Christopher couldn't believe it. Was he really going to get away scot-free? Yet, the terms included a heavy caveat – his banishment, thus surrendering any access to the boundless knowledge contained within this sacred space.
"You seem to be thinking about it earnestly, so let me simplify this for you: the only reason I'm even offering this is because I haven't been able to determine whether you're truthful or not. My orders dictate that I imprison, and in certain cases kill, anyone I deem to have 'trespassed' beyond reasonable doubt. I can already tell you've acted beyond the scope of what was allowed, albeit without the extent. This is the lightest punishment I can mete out without getting anyone else involved, which suits me far more than the alternative. However, make no mistake that I will act right away should you refuse."
Lloyd flicked his gaze upwards, noticing that the crackling spears and the myriad of eyes were still locked onto him, ready to pierce him at a moment's notice. The logic in Cyr's argument was unassailable, rendering the proposed banishment a relatively fair compromise, and since he also prized his anonymity, this was a sacrifice he felt compelled to accept. It was his loss.
"Very well. Thank you for your generosity and leniency."
His heart ached as he knew he had lost access to something invaluable, but it was necessary. In the end, his gamble had both succeeded and failed, with his only hope now being that the book had been worth the trouble.
"You've been very entertaining, human. What's your name?"
"Merchant Lloyd."
"Merchant Lloyd… I shall remember you."
With that, the engineer rose from his seat before walking away, but not before casting one final look at the room and uttering a few words.
"Never say never…"
As he crossed the exit's threshold, a familiar displacement enveloped him, transporting him back into the boundless expanse of the main library – a sight now holding an odd reassurance.
"Back so soon?"
He was taken aback to find that Dolores had been patiently waiting, a quizzical expression on her face. It seemed that his brief visit to the VIP room had piqued her curiosity. This unexpected encounter, however, forced him to come up with an excuse, as he surmised that its visitors usually spent hours on end in its confines while he had only spent less than thirty minutes.
"Well, I was certain I'd be able to understand some of the book's content, but to my surprise, and sadness, it seems that I'm not ready yet. There's a lot I still have to learn before reaching such a level."
His lie was delivered with an awkward grin that seemed to accentuate its credibility, causing Dolores to respond with a faint laugh.
"Well, you did ask for the most advanced book on the matter. If you ever need to go back, just ask. It'll be my pleasure."
With that cordial remark, she then departed his side as a sense of relief washed over him. He had just navigated one of the most stressful, unnatural situations of his life and had, miraculously, escaped unharmed. It was time for a change of scenery.
"I wonder what the General's up to..."
⁂
After traversing the sprawling inn, Christopher found himself at the training grounds, where he was immediately greeted by the uproarious cacophony of a boisterous crowd.
"COME ON, KNOCK HIS ASS DOWN!"
"YEAH, AIM FOR HIS LEGS! HE'LL CRASH OVER!"
The clamor was deafening, causing him to weave through it to see its origins. However, nothing could have prepared him for the scene that was about to unfold: in front of him was the General and former King, in all his glory, seemingly fighting against every trainer the United Inn could muster. The fashion in which he was doing so was also staggering: he was fully armored and was brandishing his newly acquired sword, making him exude an oppressive aura that seemed lethal to whoever dared approach.
"IS THAT ALL YOU'VE GOT!? COME AT ME! I'LL SHOW YOU WHAT TRUE STRENGTH IS!"
His belligerent shouts stirred the crowd into an even greater frenzy, with some even yelling back insults.
"WHO THE FUCK DOES HE THINK HE IS?!!! SHOW GRUZIA'S RESOLVE TO THIS FOREIGNER!!!"
"YEAH, MAKE HIM BEG ON HIS KNEES!!!"
In the midst of all this chaos, Lloyd could also hear the wagers being placed on Alexander's endurance, with amounts he currently wouldn't dream of throwing away.
"I'll put 10 gold coins on him lasting 10 seconds. Actually, make it 20!"
"Only 20? Your finances are this dire, uh?! I'll stake 50 on him lasting 15 seconds!"
This situation made his poor heart violently throb in his chest. Had the General not said that he'd only train?! What the hell had happened?! To make matters worse, someone in the crowd noticed his arrival, resulting in an accusatory shout directed at him.
"HEY! Isn't this the person who's with him?!"
In an abrupt shift, the collective gaze swung towards him, rife with an unsettling blend of curiosity, contempt and hatred.
Fuck…
Alexander was also quick to see that he had attracted the crowd's ire, something that made his already generous grin grow larger.
"Merchant Lloyd! I assume you've come to enjoy the show!"
His heart further plummeted into a chasm of dread. This lunatic had just thrown him to the wolves, exacerbating the already strained atmosphere and leaving him with little options. He either had to rebuke the General or fully endorse him, and between the two, his choice was unerringly clear.
"Of course! How could I not support my bodyguard! But I've just arrived here, so can you explain to me what's going on?"
Endorsing him was one thing, but he also wanted to know why the situation had reached such a point.
"Well, I asked for their best sparring partners, and they apparently took offense. I mean, why should I spar with a single opponent if they're not even worthy?"
The arrogance and audacity seeping from Alexander was unbridled, causing even Lloyd to stiffen. However, this was who he was, and there was obviously no time to cry over spoiled milk. It was time to navigate this the best he could.
"I see… I'd then like to personally apologize to the trainers for my man's rude remarks. He had no right to dishonor you all."
The crowd, which was still riveted to him, collectively groaned. This wasn't the closure they sought, especially not after the disrespect that Alexander had shown to their esteemed soldiers. The fact that this group was composed of powerful individuals also didn't help, since their pride and reputation were paramount. Disrespecting the United Inn, a symbol of their wealth and power, was simply unacceptable.
But…
"However, mocking my people is something I can't tolerate. I hope you'll indulge my guard's request."
A slight smile had formed on his face, causing the crowd to roar in anticipation of his imminent defeat, or so they thought…
"Remember, Bodyguard Alexander, that this is a spar. Lethal blows are strictly forbidden, and etiquette must be maintained. If someone's down, they're out."
Christopher delivered the rules with eloquent precision, eliciting ready consent from the General and attendees, while hoping that this clarity would prevent any misunderstandings, regardless of the outcome. Meanwhile, Alexander's vicious expression had betrayed his confidence. In his mind, the result was already preordained.
As for the scientist, he had decided to closely observe the situation. Five sparring instructors, their military background evident, were confronting the former King. Their immaculate attire, hardened hands, and formidable build spoke volumes of their rigorous and brutal training regimen, with their gleaming steel swords, adorned with the Inn's insignia, echoing the establishment's prestige. But despite these factors, his only worry was their unwavering focus on Alexander, which bristled with lethal intent. It was obvious they had taken issue with his comments, and they were ready to prove he had no business even attending the United. And yet, Christopher's confidence was unshaken.
For one, the training room's layout was to the General's advantage since it was spacious and open, thus allowing his massive frame plenty of space to move around. After the gate's incident, he was convinced that these five were not his match as well, no matter their coordination or skill. Their auras were simply too… weak. After reaching this conclusion, a daring idea struck his mind.
"I'll wager 40 gold coins on his victory."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the crowd, which had begun to focus back on the fighters, returned to him with renewed fury and derision.
"HAHAHAHA LOOK AT HIM! I DIDN'T KNOW OUTSIDERS HAD THIS MUCH MONEY TO WASTE!"
"THIS MAN'S A CLOWN! JUST GIVE ME YOUR MONEY IF YOU'RE GOING TO THROW IT AWAY!!!"
It appeared that anyone, regardless of status, could transform into a simpleton when part of a mob. But their vitriol didn't bother Lloyd, who in fact welcomed it. This was the perfect opportunity to gamble the rest of his coins and reap an enormous win. Of course, such a declaration immediately brought the bookmaker to his side to quickly confirm the bet.
"The current odds stand at 15:1. May this gamble end in your favor."
With a perverse and borderline psychopathic smile, the man then sauntered off to attend the other voracious bidders. But Christopher couldn't believe what he had just heard…
15:1 odd… If he wasn't wrong… Wasn't this a 640 gold coins victory!? He nearly yelled in ecstasy before rapidly collecting himself.
This fight, at first a horrifying specter of potentially calamitous consequences, had instead turned into a massive opportunity. But he also knew not to push his luck, as having Thomas Wixton on his back was already more than enough. After another minute of hushed anticipation, the crowd's fervor had reached its zenith, the atmosphere completely electric. It was time for the performance to begin.
"Fight!"
Lloyd's bellow didn't fall on deaf ears, with the five battle-hardened instructors instantly surging towards the General in perfect synchrony. Their movements were like a razor-edged dance, swift and precise, yet clearly displaying a profound understanding of complex military maneuvers, which made the former King shout in admiration.
"Extraordinary!"
With the gap between them now nearly closed, Alexander then brandished his gargantuan sword before, with one mighty swing, unleashing it around him in a full rotation of deadly steel. As the air trembled and the terrifyingly long blade hissed through it, it created a brutal sonnet of destruction that compelled the quintet of soldiers to instantly and awkwardly leap backwards to narrowly evade its wrath. When coupled with his inhuman strength, it was obvious that the weapon had transformed into an instrument of indiscriminate devastation. This short but intense sequence sent the crowd into an eerie silence, a palpable sense of dread now born from doubt.
"What… What just happened?! Wasn't this person from a backwater country? How is he so strong?!"
"Is anybody aware of his identity?! Someone this capable definitely shouldn't have gone under the radar!"
It wasn't long before an eruption of hushed murmurs and uncontained rumors began to spread, much like a wildfire in a parched forest. Christopher, who was in the midst of it all, reveled in their anguish. They had disrespected his name, and they would pay the price.
Meanwhile, Alexander wore a sly grin while further evaluating his opponents.
"Not bad… You're definitely worth my attention."
Their reflexes had been exceptional despite the clear discomfort that his counterattack had brought. Based on that and his instincts, he determined that these five were veterans of an elite vanguard unit that demanded unconscious and lightning-fast reactions, meaning their survival instincts had been honed for moments like these. However, this in turn exposed their major flaw.
"Let's see how you defend!"
While roaring in their direction, the General then lunged forward with force that created tremors beneath him, much to the horror of those who had bet against him. His initial target, the oldest soldier, had his eyes widen in sheer terror as he realized that he was in the crosshairs of Alexander's first assault. Scrambling, he hastily assumed a defensive stance as he positioned his sword to best deflect the incoming attack. It was a sound tactic, since the maneuver was designed to withstand pretty much anything, but…
"This won't be enough, hahaha!"
His maniacal laughter echoed as he violently swung his behemoth of a sword at the soldier, who had failed to account for its formidable reach. This resulted in the upper part of the blade, where Alexander's raw power was concentrated, to directly collide against his own, the outcome turning into a blur… His last coherent memories were the shock first overwhelming his wrists as his grip failed to hang on to the hilt, followed by his arms getting mercilessly crushed against his body and, finally, his feet leaving the ground as he was propelled across the training grounds, eventually hitting a distant wall with resounding force.
The sheer demonstration of power had cast a heavy silence upon the room, the public now completely stunned. This was no spar… No, it was a show, a grand spectacle that had its outcome determined from the very start.
Following this barrage, the remaining four instructors had realization as well: even if they were to perfectly combine their skills, they were of no match against this monster.
What transpired next, however, triggered an uproar that echoed throughout the United, an event it hadn't seen in a long, long time.
"We admit defeat."