Chapter 27: Raymond's Choice
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Koen’s voice sounded as though he were joking, but his tone was unusually firm.
Beside him, Chloe’s expression changed abruptly, and the look he cast at Koen turned hostile.
Raymond furrowed his brow and said softly, “Chloe did not know your identity beforehand, and he has already apologized to you.”
Koen replied evenly, “In front of so many people, I must stand by what I say!”
Raymond understood the implication hidden in his words: if what he said today did not count, then what he had promised yesterday would not count either.
A threat!
Anger surged through Raymond. He was being threatened by a mere first-rank extraordinary!
He drew several deep breaths. His longing for the kingdom’s capital and for advancement into the legendary rank suppressed his fury. Turning to Chloe, he said coldly, “Chloe, from today onward, you will take up a post at the arena in the Southern Frontier.”
The moment those words were spoken, Chloe’s face changed dramatically. A chill, like a cold wind, shot straight into his chest.
For the sake of a first-rank extraordinary, his employer was actually exiling him to the Southern Frontier!
Grievance and resentment filled his heart, accompanied by a faint trace of regret.
He could never defy the command of an employer who stood at the legendary rank. All he could do was turn his gaze toward Bogus.
Bogus, too, was stunned by Raymond’s actions. He had never imagined that matters would develop to this point—that Chloe would actually be exiled!
All for the sake of some first-rank nobody!
All because of a few harmless scoldings?
Chloe was one of the more valuable investments of the Dupont family. If he were exiled over such a trivial matter, who would be willing to serve the Dupont family in the future?
Bogus immediately spoke up. “Lord Raymond, this entire matter began because of me. Our Dupont family will take responsibility. Please do not take your anger out on anyone else!”
After a pause, he produced a badge and added, “My words represent the Dupont family.”
Bogus’s voice rang out with force, stirring considerable commotion throughout the arena.
No one would casually dismiss a promise made by a noble house with centuries of inheritance.
Raymond’s expression froze. He knew the young man before him: the eldest legitimate son of the Dupont family and first in line to inherit it.
Seeing that Raymond was still hesitating, Bogus pressed his advantage.
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“Lord Raymond, this is a matter among nobles. Surely you do not intend to let an outsider cause unpleasantness between us?”
Yes, among nobles!
When all was said and done, no one had truly proven that Koen was a noble. Perhaps he was merely bluffing, and the mask concealed his face because he feared his true identity would be exposed.
Thus, until his identity was confirmed, everyone regarded him as nothing more than an ordinary man with exceptional talent.
His talent might earn him the regard of certain people, but that was ultimately merely an external advantage.
If one considered only Koen’s own status, he did not even possess the qualifications to stand here.
Bogus’s meaning was utterly plain:
Were Raymond really going to oppose them—the nobles—for the sake of a commoner?
Right and wrong were one thing. Positions were another.
Today, for the sake of a commoner, Raymond was exiling a knight. Who could say that tomorrow he would not kill a noble for the sake of another commoner?
In the eyes of the Transcendent Arena, were the dignity and reputation of the nobility truly worth less than those of a young man who hid his face and identity?
Raymond now found himself being roasted over a fire.
Many nobles were present today. He could already feel the pressure of their seemingly casual gazes from the first and second tiers. They were plainly waiting for him to make his choice.
This was their shared conviction:
A genius? Fine. I like geniuses.
But that genius must obey me!
Raymond had begun to wonder whether the arrival of this mysterious young man at his arena was a blessing or a disaster.
The previous day, he had nearly caused a scandal over a rigged match. Today, the moment he arrived, he had once again stirred up a conflict between nobles and commoners.
Raymond let out a deep sigh. He still had to continue working in Florence, after all. He still had to rely on this entrenched, deeply rooted network of Florentine nobles.
If he truly provoked them and drove them into united resistance, then forget about taking up a post in the kingdom—he might not even be able to keep his position in Florence.
At heart, he was still a merchant. Weighing advantages and disadvantages was engraved in his blood and bones.
At last, he spoke.
“Since the Dupont family is willing to vouch for you, very well. Chloe, you will offer this gentleman a solemn apology. In addition, you are suspended for six months. Spend that time reflecting properly at home.”
When his voice fell silent, Chloe breathed a sigh of relief, while a trace of vengeful satisfaction appeared on Bogus’s face.
His gaze drifted toward Koen and Nephthys, as though saying: See? This is the power of the nobility. This is the charm of family standing!
What use is your talent, you two commoners? When you ought to admit defeat, you still have no choice but to admit it!
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Our ancestors endured all the hardships that the next dozen generations would have had to suffer, centuries ago!
What gives you the right to stand as my equal?
Koen sighed inwardly. This was not his previous life, after all. To Raymond and most of the nobles present, he was nothing more than a young man of exceptional talent.
In truth, they did not consider him one of their own.
What they valued was whether he could transform his talent into strength and become a tool for them to exploit for profit.
Yes, to these royal relatives and illustrious nobles, commoners and slaves were merely tools. The only difference was whether those tools were useful or useless.
They might cherish a sharp sword beyond measure, but the moment someone threatened their interests, they would cast aside even the most exquisite and precious blade.
What had become of the Six Dynasties? In the end, they had merely served as private calculations for powerful households.
Koen shook his head lightly, casting aside his impractical fantasies. Strictly speaking, was he not already the greatest noble within the borders of Aifein?
Koen raised a hand to stop Chloe, who was about to apologize, and said softly, “Perhaps I am the one who should apologize.”
His words immediately left everyone wearing strange expressions.
Had this young man finally become afraid?
A passionate young man brimming with talent had suffered the blows of reality and the crushing weight of power. In the end, before the insurmountable barriers of noble authority and wealth, he had been forced to lower his proud head and choose submission and obedience.
It was hardly surprising. Such things had happened countless times before, and in the foreseeable future, similar scenes would continue to repeat themselves countless times.
But Koen’s next words sent another enormous wave through the crowd.
“You were originally only going to lose your job. But in a moment, I am afraid you will lose far more.”
Koen gave no one time to ponder his words. His gaze lingered on Raymond’s face for a moment, followed by a soft laugh whose meaning was impossible to discern.
As the laughter rang out, a gold exchange voucher worth five thousand gold coins flew through the air and landed before Raymond.
At the same time, two badges belonging to the Transcendent Arena—badges representing a competitor’s strength and record—shot out and abruptly exploded in front of Raymond.
Raymond’s face slowly hardened into ice. His eyes grew as dark as still water, while an invisible storm gradually gathered above his head. The air became heavy and oppressive, and his vast aura pressed down on everyone present until they could scarcely breathe.
The crowd, already startled by Koen’s actions, fell deathly silent.
The legendary powerhouse was enraged!
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