The Grand Duelist

That night, countless people focused their sights on the Capital City Reinhardt. 

Why?

It was because of the appearance of two system notifications that shook the entire world of Victory.

[Tomorrow at high-noon. A Legend that dared commit treason against his home Kingdom will be publicly executed at the Central Square of the Capital City, Reinhardt. Each and everyone from all walks of life, wherever they might be from are invited to witness the death of a fleeting Legend.]

[Signed by the King of the Kingdom of Nether, Oliver Oligarch.]

"...!!!"

"A Legend..."

"Is about to be executed?!"

"Here at the Kingdom of Nether?!"

Every player around the world exclaimed out loud at the same time.

Popular media stations dedicated to Victory, such as OG News, GMA News, and DGG News sent their employees in a frenzy towards the Capital City of the Kingdom of Nether, Reinhardt.

In just a few minutes, all sorts of carriages carrying dozens of players could be seen rushing towards the Capital City, Reinhardt.

The NPCs who witnessed such an amazing scene were astonished, but after they recovered from their trance. All of them cried out in glee for business was once again booming.

For these NPCs that only cared for the survival of their own, and their family. The execution of a Legend didn't really matter. After all, they were just commoners that wanted to live their own life to the fullest, and through their own way.

But in contrast to them...

The players were lively.

[ Hello, everyone. You are watching DGG Station's Exclusive Coverage to the events happening right now at the Capital City, Reinhardt. As you can see behind me, a lot of players suddenly rushed towards this City. All for the sake of witnessing the execution of a Legend. ]

[ At the current state of the game. We are still ignorant about how strong Legends really are... After all, Kristian is the only Legend that we know about. Kristian's class gives him immense capabilities when it comes to crowd control so we can be assured that Legends are definitely strong... ]

[ Nevertheless, right now. A Legend is about to be executed by the Kingdom of Nether. Just who is that Legend? Could it be that it's the rumored top ranker, Elliot who suddenly disappeared from the rankings a few months before Kristian's recognition as a Legend? ]

[ We surely do not know about the answer to that question right now, but rest assured! DGG Station will be exclusively covering these events. Of course, we will not show to the viewers the grisly scene of an execution... But we will surely deliver, information! ]

[ I'll be sending my thanks to everyone for watching and I'll see you guys at noon! ]

Noise filled the area, and even though it was still early in the morning within the world of Victory.

The number of players within the City now numbered at least, more than five hundred. The NPCs who were surprised by the arrival of so many people were delighted but at the same time, bitter.

They were happy since they would definitely earn a lot today. But they were bitter since they knew in their hearts that their capabilities weren't enough to serve these many players.

Nevertheless, no matter what everyone was feeling right now.

The Capital City of Reinhardt was now packed to the brim with people from all walks of life.

In fact, even some Elders from the Divine Sword Sect descended from their mountains and came to the Capital City of Reinhardt.

One of them was Juzo who reeked of alcohol and had a lazy look on his face.

"Damn that geezer really knows how to work someone like a horse! He knows that I am someone that dislikes going out, yet he decided on sending me here for a public execution? Tsk... How annoying! Even though he's a Legend, he's someone that's already dead, so why even bother?"

A young maiden who would definitely look incredibly familiar to Joseph stood beside Juzo with a bitter smile on her face.

"Juzo... You can't call the Patriarch like that... Also, he sent us here. Not just to observe the execution, but to observe matters of the Oligarch Family..."

"Observe the matters of the Oligarch Family?" Juzo raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean? Why do we have to do that?"

The young maiden shook her head in disappointment before explaining: "Didn't you listen to what the Patriarch said? Sigh, Juzo... If not for that attitude of yours that do not know how to read along the lines, then you would've had a successor to that art of yours, already!"

Juzo trembled and he glared at the young maiden: "Why do you have to remind me of that blunder of mine! Gaaah! How annoying... But that wasn't really my fault. It's that brat's fault. Why didn't he show me that letter of yours sooner, instead of entertaining what I was saying."

The young maiden helplessly sighed once again as she softly replied: "Well, you probably didn't give him any chance to reply..."

Juzo halted on his tracks and he turned around to face the young maiden.

"Can we not talk about that again..." A helpless expression emerged on his face as he pleaded. It was evident that the young maiden struck the bull's eye. 

"Hehe... If you insist." The young maiden replied with a snicker.

Yet the young maiden kept poking fun at Juzo. 

Meanwhile, at the Northern-East Area of the Capital City Reinhardt. Within the confines of the Nobility Region.

A large number of unknown materials could be seen stacked together on the front yard of Duke Heathrow's mansion.

Dozens of players could be seen carrying materials on wheelbarrows as they dumped all of those materials towards their designated location. Each and every player within this area looked like they had been doing this for a long time already since most, if not all of them had pale, unhealthy faces.

"Huff... Puff... Huff... Puff... We're finally... done... This is the last stack..." An exhausted player collapsed, and he muttered these words as he stared towards the skies.

"Yeah... we're finally done... Shit... That was such an intense work-out... I haven't done anything as intense as this since high school..."

"Definitely... Uh... I swear if Guild Leader doesn't give us our promised rewards, then I will definitely quit this guild outright and never come back!"

"Yeah... Guild Leader's promise was really attractive..."

"I hope that he won't renege with his promise to us."

The workers instantly collapsed beside each other, after placing the last stack of materials that they were supposed to deliver from the Forbidden Region to this location here in the Capital City, Reinhardt.

"Hmmm... The materials for the production of Unhindered Weapons are ready... Duke Heathrow will be happy."

Vladimir wore a light smile on his face as he observed several mountains of materials in front of him.

"Unhindered Weapons... That name sure sounds plain, are you sure that it will really be powerful?" A feminine voice spoke up beside Vladimir.

"Bloodstained Lilium. You really are underestimating the capabilities of NPCs in the current phase of the game..."

"Right now, NPCs are the absolute rulers when it comes to strength. I don't know about what will happen in the next several years, but I've got to do what I need to do in order to not let those bastards catch up with the strength of Crimson."

The origin of the feminine voice was revealed to be a young maiden who had a cold and detached look on her face. Her pure white dress, decorated with hints of black that emanated darkness and elicited terror from those that dare stare at it, perfectly accentuated her petite figure.

Although she was quite small in height. She must not be underestimated. For this young woman was known and titled as the Bloodstained Lilium. The primary reason for the origin of that title was whenever she was in battle...

Her pure white dress would always be stained red with the blood of her enemies, making her look like an incomparably innocent, yet dangerous demoness.

"We really gave them a huge surprise back then, eh? But are you really sure about your decision? What you did was basically reveal your cards to them. Also, don't call me like that." She said in a somewhat mocking manner towards Vladimir.

Vladimir frowned, but he nevertheless kept himself calm as he replied: "Those knights do not matter in the big picture since they are not our property. We just borrowed them from Duke Heathrow..."

"I only did that so that I could divert the attention of those two big boys from Dark Flame and Knights of Justice towards those knights and take their attention away from the production of these Unhindered Weapons."

Bloodstained Lilium wore a look of interest on her face as she asked: "Are these Unhindered Weapons really that valuable? To the extent that you would slave away like this for the sake of that fat-ass Duke?"

Vladimir didn't mind her offensive language as he snickered: "I guess, you really don't understand. These Unhindered Weapons are called Unhindered for the reason that they have at least a sixty percent chance of ignoring an enemy's armor or defenses!"

"Not only that, there's no cooldown and basic attack also counts!"

A look of excitement and zeal could be seen on Vladimir's expression, and he almost exclaimed at the end of his sentence.

The look of interest on Bloodstained Lilium's face intensified, yet it vanished in an instant as she replied in a challenging and sarcastic manner: "Oh? That strong? In that case, then I can say that what you are doing is really worth it..."

"But can you really say for sure that Duke Heathrow would give your demands? You know about how unscrupulous these nobles are, right? I don't think that you're that naive..."

Vladimir chuckled: "You do not have to worry about that... I made a contract with Duke Heathrow under the effects of an Unbreakable Oath. He will definitely give the demands that I listed in that contract- No, he will not dare to renege."

Bloodstained Lilium stared at Vladimir for a moment before nodding her head: "Since you're about to succeed anyways, I don't think that I still have anything to do at this point in time, right? We have already kept Dark Flame and Knights of Justice in check, so can you send me the money now?"

Vladimir's expression turned harsh and he glared at the young maiden: "Not so fast, Lilium... Until everything is over, you will stay right beside me and make sure that nothing gets in my way..." 

Bloodstained Lilium also stared at Vladimir before she sighed: "In that case, then fine. Why would I refuse a job that will make me earn money without doing anything?" She shook her head and didn't mind Vladimir anymore.

Vladimir turned his head away from Lilium and a fierce expression surfaced on his face. But knowing Bloodstained Lilium's capabilities. He didn't dare to show his grievance as he slowly suppressed his anger.

After a few moments, he coughed and uttered in a somewhat confused manner.

"Speaking of people that could potentially get in our way..."

"I remember someone interesting within the Underground Penitentiary..."

Bloodstained Lilium asked: "What do you mean?"

Vladimir glanced at Lilium before saying: "I found a player in that place! From the looks of it, he's somewhat high-ranking in there... Probably an Inquisitor."

Bloodstained Lilium frowned, and she asked: "Why are you telling me these? Do you think that the so-called player you found underground within that damned place could become an obstacle to you?"

Vladimir shrugged: "I don't think so... It seems like he's actually one of those that tortured that old bastard blacksmith, but... I can't help but feel uneasy..." A restless expression could be seen on Vladimir's face as he said all of these.

Bloodstained Lilium mused for a moment before she replied: "That could actually be possible."

Vladimir's eyes widened in surprise: "What do you mean?"

Bloodstained Lilium stared at him before she replied: "Didn't Duke Heathrow offer you that quest when you visited his residence? In that case, nothing really is stopping that Legendary Blacksmith from giving that player a quest on helping him escape the penitentiary..."

Vladimir revealed a look of enlightenment: "You're right about that, but.."

"Helping that old blacksmith on escaping the Penitentiary? If he really did accept that quest then he's quite a stupid. How can he possibly escape along with that old blacksmith when so many powerful people have their eyes on them?"

"Furthermore, tomorrow is that old blacksmith's execution. Even if he chose to enact his plan on taking away the old blacksmith..."

"He still cannot escape with us watching..."

"I don't even believe that the old blacksmith would be willing to escape by himself," Vladimir revealed a fact that intrigued the Bloodstained Lilium.

"What do you mean? Is there something going on behind the scenes that I don't know?" She asked with a frown.

"Hehehe..." Vladimir revealed a sly smile as he replied: "That Duke Heathrow really is too vicious! A Legend has enough power to overturn the entire Kingdom of Nether, yet he managed on suppressing the strength of that Legend by using such a vicious and despicable method!"

"As for what I am talking about?"

"Duke Heathrow basically kidnapped the disciple of that old blacksmith and he even implanted a Heart Binding Worm inside her heart so that he could thoroughly suppress that blacksmith!" A proud expression appeared on his face as he said.

Although the Bloodstained Lilium couldn't understand why Vladimir looked so proud with achievements that weren't really his. When she heard what he said, she couldn't care less about Vladimir's bragging anymore as she replied.

"Heart Binding Worm?"

"Yes... that terrifying Heart Binding Worm that can even be used against a player..." Vladimir's sly smile intensified as he stared right at the young maiden in front of him. After quickly glancing around and finding that no one was watching them right now...

He opened up his palm and revealed a caterpillar-looking worm, covered in thin hairs that radiated an intense smell of blood.

"Oh, yuck! Get that thing away from me!" The Bloodstained Lilium cried out and Vladimir lightly chuckled before placing the caterpillar-looking worm back in his Inventory.

Even though she was used to the smell of blood as the Bloodstained Lilium. It would be a lie to say that she was comfortable whenever she was in contact with blood. After all, she was still a young woman in the end, and blood was something undesirable to be on one's body.

Particularly that creepy caterpillar-looking worm that radiated an intense smell of blood.

For any woman out there...

Such a thing was abominable and should be thrown far, far away from them.

"Kekeke... I didn't expect that the so-called Bloodstained Lilium had such a feminine side. I guess, in the end... You're still a young woman, eh?" Vladimir greedily sized up Lilium's before licking his lips and continuing.

Lilium's eyebrows knitted, but before she could speak...

Vladimir spoke up.

"Anyways... that thing that I showed you is the other pair of the Heart Binding Worm. Once I crushed that worm, then the life of that old blacksmith's disciple would be over."

Lilium stared at him and said: "You... You're planning on doing something that I do not know of, right?"

Vladimir lightly chuckled before saying: "Don't worry..."

"I am only moving according to Duke Heathrow's wishes."