Chapter 32

[Translator – Helga]

[Proofreader – Lucky]

Chapter 32

“Ugh!”

“Step back.”

People distanced themselves to avoid getting caught in the fight.

Gillip swung his axe wildly, ignoring them.

“You deceived me completely!”

Gillip only realized after clashing weapons with Kane that Kane’s claim of being at the beginner of 3rd class knight was a lie.

Gillip mistakenly thought Kane had been hiding his strength.

It was the same reaction as Theo of the Holy Sword Knights.

“Tch, everyone is stupid.”

Kane gripped his spear tightly.

Blood mark emerged in his eyes.

Seeing this, Gillip retreated.

“Beginner-Tier 3rd class is a disguise. He’s at least my level or higher. Damn it. Why does a guy like him have to show up all of a sudden?”

Gillip cursed repeatedly in his mind.

An unexpected strong opponent.

If he bowed his head here, the prestige of the Black Crow exchange would plummet.

His opponent was known across the continent as the ‘Dullard Duke.’

Of all people, he had to be defeated by the dullard.

Today, he lost a lot.

“Do you even have time to scheme? If the rumor spreads that you were defeated by me, it will be quite entertaining.”

“Who’s going to be defeated by you?!”

Gillip realized he was out of time.

He had to defeat the Dullard Duke.

Or find another way.

“Today, I will split your head in two.”

Gillip chose the former.

It was the worst choice.

He fell right into Kane’s provocation.

Wind gathered around Gillip’s axe.

His hair fluttered wildly.

Seeing this, Kane shook his head.

“I won’t be hit by such a big attack.”

Kane’s body shot forward.

He closed the distance to Gillip in an instant.

“You always pretend to be rational, but you’re still as foolish as ever.”

Gillip was defenseless.

All his mana was concentrated in his axe.

Kane struck Gillip’s leg hard with his spear.

Thud!

“Argh.”

Gillip’s body was lifted off the ground.

As he tried to regain his stance and counterattack.

“It’s not over yet.”

Kane, using the Phoenix’s Breath, performed the Phoenix Spear Technique:

—

[Using the first form of Phoenix Spear Technique: Flame of Severance.’.]

—

However, he used the Water mark instead of fire.

The purple haze flowing from the spear turned into droplets that pummeled Gillip’s body.

“Ugh!”

Gillip groaned in pain.

A heavy attack instead of a sharp one.

It was as if he was being struck with a blunt weapon all over his body.

He was already a wreck by the time he hit the ground.

Kane matched his pace and pressed his spear firmly into Gillip’s abdomen.

“Puugh!”

Blood gushed from Gillip’s mouth.

The blood soaked the ground.

Kane looked down at Gillip.

“Do you want more?”

“....”

Gillip didn’t even have the strength to speak.

He could only shake his head side to side as much as he could.

Kane’s eyes curved into crescents at Gillip’s slight movement.

“But... you’re not the one who decides, it’s me.”

Kane’s spear struck down hard on Gillip’s shoulder.

‘This crazy bastard!’

Thud!

“Argh...”

Gillip’s eyes rolled back.

His left shoulder was shattered by the spear, causing him to foam at the mouth from the shock.

—

The room was eerily silent.

Gillip, with bandages on his shoulder, knelt on the floor.

‘It feels like I’ve been bitten by a mad dog... what should I do?’

Gillip’s eyes darted around nervously.

The Black Crow exchange had been defeated.

And very miserably at that.

‘The only fortunate thing is that no one knows the person I lost to is the Dullard Young Duke.’

Kane’s identity remained a secret.

Since he had worn a mask upon entering, people were unaware of who he was.

“Stop rolling your eyes.”

“What?”

“What day is it today?”

“It’s June 24th. Why do you ask?”

“The continent will soon be in an uproar.”

July.

A month when a massive event occurs.

The name of this game is [War of the Gods: Infinite Defense]

Defense battles are one of the main features of this game.

‘It’s the day when mutated monsters of the demon forests swarm across the continent.’

Mutated monsters feed on mana and demonic energy, and...

Mana stones are the crystallization of mana.

The first place these mutated monsters target is Mana Stone mines.

The Black Crow exchange gave us amazing information.

They are a group with excellent situational awareness and judgment.

No matter how valuable a Mana Stone mine is, can it be more important than a person’s life?

Especially the life of a skilled informant.

It costs tens of millions of gold to train a top-notch informant.

Would a single mine have enough value to justify sacrificing all of them?

Gillip, deeming it unworthy, handed the Mana Stone mine over to a greedy noble.

‘Now that I’ve shown my face, they’ll offer me a deal too. I’ll buy the mine during the second wave of mutated monsters.’

Later, Gillip would regret selling the Mana Stone mine deeply.

He couldn’t foresee how this troublesome resource would be utilized.

“You’re muttering to yourself again.”

Kane just smiled faintly.

He didn’t explain further.

While heading to the base of the Blue Merchant group in Philaec, he checked his messages.

—

[Quest “Escape the Black Crow’s Exchange” has been completed.]

[As a reward, the slave spearman Mikhail Pervatz has been recruited.]

—

Along with the message, Mikhail’s status window appeared.

—

[Mikhail Pervatz (Lv.1)]

Grade: ★★★★☆ (4 stars)

Age: 25

Occupation: Slave Spearman

Mana Affinity: Fire Bond (A-) (3 Runes)

Affection: 5 (Neutral)

—

-Base Stats-

[Health: B+]

[Mana: B]

[Physical Strength: B]

[Strength: B+]

Traits: Pride of Fire (S), Fighting Spirit (A), Craftsmanship (S)

Skill: Pervatz Dragon Fang Spear Technique (A)

Previously hidden details were now revealed in his unlocked state.

A status window of a Mid-Tier 5th Class Knight.

Most of his abilities were rated around B.

However, his traits and skills were far beyond what one would expect from an intermediate 5th-class.

‘These stats are before his promotion. This is why Mikhail is a must-have.’

Once promoted, these abilities would change dramatically.

Born as a 4-star character.

If he were promoted to 5-star, he would evolve into a character with insane efficiency.

‘Not just in combat, his secondary profession is extraordinary too.’

While his combat abilities were impressive enough to be considered elite...

Mikhail’s true potential lay in his profession linked to his traits.

—

[Pride of Fire]

Type: Trait

Grade: S (Growth)

Description: The Pervatz family is blessed by the Fire Rune To revive the fading pride of fire, they have chosen the blacksmith profession for generations.

Effect: Forging Mastery fixed at S, creation of True Dragon’s Ember

—

Mikhail became a slave spearman to find the Pervatz heirloom, Flame Emperor’s spear.

But his original profession was a blacksmith.

‘Mikhail is a blacksmith, and I’m a jeweler as my secondary profession. I’ve secured an artisan for weapons and jewelry. Now, I just need an architect.’

There was a reason why his half-brother Dirk couldn’t touch him.

Blacksmiths, farmers, spies, even potion shop owners.

In wartime, they would instantly become warriors.

Leaders of their respective groups.

Dirk knew well that messing with them could result in a severe backlash.

So he gathered all his strength and stabbed him in the back.

If he hadn’t prepared for a long time, Dirk would have been the one dead.

‘It’s all coming together. Wait for me, Dirk. I’ll snap your neck in one swift move.’

The memory of his death was still vivid.

The desire for revenge never left him, not for a single moment.

Everything he did was tied to his vengeance.

To slowly choke the life out of Hatzfeld, it was essential.

Acquiring Mikhail, forming ties with Gillip of the Black Crow exchange...

Everything was a step towards his revenge.

While checking Mikhail’s information...

He arrived at the branch of the Blue Merchant Group in Philaec.

[Translator – Helga]

[Proofreader – Lucky]