Chapter 58: Daniels’s Little Scheme
Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Daniels’s Little Scheme
Raymond and Simone’s battle was still going on.
The battle grew more intense after they started using Fighting Qi, and both men began to sustain injuries.
Gradually, Raymond, despite having defeated many Human Tier Warriors, began to show signs of being suppressed.
This suppression wasn’t a deliberate act to heed Duane’s instructions; he was genuinely being overpowered by his opponent.
Although Raymond was exceptional, his background was far inferior to that of Simone, who hailed from the Gobel Clan.
Take Combat Techniques, for instance. The ones Raymond had mastered were mostly those bestowed upon him by the Third Legion.
While powerful, they certainly couldn’t compare to the Combat Techniques the Gobel Clan had developed specifically for their own strengths.
So, it was understandable that Raymond was showing signs of fatigue as the fight dragged on.
If it came down to it, unless Simone made a fatal mistake, Raymond was very likely to lose even if he didn’t surrender.
But from the start of the battle, Simone had been proficient in both offense and defense. He didn’t look like someone who would make a mistake.
BOOM!
Another close-range bombardment of Combat Techniques sent both men flying back from the violent impact.
Raymond flipped in mid-air, barely managing to land on his feet.
He flexed his wrists. The prolonged, rapid clashes had put immense strain on them. At the same time, his hands were covered in cuts from errant sprays of Fighting Qi, leaving them a bloody mess.
"You’re a direct member of the Gobel Clan. Why would you join a third-rate gang?"
Raymond gasped for breath, his voice earnest. "Simone, you may not have had a choice before, but now you have better options on Black Forest Island."
A faint smile touched Duane’s lips at those words.
’Raymond’s not half bad. He even knows to look for a chance to recruit someone.’
Simone, however, clearly wasn’t listening. "That has nothing to do with you," he said, his voice slightly hoarse.
He was injured too, just not as severely.
"Let’s fight. Use your full strength, or you’re going to lose this bout!"
Raymond chuckled. "I admit you’re strong. As for this bout... I concede!"
"Hm?"
Simone’s expression was one of astonishment.
Everyone else, from Daniels to the injured Bard, was just as stunned.
Even though Simone had the upper hand, it wasn’t as if Raymond had no chance of winning.
They all expected the third bout to be as brutal as the first. No one imagined the Baron’s Warrior would actually surrender.
’Isn’t he afraid of being punished by Duane?’
"You’re just conceding like that..."
Simone looked toward Duane. "Does the Baron agree?"
"Of course I agree!"
Duane mounted his horse as John and Jack hung the shield and sword on its saddle.
He rode slowly to the center of the battlefield and announced, "The bouts are over. Best two out of three. I win."
"Bard, Daniels, come forward and let’s talk!"
Bard’s face was grim.
The Fighting Qi had soothed the pain in his muscles over the past little while, but his broken bones wouldn’t heal that easily.
Thankfully, he could still take a few steps on his own.
"Gaius, help me over."
"Just the two of us?" Gaius grunted.
Bard nodded slowly. "The Baron has won, so he has the advantage. Besides, he cares too much for his noble reputation to launch a surprise attack on me."
Despite his words, he gave Kubatu a look. "You come too."
Daniels looked at Duane, then at the defeated Raymond. His gaze finally settled on the injured Kaelon and Bard, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
Right now, the Holy Hand Association had one Level 3 Mage, one Intermediate Mage, two Advanced Warriors, plus three Middle Level Warriors and five Basic-level Warriors.
Without a doubt, his fighting force was now the strongest.
"Uleir, Kalina, Harry, come with me."
Duane’s sharp eyes caught this. He narrowed his eyes, his expression sinking.
Daniels led the three forward. Including Simone, who was still on the field, that made a total of five people.
This group was more than capable of attacking both Duane and the Broken Wave Gang simultaneously. Judging by the restless crowd behind the Holy Hand Association, they seemed ready to do just that.
"Interesting!"
Duane raised his hand and beckoned.
The three Captains—Michele, Evans, and Willie—immediately led all their men forward at top speed.
Bard’s expression changed drastically at the sight. "Baron, what do you think you’re doing?" he shouted.
At the same time, Daniels also halted.
Duane glanced at Bard, then turned his gaze to Daniels. "I’m more interested to know what you mean by bringing extra people forward, Mage."
Bard whipped his head around, just in time to see Uleir, Kalina, and the others beside Daniels.
He realized only then that in the aftermath of the battle, he had completely overlooked the Holy Hand Association’s reaction.
If this Little Baron hadn’t noticed in time, he himself might have been in trouble.
Bard couldn’t help but look at the Baron in a new light.
’Bold yet meticulous. He’s certainly worthy of being the noble sent to Black Forest Island.’
At the same time, his wariness of the Holy Hand Association deepened.
"Heh heh, you misunderstand, Baron."
Daniels stroked his beard, explaining, "Actually, I was afraid that you, being the victor, would make a move against us."
"Do you think I would?" Duane sneered.
The corner of Daniels’s mouth twitched. He waved his hand, dismissing Kalina and Harry, and came forward with only Uleir.
"My apologies. I was overthinking things. Of course, you are not that kind of noble."
The three parties gathered once more at the fork in the road.
But unlike before, the ground beneath their feet was torn to shreds by Fighting Qi, and the atmosphere between the three sides was completely different.
"To be honest, ever since I set foot on this island, I suspected you would join forces against me, even that you might think of killing me."
Duane said from atop his horse, "After all, Black Forest Island is isolated. Even if the Kingdom were to investigate the cause of my death, you’d still have time to prepare a response, or at the very least, to escape."
Daniels and Bard remained silent. They had, in fact, thought exactly that.
Duane dismounted, plunged his Longsword into the ground in front of him, and let his aggressive gaze sweep over Bard and Daniels.
"Before we begin our final negotiations, I feel I must remind you of something. If either of you attacks me—even if you attack together—my men and I will only prioritize attacking one of your groups."
He looked at Daniels. "If you had tried something just now, my people would have focused their attack solely on you. Even if you ultimately killed me, my forces are large enough to take a good number of you down with me. Then you’d have to figure out how to face Bard."
Daniels’ habitual smile froze on his face.
He knew the Baron’s men were formidable. If they ignored the threat from the Broken Wave Gang and focused solely on attacking the Holy Hand Association, his association would have a hard time withstanding it.
Even if they managed a pyrrhic victory, they would inevitably be crushed by the Broken Wave Gang afterward.
His provocation of Duane would, in the end, only serve to benefit the Broken Wave Gang.
Of course, the same was true for the Broken Wave Gang.
If they made a move, Duane’s strategy would mean they were just paving the way for the Holy Hand Association.
Duane’s approach was similar to the "you fight your war, and I’ll fight mine" strategy.
Even if one of them managed to defeat him, they would be so weakened that they would inevitably lose the subsequent battle against the remaining group. This fact forced them to be cautious.
After all, the Holy Hand Association and the Broken Wave Gang were merely allies of convenience, bound by profit, not by unbreakable friendship or an ironclad battle pact.
Daniels dismounted and bowed, his smile returning. "Baron, you’ve truly misunderstood me. I have no intention of moving against you whatsoever."
Duane was silent for a moment. "In that case, let’s talk."
He brought the conversation back on track.
"According to the rules of the bouts, I won two out of three. Victory is mine! So, are you prepared to hand over eighty percent of all your resources to me?"