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Chapter 189: Has Senior Menielman Arrived in Ingrima?
🕑 Added 2025-01-13 03:22:35 +0000 UTCTwo young men sparred with rapiers, their movements probing cautiously. From their posture alone, they appeared elegant and poised.
Charlot glanced at them briefly, then lost interest. He murmured, “These kinds of opponents? You could take on eight of them at once.”
Julian Arsilo replied in a low voice, “Eighty wouldn’t be much harder.”
Both Charlot Mecklenburg and Julian Arsilo were swordsmanship masters, both trained in the Angel’s Twelve Movements, a signature technique of the Arsilo family. Charlot had already comprehended the Eighth Movement: Twilight Requiem and had a foundation in the Swiftstep Technique and Spider Technique, giving him a slight edge in skill. Julian, however, was a mid-tier Transcendent with greater mastery of Stardust Battle Energy. Although the two had sparred without a decisive outcome, neither held any respect for the two duelists before them.
These duelists, though also Transcendents, had mediocre swordsmanship. Their forms were technically correct but riddled with flaws.
Charlot had grown accustomed to defeating low-tier Transcendents with a single strike. At Mostar Castle, when saving Anastasia, he had killed two Transcendents in a single encounter. Compared to those two, these duelists were even less competent.
As Charlot observed the cheering crowd, placing bets on the duelists, he felt his disdain for the nobility deepen.
The centerpiece of this duel, Miss Veronica, wore an expression of bashful pride. It was evident that having two Transcendent youths duel for her was a matter of great prestige.
Charlot took a single glance at the girl and concluded she wasn’t to his taste. Compared to Annie Bretagne, she was like a common Ingrima hen trying to compete with a phoenix. Compared to Senior Menielman Soumet…
He felt like he had just insulted Annie in his mind.
Charlot was about to leave when a gasp rippled through the crowd. The duel had concluded, not because of superior swordsmanship but because Jeremy Rainer tripped over his own feet during a rapid movement, falling to the ground.
Charlot, no longer a novice in swordsmanship after multiple battles and duels, could tell Jeremy’s fall was likely deliberate.
The spectators were clearly disappointed, muttering curses as the victor, Ilian Wood, took Miss Veronica by the arm and strode away triumphantly. Veronica gave Jeremy a brief apologetic glance before following the victor with a radiant smile.
Charlot found the entire display unbearably dull. As the crowd dispersed, he noticed Julian was no longer beside him.
Slightly surprised, Charlot frowned. Julian, a mid-tier Transcendent, was unlikely to be swept away by the crowd. He must have left intentionally. For Julian to abandon him without notice, something important must have occurred.
Charlot realized he and Julian weren’t kindred spirits. He was a diplomat, and Julian a spy; their relationship was one of casual acquaintance rather than genuine camaraderie.
Having eaten and drunk his fill, and unfamiliar with the other attendees, Charlot wandered to a quiet corner, found a bench, and sat down. Gazing at the bustling ball, his thoughts drifted.
Before his transmigration, Charlot had enjoyed sitting in scenic spots, quietly watching people come and go. However, cityscapes offered little beauty, only the unique fatigue of urban life. People, like worker ants, toiled endlessly—not for themselves, but to add profit to some vast, unseen entity.
His thoughts meandered until a soft voice interrupted him, asking, “Are you a Transcendent? You don’t need to be very high-level, just slightly skilled in swordsmanship.”
Looking up, Charlot saw a young lady in a blue court gown. Her appearance was utterly unremarkable. He nodded. “I am a Transcendent. My swordsmanship is… passable.”
The girl’s face lit up with joy as she lowered her voice. “I’ve come of age, but no man has ever dueled for me. I arranged one myself, but one of the participants fell ill. If no one duels for me tonight, my life will be forever tarnished. Could I ask you to duel for me just this once?”
“I’ll pay you two gold écus.”
Charlot was dumbfounded by the absurdity of her request. “Aren’t you afraid someone will expose you?”
The girl in the blue gown giggled. “Everyone does this. Just now, Jeremy Rainer and Ilian Wood both received gold écus from Miss Veronica.”
Charlot was stunned. “So this is how Ingrima’s nobles entertain themselves? What’s the point of such duels?”
Seeing his hesitation, the girl whispered, “If you’re worried about getting hurt, you can agree in advance to go easy after a few exchanges. If you’re willing to give up five silver coins, you can even ask the other side to concede.”
Charlot shook his head. “I’m sorry, but I don’t duel for others.”
He refused her outright. This event was teeming with elites from various nations, including many from Fars. If this ridiculous matter reached Strasbourg, and Annie Bretagne found out he dueled for another woman in Britten, it would be a grave mistake.
Besides, Charlot was certain the girl hadn’t entirely matured.
Disappointed, the girl in the blue gown tried to persuade him further but left when he remained firm.
Not long after, Charlot heard someone loudly announce, “Mr. Rahu and Mr. Hannibal will duel for Miss Charles!”
Charlot finally understood the luxury balls of the nobility had endless sideshows, with young noblewomen adding drama to their lives.
A third duel was soon announced.
Having lost all interest, Charlot decided to look for High Priest Auguslatin. He still needed advice from his superior on how to proceed with his work.
Then he heard a shout, “Mr. So-and-So and Mr. So-and-So will duel for Miss Soumet!”
Charlot froze. His first thought was: Has Senior Menielman arrived in Ingrima?
His second thought: I have to see this.
Leaping to his feet, he used the Swiftstep Technique and Spider Technique, bounding across the Champagne Palace’s walls. Within seconds, he arrived at the duel site, already surrounded by layers of young nobles.
Finding no way to squeeze through the crowd, Charlot vaulted into the air and landed in the duel arena.
Mid-air, two rapiers darted toward his chest and left side.
Charlot swiftly countered, pushing one attacker’s elbow to redirect their blade into their opponent’s sword. The two blades collided and recoiled apart.
Charlot, experienced in battlefield duels, followed up with two rapid kicks...
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