Target defeated!
Capture "Polk's" abilities?
'Yes,' Wang Xi replied with his thoughts.
Immediately, two balls of white light flew from the body of the guard who had just stood up, entering Wang Xi's brow.
'Only two cards from this victory?' Wang Xi thought.
He guessed that the ability capture varied from person to person. Stronger individuals with more skills yielded more, while weaker ones offered fewer abilities to capture.
At the same time, it basically confirmed his previous suspicion: simply defeating an opponent yielded a greater reward than killing them.
"Young man, you've proven your strength."
The steward in the hat walked forward, clapping and smiling.
"On behalf of Spinning Wheel Commerce, I am willing to offer you 20 Gold Coins as payment to hire you as a temporary guard. The agreement will terminate once the caravan arrives at the Royal Capital. What do you say?"
"I accept."
Wang Xi returned the smile.
The steward gestured, and a nearby guard handed over a small, palm-sized leather pouch.
"I am the one in charge of this caravan, White. Here are 10 Gold Coins. The other half of your payment will be given to you upon our arrival at the Royal Capital."
"Fine."
Wang Xi took the leather pouch, pulled it open, and glanced inside.
Inside, button-sized gold coins were piled together. There were indeed 10 of them. Only then did he put it away.
"When do we leave?" he asked.
Steward White's expression grew a little grave as he said:
"This very afternoon."
'So soon?'
Wang Xi was surprised but didn't ask any further questions.
'No wonder they're offering such high pay to hire guards. They must have urgent business back in the Royal Capital and want to fill their ranks and get on the road as quickly as possible.'
Just as Steward White was about to introduce Wang Xi to the other guards, the crowd to the side grew noisy and clamorous.
Wang Xi turned his head to look, his gaze tightening.
Several fully armored knights were seen shoving the crowd aside belligerently, and a noble lady in a blue velvet long dress, with her golden hair tied up, walked out gracefully from among them.
"Sierra?"
"Gai, I finally found you!"
The noble lady's face showed a hint of weariness, and her cold expression was mixed with a trace of annoyance.
"Weren't you supposed to be hunting? Why did you come so far to hunt?!"
As she spoke, Sierra approached.
She glanced at the surrounding crowd, then her eyes narrowed as she noticed the people from Spinning Wheel Commerce.
"You're still injured. Don't try to act tough. Come back with me."
Sierra came to a stop three meters from Wang Xi, her expression softening somewhat as she spoke in a gentler tone.
Wang Xi glanced at the knights behind her.
Barto's Personal Knight, Carl (Light Red/Two Stars)
Barto's Personal Knight, Isaac (Light Red/Two Stars)
Barto's Personal Knight, Brick (Light Red/Two Stars)
...
Wang Xi was quite startled.
These five knights were all at the Two-Star level, clearly the elites who served Count Bato.
To be honest, he stood a chance in a one-on-one fight, but he knew he was no match for five Two-Star Knights at once.
'If I fight them head-on, my chances of winning are slim to none!'
Wang Xi's mind raced as he searched for a strategy.
Perhaps because of the commotion, the crowd of onlookers grew, pointing and murmuring about the scene. It even attracted the attention of the Buchanan patrol, who were now heading their way.
Steward White frowned and waved a hand to stop the Guard Captain, Bennett, choosing to watch in silence.
Goddalir stood frozen in place, her face full of anxiety.
"Sierra."
Just then, Wang Xi suddenly spoke.
He glanced around, his voice full and firm.
"I am not going back with you to get married!"
"Huh?!"
Sierra was stunned.
Even the surrounding crowd was quite astonished, as if they were only just now understanding what was happening...
'So, it's a love problem between young nobles!'
Instantly, curiosity and intrigue filled the faces of the onlookers. They rarely got to hear secrets from noble circles, so now they couldn't help but perk up their ears and listen.
Wang Xi tilted his head slightly, his voice growing low and restrained, filled with deep guilt.
"You shouldn't have come looking for me, Sierra... I no longer have the right to stand before you."
"..."
Sierra's brow furrowed slightly.
Wang Xi paused for a moment, clenching his fist.
He then rested his hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist.
Instantly, the knights behind Sierra surged forward a step, their eyes fixed on Wang Xi, ready to draw their swords and subdue him at a moment's notice.
But Wang Xi acted as if he didn't see them, continuing on his own.
"I once swore to protect you with my sword and my life, but I failed. I was no match for the Northern People, and I let you fall into danger, to suffer humiliation and pain you should never have endured."
"This was all because of my incompetence!"
SHING!
Wang Xi drew the longsword from his waist, his face a mask of grief and indignation.
Almost at the same instant he drew his sword, the Barto Royal Guard Knights also drew theirs, surrounding Sierra protectively.
A flicker of emotion crossed Sierra's eyes.
She raised a hand to stop the knights and looked quietly at Gai, waiting for him to continue.
But Wang Xi avoided her gaze, his voice trembling with suppressed pain.
"The engagement... I will break it. Your freedom and dignity are more important than my vow."
"I will give you all the property and territory I have left in Randall, along with what little honor I have remaining. You deserve a better fate, not to be shackled to a good-for-nothing who doesn't have long to live."
"I have already lost the right to be your fiancé, and I've lost the courage to face you."
"Just go, Sierra!"
Wang Xi suddenly shouted.
"Go and pursue your own future... As for me, I will spend the rest of my life wandering and atoning for my sins!"
With that, he raised his hand, grabbed the blade of his sword, and sliced it across his palm.
The pupils of Sierra and Goddalir contracted.
The surrounding crowd gasped in shock.
SSSHHH—
Blood frothed and spattered from Wang Xi's palm as he sliced it with the sword.
The corner of his eye twitched, but he maintained his pained and self-deprecating expression.
CLANG!
The blood-stained longsword fell to the ground.
"Gai!"
Goddalir rushed out of the crowd and supported Wang Xi.
Her face was filled with heartache as she cradled his profusely bleeding hand. Then, she lifted her head and glared angrily at the noble lady and her Full Armor Knights.
"Sierra Crawford! Are you trying to drive Gai to his death? He's already suffered enough!"
Goddalir didn't know where she found such courage, but she rebuked the Count's Daughter with reddened eyes.
Perhaps it was the jealousy she had once buried in her heart, her worry for Gai at this moment, or the fact that her hopes for the future could not be shattered.
"I..."
Sierra opened her mouth to speak, a trace of confusion in her eyes.
The murmuring of the crowd grew louder.
The jarring mentions of Randall, Count Bato, and the Crawford Clan made the Personal Guard Knights scowl, their brows tightly knit.
Sierra looked at the young man—dejected, his hand dripping blood, leaning in the arms of a farm girl—and her once-firm resolve began to waver.
Especially after the words Gai had just spoken.
They left her with a mix of complex emotions, her thoughts in turmoil.
Scenes from the past, the affection and admiration she once felt, flashed through her mind.
"My lady, Master Bato said..."
At that moment, a square-faced, stubbled Full Armor Knight drew near and whispered.
Sierra immediately raised her hand, signaling for him to say no more. The knight hesitated, wanting to speak, but ultimately retreated in silence.
"Gai, have you really thought this through?"
Sierra asked, taking a deep breath, her eyes filled with complex emotions.
Gai silently picked up his longsword and turned his head away, refusing to look at the noble lady, as if this was his response.
Supported by Goddalir, he slowly walked over to Steward White.
"Is our earlier agreement still valid?"
He asked the steward in a low voice.
White glanced at the noble lady and the Full Armor Knights a short distance away. As a steward for a major merchant company from the Royal Capital, he wasn't particularly impressed by nobles from this remote region, nor did he feel any great sense of reverence for them.
He only cared about whether this important shipment of goods could be delivered back to the Royal Capital quickly and safely.
"Of course it's valid."
White averted his gaze and smiled at the young man.
Wang Xi secretly sighed in relief and added:
"In that case, could we bring one more person? I can forfeit the other half of the payment."
"You want to bring this girl along with you?"
White looked at Goddalir, who was supporting the young man.
The girl's face showed her nervousness. Hearing Gai's conversation with the steward, she felt both relieved and moved.
"Yes," Wang Xi nodded.
White looked at the two of them with great interest, seemingly imagining some kind of love triangle that defied worldly conventions.
"You remind me of my younger self."
The steward smiled, shook his head, and sighed wistfully.
"But I never had your courage or ability, and I was left with many regrets... Young man, you are a worthy noble Knight. I agree to let you bring this girl along. As for those 10 Gold Coins, you will still receive them as promised upon our arrival at the Royal Capital."
"Thank you," Wang Xi said.
"Bennett, go help him bandage his wound. We'll wait until noon, and then we're leaving, regardless of whether we can recruit anyone else."
White said, turning his head to the Guard Captain.
The latter nodded and led Wang Xi toward the caravan's carriages.
Supported by Goddalir, Wang Xi carried his sword and followed closely behind Bennett, passing through the crowd.
Sierra pressed her lips together but didn't try to stop him again. Instead, she and her knights stepped aside to let them pass.
The two brushed past each other.
"I'm leaving, Sierra. Take care of yourself."
Wang Xi whispered.
His voice was like a gentle breeze brushing past the golden-haired lady's ear, making her shudder.
Sierra stood frozen in place, lost in a daze. By the time she raised her complex gaze again, her fiancé's back was already distant.
...
...
"Ah!"
Wang Xi held his breath and let out a suppressed cry of pain.
"It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!"
In a carriage traveling down a dusty road, Goddalir was carefully examining the young man's wound. She must have touched a sore spot, as fresh blood began to seep out again.
"I'm sorry, Gai, I didn't mean to."
The girl apologized hurriedly, even cupping his hand and blowing gently on it.
"It's nothing," Wang Xi said with a smile, shaking his head.
He let out a silent sigh of relief.
He had finally gotten away from Sierra and her knights, left Buchanan with the caravan, and was officially on his way.
With the dramatic flair of a retired Sea King, he had successfully avoided a violent conflict where he had little chance of winning. Although he had made a small sacrifice, it was worth it.
Looking back on the whole affair, his only regret was that he had put too much force into slicing his hand, leaving a deep wound in his left palm that probably wouldn't heal anytime soon.
Fortunately, he was right-handed, so it wouldn't affect his combat ability much. He estimated he could still fight at seventy or eighty percent of his full strength.
Dealing with a few roadside bandits wouldn't be a problem, and besides, he wasn't the only one in the guard contingent.
'Steward White said the journey to the Royal Capital will take about twenty days... I'll just set it to auto-pilot and return to the Main World for now.'