CHAPTER 282: The Reputation Of A Genius

At the Garden House in the northern part of the city, lush palm trees filled the building, which was filled with the fresh feeling of spring. The garden had been exquisitely landscaped, with all kinds of flowers exuding a pleasant fragrance. Several maids moved carefully among the flowers, watering and pruning them.

First Prince Charles squinted as he talked to a coarse-looking man on a soft patch of grass. The man had two criss-cross scars on his neck, was one metre seventy-five centimetres tall and looked very sturdy with his brawny arms and legs. His eyes glowed with a brutal, animalistic light.

"Mister Leah, you shouldn't have challenged these three great swordsmen as soon as you arrived. You've just come from the Brut Merchant Alliance, and our nation is prejudiced against foreigners. If my father finds out that you're one of my people, it might affect his opinion of me. Charles frowned in displeasure, clearly irritated by Leah Cain's unauthorised actions.

Leah Cain sneered and chuckled, "Your Highness First Prince, even though I joined your banner upon arriving in the Lancelot Empire, I don't have to listen to you in all matters. I am a Swordmaster first and foremost. Since I've come all the way to the Lancelot Empire, I will challenge the local experts as is my custom. How else can I improve my skills?"

Damn, what a fuck! Why don't you challenge Karel Ascot, if you have the guts! Let's see how horribly you die! Charles cursed inwardly, his expression darkening even further. He turned to Leah Cain, "Let's just drop this. I hope you tell me before you do something like this next time. Do you remember the Bryan I told you about? The one I wanted you to help me kill?"

Leah Cain blanked for a moment, then nodded. "Oh, the boy with the strange techniques you mentioned last time? Has he appeared in Ossen City? Do you want me to kill him today?"

Shaking his head ruefully, Charles said, "The situation is different now. Bryan's reputation has grown greatly over the past few days during his absence from Ossen City. His reputation has grown greatly after challenging those experts, and now the word is out that he's returned to challenge you."

"After this news broke, all the nobles and experts in Ossen City began to pay close attention. You've been training in the Garden House, so you might not be aware of it, but even my father is interested in this matter now. It's no longer appropriate for you to kill him in secret. What I mean is, why not go and challenge him directly and kill him that way? Then no one will be able to say anything. What do you think?"

"No! Absolutely not! Who am I? I'm Leah Cain! How can I lower myself to challenge this unweaned brat? Hmph, I'd like it if he challenged me, but I'd never go to the door of an infamous child just to challenge him!" Leah Cain rejected this suggestion out of hand.

Sitting in his chair, Charles slapped the armrests viciously and cursed inwardly again. If you didn't have any skill, I'd have you killed where you stand, damn it! You're nothing but a brute! How dare you talk back to me?

"All right. A lot of people are paying attention to this now. Some people have been circling the Garden House for the past two days. They're probably waiting for Bryan to come and challenge you. I'm not free to come and find you. You just have to look after yourself. If Bryan comes, you must kill him immediately to prevent further trouble! Charles was a little irritated as he stood up after talking to Leah.

"Don't worry. He'll be dead for sure if he dares to challenge me! Hmph, all young men are asking to die these days by acting so cocky! I'll make him learn how much stronger his elders are than him!" Leah Cain snorted coldly. After reaching many ears, the news quickly spread to every corner of Ossen City. At first, only a few experts and nobles of Ossen City knew about it, but as soon as someone made it a matter of national pride, even commoners learned about it.

In this way, Han Shuo's birth and origins were slowly revealed with the utmost clarity!

A slave in his youth, the Babylon Academy of Magic and Strength made an exception and enrolled him when he showed surprising potential. In less than two years, he rose from the lowly rank of mage apprentice to the rare rank of Archmage Necromancer. He even had a mysterious technique. All of this made Han Shuo a genius.

While the citizens of Ossen City were fervently discussing this matter, some major guilds were already placing bets on it. Gamblers were very worried about the matter, and no one knew that the Boozt Merchant Guild was betting huge sums against the Cameron Merchant Guild.

On the west side of Ossen City, in the dead of night.

Of the north, south, east and west parts of the city, the west side was the dirtiest and poorest. This place could be considered the gathering place of all the poor. The streets were littered with rubbish, flies and bedbugs. Some beggars with rags on their bodies dozed off in the corner. There was a constant stench in the air.

But the moon still shone, even on the poorest areas. As the pure white moonlight shone down, it cast long shadows on Han Shuo and the others. A few muffled sobs came from one of the ugly and crude houses.

"I really didn't want to come here!" Chester's expression was long as he sighed.

Although Emily remained inside the carriage, her eyebrows were also knitted tightly together. Her soft, white skin was as clear as white jade, and the precious jewels on her head and the close-fitting silks and laces marked her as being completely at odds with her surroundings.

Emily had seen Chester's information and knew that he was born a commoner. Before joining the Dark Mantle, he'd spent some time in the western part of Ossen City. He didn't miss those days, though. It was easy to see. No one would think too fondly of such a place.

"All right, we'll leave as soon as we're finished. There are rich and poor in every country. This is a truth that will never change, and we don't have the power to change it!" Han Shuo called softly as he sat in the carriage.

A troop of about a hundred knights followed the carriage at a leisurely pace. The troop was in a long formation in the narrow streets.

"Come on. We don't have much time, so stop complaining!" Emily urged Chester on.

Chester didn't say much else as he skilfully steered the carriage through the quiet streets. He headed for the dirtiest and poorest part of the West Side after he had made it down this street.

Chester stopped the carriage after a moment in a place filled with sewage and a disgusting stench. "Master Emily, the crumbling buildings ahead are where the intelligence seems to be pointing."

Emily changed into a black robe in the carriage, hiding her identity as a senior executive of the Dark Mantle. She slowly stepped out of the carriage and spoke to Han Shuo, "According to the intelligence, it's the buildings ahead. The enemy is a leader of the Angel Empire named Yoland. He seems to be a sky rider."

Nodding, Han Shuo released three Yin Demons and let them slowly slip inside. He himself walked towards the troop of knights following them and said to an officer, "Do not alert our enemies too soon. Spread out through the buildings and create a perimeter. Try to approach slowly. Take everyone alive if you can. If not, execute them on the spot. We can't let a single one get away."

"Understood!" The officer replied, gesturing to the knights behind him. The knights slowly spread out and surrounded the buildings from a distance.

In the centre of the knights had been several mages, who were now exposed as the knights spread out. The mages in the Northern Guard's magical corps were all journeymen or adepts. There was only one Thunder Archmage. Boris had told him to listen to Han Shuo's orders before the mission.

Some of them had been unruly and rebellious at first, but when Boris told them about Han Shuo's identity, they all became docile and didn't dare to disobey Han Shuo's commands.

Han Shuo had traversed half of the Lancelot Empire in the past few days, challenging villains with infamous reputations. They'd all been killed on the spot, and this kind of violent, ruthless method brought Han Shuo's evil reputation to life. The group of mages in front of him had all calmed down afterwards.

Someone who could kill numerous experts was someone they couldn't afford to antagonise, not to mention that he had full control over the team from the commander of the Northern Guard. They would be foolish to provoke Han Shuo.

"Alright, everyone find your positions. It's best to stay between the knights. After that, listen to my orders and attack with the strongest spells you've got!" Han Shuo glanced at the Thunder Archmage and gave his orders.

"Understood, Sir Bryan!" The Thunder Archmage said respectfully with a nod. He wasn't angry at all that Han Shuo had taken over his position as commander of the Magic Corps.