Chapter 98: Eccentric

Chapter 98: Eccentric



"Mr. Karl."

Jacqueline bowed respectfully:

"The father of the Asis Knight wishes to meet you. He has a few Serenity Coins from the Divine Blessing you mentioned last time."

"Oh!" Karl paused from his potion-mixing and turned around, deep in thought:

"Is that so?"

"Yes." Jacqueline nodded:

"Elder Henry has instructed that if you find it inconvenient, you can arrange to meet at the Dragon King Merchant Guild's tavern."

"There's no need for such trouble." Karl smiled faintly:

"I'll get ready and head over there right away."

He then gestured for Jacqueline to wait outside and called for Aya.

"Uncle."

Aya, upon hearing the situation, frowned subconsciously:

"Meeting with the Scythe Brotherhood at this time might not be a good idea. Miss Lula might not be happy about it."

"Elder Henry is a qualified merchant, and Asis is my friend. There's no problem meeting him." Karl adjusted his clothes:

"Our relationship with Miss Lula is purely business, we don't belong to each other. She understands that."

"But..."

"Henry wants to see me?"

He shook his head lightly but didn't say more.

If it were before he became a High Wizard Apprentice, he might have had some concerns, but now that he had advanced, he had the confidence to face danger. Moreover, it was worth the effort for the Divine Blessing.

"Tell the location to Crow, he'll know what to do."

"Yes."

Aya agreed.

Among the Grand Knights of the Dragon King Merchant Guild, Crow was the most mysterious. He possessed a unique seal, and it was said that even against a Peak-level Grand Knight, he could survive.

...

"Bang!"

Emma's face was filled with anger as she slammed the wine glass in her hand onto the ground, shattering it and startling the servants around her.

"Karl!"

Her cheek muscles twitched:

"As a member of the Dragon King Merchant Guild, how could he secretly meet with the elders of the Scythe Brotherhood? What was he thinking?"

"Mother." Lula spoke softly:

"Mr. Karl is a man of strong emotions. He has a good relationship with Elder Henry's son, Asis. We have no reason to stop him."

"Moreover, since he had Uncle Crow deliver the message, it's not a secret meeting. He's just trying to put us at ease."

"At ease?" Emma coldly hummed:

"If he really wanted to put us at ease, he wouldn't have gone to the meeting!"

"It seems like Karl isn't entirely trustworthy. You need to find a way to get the formula for the Rampage Potion, and then..."

"Hmph!"

"Mother!" Lula sighed:

"The place Henry chose to meet Mr. Karl isn't far from the slum, and it might be a trap."

"Let's have someone prepare first."

"Mr. Karl is very important to our guild. No matter what, we can't let him face danger."

As the saying goes, a dying camel is bigger than a horse, let alone the Dragon King Merchant Guild, which hasn't declined, especially after taking over Jasper's forces. Dispatching some knights is a breeze.

With a team of knights accompanying them, even if they encounter danger, there's still room for a turnaround.

"Prepare, prepare what?" Unexpectedly, Emma raised her eyebrows, deep in thought:

"If it is a trap, it's also an opportunity for us."

"Hmm?"

Lula looked surprised.

...

Elder Henry was known for his steady character, and his morals had withstood the test of time, which earned him Karl's trust.

The carriage slowly made its way down the road.

The muddy and bumpy road was a challenge for the carriage's suspension.

Inside the carriage, incense was lit, and a blanket was spread, creating a cozy atmosphere that gradually relaxed Karl's mood.

'No one's coming!'

'It seems like my position as a Grand Knight and Potionist isn't highly valued in the Dragon King Merchant Guild.'

'With Lula's personality, it's unlikely that she wouldn't arrange for Lady Emma. So, was it Emma's doing?'

Karl shook his head lightly.

Whether it was Emma or Lula, in his eyes, both had character flaws.

Emma was too dominant and sometimes even unreasonable, which was why many people found her hard to deal with her.

Her strength surpassed that of the two vice presidents, but no one had ever suggested that she take over the president's position.

Lula, on the other hand, was the opposite.

She had a personality that was too gentle.

Perhaps it was due to having a strong mother that she lacked initiative when it mattered.

If Lula wanted to truly grow, she might have to break free from her mother's dominance.

Hmm?

"Stop the carriage!"

"Whoa!"

Jacqueline gently pulled the reins and stopped the carriage:

"Mr. Karl, what's wrong?"

Unbeknownst to them, a light drizzle had started outside, and a faint mist had enveloped the Free Harbor.

Karl lifted the carriage curtain and stepped out into the rain.

Ahead was a long street, no different from others, except that there were fewer pedestrians due to the rain.

But in Karl's perception, the air was filled with a dense killing intent, like a giant web silently waiting for its prey.

The powerful psychic energy, even a High Wizard Apprentice could almost see the hidden figures within the streets and houses.

Karl bowed his head.

He looked at his arm.

The hair on his skin, which had been lying flat, was now standing on end, and his spider sense was also giving off warning signs.

Sighing, Karl shook his head helplessly:

"Forget it!"

"Let's go back."

Elder Henry had betrayed his trust, and while Karl didn't plan to pursue it, their relationship would never be the same again.

Jacqueline exclaimed in surprise:

"Mr. Karl, it's almost time."

Karl turned his head, studying Jacqueline intently as if to confirm her tone, then chuckled lightly:

"It's fine, you just say that my body isn't feeling well, I believe Elder Henry will understand."

"Hmm!"

"It seems we're running late."

He turned to face the long street ahead.

"Buzz..."

A subtle tremor sounded, the light rain suddenly intensified, and countless 'raindrops' screamed from the sky.

Arrow Rain!

The rain obscured the sky, completely covering the area where Karl stood, not even sparing the nearby surroundings.

"Careful!"

Jacqueline instinctively pressed her hand on her sword hilt, her eyes filled with despair.

The arrow rain was too fast and dense, leaving no room for evasion, and it was impossible to block them all.

"Whoosh!"

Just as he prepared to close his eyes and accept his fate, a stream of water appeared out of thin air and instantly transformed into a six to seven-meter-wide giant water ball, enveloping both of them within.

Zero-Ring Spell - Wave Guardian!

The water was soft yet possessed extreme resilience.

Even bullets exceeding the speed of sound would quickly dissipate their kinetic energy upon hitting the water, and arrows were no exception.

Moreover,

The water ball formed by the Wave Guardian wasn't static; it continuously spun at high speed within.

Incoming attacks, unless they could break through the defense in an instant, would be swiftly dissolved by the swirling water.

"Puff!"

"Puff, puff!"

Countless arrows pierced the water, their speed abruptly slowing, and then they were flung away by the swirling water.

"Boom!"

A tremor sounded.

Before the sound reached their eardrums, three giant arrows, each over two meters long, pierced the water ball.

The water rippled.

Karl narrowed his eyes, observing the rapidly approaching arrows, his right hand slightly raised.

Zero-Ring Spell - Minor Mage Field!

The defensive power stacked, and all the incoming attacks were simultaneously halted. The three giant arrows also stopped right before his face.

The person who set this trap clearly understood the defensive capabilities of a Grand Knight. They started with a saturation-style attack.

It was as if dozens of knights were charging from all directions, wildly swinging their weapons without a moment's respite.

A typical Grand Knight would indeed find it challenging to withstand such an onslaught, and even if they managed to block, they would inevitably sustain injuries.

Alas,

Karl's defensive power far surpassed that of an ordinary Grand Knight!

Even a Peak Knight couldn't compare to him; this kind of offensive couldn't pose a threat to him.

"Swoosh!"

A figure appeared, and two massive auras surged forth.

Grand Knight!

Karl's expression turned solemn.

He suspected that the Scythe Brotherhood might be a threat to him, but the most likely scenario was that they would try to win him over.

If they couldn't win him over, they would take action.

So, theoretically, the first meeting wasn't too dangerous, which was one of the reasons he agreed to come.

Unexpectedly,

They didn't play by the rules at all and went straight for the kill.

"Huff..."

A Grand Knight opened his mouth and exhaled a strand of cold air, which instantly transformed into a white mist, enveloping everything.

Wherever the cold air reached, everything froze.

The water ball formed by the Wave Guardian instantly turned into an ice lump, and both of them became ice sculptures within.

Superb Seal - Frost Dragon's Breath!

Another Grand Knight's figure flickered, turning into a cloud of smoke that ignored the ice layer and approached them from within.

In his hand, he held a bizarre longsword. The sword body slightly trembled, and countless sword marks appeared within the ice lump.

"Hmph!"

From a distance, Elder Belde, sitting inside a house, coldly huffed:

"Perhaps his strength is impressive, but after all, he became a Grand Knight too quickly, lacking experience in battling opponents of the same level."

"Perhaps Frost Girl and Gray Shadow will be enough."

"You should always remember this..."

"Hmm?"

Before his words could land, his expression suddenly turned gloomy.

"Crack..."

"Crack, crack!"

The ice lump produced crisp sounds.

Karl's expression darkened, his body slightly trembling, and the accumulated battle aura within him burst like ignited explosives.

—Burst!

A giant ice lump instantly shattered into countless ice fragments, forcing the nearby Grand Knight to dodge.

Karl raised his hand, and his armor automatically covered his entire body. He turned to look, and Jacqueline had already lost her life force.

Her body, frozen into an ice sculpture, was then sliced by sharp blades, turning into countless ice fragments along with the ice ball.

"Scythe Brotherhood!"

Karl took a deep breath, and two swords unsheathed from his waist with a rumble, releasing a grayish aura mixed with battle aura.

"Die!"

Combat Technique - Gale Slash!

The swords swung, and the air was filled with countless sword slashes.

The air trembled.

Karl narrowed his eyes, observing the rapidly approaching sword slashes. His right hand slightly lifted.

Zero-Ring Spell - Lesser Mage Field!

The defensive power stacked, and all the incoming attacks halted. The three giant arrows also stopped right before him.

The Scythe Brotherhood clearly understood the defensive capabilities of a Grand Knight. They started with a saturation-style attack.

It was as if dozens of knights were charging from all directions, wildly swinging their weapons without a moment's respite.

A typical Grand Knight would indeed find it challenging to withstand such an onslaught, and even if they blocked, they would still sustain injuries.

Alas,

Karl's defensive power far exceeded that of a typical Grand Knight!

Even a Peak Knight couldn't compare to him. This kind of offensive couldn't pose a threat to him.

"Swish!"

A figure appeared, and two massive auras surged.

Grand Knight!

Karl's expression turned solemn.

He seemed to realize that the Scythe Brotherhood might not be favorable to him, and the most likely scenario was that they would try to win him over.

If they couldn't win him over, they would take action.

So, the first meeting theoretically wasn't too dangerous, and this was one of the reasons he agreed to come.

Unexpectedly,

They didn't follow the rules and went straight for a ruthless attack.

"Loose the arrows!"

As Gray Shadow was about to succumb, Frost Maiden frantically roared, "Fire the arrows!"

Biting her silver teeth, she charged forward with two short swords, swiftly slashing through the surrounding shadows.

For now, they could only withstand this wave and wait for reinforcements.

This operation had cost Second Elder Belde a significant investment, and the Grand Knights present were not limited to just the two of them.

"Loose!"

"Whizz! Whizz!"

The rain of arrows descended once more.

This time, it was mostly large crossbow bolts and even crossbow cannons, which posed a significant threat to the Grand Knights.

Humming coldly, Karl initially had no intention of dealing with these peripheral personnel, but now it seemed...

"Open!"

Secret Technique—Gigantism!

"Boom!"

Instantly, a giant over six feet tall appeared in the center, brandishing two massive swords and deflecting the incoming arrows.

At the same time, he lifted one foot.

The surrounding mental waves and life force appeared as red dots in Karl's perception, like a radar.

Terrifying power accumulated within his body, and the earth's pulse surged like an undulating wave until it reached a critical point.

Supreme Seal—Earth Impact!

His foot slammed down.

"Boom!"

A thunderous boom reverberated through the area, echoing across half of Free Harbor. The ground beneath Karl's feet cracked, and fissures spread like a spider web, sending dust and rubble flying in all directions. The air was thick with dust, and the force of the impact caused rows of houses to collapse.

The terrifying shockwave instantly knocked out all living creatures within several dozen meters.

Under the impact, the Knight Squire was knocked unconscious, and the Grand Knights' bodies went limp, unable to move.

Even the Grand Knights paled, their legs trembling.

The Earth Impact had two phases.

Under the influence of the Supreme Seal, the soil beneath the ground transformed into sharp stone spikes, piercing through the earth's surface.

"Puff!"

"Puff! Puff!"

Instantly, dozens of figures were impaled by the stone spikes, hanging in mid-air, screaming in agony and wailing pitifully.

The red dots representing life force in Karl's perception vanished instantly, leaving only a few faint traces.

"Hmm..."

Having dealt with the nuisance soldiers, Karl's swords trembled in his hands as he slashed towards the two Grand Knights.

Combat Technique—Sacred Judgment!

"Boom!"

The earth shook violently, and the raging battle aura formed a whirlwind, sweeping forward with increasing intensity.

"Bang!"

Frost Maiden was the first to fall, spitting blood as she flew backward, her body trembling upon landing, unable to stand for a moment.

Gray Shadow, due to the effect of the seal, could constantly dematerialize, barely managing to hold on.

However...

"Is that all you can do, hide?"

"Come out!"

The giant charged forward, swinging his sword, knocking down buildings and cracking the ground as he passed.

"You damn rats, show yourselves and face me head-on! Come out!"

"Boom!"

Buildings collapsed, and debris flew everywhere.

Gray Shadow desperately dodged within the rubble, but under the various force fields' suppression, his speed continued to slow.

He had no choice but to intercept with his sword.

"Clang!"

Something was wrong!

The unusual sound of the clash made Gray Shadow's eyes narrow, and he inwardly cursed.

When had his long sword transformed into a grayish-white stone sword? Its material had changed from mixed metal to stone.

A stone sword?

Damn!

"Bang!"

The stone sword shattered, and Gray Shadow's body was struck by the horizontal slash, spitting blood as he was smashed into a pile of rubble.

"Stop!"

"Mr. Karl, please stop!"

In the distance, a figure flew over, like an eagle skimming the ground, shouting, "Mr. Karl, please stop! Please, spare..."

"Bang!"

Before he could finish, Karl had already swung his sword, chopping Gray Shadow's body into a pile of meat paste.

At the same time, he stepped towards Frost Maiden, who was unable to move.

"Karl!"

Henry's teeth clenched, and he shouted, "Please stop! It was our Scythe Brotherhood's mistake. We're willing to compensate with Divine Blessings."

Divine Blessings?

Karl paused slightly, then slowly turned around. He extended his hand and grabbed Frost Maiden, who was already semi-conscious, from the ground.

With a gentle squeeze, Frost Maiden, who was already barely conscious, fainted.

"Compensate with Divine Blessings!"

Karl muttered, then leaped into the distance.

Mr. Monroe, a short and ordinary-looking man known for his ruthless methods, was especially caring towards those close to him.

"Sir."

A servant whispered, "The Scythe Brotherhood has sent word. They plan to take action against the Dragon King Guild, and it's Second Elder Belde's decision."

"Belde?" Monroe frowned. "Do the other elders agree? What's their confidence level?"

"Not many elders agree. Most are neutral, only Fourth Elder Henry explicitly opposed." The servant explained.

"Without many elders' agreement, it's mainly Second Elder Belde's decision. He's made extensive preparations, so the chances of success should be high."

"His actions are always well-planned. Success would be great, and it could also deal a blow to the Scythe Brotherhood. The only concern is the possibility of failure." Monroe said.

"Creak..."

As he pushed open the door, his expression suddenly changed.

This was his residence, and outside, there was heavy security. But inside, there was someone who shouldn't be there.

"Lula!"

"Mr. Monroe." Lula stood with her arms crossed, admiring a wall carving. Her expression was complex.

"This should depict my father founding the Dragon King Guild. Decades have passed..."

"Yes." Monroe signaled to a servant and strode into the room.

"Your father led us twelve to establish the Chamber of Commerce, and we've come this far."

"I'll never forget that scene." Monroe's voice was filled with emotion as he reminisced.

"If that's the case, why must Uncle Monroe insist on splitting the Chamber of Commerce?" Lula turned, puzzled.

"The Chamber is the result of your hard work, and it hasn't been easy to get to where it is today. Why has it come to this?"

"You should ask your father and your mother." Monroe sneered, "The Chamber is the collective effort of all of us. Why is it called the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce? Do you think I wanted to be the Vice President of this Chamber? If not for your father, I would have had more choices."

He took a step forward and looked at the bas-relief on the wall.

"Of the brothers who fought alongside us back then, how many are still here?"

"If you want to blame someone, blame your father for being too domineering and your mother for being too assertive. They don't tolerate anyone else."

"Lula."

Monroe glanced at her, his expression complex.

"If not for your mother, perhaps I wouldn't mind letting you take over as President. I've watched you grow up, and I know your character well."

"..." Lula fell silent for a moment before speaking softly, "Uncle Monroe, please stay!"

"Stay?" Monroe scoffed, "It's too late!"

"Uncle Crow is outside, cleaning up your men. Your mother will be here soon. You've made your choice." Lula shook her head.

"Stay, or..."

"Or what?" Monroe asked.

"Kill me?"

"Karl the Apothecary is being surrounded and attacked by the Scythe Brotherhood. You're not going to save him, but instead, you come here. Is this your mother's decision?"

"Uncle Monroe." Lula frowned, "Talking about this now is pointless. You've already lost."

Monroe's expression froze.

Indeed!

At this moment, he had no helpers by his side, and facing Lula, who possessed the Dragon King's Wrath, he might not have a chance to win.

Not to mention the presence of Uncle Crow and the others.

While the Scythe Brotherhood's attention was on Karl, no one could provide him with assistance.

"You've won."

Monroe's cheek muscles twitched as he muttered, "But I can't continue staying in the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce. Everything else can be yours, but I'll take my people and leave."

"This..." Lula hesitated, then thought for a moment before slowly nodding.

"Okay!"

"Okay what?"

Just then, a cold voice rang out.

"No one can take away the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce's belongings. No one can!"

"Bang!"

A window shattered, and a corpse was thrown in from outside.

Monroe recognized the corpse's face, and his eyes instantly turned crimson with infinite rage surging from his heart.

His rationality was completely incinerated.

"Barry!"

He couldn't help but hiss in anger.

"My child..."

"Hmph!" Emma controlled the vines, approaching from outside with a cold expression. She glanced at Lula, "I knew you'd go soft. Useless thing!"

Then she added, "No one can split the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce. No one can take away the Chamber's belongings, and that includes you!"

"Monroe!"

"You and your child are also part of the Dragon King Chamber of Commerce. This fact won't change, even in death."

"Ah!" Monroe roared, looking up, "Crazy woman, I'll kill you!"

"Boom!"

Battle aura surged forth, rushing towards Emma.

Although Monroe's strength was slightly weaker, at this moment, his rage fueled his attack, focusing solely on offense. Emma unexpectedly fell into a disadvantage.

"Lula!"

Emma roared, "What are you doing? Hurry up and attack!"

"..." Lula's eyes flickered with uncertainty, and she eventually sighed, clenching her fists and striking towards Monroe.

"Uncle Monroe, I'm sorry."

...

Recently, the weather has been humid, and dense morning fog envelops Free Harbor every day.

Now,

Even at noon, the fog shows no signs of dissipating.

Although you can't quite see your fingers in front of you, objects a few meters away are barely visible.

"Crack..."

Lula opened a wooden box and placed it in front of Karl.

"These are the five Great Blessings I obtained from Monroe. I'm sorry about what happened last time."

"Mhm." Karl nodded, taking one of the Great Blessings and weighing it in his hand. "I heard the Lady was injured?"

"Yes." Lula nodded. "Her left arm was cut off. Uncle Monroe... he used special means. I fear it can't be reattached."

In the end, Monroe died at the hands of Emma and Lula, but Emma's injuries were not minor.

From now on, she'll be a one-armed lady.

"Please give my regards to the Lady."

Karl put away the Great Blessings and headed towards the door.

"I have something to attend to. I'll be off."

Lula opened her mouth to speak but couldn't find the words. After all, the events of a few days ago had become a knot in her heart.

They had put Karl in danger to draw attention and take the opportunity to resolve the Chamber's internal conflict.

Although Monroe was killed, it also alienated Karl.

"Sigh!"

Lula sighed, slowly retracting her gaze.

Now, the Chamber of Commerce no longer had internal conflicts. Next, she would find a way to ease the relationship between Karl and the others.

"Aya."

Karl boarded the carriage.

"To Asis's Tavern."

"Yes."

Aya responded and flicked the reins, urging the horse forward.

The fog grew thicker.

The coast.

An old, dilapidated merchant ship slowly emerged from the mist, its tattered sails and shattered deck seemingly telling a tale of some tragic accident.

"We've arrived!"

"Free Harbor."

A figure appeared on the ship's deck, gazing into the distance towards the direction of the Lord's Mansion.

Please collect!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end