Chapter 331: 330 is just a Viscount?

In the luxurious drawing room, the atmosphere plummeted when Taylor burst in.

The moment Shane raised his eyebrows, Triss felt his heart sink.

Seeing his son crash in, Triss already had a bad feeling.

Now, witnessing this unfilial son challenge his own guest right before him, Triss was utterly infuriated.

“What are you messing around for? Get out of here!”

Triss stood up and began to chide Taylor.

He was someone not even Triss dared to offend, and you, a nobility brat still wet behind the ears, since when did you have the courage to issue a challenge?

In fact, these were also the words Shane wanted to say.

Although he still didn’t know what had happened, the guy in front of him looked a couple years younger than himself and clearly wasn’t very capable, not to mention his Level was only 20.

Reaching Level 20 at his age might be impressive among commoners but among the nobles, it’s certainly not what one would call a genius being talked about excitedly.

Such a person, challenging a dragon-owning noble to a duel, boasted a great deal of audacity.

However, the other party was clearly a stubborn brute, who, instead of regarding his father’s rebuke, stubbornly resisted.

“Father, don’t interfere, this is between him and me.”

Taylor pointed at Shane, looking as though there was an irreconcilable conflict between them. His eyes, though not exactly filled with deep hatred, were nonetheless filled with annoyance and dissent, as if he had been seriously provoked.

“You…”

Triss wanted to say something more, but was stopped by Shane.

“Are you Captain Triss’s son?” Shane looked him over and said with a quasi-smiling expression, “I don’t recall ever meeting you, nor offending you, so why do you want to duel with me?”

Before Taylor could reply,

Triss spoke up first.

“Lord Beizut, please don’t stoop to his level.” Triss hurriedly addressed Shane: “He’s just causing trouble, I’ll have him removed right now.”

Unfortunately, just as Triss finished speaking, Taylor immediately responded.

“I’m not going anywhere!” Taylor declared stubbornly, “Today, I must settle this with him and see what makes him better than me!”

Hearing this, Triss really wanted to smack this foolish youngster on the head.

What makes him better than you?

I’d like to ask, where do you think you excel compared to him?

Young as he is, he’s already earned the title of Viscount just a year or two older than you, even tamed a dragon, and even the unparalleled Princess admired him. You, who only dream all day and can’t see reality, what right do you have to compare yourself to him?

“Get out!”

Triss was too irritated to say more and shouted angrily.

“I won’t!”

Yet Taylor was really defiant, daring to defy his own father in front of others, not giving his father any face, showing a determination to fight against evil forces to the end. If this were another story, he would likely be the perfect protagonist.

Triss was driven to fury, and was about to step forward and thoroughly teach this brainless fool a lesson.

But Shane stopped him again.

“You want to compare who is more outstanding?”

Shane asked with an odd expression on his face.

“Exactly!” Taylor, with a strong and forceful voice, declared, “I want to prove that I am better than you!”

“Why?” Shane blinked, asking casually, “Again, I haven’t met you or offended you, right?”

“That’s correct,” Taylor admitted, but his gaze was filled with hostility, making him say gravely, “But I must prove that you couldn’t possibly be personally acquainted with the Princess. The rumors are all lies, conjured by you nobles of the Royal Capital for some purpose.”

Taylor’s words finally made Shane understand why this bullish noble fledgling had come before him demanding a duel.

It was all because of the Princess?

(That girl truly has fans everywhere.)

He had even traveled to another domain, yet here was a fiery noble youngster stirred up by a mere rumor to provoke him, truly underestimating the allure of the Kingdom’s Treasure.

But then…

“How do you know I couldn’t possibly have a personal connection with Luoqi?” Shane teased, “Maybe we really do get along?”

“Liar! You’re just a Viscount! You couldn’t possibly have any relation with the noble Princess!” Taylor burst out like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instantly flaring up and exclaiming, “And don’t you dare refer so casually to Her Highness–that’s incredibly disrespectful!”

Well, Shane confirmed then, this guy truly was an insufferably arrogant, spoiled brat.

Never mind everything else, when you said “just a Viscount,” did you consider your own family’s status, your father’s feelings?

Shane already saw Triss, who was also a Viscount, his face turning utterly somber.

This made Shane’s expression turn even more bemused.

Right then, Shane also stood up.

This stand, let’s not speak of Taylor, even Triss was taken aback.

“Lord Beizut…”

Right then, Triss was ready to say something.

Shane shook his head, reassuring Triss.

A duel?

He really didn’t have the leisure for such trivial matters.

Even if it was a cliched plot, shouldn’t a more worthy opponent be chosen to face him?

After all, Shane had already reached Level 55, and back when he was only Level 28, he had challenged countless experts above his level, let alone now. He should at least be facing someone on the same level as Luoqi, Jiasinta, or Aridia to be worthy of his time.

And now, some Level 20 nobility scion just shows up and expects him to agree to a duel?

That was rather ridiculous.

Let alone the fact that Shane was now a Viscount, and Taylor was merely the son of a Viscount, a nobility scion who had not even inherited his title yet, far beneath him in both status and position, and truly had no right to issue a challenge to a duel.

Therefore…

“Clang!”

With a crisp sound, a sword was heavily thrown in front of Taylor, embedding itself into the floor, standing upright.

“Ah!”

Taylor was startled, involuntarily exclaiming as he stepped back.

“Lord Beizut!”

Captain Triss couldn’t maintain his composure either.

The sword was Shane’s Holy Sword.

Shane had pulled it out and tossed it in front of Taylor.

“You want to duel me, eh?” Shane looked directly at Taylor, smiled, and said, “Here, pull out the sword, and I’ll agree.”

“Pull it out and you’ll agree?” Taylor’s eyes brightened as he quickly said, “Really?”

“Of course.” Shane replied casually, “As long as you can pull out this sword, I’ll immediately agree to duel you, your father as my witness.”

“Alright!” Taylor, worried that Shane might change his mind or that his own father would oppose him again, quickly nodded and said, “You said it!”

So saying, Taylor approached the Holy Sword, rubbed his hands, and gripped the hilt.

Watching this, Captain Triss seemed to have something to say but ultimately gave up on persuading.

Shane then leisurely sat down and began sipping his tea.

In such circumstances, Taylor began his challenge.

Perhaps, in the eyes of others, pulling out a sword was no big deal?

He was Level 20 now; even if the sword was very heavy, he was confident he could pull it out.

Besides, Taylor did not think he was any less capable than Shane.

To him, Shane wasn’t much older, and if Shane could wander around casually with the sword strapped to his waist, then surely the sword couldn’t be that heavy.

With that reasoning…

(I must pull the sword out very easily, much more effortlessly and comfortably than he did, to show him that I am superior!)

Taylor thus developed a misplaced confidence.

After all, it all stemmed from envy.

Knowing that some men had a good relationship with the Princess, many noble young masters felt particularly uncomfortable, as if something important had been taken from them.

It was not just the noble scions in the Royal Capital who thought this way; those from other domains felt the same.

Every man who had seen the Princess and admired her beauty, considered even superior to the Goddess, fell completely and was enchanted.

The foremost beauty of the Human Race wasn’t just a reputation; without such charm, why else would the citizens be so fervent, unable to rest until they saw the Princess reveal herself each day to assure her safety?

Those noble young masters who had been to the Royal Capital and seen Luoqi had without exception fallen under her spell, returning home with constant thoughts of revisiting the Royal Capital, forever recalling that captivating figure as if they’d lost their souls.

Taylor was just one among these numerous noble scions.

Shane had yet to realize how incredible it was to have won over the Princess.

One could say that after Shane became involved with Luoqi, the rest of his life was likely fated to face envy from all kinds of people, not to mention that he had also taken advantage to fully win her over, essentially making himself into the public enemy.

Similar incidents to today’s were sure to occur more in the future.

Shane thought he had distanced himself from Luoqi by coming to Duke Sterling’s Domain, but he had no clue that due to his relationship with Luoqi, the troubles he would encounter next were just beginning.

So…

“Ugh…! Ha…! Ah…!”

In the drawing room, a series of forceful roars began to echo.

Taylor began his attempt to pull out the sword, holding onto the hilt and exerting all his strength, his face turning red as he desperately tried to extract it.

But no matter how hard he tried, the ordinary-looking sword remained motionless, showing no signs of budging.

Effortless? Comfortable?

Taylor couldn’t even make it budge slightly.

“How can this be?”

Taylor, incredulous and enraged, yelled as he furiously tried to pull out the sword.

Captain Triss was also surprised, his gaze at the Holy Sword changing.

Shane, however, seemed completely unconcerned, leisurely enjoying his tea.

The scene was indeed very amusing.