A few days ago.

The Shore.

“Thank you for your assistance, Knight Alfred. Many are worried since the Prince no longer lives here but we are grateful his heart is with us still. We are unworthy.”

“Prince Croix is benevolent. He wouldn't want to see you people live in fear,” the white-haired knight said. “I hope there’s no more monster threat for a while.”

Alfred walked on the street of this flourishing small coastal town. Once it was a fishing village ravaged by a tidal wave. After Prince Croix came, he built the place back up and ruled it for a few months as viceroy. There was no trace of that poor village left now.

He passed a pair of elves on the street. The locals didn't bat an eye as if it was normal. There was even an elven shop in this place.

And couldn't help but smile with pride.

After guarding Princess Elvina and her mother to Liapriss and seeing them warmly received by the elven enclave, Alfred stopped by here. He took care of the little problem. The mayor thought Croix had sent him here. He didn't but he saw no problem giving the credit to the young prince.

At first, he only served the prince because Croix was Gissele’s son, the person to whom Alfred pledged his unconditional loyalty. After seeing the thriving town and the smiles of people here, Alfred could say with pride he served under a great lord.

If the goddess wills it, he can be a great king.

He still remembered their early days after fleeing the capital. Living on the move, hiding from suspicious eyes, skulking like rats. Then the pair met another pair of master and disciple while they were being hunted.

Prince Croix is now enrolled at the Sinclair Academy and participating in the Latias Grand Prix. Lady Giselle, if only you could see your son now.

Alfred didn't plan on staying here long and was about to join Croix at the Valentine Duchy. Just as he was picking a suitable horse at the stable, someone approached him.

“Knight Alfred?”

“That’s me. You’re... From Stormberg?” Alfred saw the insignia on his clothes.

“From the Countess. For you and Prince Croix’s only. Make sure he gets it.”

Alfred tensed up. Must be an important message since a Level 4 was personally delivering it.

After the man left Alfred opened the letter in the embrace of privacy.

“T-This is!?”

Alfred rode to Valentine Duchy with all haste.

***

“Treason!? I’ve done nothing of the sort!”

Croix denied most strongly but the other group didn't seem to listen.

“I suggest you comply quietly or it will worsen your position. Seize him,” said the all-business bureaucratic man to his subordinate knights. One of them approached Croix with a manacle that could suppress someone’s Victa.

“Kaaaa!!” Falmerion responded with hostility. His head rose to the height of a man’s head and there was smoke as he breathed.

Not only the dragon, Viers and Boram moved in front of Croix and these unknown people.

“I’m going to say this once,” Viers raised his index finger. “If you don't start making sense I’m gonna clobber you.”

“Such vulgar words, though, I expect as much from an uneducated yokel from the fringes. Behold this seal! The warrant carries the seal of the Chancellor himself!”

There was a commotion from the onlookers. It seemed the warrant and seal were genuine.

“This is your only warning. Move aside. Any hostility against us can carry ramifications of the highest degree. You better collar your vaunted dragon, Prince Croix, before it does something you all will regret,” said the knight carrying a manacle as he approached.

The way he spoke, the confidence in his words, the way he walked with his chest sticking forward, all that confidence made Viers think he might be a big shot hiding his strength for a moment.

After all, a mere Level 3 mid shouldn't be this proud, wasn't it?

Boram struck. To the disciple, his Master’s words were already a gracious warning that the idiot chose to disregard. The knight reacted in time, using the chains of the manacle to stop Boram’s fist.

This book was originally published on NovelBin. Check it out there for the real experience.

“Quite a good punch, for a slave. But an elite like me can take you on. You’re dead wrong if you think you are stronger than me just because you’ve got a higher Level.”

Boram pulled back his fist. Stones started covering his fist as the effect of him using Rock Fist Arte, one of the most generic Arte there was like Fireball, and punched again.

This time, the knight was sent flying to the end of the room as if he was hit by a car, scaring the other party-goers who almost got hit by the human projectile. The knight was no longer conscious. He had a big dent in his chest plate armor and numerous broken bones.

“That’s not even 20% of my power. He’s about the same level as the roaches in Round 1, Master,” Boram informed.

“You’ve gotten better at drawing power from your bloodline. Well done,” Viers said as he imputed the reactions from his surroundings.

“He hit him! Even if he’s Prince Croix’s vassal, he hit the Chancellor's men!”

“No way! Is he an idiot? Now the entire prince’s faction will be painted as traitors.”

Viers’ ears picked up the whispers from the peanut gallery.

“O-oi, isn't he too strong? Who was it saying the only strong one in the Prince’s group is the Valentine heiress?”

“One hit!? Twenty percent? H-he’s gotta be bluffing, right?”

“Of course! He’s just a slave, you know? We’re proud Latias Knights! It’s gotta be a fluke!”

The reactions from the Chancellor's underling said it all. They are the lesser version of Arrogant Young Masters, Arrogant Mooks. Their entire destiny was to be defeated in such a way that made someone with relevance look good.

Viers sighed in his head. To think the trash caused him a moment of wariness. He wondered if he was looking at everyone with too much doubt and suspicion. But he’d decided in the next moment that this was fine. Better had too much than too little. Arrogance was always a lethal poison in a villain's mentality.

“Y-You dare!?” The official guy tried to sound tough but his expression and trembling betrayed him. He seemed to finally realize the ‘oh, shit’ moment he was in. “This is admission! By using force against us you are baring your sword to the Chancellor, to the whole nation!”

“Interesting. Does the Chancellor think Latias Kingdom is his? If you don't start making sense in the next five seconds, you’ll experience how fast dragon fire can cook a human brain. Speak!”

Prince Croix said in a commanding tone. The moment he stamped his foot down, the official guy’s remaining bravado crumbled.

“Th-the Countess of Stormberg, you aunt, infiltrated the Royal Palace! She unlawfully took a person in the Chancellor's care and escaped, causing destruction and loss of life in the process. Multiple witnesses and irrefutable proof exist!”

“What?”

It wasn't only Croix that was surprised by the bombshell. The audience went crazy.

“We suspect you've been colluding with them so we have orders to take you in to investigate.”

“That is quite different from what you said in the beginning, isn't it?” Viers scoffed.

“Either way, if Prince Croix does not cooperate with the investigation and submit to the Chancellor's authority then he will be branded a traitor to the nation. This includes all of his associates. Make a wise choice, prince,” the threat veiled in the official’s words wormed its way into Croix’s ears.

“He will not.”

Duke Valentine approached like a general coming to a battlefield. He spoke and the soldiers obeyed.

“The Prince is a contestant of the Grand Prix, under the authority of the four duchies. This is an important event concerning the whole kingdom. He will not be taken away by some flight of fancy.”

“Milord! It is the Chancellor Soren order!” the official said.

“Croix wasn't even at the capital when the Countess allegedly attacked. So unless you have definitive proof that can convince me of his involvement, Prince Croix will continue participating in the Grand Prix until the end or until he is eliminated.”

“But they attack-” The official looked at the fallen night that Boram hit.

“Ah? The youngster got careless and tripped. Nothing worth mentioning. Do you want to waste my time any longer?”

“...I’ll retreat for now, but the Chancellor will hear about this.”

“Hmph. The snail loves his shell too much. He doesn't have the guts to leave the palace and face me.”

The bureaucratic official bowed to the duke and left the premises along with the minor sons of noble families that supported the Chancellor. They tried not to look relieved as they carried the unconscious knight with them.

For now, the situation had stabilized.

“Duke Valentine, my utmost gratitude for your help, sir,” Croix said with a polite bow.

“Mmm. Countess Stormberg infiltrating the palace was likely true. Someone destroyed a section of the palace’s wall as she made her exit. She wasn't exactly subtle about it, understandable, since she was pursued by the Royal Knights. That is the extent of what I know. Since the Chancellor sent those people after you then she must have escaped.”

“I see.”

The duke’s bodyguards had harried the audience as their lord spoke to Croix. No one was foolish enough to try to eavesdrop. The viscount that hosted this party hid his trouble with a smile. The party had started to dwindle down as many had begun to leave. Enough excitement had happened tonight.

“Until the Grand Prix is over, they shouldn't make a move on you again. That said, you and your vassals would do well to refrain from acting with force so easily. Even if you are stronger than your opponent, acting impulsive can land you in a situation more than you bargained for.”

Like Boram, Croix was ready to act. If he acted, Falmerion would follow and there would be a dragon barbeque on the floor right now. The Duke had seen through Croix.

“Err, you’re right, Lord Duke.”

“I have other matters to attend to so I’ll return first. Ciel will be returning with me to the duchy. She also expressed her deepest regret for bowing out of the Grand Prix right in the middle.”

“Eh?” Croix was caught off guard for the second unexpected news he’d heard in the hour.

“I’ll confess I pushed her to do this. To make up for depriving you of a valuable team member, one of two Level 4 in your team,” the duke’s eyes landed on Viers for a moment. “I’ll send you a replacement tomorrow. This will not violate the existing rules. I’ll guarantee their strength is greater than Ciel.”

Croix tried so hard to maintain his polite expression. It wasn't what he hoped to hear.