Seeing the two of them still talking, the lead White-robed Iron Guard, who was built like a bear, coldly repeated his order.
"Levi, you can go!"
He was being lenient with Levi only because he didn't want to start a conflict with this powerful Knight and cause casualties. It wasn't because he was afraid of him.
They wore Armor and wielded Longswords; their equipment was clearly superior to this Knight clad only in Leather Armor. If they really fought, death would be his only way out.
Watching Levi actually prepare to leave, a pleading look appeared on Liya's face.
Her mother had been taken away, and the Guards protecting her had been killed. Now, Levi was her only lifeline.
She couldn't imagine what kind of fate awaited her if she were captured by this group of White-robed Iron Guard, who took their orders from Penny.
"Heh, so much for the arena champion. Looks like just a coward to me."
The faint taunt reached his ears. Levi sighed and stopped in his tracks.
'Wouldn't it have been fine to just let me leave? Why did they have to mock me just to feel superior?'
The two things Levi hated most were people who used him as a stepping stone, and people who stopped him from using others as a stepping stone.
The five White-robed Iron Guard immediately adopted defensive stances, aiming their Longswords at Levi.
"Levi, think about the consequences. They're more than you can bear."
The lead White-robed Iron Guard thought Levi had changed his mind and barked a cold warning.
Even Liya's expression showed a glimmer of hope.
She had also heard of this Knight's fearsome reputation in the arena. With his help, she might just have a chance to escape.
Levi said in a low voice.
"Originally, you wanted to take Miss Liya, and that had nothing to do with me."
"But your subordinate insulted me, and that changes things. Do you have any idea how important honor is to a Knight? How can I let myself be slandered by someone who isn't even a Knight himself?"
"What do you want to do about it?"
Although the lead White-robed Iron Guard wanted to ask, 'What honor is left for a Knight who abandoned his Feudal Lord?,' he still asked the question.
"Pay up!"
「A moment later.」
Levi weighed the coin pouch in his hand and nodded with satisfaction.
It was only because of the White-robed Iron Guard's taunt that he sensed an opportunity and decided to extort some money.
Having achieved his goal, he prepared to leave.
'As for saving Liya?'
'Heh. What's in it for me if I save her? I'd just make enemies of a bunch of nobles.'
After all, he could figure out the general situation with just a little thought.
It was simply a case of Duke Xilong wanting to name Liya his heir, prompting some people to make the first move.
With the Old Duke sick, it was the perfect time to make a move.
And clearly, in this war for the succession, Liya was on the losing side.
'Why would I board a sinking ship?'
"Levi! If you can protect me and get me out of here, I'm willing to support your pioneering efforts with three hundred Gold Coins!"
Liya was getting desperate. Realizing that appeals to honor and duty wouldn't sway this Pioneer Knight, she had to resort to her final option: tempting him with money!
In Debei, attempting to buy off a Knight with money was considered a desecration of their honor, which was why Liya hadn't even considered it before.
But now, with no other choice, she had to try this last resort.
"What?" Levi's eyes lit up.
'Why didn't you say you had money sooner!'
Three hundred Gold Coins. This was no small sum. A fine suit of Full Plate Armor cost a little over one hundred Gold Coins, and a mighty Slave Warrior was a mere twenty.
Without a doubt, this was a huge sum of money.
Especially for Levi, who had just become a Pioneer Lord, these three hundred Gold Coins would make his pioneering efforts significantly easier.
But…
"I refuse!" Levi's voice was firm.
"It's still not enough?"
Liya's heart sank into despair, though she wasn't entirely surprised by his answer.
After all, the chances of buying a Knight with money were slim to begin with.
Her impression of Levi improved slightly. 'Although this Knight is cunning and shameless, at least he still has some sense of honor.'
But Levi rested a hand on the sword at his waist, his tone growing serious. "You are the granddaughter of Duke Xilong, heir to the title, the future Queen of the entire Southern Territory, the Tulip of the Highland. Do you understand just how valuable you are?"
The next moment, Liya heard the most self-righteous, deafening shout of her life:
"YOU NEED TO ADD MORE!!!"
"One Thousand Gold Coins! Just get me out of here!"
Liya took a deep breath, struggling to maintain a calm expression.
"Deal!"
You have to understand, three years ago when Levi was just starting out as a mercenary, he had dared to charge into a bandit den all by himself for a mere fifty silver coins to rescue a merchant's brother.
'One Thousand Gold Coins?'
'If I don't drench this castle in blood, I'd feel like I wasn't earning these One Thousand Gold Coins!'
Levi's decision to save Liya came from a change in his plans.
His provocations at the banquet were intended to make Damon and Xilong go at each other's throats, leaving them no time to deal with him.
He just hadn't expected Duke Xilong's faction to be so inept. Now, Damon's side clearly had the upper hand.
He had already offended Damon's faction.
So now, he might as well support Liya, send her to the Northern Territory to draw Damon's attention, and quietly build up his own Pioneer Territory in the meantime.
By the time Liya raised an army to reclaim her title, he estimated he would be a Lord in his own right. Then, with troops and provisions of his own, he could join the struggle for the dukedom and gain even greater benefits.
This One Thousand Gold Coins was just an investment from Liya to fund his pioneering, ensuring he would be strong enough to help her when the time came.
"Damn it, kill him!"
Seeing the two suddenly strike a deal, the lead White-robed Iron Guard felt like he had been played for a fool and let out an enraged roar.
One of the White-robed Iron Guard sneered, gave his Longsword a flashy twirl, and charged.
'Just a champion in name only, yet he's got the captain so scared.'
"You bastard from the Western Territory, today I'll show you what Uncle Fos is made of!"
SWOOSH!
A silver light flashed. A Longsword found its way through the tiny gap between the man's helmet and Armor with vicious precision.
A head, still frozen in a sneer, flew high into the air before thudding to the ground along with the headless body.
"Such a fine body. It's a shame it came with a head."
Levi clicked his tongue. The exquisite Longsword in his hand remained spotless, glinting with a menacing cold light.
'I remember him. He's the one who was running his mouth. It's only right to shut him up for good.'
DING!
[Experience Points +10]
The three remaining White-robed Iron Guard were stunned for a moment. Then, two of them exchanged a glance and charged Levi together.
Shielding Liya behind him, Levi met their charge. He needed no flashy Sword Techniques. With simple upswings, chops, and thrusts, all amplified by his unparalleled Power, the two White-robed Iron Guard were dismembered before they even had time to react.
Flesh and blood splattered everywhere, the metallic tang of it overwhelming the senses, leaving nothing but a floor littered with severed limbs.
The Plate Armor that had been the source of their confidence was as fragile as tofu in front of Levi.
"Useless fools!"
The lead White-robed Iron Guard was clearly overconfident. Seeing his men get slaughtered like pigs, he showed no fear.
Instead, he roared a curse, drew his Longsword from his waist with a loud SHING, and prepared to cut Levi down himself.
He was a mountain of a man. Charging in his bulky Plate Armor, he looked like a living battering ram.
No wonder he was so confident.
His massive body slammed into the last remaining White-robed Iron Guard—who stood trembling in his path, too afraid to attack—knocking him aside as he charged forward.
Unfortunately, he was all bark and no bite. With a single upward slash, Levi easily shattered the man's parrying Longsword.
Before the giant could react, Levi, with a one-handed motion, redirected his Secret Silver Longsword in mid-air without losing any momentum and brought it down in a vicious diagonal slash.
SCHRAAANK!