Dadeier.
Noticing the blonde woman beside Miss Dadeier, he sighed inwardly. It seemed she hadn't heeded his advice and was still associating with this woman of suspicious background.
But he won't offer any further reminders.
He had done what he was supposed to do, even though they were not close friends. The other person's choice was none of his concern.
"Mr. Gilan, I didn't expect you to participate in the competition too."
Dadeier gave a gentle smile, then raised her little fist.
"Good luck. We'll be watching from the private box on the second floor later."
"Thanks."
Gilan nodded and glanced at the crowd.
"As a contestant, and in the first round, I went in first."
Having said that, he walked past Prince and headed straight for the club's entrance.
The crowd was left looking at each other in bewilderment.
After Gilan left, Milinda suddenly thought of something and blurted out:
" Joann, it seems you're also in the first round!"