CHAPTER 289: A Medal Of Merit

Leah Cain's fate had been sealed when more than a hundred dark creatures appeared. After all, a large portion of his combat aura had been depleted after exchanging blows with Han Shuo. Especially in that last attack, Leah Cain had consumed a huge amount of combat aura to create those ice needles.

Han Shuo had the mental strength of a grand magus, even though he was unable to unleash the necromancy spells of this level. Such a huge mental power was enough for him to summon a large number of dark creatures. These creatures included the remarkably powerful Little Skeleton, the Earth Elite Zombie, and the Wood Elite Zombie.

The three bizarre dark creatures lurked within the great army of necromancy, randomly unleashing attacks that would catch an average person off guard and leave them unable to defend themselves. Leah Cain had to deal with the omnipresent attacks of the Demonslayer Edge, while at the same time facing two evil knights, creatures known for their tyrannical strength. This was obviously taking up most of his attention.

The three bizarre creatures took the opportunity to use their unique attacks to their hearts' content. This strategy worked, of course, as Leah Cain was immediately badly injured by the little skeleton's sneak attacks. It was only natural for him to be trampled to death by the evil knights.

The hundred strong dark creatures instantly drowned Leah Cain and blocked the vision of the surrounding nobles and their entourage. They couldn't see what was happening. They could only hear the shrill, tragic screams of Leah Cain.

Han Shuo stood majestically in the sky as Leah Cain's tragic scream began to fade. He calmly chanted an incantation, sending his summoned dark creatures back to the other dimension. Apart from the traces of blood on the grass, there was nothing, not even a piece of bone, left on the lawn to indicate that these creatures had been there.

Everyone understood that Leah Cain was finished! He must have been torn apart and eaten by those dark creatures. The large, still wet patches of blood on the lawn were proof of this truth.

"Done, done just like that!"

"Leah Cain is dead! I mean, he should be dead!"

"Uhh, how can that be? He was finished so quickly?"

The onlookers around all cast horrified glances at Han Shuo as he stood proudly in the air. Then they looked back down at the bloodstains on the grass and understood that the battle was over. Han Shuo had successfully killed the mad great swordmaster Leah Cain of the Brut Merchant Alliance. He'd won fair and square, displaying his unique skills from the beginning to the end of the battle.

In the end, he'd used the Necromancer's most brilliant, common and effective tactic of numbers to trample the Great Swordmaster directly. Whichever way you look at it, this battle is a classic for the books. Leah Cain's dense rain of ice awls and Han Shuo's unique ability to split into four copies were deeply etched in everyone's memories.

A hubbub of discussion rose and fell. Han Shuo had been standing proudly in the sky when he suddenly let out a resounding roar and left at a dazzling speed. His elegant, dashing figure gradually turned into a black spot until the crowd could no longer see a trace of him.

It wasn't just the audience inside the Garden House who knew of Han Shuo's great victory, the civilians on the streets outside also deduced the result when they saw Han Shuo flying away in the air. Everyone was cheering and shouting, the atmosphere was as joyful as a holiday.

First Prince Charles' face was terribly dark. He had never expected Leah Cain to lose, no matter how much he had speculated about the match. For him it was simply unreal.

A face even more embarrassed than Charles' belonged to merchant Cameron. He stood right behind Charles with a bleak expression on his ashen complexion, his eyes glazed over as he stared into space. He simply didn't know what to do. As the operator behind the scenes, Cameron, like everyone else, had to use all his capital for this bet. He had to pay an arm and a leg for Phoebe's Boozt Merchant Guild alone.

Phoebe was the exact opposite of him. Her usually cold face was now full of uncontrollable excitement, her cherry lips constantly muttering, "I'm rich, I'm rich!"

"Hahahahahaha, Bryan ah Bryan, you really didn't let me down!" Lawrence had never been happier than he was today as he looked at Charles' gloomy face. He laughed loudly and left with Phoebe, walking arrogantly past Charles and Cameron.

"Let's go, father-in-law!" Even though Emily soon knew the outcome, she still felt an infinite glory as Han Shuo's secret woman when she saw his divine strength on display. The corner of her lips turned up slightly in a delightful smile as she turned to speak to old Mr Hahn.

"Incredible, incredible little guy, hehehe!" Old Mr Hahn showered him with praise, then left the garden house with Emily.

As the nobles left the Garden House, the details of Han Shuo's great victory over Leah Cain quickly spread. At that moment, the whole of Ossen City was talking about Han Shuo. Many noble young ladies secretly regarded him as the object of their admiration and worship. Countless aristocrats wanted to recruit Han Shuo.

Ossen City, the Imperial Palace.

The two who'd left early - Amyes and Candide - were in a chamber with the King of the Lancelot Empire. They were quietly recounting the details of the battle.

After a while, King Uhtred suddenly spoke out loud with joy: "Good, very well done! Just yesterday I heard that he'd found the blueprint, and today he's killed Leah Cain of the Brut Merchant Alliance. This boy is truly worthy of a huge investment!"

"Not only that, Your Majesty. Bryan also possesses a unique art. Not only can he become a first-rate expert, but his martial art can have an immeasurable impact on our empire if it is widely promoted! Amyes waited until Uhtred had happily finished his speech before cautiously adding.

As these words fell, Uhtred asked in surprise, "What is this about?"

"It's like this..." Gloomy Candide, one of the three heavyweights, carefully explained to Uhtred as he went through the details of how Han Shuo had defeated Leah Cain. Then he added, "Your Majesty, Bryan has a clean background and is wholeheartedly loyal to the Empire. He's worth whatever it takes!"

Uhtred, of course, had extraordinary insight, now that he'd become King of Lancelot. His eyes sparkled as he heard Candide speak of the wonders of Han Shuo. He was silent for a while before he gave an order, "Candide, I intend to give him the title of Count, a mansion in the northern part of the city, and ten thousand gold coins. Promote him directly from Dark Moon to Dark Sun, envoy with the right to access all Dark Mantle information. You will also guide Bryan personally and allow him to choose his own territory. Don't ask him about his martial arts for now. We must first show him our sincerity.

"Your Majesty is wise, I think Bryan will be very grateful!" Candide flattered.

"Mm, Candide, this Bryan was personally mentored by you, your credit is great. I now award you a medal of Merit, consider this your reward!" Uhtred said to Candide with a smile.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, your subject is very grateful!" Candide was overjoyed as he knelt down to accept the honour.

The Empire's Medal of Merit had a special meaning. Only those who had made outstanding contributions to the Empire could be awarded this medal. The Medal of Merit meant that Candide could enjoy the special privileges of the Empire for the rest of his life. Even if the current king died, the next heir to the throne could never use brute force against the Imperial heroes who held the Medal of Merit. Moreover, the medal was hereditary. Even if Candide died, his direct descendants could still enjoy the special privilege.

Although the Medal of Merit had no tangible benefits, this little medal was like a card of privilege, conferring an identity far superior to the average title of nobility. So Candide was overjoyed when he heard that Uhtred had awarded him the Medal of Merit. He secretly thought that this Bryan was indeed his lucky star!

"Candide, congratulations!" Amyes turned elegantly to offer Candide his congratulations.

"Thank you!" Candide smiled in response, his face unable to hide his joy.

"Well, this is a reward you've earned for finding a person who can become a Sacred swordmaster and a Sacred Magus for the Empire. I hope you will continue to guide Bryan and make even greater contributions to the Empire!" Uhtred smiled as he looked at Candide and spoke slowly.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty, I will help Bryan adapt to aristocratic life as quickly as possible. This boy is highly intelligent, he will sooner or later become a pillar of the Empire!" Candide was so pleased to receive the Medal of Merit that he made these promises immediately.

Uhtred nodded his head and said with a smile, "Very well. You may all go now. I will warn the Church of Light and won't allow them to act wildly in our Lancelot Empire. Hehe, I think the title of Earl is only the beginning for this boy. I hope he doesn't disappoint me!"

Candide and Amyes looked at each other. They said nothing more and bowed respectfully. Then they left through the secret tunnel and returned to the Dark Mantle headquarters inside Mt. Ordas behind the Imperial Palace. Upon arrival, Candide began to prepare for Han Shuo's ennoblement matters.