Chapter 642
Chapter 642: 642
Standing toward the back of the gathering, Ethan could not help but grimace after hearing Haster’s proposal, because ever since ancient times, no matter how fiercely nations fought against one another and no matter how much blood stained the battlefield, there had always existed a few basic rules that every side silently agreed to follow in order to stop war from descending into complete madness and uncontrollable slaughter.
Those traditions had been passed down through countless generations and were accepted by almost every kingdom and empire as the invisible line that should never be crossed.
The first rule was that higher-ranking warriors were not allowed to deliberately attack those who were far weaker than themselves.
A difference of one or two minor realms during the chaos of battle was understandable and often unavoidable, but someone at the level of a Divine Knight like Ethan could not simply charge into enemy ranks and begin killing Master Knights or King Knights without restraint.
The second rule was that all warfare would cease once night fell, allowing both sides to recover their wounded, reorganize their troops, and prepare for the next day’s battle instead of turning every conflict into endless bloodshed.
Those two principles had long been treated as absolute laws, and breaking either of them could bring extremely serious consequences and invite endless retaliation.
Yet now...
These people were already throwing every one of those rules aside without the slightest hesitation.
The old order that had once kept war within certain limits was slowly collapsing before Ethan’s very eyes.
If that continued, then future wars would become nothing more than savage massacres where everyone killed without restraint and no distinction remained between honorable combat and blind slaughter.
Just thinking about it made another headache begin forming inside Ethan’s mind.
His thoughts drifted for a brief moment while he stood there silently.
Then suddenly a voice called out from the front.
"Marquise Ethan."
The call startled him for an instant.
However, his body reacted immediately through instinct.
He straightened his posture, stepped forward, and gave a proper salute without delay.
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Haster looked directly at him with an unreadable expression while everyone else quietly watched.
His voice remained calm.
"I want you to lead the troops and disrupt their army."
"While the Saints and Transcendent Knights keep the enemy occupied, you will ravage their camp and destroy as much as you can."
The moment those words reached his ears, Ethan’s expression froze completely.
His entire body trembled almost imperceptibly.
He...
He had just been ordered to slaughter people indiscriminately while disregarding everything else.
If he truly unleashed his full strength inside an ordinary military camp, then he could wipe out an enormous number of weaker soldiers within only a few minutes.
He knew it.
Everyone present knew it.
But...
He did not want to do it.
There had already been several occasions where circumstances had forced his hand and left him with no other option.
However, choosing to do something like that when the situation did not absolutely demand it was something entirely different.
No.
He simply could not accept it.
Deep inside, Ethan felt that if he continued walking down that path over and over again, one day he would eventually lose the last traces of his humanity and become nothing more than another monster created by war.
His fists slowly clenched until his nails dug into his palms.
His jaw tightened.
Then, gathering his courage, he suddenly raised his voice.
"Your Highness."
"I have an objection."
The words instantly drowned the gathering in complete silence.
Every noble present slowly turned toward him.
Duke Osantra’s eyes widened.
Several commanders exchanged shocked glances.
Even Haster slowly narrowed his eyes while carefully studying Ethan’s face.
"What do you mean, Marquise Ethan?"
Ethan met his gaze directly and refused to look away.
"I mean..."
"I can’t go around slaughtering weaker people."
"I am a prideful warrior."
"And such warfare is beneath me."
For several long moments, Haster simply stared into Ethan’s eyes while everyone else remained silent.
The determination burning within Ethan’s gaze was impossible to ignore.
Seeing that the Crown Prince still remained unconvinced, Ethan took another breath and continued speaking.
"Rather than that..."
"I want to join the Saint team."
"I might not be able to kill a Saint."
"But I can keep them busy."
Those words shocked everyone even more than his earlier refusal.
The surrounding nobles stared at him with open disbelief.They all knew Ethan had previously managed to contend against a Saint and survive.
However, that situation had been completely different.
Back then there had only been one Saint.
This time...
There would be many.
And alongside them would stand numerous Transcendent experts.
Even so, Ethan’s expression never changed.
Haster quietly observed him before finally asking in a cold voice.
"Are you sure about this?"
"I am."
Ethan answered without even a moment of hesitation.
The Crown Prince remained silent for another few seconds before finally giving a slow nod.
"Very well."
"I will grant your wish."
"You may join the Saint team."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"But..."
His stern expression softened ever so slightly.
"You do not need to force yourself."
"If you encounter danger..."
"You may retreat."
With that, Haster slowly turned around and prepared to leave.
However, just before he fully faced away, Ethan noticed something that immediately sent goosebumps running across his back.
A faint grin had quietly formed on the Crown Prince’s lips.
It remained there for only a brief instant.Then it disappeared completely as if it had never existed.
Afterward, Haster issued several more orders regarding troop deployment, scouting formations, supply movements, and battle preparations before finally dismissing the meeting.
The assembled nobles gradually dispersed and began returning to their respective units.
As Ethan stepped outside the command area, a familiar figure suddenly approached him from the side.
Regalina.
Without saying a single word, she gently wrapped both of her hands around one of his palms.
Then she frowned slightly.
"Why are your palms so sweaty?"
She asked the question almost casually.
However, the very next moment she paused.
Only then did she properly notice Ethan’s expression.
His entire face was covered with sweat.
Tiny droplets continued sliding down his forehead.
Even his breathing looked slightly uneven.
The seriousness inside his eyes instantly caused her heartbeat to quicken.
A trace of worry immediately appeared across her beautiful face.
"Ethan..."
"What happened?"
Without waiting for his answer, she quickly tore a small piece from the edge of her own fabric and gently wiped away the sweat covering his forehead and cheeks.
Ethan swallowed once.His throat felt unusually dry.
Then he slowly looked directly into her eyes.
There was a brief hesitation before he finally opened his mouth.
"Regalina..."
"Yes!"Regalina nodded.
"It seems..."
"I have been scammed."