"Oink?"
"Huh?" The old man paused as he looked towards the source of the sound and was greeted by the fearsome armored Boar looking straight into his eyes.
"Hmm?" Marc paused as he looked over to the weird view in front of him but before he could ask any questions.
Lady Janice Harleigh walked out behind the boar and saw her friend the Baroness on the ground wounded.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the old man who was still stunned at the sight of an infamous S-class beast being used as a mount.
Janice had already felt her magic return after getting past the Wildlands then going inside the Fog. She was glad that she and her maids now have fully prepared for enemies to appear.
But she did not think that her friend would come here in the dangerous place and was currently wounded and bleeding on the ground. She instantly waved her hand and conjured a large magical spell circle.
"Earthen Mother bless my hands and lift walls of protection over me and my people! Earth Wall!!" she chanted as fast as she could and this time the old man was able to notice her.
But he was too late to react seeing that their initial target seems to be fairly healthy and even sent a spell towards him. But even then he was able to twist his body enough to abate the damage he could receive.
"Lady Janice, how good to see you here in the flesh." The old man said as he looked at the one they were meant to kill but his eyes were watching over to the Steel Back Boar looming over their group.
"It's her lady's enemies! Charge!!" then the people behind Marc saw the group of assassins that wore the same clothes of those that attacked them before.
Only the maids remained as they circled around Lady Janice. The knights on the other hand went to kill the minions of the assassins and the captain ran to help the young girl being pressured by a swift swordswoman.
"Solesinese's Imperial Knight Arts: Earthen Bulwark!" the captain raised his shield to force the swordswoman to retreat at the sudden interloper's attack.
"Hah! A fast one this foe is, are you alright there young lady?" the captain looked at the young girl who seemed to be exhausted but looked to be still alright.
"*pant* huh… thanks. Just need a minute to breathe a bit." Lydia was now able to peer a bit in the tense battlefield and saw the Steel Back Boar wearing a full golden armor with a rider on it.
"Take your time young lady." The captain went on defensive as he blocked the barrage of attacks sent by the swordswoman. Though he had just recently advanced he was able to hold his ground since he and his men were specialized in defending rather than attacking.
But he was able to swing his sword to counter attack once in a while, so he held his own for a bit against a stronger opponent even when he is starting to feel a bit tired when not a minute has passed yet.
"Ughh! This woman is crazy Strong!!" the captain gritted his teeth as he defended more attacks from the dangerous swordswoman.
Meanwhile the other knights were pushing back the assassins as they worked with great coordination making sure that they could lessen the burden on the other adventurers.
"My Lady! I came to assist!" Henry ran towards where Lydia was and took some pressure of the guard captain. This then started another clash where a 3 v 1 happened, he had escaped the tight wires that bound him and the monk during the clash of the Baroness and the old man.
Meanwhile, the monk dragged Axeface away towards where the soldiers and the other adventurers are making a defensive formation.
He placed Axe Face on the ground and placed his hands on the large bald man's chest while his hands are starting to glow.
The monk started to chant some scriptures of their monastery as he made sure to slow down the rate the poison is spreading on Axeface's body.
On the other hand Pang Hu and Clarisse had retreated as they too looked warily towards Marc as he just sat there having a staring contest with the old man.
Their eyes darted down to the S-class beast being tame and used as a mount nonetheless. Then towards Marc who sat there in his golden armor looking menacingly towards the old man.
The old man on the other hand was sweating buckets since he is feeling the pressure of Marc's strength alone, he had wanted to counter attack Lady Janice after her short barrage of spells but he could not shake of the feeling of oppression the armored man in front of him exudes.
Lady Janice on the other hand dragged the Baroness on the sides of Marc as she looked at the state of her close friend.
"Etra, could you give me one of the antidotes in the sled?" Janice looked at her maid as she held the weak Baroness in her arms, as soon as she had dragged her back the Baroness slipped into unconsciousness as she felt safe in her friend's arms.
"My Friend, it seems that you are not related to these people. I would love to know, how such an esteemed warrior like you, is related with these people that has a debt to settle with my superior." The old man looked at Marc as he searched for sigils or insignia that indicates any affiliation of this mysterious warrior.
"Hmm?" Marc tilted his head as he processed what the old man said, he might be fluent enough to understand their language but he still needs time to process and interpret what the old man said.
"Lord Saint, don't listen to him. He's nothing but an assassin with a venomous tongue, he speaks lies to you." Lady Janice spoke to Marc realizing the old man was putting a reason for Marc to not interfere.
She knew that if she loses Marc's support here then they might be wiped out here and now.
She had seen that there was two S-ranked in the enemies' side and Marc was the only one that was strong enough to wipe them all out.
But her words made the others in the vicinity pause as the word 'Saint' rang in the air.
"Saint?!" Pang Hu exclaimed as he looked at the imposing figure of Marc, but he calmed down a bit realizing it was believable.
Only a Saint would make an S-Class beast as his mount and sit on it like it was nothing.
"Tsk…" the old man paled a bit seeing that his thoughts were proven true.
He had only felt such pressure when he faced the Division Leader as well as the Grand Elders and even thought that Marc's own pressure was a bit heavier that theirs.
"So it is the esteemed Saint, please forgive me for my disrespect but there is something I need to do with these people that have an enormous debt of money to our association. I hope his lordship would ignore the lies these peasants are telling you My lord." The old man smiled kindly as he looked at Marc.
But he was just stalling as his puppet was gaining ground against the three enemies she is facing.
He might be looking kind and harmless to Marc but he was slowly sending a metal thread controlled by him to send a lethal poison to Lady Janice who has her guard down.
"Is that so?" Marc looked emotionless as he watched everything around him and came to a conclusion.
It was really plain to see that it was some sort of family drama gone wrong and now heirs fought for supremacy to get the throne.
"Yes, that is indeed true Lord Saint." The old man clasped his hand together to act subservient as he felt his thread was getting closer.
"And if I refuse?" Marc's tone became freezing cold as the mist stilled at his words.
"Huh? B-beg your pardon sir?" the old man felt his sweat trickle as the pressure from Marc doubled.
"If I refuse, are you going to do something about it?" Marc felt the thread the old man was creeping in the ground, making Marc sharpen his eyes and concentrate his pressure towards the old man.
But deep inside he was just testing if he could make the old man faint like the people subjected to Haki.
"M-my Lord, please rethink this. My Association had plenty of Saints in our group, it would do you well to not offend them!" the old man felt his concentration waver as he was about to buckle over to the pressure Marc exuded.
"Hoh? Threats, that would only work if they knew I was the one that killed you. But even then would they dare to go here? In my territory? The Wildlands would gladly welcome them then should the time comes, your words are nothing but empty threats to me."