"Ah… to be honest, if it weren't for these humans needing to be on the battlefield to unleash such immense power, we wouldn't even need to create Awakened Beings…" Sophia was quite blunt, holding the back of her head and looking down at the human-on-human slaughter with a sigh.
"Are you saying they only become this formidable during wartime?" Kayal tilted his head, catching the key point.
"Don't you know, Kay?" Gawain asked strangely, "Your father, Grand Duke Andre, is a Titled Knight and a Titled Lord, after all."
"Like the Little Sages?" Kayal pondered.
"Hmm, just as Master Merlin said, your magic has improved, hasn't it?" Gawain referring to her as Master Merlin made Kayal quite unaccustomed.
"That matter is truly annoying; are there even specific ones?" Kayal disliked this feeling.
"Yes, the meaning of a Knight is a warrior who, as long as they possess speed on the battlefield, will never be defeated. A Titled Knight is even more extraordinary. For example, Grand Duke Andrei, it is said his title is Red Idle…" He stayed by Kayal's side, doing his protective duties quite well.
Kayal and his party were not blocked by the Knights, who were fully armored and whose faces could not be seen. It was obvious they were people of Camelot; the Celtic people's appearance was indeed different from that of the Gauls.
The Gauls always wore horned helmets, carried round shields, and wielded small axes or short-handled axes. They were dressed in animal skins, emitting an unpleasant odor, and most importantly, their noses were often reddened—a characteristic feature of cold-climate peoples who enjoy drinking to ward off the cold, usually resulting in large noses.
Moreover, while their physiques were tall, they completely failed to meet the aesthetic standards of the Celtic people, and most importantly—they couldn't ride horses!
Riding a horse, dressed in white robes, Kayal clearly looked like a young master of a noble family. Seeing the child behind him, the Knight attendant beside him, and the beautiful female guard, it was evident.
Therefore, they easily rode straight to the dockside, where a slaughter was taking place. The several Claymores were quite indifferent to the human slaughter, only frowning slightly.
"Leyton!" Kayal called out quickly.
However, amidst the clamor, Leyton, clad in cold black armor, rode his horse towards the other side of the dock. Kayal guessed that the leaders of the three Knight Orders were probably all over there.
Kayal signaled Gawain to go fetch Leyton, while he himself began to stop the Knights from executing the captives: "Stop! Hold your hands! Tie them up, don't kill them!"
The blood flowing from the dock floor into the great river had already stained a large area of the shore, making Kayal's heart ache terribly. He had not the slightest sympathy for these invaders—the demise of Ira's hundred-thousand-person town was all due to these Barbarians. For these destroyers of civilization, Kayal felt no sympathy or pity, but—these were all excellent slaves for building roads!
In this era, there was no dynamite; not even the most common black powder had been developed. Road construction was incredibly difficult, completely different from road building in later generations where mountains were blasted and rivers filled. Now, when encountering a mountain, one had to chisel through it; when encountering a river, one had to build a bridge… these were all high-risk professions!
Kayal was unwilling to risk his own people, so he could only rely on these invaders—how about we make a deal? I won't kill you, but you have to work for me for ten years. Ten years in exchange for your life, isn't that cheap? You should know that invasion isn't a cost-free business!
In business, there are gains and losses. War is simple: if you win, you make a huge profit; if you lose, you lose everything.
It should be said that Kayal's reputation in Red Leaf Ridge was simply too famous, too flamboyant. He went out on the streets every other day, so everyone knew him, or at least had heard of him—he had recently been bestowed the title of Little Sage, after all.
The gradual cessation of the slaughter greatly delighted the Gauls in the water. They scrambled ashore, completely disregarding what treatment they might receive upon climbing out.
"Tie them up, tie them all up. Group all the orphans together; we'll just count heads later." Kayal rode his Unicorn back and forth, giving orders to the Knights.
At this moment, Leyton returned. Gawain led Leyton, riding their horses with a clatter from the other side of the port. Seeing Kayal, Leyton was greatly startled, dismounted, and saluted: "Your Excellency, Little Sage! How did you come here?"
The term "Your Excellency" (Under the crown) is a unified address for high-ranking non-combat personnel. For example, after Gawain's father was severely wounded and removed from the front lines, losing his title of Moonlight Knight, his address changed from "Your Foot" (One step) to "Your Excellency" (Under the crown), meaning he was no longer a warrior but a high-ranking minister.
Although Kayal was currently only a jokingly referred to "Little Sage," to the people of Camelot, this title was already noble enough. Among His Majesty the King's close attendants, aside from the Royal Knights, there were only the Sages and the Great Sage.
The former were strategists, known for working in groups, while the latter was the Chancellor, renowned throughout the world for his magic.
Kayal being considered a reserve could only mean he had a limitless future in the eyes of the common people.
"Hmm, Leyton, let's not be so formal." Kayal nodded slightly, pointing to the captives: "Leyton, I want these captives."