At night, Lin Yide sat at his desk and opened the system store. Without hesitation, he spent 200 experience points to purchase the Favonius Bladework.
However, the moment he made the purchase, he was momentarily stunned—what he received was only the basic version of the Favonius Bladework. To further upgrade it, he would need to invest more experience points.
Before he could even complain about the system's trickery, the foundational knowledge and experience of the Favonius Bladework flooded into his mind like a tidal wave.
Although he had only mastered the basic version, it should be more than enough to deal with Brant, a spoiled young noble who had never taken his studies seriously.
Just then, the door was pushed open, and Dirk hurried in with a look of deep concern.
"Master Yide, how could you agree to a duel with Brant?" His voice was filled with worry.
Lin Yide, however, remained calm and asked indifferently, "What's the matter?"
Dirk urgently advised, "Brant's father is Tywin, the Chief of the Marechaussee Phantom, and his brother is Herbert, the Captain of the Special Security Team. Even if you win this duel, those two will never let you off the hook!"
"Oh, is that so?" Lin Yide's reaction was as calm as still water, as if he had no fear of these two powerful figures.
Dirk couldn't help but continue to persuade, "Master Yide, you should leave immediately and take refuge somewhere. Wait until things calm down before returning."
However, Lin Yide confidently shook his head, "Uncle Dirk, don't worry. I already have a plan."
Seeing Lin Yide's determination, Dirk knew further persuasion would be futile. He could only sigh helplessly, "Master Yide, since that's the case, you must be extra careful."
Lin Yide nodded seriously, indicating that he had taken Dirk's words to heart.
…
At noon, the sunlight bathed the grand entrance of the Opera Epiclese, where a bustling crowd had gathered from all directions, eager to witness the upcoming duel.
The Fontaine Duel, a tradition with a long history, originally began as a swordsmanship competition among the lower classes to entertain the nobility.
Over time, however, the nobility grew dissatisfied with merely being spectators. They yearned to participate themselves, to feel the thrill of clashing swords.
Thus, duels became widely popular among the nobility, serving as a stage to showcase courage and strength.
The purposes of duels varied widely—from judicial justice to political struggles, from defending personal honor to competing for love. Each duel carried different meanings and expectations.
In modern society, duels are no longer a means to resolve conflicts.
People have gradually come to realize that this ancient ritual not only fails to resolve disputes but may also escalate situations, leading to irreversible consequences.
Today's duel is an honor duel between nobles, stemming from Lin Yide's insult to Lannis in court.
Most of the public could understand Lin Yide's words, given that both he and his father had been cuckolded by women from the Lannis family. Any man would find it hard to bear.
As the crowd eagerly awaited, Brant arrived at the duel site, accompanied by a group of attendants.
He was dressed in a colorful, elaborately decorated outfit, holding a slender rapier, his posture exaggerated and pretentious.
In Brant's eyes, victory in this duel was already a foregone conclusion.
Although he had neglected the family swordsmanship he had learned in his youth due to his indulgence in hedonistic pursuits, he still firmly believed that he could easily defeat an ordinary person who had never practiced swordsmanship.
The attendants around Brant showered him with flattery, like a group of fawning clowns.
"Master Brant, your swordsmanship is unparalleled. This duel will be over in no more than three rounds, and that ignorant fool will be defeated."
"Yes, Yide is truly reckless to challenge you. He's only bringing shame upon himself."
"Master, your bravery and strength will be known throughout Fontaine, and everyone will be in awe of your might."
These compliments made Brant feel elated, as if he were floating on cloud nine.
He secretly resolved to put on a good show this time, to make his father and brother see him in a new light and completely change their perception of him.
Among the onlookers was a young woman with a delicate face and a slender figure. She glanced at Brant with a hint of disappointment and disdain.
Clearly, her expectations for this duel had already been dashed, as she believed that a duelist like Brant was not worth her time.
Rather than watching a duel that was both predictable and lacking in technical skill, she would rather return to practice her own swordsmanship, striving to become Fontaine's strongest duel agent.
Just then, the other party in the duel, Lin Yide, finally arrived.
Unlike Brant's flamboyant attire, Lin Yide was simply dressed in a dark green casual outfit, holding a single-handed sword, his expression calm and resolute.
His appearance made the young woman pause.
Seeing Lin Yide arrive, Brant spoke in a haughty tone, "Yide, I didn't expect a waste like you to actually show up for this duel. Have you thought about how you'll die by my hand?"
"Heh," Lin Yide sneered, "Why wouldn't I show up? Today, I'm going to prove that not only are the women of the Lannis family scum, but the men are too!"
His words elicited a mix of admiration and pity from the onlookers. They admired his courage but pitied his ignorance—didn't he know that Brant's brother was the Captain of the Special Security Team and his father was the Chief of the Marechaussee Phantom?
Brant was thoroughly enraged by Lin Yide's words. His eyes seemed to spit fire as he roared, "Yide, you're digging your own grave! I swear, in this duel, I will kill you!"
"Let's hope your sword is as sharp as your tongue!" Lin Yide retorted coolly.
"Enough talk, prepare to die!" Brant bellowed, gripping his rapier tightly and charging at Lin Yide like an arrow.
Lin Yide's eyes narrowed as he quickly raised his single-handed sword, ready to meet the attack.
Thus, the duel of honor officially began.