The Lord Of Blood Hill-Chapter 60: Becoming a Noble!
Henwell's heart skips a beat after hearing the words of Duke Raymer's second son.
Damn it! Trouble is brewing again!
He glances at Bloodhorn beside him, but there's no reaction from him. It seems the rules of the arena won't protect him this time. Makes sense, though—the rules are just conveniences crafted by the nobles for their own purposes. If you're not a noble, you're not truly considered a person!
From Bloodhorn's attitude, it's clear Henwell is now a discarded pawn. The man seeking accountability furrows his brow and addresses Daniel, the duke's second son.
"Mr. Daniel, I'm not here to cause trouble. I've already paid, and now you tell me the goods are gone. You're presenting this person, claiming he ruined my goods, and suggesting I seek compensation from him. Should I assume you're ready to renege on our deal?"
Daniel waves his hand with a smile. "I've already said, this was my oversight. I don't intend to shirk responsibility. I'll refund your money, and I'll deliver the goods to you. But it might take some time. As for this young gladiator, he's merely a gesture of my sincerity and apology, meant to appease your dissatisfaction."
The man shakes his head. "I don't need to kill him; I'm not dissatisfied, but I'm short on time. I'm leaving in three days, so please find suitable goods to replace them by then!"
Daniel chuckles softly. "I'll do my best, but given your timeline, I doubt the goods will meet your expectations. You know what you're asking for—a child of noble birth, well-educated, and essentially a dead asset. That requires time."
The man replies, "That's not my problem. You should have backup candidates, shouldn't you?"
Daniel gestures towards Henwell, "How about this kid? He has noble blood. Born into a noble family, he's educated, has combat skills, and is quite clever. Now that he's killed the person you intended to buy, offering him as compensation seems fair, right?"
"Since you're in a hurry, why not take him back for now? During this time, I'll find a suitable replacement for you. If you're not satisfied with him, I'll arrange for another to be sent over, free of charge!"
The man curiously sizes up Henwell. "Is he up to the task? He's just a gladiator!"
Henwell finally finds an opportunity to speak, offering a proper noble salute to the man.
"Sir, I believe I can fulfill this role. Judging by your accent, you must be from the Duchy of Vorry. I've studied some of the language and cultural history of Vorry. Also, I assume you're looking for a stand-in."
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"My age and height are similar to that arrogant, greedy asset you mentioned. I've had professional gladiator training, which means I can protect myself when necessary and prevent any loss of your property. After all, finding a qualified stand-in isn't cheap."
His words leave not only the man but also Daniel and Bloodhorn astonished. Henwell's first sentence is delivered in the standard noble accent of the Billie Kingdom's common language. His second switches to the language of Vorry, again with a noble accent. By the third, Henwell transitions smoothly to the continent's common tongue.
The man looks at Henwell with curiosity. "Which family are you from?"
Henwell bows slightly. "That's not important. As of now, I belong to your family!"
Before Daniel can say anything, the man cuts in, "Then it's settled!"
Daniel sighs, "Ah, I feel like I've made a loss in this deal!"
Daniel then turns to Bloodhorn, "Go fetch this boy's contract, will you?"
Once Bloodhorn leaves, Henwell looks at Daniel, "Sir, my companions are currently living in Yinxin City. You've seen them fight; they're capable individuals. Due to their status, they can't be by your side, but they might handle some minor issues for you while they navigate Yinxin City."
"So, I humbly ask you to look out for these kids. Who knows, one day you might find use in the kindness you extend to these unfortunate souls!"
Daniel nods to his attendant, "Take note of this. Make contact with them. If they're useful, offer them some assistance."
Henwell bows in gratitude, and just then, Bloodhorn returns with the contract.
Daniel hands the contract to the man, "Well, you've struck gold here. Had I known, I would have looked into it more."
Henwell turns to Bloodhorn, "Sir, thank you for your care over the years, but you did go against the arena's rules. I now plead with you to waive the remaining debts my companions owe as their freedom price—consider it my parting gift."
Bloodhorn doesn't respond immediately, his expression dark as he looks at Henwell.
Daniel taps his glass, "Bloodhorn, remember the last time I vouched for you? Now's the time to return the favor. This kid told me about those children, and I think they're quite pitiable. Why not do me a favor and let it slide? Consider it good karma for yourself."
Bloodhorn takes a deep breath and forces a smile, "Everything will be done as Mr. Daniel wishes."
As Daniel stands to leave, he turns to Henwell and says, "Kid, if you manage to come back alive, look for me. I'll offer you a chance to restore your family's honor!"
A day later, in a carriage leaving Yinxin City, Henwell gazes out the window, lost in thought.
The man inside the carriage speaks up, "Kid, do you have any attachment to this place?"
Henwell shakes his head, "No, but after living here for a few years, I just wanted to take one last look and remember where I grew."
The man falls silent, closing his eyes to rest.
Over the course of two days, Henwell has pieced together the reasons behind the events.
The man in the carriage is Jansen, a baron from the southwestern corner of the Duchy of Vorry. He came to the Billie Kingdom to buy a stand-in to ensure the safety of his youngest son. The young knight Henwell killed was supposed to be Jansen's stand-in purchase.
Henwell is aware there are underlying issues, like who incited that young knight, or how a baron like Jansen could afford such a high-value stand-in from the Billie Kingdom. Clearly, there's a lot of intrigue involved, but none of it matters to Henwell. His focus now is to survive and endure the years as a stand-in.
From this moment, Henwell takes on a new name—Arius. For a long time to come, he will be Arius Phoenix. Fourteen years—it took him that long to finally become a noble, even if only as a stand-in!
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Chapter 60: Becoming a Noble!
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