Chapter 273 - Absolute Reflection

“Who are you? Why are you speaking so arrogantly?” Annie shook her head and fixed her gaze on the man in front of her.

The silver-haired skinny man’s lips twisted in mockery in response to her question. He extended his hand and pointed at the intersection of the two blades on his chest. “I am the vice-captain of the Holy Sword adventurer team, the largest adventurer team in the City of Steel. My name is Claude. Do you know who I am now?”

“The Holy Sword adventurer team? Vice-captain?”

Annie’s face paled, and her voice started to tremble.

“Is the Holy Sword adventurer team very powerful? It seems that the two people we saved in the dungeon are also members of the Holy Sword adventurer team,” Watson whispered. Clyde’s expression darkened as he said, “We can’t say that they are powerful, but they are the largest gold-tier adventurer team in the entire City of Steel because their captain is the swordmistress, Christina Von Frederick.”

“Who is the swordmistress?”

Watson became intrigued at hearing the name of the Holy Sword adventurer team as Clyde appeared to be in awe.

“Young Master Watson, you haven’t heard of the Lady Swordmistress?” It was Clyde’s turn to be surprised.

“I haven’t heard of her at all.”

“The swordmistress is…”

Just as Clyde was about to explain, Antonio, who had been sitting beside Watson and resting with his eyes closed from the moment he got off the carriage, suddenly said, “If my guess is correct, the swordmistress is the young miss of the current sword saint family! The Frederick family is the most famous sword saint family in the entire Holy Dragon Kingdom.”

“That’s right. Miss Christina is their only daughter. She’s already a peak gold-tier warrior at the age of 20. Furthermore, she’s not an ordinary peak gold-tier warrior. Her strongest battle record is defeating 20 gold-tier at the same time. That’s why she’s known as the swordmistress! Many people in the kingdom think that she will surpass her father someday. She has also established the Holy Sword adventurer team.”

“What is the daughter of a great sword saint family doing in such a remote place like the City of Steel? Was she here for the labyrinth as well?”

Watson thought as he stroked his chin. Antonio had said that only one sword saint had managed to clear the dungeon since the labyrinth’s establishment. That swordswoman might be there to challenge her father’s record.

While he was contemplating, Claude, who had introduced himself as the Holy Sword adventurer team’s vice-captain, scoffed at them. “It appears that the Blood Rose adventurer team is not only low-tier, but you are also a group of country bumpkins. Who hasn’t heard of our captain? Our team has already conquered the underground city’s 70th floor. Our captain discovered a treasure on the 70th floor and advanced to the platinum tier the day before yesterday. I am here to change our team’s ranking. The Holy Sword adventurer team will become the City of Steel’s first platinum-tier adventurer team.”

Advanced to the platinum tier?

Claude’s statements stunned the Blood Rose adventurer team members and the other adventurer teams around them. Everyone looked at Claude; their eyes widened in surprise.

The swordmistress was only 20 years old, but she had already achieved platinum-tier elite status at a young age. Her abilities were comparable to the present sword saint. She would undoubtedly become a diamond-tier elite in the future. The Holy Sword adventurer team would also be the first platinum-tier adventurer team in the city. The city’s strongest adventurer team had been a mere gold-tier team. One of the criteria used to determine an adventurer team’s level was the strength of the strongest person on the team.

Platinum-tier elites were held in high regard across the Holy Dragon Kingdom. Typically, such an elite would not organize an adventurer team in a remote location. There were relatively few ladies who were independent and maverick, such as the swordmistress.

Claude’s expression subconsciously changed to smug in response to the envious gazes from his surroundings.

Thanks to the swordmistress’ assistance, their adventurer team had always been the largest in the City of Steel. With the swordmistress’ platinum-tier advancement, their team had grown even stronger. His position as vice-captain would also improve. Even a gold-tier elite had to be respectful in front of him. As a peak silver-tier fighter, he would not usually have the chance to enjoy such treatment.

“The Holy Sword adventurer team’s promotion to platinum-tier can’t be announced so casually. We must use a special and impressive method to show the strength of our team.”

Claude pondered it, and his gaze became filled with malice as he stared at Annie.

Normally, he would react as if he had spotted a bug when he encountered someone like Annie. He would disregard her obliviously. That day, though, was different. He could not wait for someone to provoke and establish the Holy Sword adventurer team’s authority. However, only a few people would dare to provoke the Holy Sword adventurer team. Well, if no one would do it, then he would start it. It just so happened that he was annoyed with Annie.

He would use the unremarkable Blood Rose adventurer team as a stepping stone for establishing the Holy Sword adventurer team’s supreme status in the City of Steel.

Claude aimed his finger at Annie once he made up his mind. “You were causing a stir in the Adventurers’ Association just now. I told you to get lost. Didn’t you hear me?”

“I—”

Annie bit her lips, clearly enraged. She scanned around for help, but everyone there who felt her gaze kept silent.

Claude was thrilled with her response. “Not only do you have to get out of here, but you also have to kneel and apologize to me sincerely. The Adventurers’ Association’s air is filthy because of you country bumpkins! I am going to count to three. If you do not kneel and apologize, the Blood Rose adventurer team will be expelled from the City of Steel today. Three, two—”

“I got it. Can’t I just apologize?”

Annie’s face was flushed with embarrassment. She bent her legs and was about to kneel on the ground.

She was a courageous woman. She would rather die than apologize if she were the only one there. However, her team members and their benefactor, Watson, were behind her. She was adamant about not involving them. After all, the Holy Sword adventurer team was too powerful. Their members numbered in the tens of thousands, and their captain was a platinum-tier elite.

She thought that Watson and the others were formidable too, but they had not yet achieved the platinum tier.

Just as Annie was about to kneel, a slender hand grabbed her shoulder and helped her up.

“Miss Annie, we’re here to test our strength. We just need to do what we’re here to do. We don’t need to worry about others finding fault with us for no apparent reason.”

“But—” Annie was still hesitating when Claude, who was next to her, said fiercely, “Brat, who are you saying is finding fault with you?”

“Is there anyone else troubling us around here?”

Watson deliberately looked around him and laughed. “At first, I heard that the Holy Sword adventurer team is the largest team in the City of Steel. Their captain is the daughter of the current sword saint family, a platinum-tier elite. I do admire that adventurer team! Now, it seems like the Holy Sword adventurer team is merely average. If this is their vice-captain, I’m guessing the rest of their team members are not much better. How disappointing!”

“Brat, it’s fine if you slander me, but you dare slander the Holy Sword adventurer team and our captain? Are you courting death?”

Watson’s bare mocking words inflamed Clyde’s rage. He rushed toward Watson and raised his right hand, which was encircled by a flaming red combat aura, in an attempt to strike Watson in the face.

Clyde was a fire-elemental peak silver-tier warrior. The power in his palm was enough to melt several layers of steel plates. If it had landed on Watson’s body, it would melt his bones. Many adventurer teams around him turned their heads away. They could not bear to watch it.

At that moment…

Bang!

A shocking scene occurred. Clyde’s palm landed on Watson’s face with a muffled sound, but Watson was unscathed. On the contrary, someone appeared to have punched Clyde in the face. It distorted and became charred black. He screamed in pain as he spun around and flew more than ten meters backward. He crashed into the wall, creating a deep pit.

The entire Adventurers’ Association fell silent upon seeing that scene.