It was said that Viscount Gasco thought this behavior was a sign of not taking him seriously.
"Hmph!"
Gasco snorted coldly.
Just now, he had been pondering what excuse he could use to eliminate Netron—and now this fool had given him the perfect reason.
"Spare me, Viscount Gasco… spare me…"
Hearing Gasco's cold snort, Netron's face turned ashen. His forehead slammed repeatedly against the floor of the audience hall, and blood streamed down, leaving red streaks across his face.
Although Gasco had long harbored the intent to kill Netron, seeing him like this made Gasco briefly wonder whether acting against such a weak-willed man would soil his own hands.
Despite his inner hesitation, Gasco would not let this hidden threat persist.
Sensing the overwhelming aura of Dou Qi in front of him, despair flashed across Netron's eyes.
Then, unwilling to die just yet, Netron rolled forward, attempting to leap past Gasco and escape the city lord's mansion.
Unfortunately, Netron had greatly overestimated himself—and underestimated Gasco.
No—perhaps Netron didn't overestimate himself or underestimate Gasco. Faced with death, he had no choice but to act rashly.
"Thud!"
A green-blue fist print erupted behind him, striking Netron and sending him flying.
"Ugh…"
Blood sprayed from his mouth. Even before hitting the ground, the light had already left his eyes.
"Viscount Gasco…"
Steward Loren's forehead dripped with cold sweat.
Yet he had no choice but to summon his courage and bow deeply before Gasco.
"I apologize, Viscount Gasco. Because I did not detain the head of the guild a moment longer, he collided with you…"
"Hm."
Gasco responded with a single word and then looked down at the package on the floor.
With one hand, he lifted the package, raising an eyebrow.
It seemed fate had arranged it—Viscount Gasco had the potential of Sanctuary!
A subtle smile curved Gasco's lips.
"Steward Loren, where are the other members of this guild?"
"They are waiting outside the mansion, Viscount Gasco. If you wish to see them, I can arrange for them to be brought in."
"No, it's unnecessary. I'll see them myself."
"Steward Loren, take Netron's body with me."
"Yes, Viscount Gasco."
Outside the city lord's mansion, a group of a dozen or so merchants of varying ages had gathered. Their gazes frequently flicked toward the mansion gates.
They all belonged to the same guild—the one that had painstakingly found the woman capable of making the pearl glow and heat.
"Hey, Rick, do you think this is reliable?"
"Tch. What's unreliable about it? I've checked. Apart from Gelmu City, guilds in Hain City and Pitts City are searching too."
"And…"
The bearded middle-aged man glanced around to ensure no one was listening and whispered to his companions: "It seems some are also searching in the Locke Territories…"
"Ahem, ahem, ahem…"
"Jaren, don't speak so freely."
As Jaren spoke excitedly, the eldest man in the group coughed several times, interrupting him.
This elder clearly held authority within the caravan.
Once he halted their discussion, curiosity remained unspoken, and the merchants refrained from further conversation.
Clang, clang, clang…
The sound of metal scraping drew their attention—the mansion gates had opened.
Two figures appeared—no, three!
The third was clearly lifeless, held by a figure resembling a steward.
"Netron!"
Seeing this, the merchants' faces changed instantly.
What had happened?
Why was Netron dead?
"Vi-Viscount Gasco?"
Before the merchants could voice their outrage, the eldest recognized the imposing man approaching.
"Greetings, Viscount Gasco!"
He dared not delay, kneeling and bowing his head to the ground.
Even though they were wealthy merchants, before the nobility, they were nothing more than ants.
After all, in this world, the "truth" was controlled by the nobles.
Nobles monopolized the Dou Qi manuals. Ordinary people could only reach sixth-level warriors in their lifetime unless they had magical talent to become mages.
Hoping to become seventh-level warriors and transcend social class?
Dream on.
The guild head, Ross, could purchase a Dou Qi manual for Cole only because of Locke's existence.
Based on Locke's short-term feat of annihilating nearly a thousand people, the nobles of the Frost Snow Empire recognized him as near seventh-level mastery—even if not yet a grand mage.
Seventh-level mages in the Frost Snow Empire could earn the title of "Viscount," entering the ranks of nobility.
Given Locke's age, reaching Sanctuary was uncertain—but a ninth-level grand mage was certainly achievable.
A ninth-level grand mage who had not reached Sanctuary was nearly the pinnacle of ordinary military strength in the empire.
One who commanded forbidden spells could possess a faint touch of Sanctuary's power.
Even Emperor Ceres would take note of such a figure.
Even if Locke never reached Sanctuary, a ninth-level grand mage would still be granted at least a viscountcy and could potentially rise to count after achieving certain merits.
Because of this, nobles were willing to favor Locke, selling a Dou Qi manual to Ross.
Of course, they stipulated that only Cole could study it.
This was why, in the decades since, no other seventh-level warrior had appeared in the Ross Guild aside from Cole.
"Greetings, Viscount Gasco."
Seeing the elder kneel, the other merchants quickly followed suit.
Now, they only hoped that Netron's death would not implicate them.
(End of Chapter)
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