BXBX NOVEL Chapter 56 Trial By Combat 1
"Maria, what is the highest punishment for infringing on a Mage ID?" Daniel asked.
"Mr. Montgomery," Daniel called out to the nervous man attempting to make himself invisible.
"Ye... Yes, Mr. Magitek?" Montgomery stammered, surprised by the sudden attention.
"Please use my auction money to settle the fine for me, Mr. Kyros," Daniel instructed, turning towards Kyros.
"I accept your accusation, and Mr. Montgomery will arrange payment. Additionally, please give me a copy of the recipe. I need to go back now; I still have three custom orders to fulfill," Daniel stated calmly.
"You can't go anywhere! You're an outlaw!" Kyros shouted, but before he could make a move, Ragnar stepped in front of him.
"Lord Ragnar, you should know that even you can't interfere with the Enforcer's job without consequences," Kyros threatened.
"But your job is finished, Kyros. He has accepted the accusation of infringing on the mage ID. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill; you know I won't stand for that," Ragnar warned, his unyielding stance causing Kyros to hesitate.
He didn't dare to pursue Daniel, who was leaving, nor did he dare to become hostile to Ragnar because he knew that Ragnar could decimate him in a matter of seconds.
pαndα,noνɐ1,сoМ In truth, Kyros had come to this place to verify the rumors he had heard from the Willow family, a branch of his own family. They had been spreading word that someone had successfully created an Atlantean Artifact. His patriarch, believed that Montgomery should acquire these newly excavated artifacts from the ruins rather than newly created ones.
During the auction, he had witnessed the incredible power of the buckler used in the demonstration. Its protective abilities were on par with the large stationary mana generator shields used in the headquarters and many other large clans.
Using his Level 7 clearance, which he gained as an enforcer, he had already checked all of the known Atlantean artifacts and knew that none of them matched the quality of the buckler he had witnessed.
When he reported this to his clan patriarch, he was instructed to try and contact or befriend the artificer who had created the buckler. Alternatively, he was told to try and obtain one of the custom orders or the artifact itself.
He then came across this trash king in a difficult situation, who was blaming everything on Magitek. Kyros knew that this was his chance and made contact with the king to gather some dirt on Magitek. It may have seemed like a small matter to many mages, but Kyros could always use it against Magitek later and could add some fabricated crime on him.
He then discovered that Magitek did not have a Mage ID card, which meant that enslaving him would have no consequences or repercussions. Kyros devised a plan to enslave Magitek using this opportunity. However, he did not anticipate Ragnar Stenmark's presence, and despite being a new mage in the Curtained World, Magitek was aware of the laws of the Hightower.
He had already tarnished his clan's reputation in Magitek's eyes. If this continues and Magitek leaves this room, there will be countless factions vying to win him over! The issue of the mage ID card will become irrelevant.
"Trial by combat! I demand a trial by combat!" the enforcer exclaimed. If his clan couldn't have Magitek, then nobody should be allowed to use him, especially the Stenmark clan!
Upon hearing this, Daniel stopped and looked at Ragnar with a puzzled expression, as if seeking his opinion if this was feasible. The others had different reactions; Victor was delighted, Ragnar was a bit bewildered, Michaela narrowed her eyes with anger, and Maria's face clearly showed her displeasure.
As for Klaus, he sighed in disappointment, knowing that the enforcer from the Alchemont clan hadn't done their homework. Otherwise, they should have known that challenging this monster to a one-on-one trial by combat was suicide.
Ragnar let out a tired sigh and spoke in a weary voice.
"I understand what you're thinking, kid. You didn't have an ID and weren't recognized as a mage according to the rules. However, since you can use magic and even create an artifact, you are considered capable enough to undergo a trial by combat with a mage. The mage could then request a trial by combat with you, and the loser would have to do what the winner says," explained Ragnar.
Daniel nodded in understanding upon hearing Ragnar's words.
"In that case, we need a lot of witnesses," said Daniel. He walked towards the entrance of the meeting room and opened the door, hoping to find some witnesses.
However, upon opening the door, he found a large group of people waiting for him. Among them, he recognized four individuals from the auction - the Elf Queen, the Dwarf Leader, Mr. Dupont, who seemed to be at odds with the former, and Sloth, who was sitting on her comfy wheelchair, looking at him with half-closed eyes, about to doze off any second.
"Hello, Mr. Magitek, I've come for the order," the Elf Queen spoke first as she seductively waved the order card.
"Tch…" Michaela clicked her tongue in annoyance at the Elf Queen's behavior.
Daniel smiled wryly, realizing that Michaela didn't have a good opinion of the Elf Queen. He pushed aside the awkwardness and addressed the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you for your support and interest in my artifact. However, I need witnesses as Mr. Kyros Alchemont, the enforcer, has challenged me to a trial by combat," said Daniel, pointing his thumb at Kyros behind him.
"A trial by combat?! Are you out of your mind, Alchemont?! Challenging an Artificer to a one-on-one trial by combat? Do you have no shame?!" The dwarf leader shouted at Kyros in anger and turned towards Daniel.
It was common knowledge in the Curtained World that Artificers didn't possess strong combat capabilities, and anyone who challenged an Artificer to a one-on-one combat was considered a coward.
Hearing the dwarf's angry shout, Kyros wanted to smash Daniel's face for deliberately revealing that he belonged to the Alchemont clan and tarnishing its reputation.
"You don't need to worry, lad! I, Hargrim Goldgrip, will be your representative in this duel and help you to... umpf!" Hargrim was abruptly cut off as a large green vine sprouted under his feet, quickly wrapping him up and plugging his mouth with its arm-sized vine.
"Hmph..." The Elf Queen snorted at Hargrim, who was still struggling with the vines, and turned her attention to Daniel.
"Let me introduce myself. I am Sylpharia Silverleaf, the Queen of the Elves. I am honored to be your representative in this match," said the queen.
Upon witnessing this, Ragnar chuckled and walked out of the room.
"Unfortunately, he doesn't have that privilege because he still doesn't have his Mage ID card. This means he will have to participate in the trial by combat himself," Ragnar addressed the crowd.
Upon hearing this, apart from the Elf Queen, the Dwarf Leader, Dupont, and Sloth who seemed more interested in sleeping than conversing with others, everyone's eyes grew sharp with greed as they stared at Daniel.
Daniel forced a smile to conceal his disdain toward the crowd, except for the four who didn't have malicious intentions toward him.
He couldn't help but recall his first few days after awakening and hearing Uncle Murphy's heated argument with Wrath. Murphy had said that she was just like every other mage and she protested that she was not like the other mage, and it seemed uncle Murphy was right. Most mages appeared to be heartless, greedy, and selfish.
With the exception of a few he had met, none of the mages seemed to be good people. Or perhaps it was just difficult for good people to become mages.
The three auction winners who received their orders seem nervous as they look at Ragnar with pleading eyes, asking him as the person with the highest authority present to do something.
Noticing their gazes, Ragnar smiles reassuringly. "Don't worry," he says. "Even though this kid is an Artificer, you shouldn't underestimate his strength too much. You might be surprised."
Ragnar then walks over to the side of the hallway that leads to the coliseum. "Would you all like to be witnesses?" he asks.
"I'll be a witness," an electronic voice comes from the speaker in Sloth's comfy chair.
The chair slowly moves toward Ragnar and waits to the side.
The elf queen, the dwarf leader, Dupont, and the crowd all quickly volunteer themselves to be witnesses.
Upon seeing the scene, Kyros can only grit his teeth and exit the room, following Ragnar who starts walking toward the coliseum, accompanied by Daniel and the crowd. Victor follows behind, feeling a change taking place inside his mind, while Klaus can only follow to protect him.