"Can you stop joking? Why would the Duke of Loren target someone like the Merlowe family?" Linton spread his hands and asked, "What happened?"
"Well, that's where it gets strange," Closer replied. "His Majesty was quite upset when I intervened, but he only scolded me a bit. He didn't actually believe your nephew was trying to harm the crown prince. He was about to let it go as a favor to me. But suddenly, Duke Loren objected. He claimed that a trial by combat is sacred and should not be used as a way for some to escape justice. He said such a precedent couldn't be set. His Majesty was persuaded…"
"Well, he's not wrong," Linton said. "Maybe he's just a righteous person?"
"Then he recommended someone to serve as the combat judge," Closer added. "He insisted the fight should be judged by the strictest standards and suggested Bayar."
"Bayar? Is he famous?" Linton asked.
"You don't know him?" Closer seemed a bit surprised.
"I'm from the countryside, don't be so shocked," Linton replied.
"Bayar, the Golden Phoenix Knight. People call him the Unstoppable Fearless. He went to war at 15 and earned many accolades but refused any titles from His Majesty. To this day, he's still just a wandering knight. It's unclear what connection he has with Duke Loren, but they managed to find him for this."
"So, he's some kind of super badass?" Linton asked.
"Not just in name," Closer replied. "Even the captain of the Royal Guard once sought his guidance, and they were said to be evenly matched."
After a brief pause, Closer added, "It's really odd. You're just a country baron. Even if they wanted to ensure a conviction, there's no need to bring in someone like Bayar."
"Unless they know something in advance," Linton said.
"Know something? Like what?" Closer asked curiously.
"Obviously that I'm unbeatable," Linton said confidently, placing his hands on his hips.
"Uh… alright…" Closer rubbed his forehead. "But even if you're that amazing, how would Duke Loren know?"
"Well… that might have something to do with those assassins earlier," Linton said with a smirk.
"Assassins?"
Linton and Closer kept chatting for a while, and soon it was the next day. There was one day left before the trial by combat, and the entire city of St. Delavan was buzzing with discussion about it.
By this time, the names of the combatants had been announced. The public was shocked to learn that the legendary Golden Phoenix Knight Bayar would serve as the combat judge. It was unexpected for such a small-scale trial for a country baron to attract such a renowned figure. Since the trial would be public, many people wanted to witness this legendary knight in action.
On the other hand, Linton Merlowe didn't draw much attention. Nobody had heard of him, but given his family name, people assumed he was the best fighter in the Merlowe family. However, those who dug deeper found out that Linton had a reputation for being a complete waste, which raised questions. Why would the Merlowe family send such a weakling to fight? If they lost, it would mean a guilty verdict. It didn't make sense to send someone to their death.
Most people didn't care, though. All eyes were on Bayar, and people speculated the fight would be one-sided, with little excitement to offer. But just seeing the legendary knight was enough.
The city's excitement didn't faze Linton, who went about his day confidently. Even though Closer was worried, Linton seemed unfazed. For instance, today, Linton was heading to the city's market to buy supplies for the wilderness, knowing that when he traveled between worlds, he might not always land in a populated area. To fund his shopping, he planned to sell a few gemstones and brought Eck along as they headed to the market.
Even though it was Eck's first time in the capital, he was more familiar with it than Linton, having learned the city's layout. Linton, on the other hand, didn't even know where the market was. Closer, preoccupied with studying ninja techniques, forgot to arrange a guide for Linton, but Linton didn't care and set out on his own.
"Young master, do you really plan on fighting the Golden Phoenix Knight?" Eck couldn't help but ask as they walked. While he knew Linton wasn't a weakling, he still doubted his ability to face such a legendary knight. He figured Linton had some backup plan, like seeking help from the third princess. That seemed like the only way out. Despite his speculations, Eck grew more anxious not knowing Linton's real plan.
"As my number one sidekick, how can you not have faith in me?" Linton said. "Tell me, have you ever seen me lose a fight?"
"Uh… young master, I've never seen you win," Eck replied.
*Cough* "Ahem… you know too much," Linton said. "Have you ever heard the motto of the Merlowe family?"
"Uh… young master, we have a lot of mottos. Could you remind me which one?"
"The more you know, the more dangerous it is. Are you collecting my dark secrets so you can get rid of me?"
"Young master, I'm just worried about you," Eck said. "Maybe we should try to meet the third princess?"
"Nonsense! In crucial moments, a man must stand tall. How could I go seeking a woman's protection and then show my face afterward?" Linton replied.
Eck was growing more worried. If Linton wasn't planning to rely on the third princess, how would they survive? Just as he was about to say something, a loud commotion erupted ahead. The two looked up to see a large crowd gathered in front of them.
"What's going on?" Linton asked.
"I don't know," Eck replied.
"Go check it out. Ask someone," Linton said.
Eck's people skills were top-notch. They moved into the crowd, and after a few casual exchanges, Eck learned the cause of the gathering. It turned out that the Golden Phoenix Knight, who would be fighting Linton tomorrow, had just arrived in St. Delavan. The crowd was there to catch a glimpse of the legendary knight.
"This is my lucky day," Linton murmured to himself. For some reason, Eck noticed a dangerous gleam in Linton's eyes.
Before he could ask, someone in the crowd shouted, "He's here!"
Linton looked up and saw a group of riders approaching. The lead rider instantly caught his attention.
This man appeared to be in his 40s, with an imposing build standing at least 6'5". He had a square face that exuded a noble warrior's presence, and in his youth, he must have been quite handsome. What stood out the most was his heavy armor, embroidered with dark gold patterns, making him look even more formidable.
Linton didn't need an introduction to know this was his opponent for tomorrow: the Golden Phoenix Knight, Bayar. Two young people, a man and a woman, followed behind Bayar, both wearing similar armor, probably his knight apprentices. All three wielded two-handed greatswords. The rest of the entourage looked like regular guards, likely sent by Duke Loren to escort Bayar.
Bayar didn't do anything special, just rode forward, but his presence alone awed the crowd. People murmured, "He's so impressive! This is a legendary knight!" "Bayar, look over here!" It was like a group of fans seeing their idol.
Linton didn't shout like the others. He stood calmly, thinking about how to stir up some trouble. Bayar didn't seem to notice him, but the young male apprentice glanced his way briefly, probably wondering about the unfamiliar face.
Just then, a voice suddenly called out, "Linton?"
The crowd fell silent. Linton hadn't even identified who called his name when the knight apprentice asked, "Linton Merlowe?"
Bayar's party stopped, and all eyes turned to Linton. The crowd seemed to remember that Linton was the one set to fight Bayar tomorrow. Could this be the same young man standing before them now?
"That's right." With all eyes on him, Linton didn't flinch. He was looking for trouble anyway, and now someone had given him the perfect opportunity. Stepping forward, he proudly declared, "I am the one they call 'One Punch to Knock Out Marco,' the handsome and unbeatable Linton Merlowe. What can I do for you?"