Baron Pedrorr saw the terror lingering in Lynn and Ivina's eyes, rendering them speechless. After pondering for a moment, he offered some comforting words.
"You need not worry excessively. According to Bishop Antruc's words, most of the devil worshippers have already been vanquished. The church has also secretly dispatched a three-thousand-man guard to occupy Harbor Town."
"Three thousand?" Lynn's brows furrowed deeply. This number was excessively large.
Typically, during peacetime, a small city like Harbor Town would only have a few hundred troops stationed. The church's secret mobilization of such a vast force here could not be without reason.
Lynn couldn't help but suspect that Crippled Lord's identity had been exposed and that the church intended to annihilate the entire "Fleet Gang."
"Father, what does Bishop Antruc mean by this? Are they preparing for war?" Lynn probed cautiously.
Baron Pedrorr shook his head. "It should have nothing to do with war. However, I am not privy to much information. I only heard that on his way back to Harbor Town, Bishop Antruc captured the wizard apprentice who had previously escaped. They are now imprisoned in the town, awaiting public execution after the Sabbath."
Upon hearing this, Lynn's expression immediately turned solemn.
Could it be that Jonny and the White Dove have been captured?
Lynn couldn't help but consider this possibility. When he last sent the two witches away, they were in dire straits. It was uncertain whether they had managed to stay together in the tumultuous waters.
If the church had promptly organized a large-scale search after the battle, it was not impossible that they had been captured.
"Father, do you know who the imprisoned devil worshippers are?" Lynn couldn't resist asking.
As soon as the words left his mouth, Lynn realized his mistake and hastily added, "I've heard that witches are usually quite beautiful. I wonder if the rumors are true."
"Nonsense! Who told you such drivel?" Baron Pedrorr scolded angrily. "Those are just baseless rumors! Listen to me carefully: under no circumstances should you have any dealings with these followers of the devil!"
In the Sekas Empire, wizards were an absolute taboo. These devil worshippers, wielding their bizarre sorceries, brought chaos wherever they went—walking disasters!
Under Pedrorr's harsh rebuke, Lynn had no choice but to suppress his growing doubts. Clearly, this was not the time to ask further questions.
After a few more stern reprimands, Baron Pedrorr finally returned to the matter at hand.
"Two priests lost their lives in battle against the devil worshippers. While their deaths are regrettable, it also presents us with an opportunity!"
"In other words, this year's knight assessment will have at least five openings!"
As he spoke, Baron Pedrorr looked expectantly at Lynn. In two months, the official assessment would take place. Should he pass it, the Pedrorr family might see a resurgence.
"After dinner, spar with Ivina again. I want to see how much progress you've made these past months," Pedrorr said bluntly.
Sparring? Lynn couldn't help but glance across the table at Ivina.
The young woman was dressed in a sleek black gown, her neckline revealing her pale neck and collarbone. Her shoulder-length hair was tied back, leaving only a red ribbon draped over her shoulder. She appeared sharp and composed, but her eyes were as cold as ice, as sharp as daggers.
Perhaps I should hold back a little, Lynn thought to himself. In Lot's diary, apart from a few years when he held an absolute advantage in strength and stamina, he had never once defeated Ivina. On the contrary, the gap between them had only widened rapidly.
His best record so far was lasting twenty-three moves before being defeated...
...
"Here will do!" After dinner, Baron Pedrorr led the two of them to the practice field in the estate's backyard, then signaled for them to begin.
Lynn switched to a wooden training sword, assuming a standard fighting stance.
But Ivina, the moment Pedrorr spoke, had already rushed forward.
So fast!
Lynn's pupils contracted. He only had time to raise his sword in defense before Ivina's wooden blade was already slicing down at him!
"Clang!"
The wooden swords clashed with a sound akin to steel striking steel.
The young woman twisted her body, her skirts swirling as she lashed out with a whip-like kick.
Lynn dodged to the side, but Ivina was quicker. With a flick of her sword, she sent Lynn's wooden sword flying, then, without hesitation, brought her blade down towards his head.
The fierce wind whistling past Lynn's ear made him feel a tinge of danger, a clear sign that Ivina hadn't held back in her strike!
If that blow landed, it wouldn't just be a simple injury...
[Right hand up at a 37-degree angle, grasp her wrist, reverse the sword...]
Lynn's gaze sharpened. In an instant, guided by his analytical mind, he identified the flaw in Ivina's attack. Faced with her downward slash, he didn't dodge but moved forward to confront it head-on.
"Enough!" Baron Pedrorr's shout interrupted Lynn and Ivina's sparring.
Both stopped at once, with Lynn's right hand extended and Ivina's wooden sword poised above his head.
Pedrorr glared at Ivina before turning his ire towards Lynn. "Lot, what is wrong with you? Focus when you're fighting! If you remain in this state, you won't even pass the first round of the knight's assessment in two months!"
Lynn withdrew his hand in silence, acknowledging that he had underestimated Ivina's strength.
Though Lot referred to himself as useless in his diary, the reality was that he had undergone years of grueling training. And if Ivina could so easily defeat him, she was undoubtedly even stronger!
"Get back into position and continue!" Baron Pedrorr's voice was cold, his expression darker than a storm cloud.
Ivina remained still, as if she hadn't heard Pedrorr's command. Lynn, however, took a few steps back, widening the distance between them.
At the same time, a prompt echoed in his mind.
[Activate Overload Mode?]
No!
Lynn refused without hesitation. This wasn't a life-or-death battle, and there was no need to waste energy here.
While the analytical mind's guidance was useful, its effectiveness ultimately depended on his own capabilities.
Ivina was no Antruc or the witch hunter he had previously encountered—she wasn't so powerful that she could crush him completely.
She was the perfect whetstone...
The battle resumed quickly, and drawing on the foundation laid by Lot and his own experience in life-and-death duels, Lynn managed to fend off Ivina's sudden assault this time...