Lancaster turned his head and saw a... well, probably a little boy, standing behind him, tugging at the corner of his coat. The boy was only about waist-high to Lancaster, wearing a big hat that was pulled down low, covering most of his face. Lancaster crouched down and patted his head, "Be good, little brother. Go play somewhere else. You shouldn't be here." That heartless Zachary had already burst out laughing on the side. The boy said nothing, stubbornly clutching Lancaster's clothes, refusing to let go. "Stop messing around. Big brothers have things to do, we can't play with you. Be good, okay?" Though Lancaster couldn't see the boy's face, he still couldn't bear to just leave him alone. "Have you made your decision yet? Hurry up," the registrar urged. Zachary playfully grabbed the boy by the collar. "Stop clinging to him, kid. He's mine!" "I'm not a kid!" The boy clearly didn't like that term, "I'm already 160 years old." "Pfft, if you're not a kid, what are you?" Zachary scoffed. "Big brother, take me with you." Perhaps sensing that Lancaster was the one who really had authority, the boy clung to him persistently.
"Do you have a knight's badge?" Manning couldn't stand it any longer. "I do, I'm really strong. Look!" The boy carefully pulled out a badge from his pocket and proudly presented it to them. Manning gave a wry smile. It was just an Alkaid badge. "Kid..." While Manning was still thinking of how to phrase it, Zachary butted in. "Kid, you're too weak. Go home and play with your puppy." "I don't want to!" The boy had to crane his neck high just to meet Zachary's gaze. Wow, the three of them couldn't help but be amazed. What a cute kid. His round, chubby face looked as if carved from jade, his big black eyes darting around, lips red and teeth white—he was sure to grow up to be a real heartthrob! Zachary couldn't help pinching his cheek. "Hmm, you remind me of an animal... What is it?" The boy glared warily, hiding behind Lancaster, clearly labeling Zachary as the bad guy. "Ah yes, you're just like a squirrel from Bukilis, exactly the same. Hahaha!" His laughter was cut short by Lancaster's fierce glare. "Zachary, itching for a fight, are you?" Lancaster's tone was dangerously low. "Why, yes, my queen, are you offering to give me a massage?" Zachary teased, still not serious. "Then I'll gladly oblige." Lancaster smiled sweetly. A wind stirred, not a small breeze this time—a tornado. "Ahh, my queen, where are you blowing me to? Don't send me more than three meters away from you~~~" For the first time, the streets of Naya echoed with the pitiful scream that would soon become a familiar sound in the future.
The boy cautiously peeked out from behind Lancaster, "Where did that big brother go? Will it hurt from being blown away?" Clearly, his young heart didn't understand the concept of holding a grudge. "Don't worry about him. That guy has thick skin. Now, tell me, why do you insist on entering the Knight Festival?" The boy puffed out his chest with determination, "I want to become the greatest free knight. I want to make my dad and brother stop mocking me for being a kid!" "Such a grand ambition," Lancaster patted his head. "Did you run away from home?" The boy's face turned bright red. "Alright, let's take him into our group. Do you have any objections, Manning?" Manning shook his head. Who would dare object? He wasn't about to risk a tornado from Lancaster like Zachary. Besides, it was only three rounds. They'd get rid of the kid soon enough, and with their strength, he wouldn't cause too much trouble.
"Add one more to our team," Lancaster said, satisfied, as he turned to the registrar. The boy squeezed his way to the front of the table, standing on tiptoes. "My name is Leif Valgur, Alkaid Knight." The registrar glanced at them in surprise, then noted down the name of the only Alkaid knight registered so far. "Three people, fifteen Brins." Manning took out the money from his pocket and placed it on the table. "Alright, you can go in now!" The registrar waved them in.
Lancaster, Manning, and Leif walked into the arena. "Ohhh, my queen, you can't abandon me." Somehow, Zachary appeared next to Lancaster, despite being blown who-knows-where.
The registrar closed his book, ready to strike the gong signaling the end of registration. "Wait, wait!" A dark figure practically rolled to the table. "I want to register!" The staff member lowered the gong and picked up a pen. "Name, knight rank? Huh, are you alone?" He scratched his head, "Yep!" "No, no, this tournament uses team battles for the first three rounds. You can't enter solo. Better leave." "Huh?" The young man was clearly taken aback. "Go on, go on. I'm closing up!" The staff member waved him away impatiently.
The young man looked around and spotted Lancaster's group in the distance. His eyes lit up. In an instant, he leapt the ten meters separating them, landing in front of Lancaster. "Big brothers, please take me in. I'm only 28, I have a clean background, high moral standards, a small inheritance, strong martial arts skills, and a handsome face..." Pfft, this time it was Manning who couldn't hold back his laughter. The young man glared at Manning, who quickly stifled his laughter. "Go on, go on." Satisfied, the youth turned back. "I've practiced martial arts since childhood, learned the classics, mastered weapons, I'm diligent, honest, and love doing chores. I can make beds, boil water, cook meals, you name it. And I'm not just practical—I'm cultured too! I can play instruments, paint, sing, anything. Big brother, please take me in!" Lancaster was still a bit dazed from the verbal onslaught when the youth pointed to Leif and said, "You've already taken in this little cutie, what harm is one more? I'll definitely be more useful than him!" "Who are you calling a cutie?" Leif clenched his small fists, waving them at the man. "Wow, look at those pale little hands, just like that girl from the Wan Hua House!" The man's mockery was blatant. "You..." Leif's face flushed bright red. Lancaster stepped forward, about to refuse, but Zachary stopped him. "Let him join. One more doesn't matter." Lancaster gave him a sly look, "Did you smell something familiar on him?" "Oh, my queen, don't suspect me so easily. I bathe every day, and I'm totally innocent!" "Fine," Lancaster shook his head. "Go register." "Big brother, your kindness will never be forgotten. In the next life, I'll repay you as an ox or a horse..." "Enough, enough. No matter this life or the next, the queen's only servant will be me!" Zachary grabbed the man and tossed him toward the registration table.
"Kayn Spartinion, Alioth Knight!" "Alioth? That's what you call 'strong martial arts'?" "Exaggeration, just a little exaggeration!" "Five Brins." "Huh? Five Brins? You're robbing me!" Kayn frantically searched his pockets, only managing to find four Brins and twenty-three Lulins, sweating profusely. "Stop searching!" A card was tossed onto the table. "Small inheritance, huh?" Zachary grinned. "I said it was a small inheritance!" Kayn defended himself.
Finally done with the formalities, the five of them headed into the arena again. Now, they had the time to properly look at Kayn. Compared to Lancaster's sharp beauty, Kayn's appearance was more average. But the lazy smile that seemed permanently plastered on his face was oddly endearing. "Kayn, how old are you?" Manning asked. "280." So that's what he meant by '28.' Made them all want to cough up blood.
The city center arena was an enormous complex, with a stadium that could hold tens of thousands of spectators and housing for all the knights competing. As soon as they settled in their room, there was a knock at the door. A man in uniform stood outside. "Sirs, please report to the stadium in half an hour." "Huh? I thought the competition starts tomorrow?" "Yes, but in tonight's opening ceremony, the last team to register will face off against the first team. Though it's an exhibition match, failure means disqualification from the official rounds." The man spoke respectfully, then withdrew. "This could be troublesome. I heard the first team to sign up are all former top-eight finalists," Manning stroked his chin. "Isn't that great?" Kayn said lazily. Manning glanced around. Lancaster was excited, Zachary was already cracking his knuckles, and even Leif's eyes were sparkling. He sighed. How had he forgotten that none of these people could be judged by normal standards?
"Let's go." Lancaster waved confidently. "Yeah! Let's head out!"
The hottest, most chaotic Knight Festival in history was about to begin tonight. Are you ready?