"...Why does it sound like youâve stumbled upon some incredible secret?"
Antie muttered, reflecting the thoughts of everyone present.
Nipede approached Ophelit with a stern face, turned to Reiger, and asked, "Mr. Brillhaut, may I also ask him a few questions?"
Reiger did not answer, but just stepped back, giving his place to Nipede.
Only then did Nipede turn towards Ophelit.
"What kind of dealings have you had with those people?"
To Nipedeâs question, Ophelit replied.
"Many," Ophelit continued in a casual tone, "They are willing to do anything, whether itâs assassinating someone or creating havoc in places I dislike, even people Iâm interested inâthey would bring them back for me, and they are quite convenient to use."
"Scum!"
Antie immediately cursed aloud.
It wasnât just Antie, the expressions of Fannie and Gel also darkened as they looked at Ophelit.
From this statement alone, it was clear what Ophelit typically had those people do.
Feeling indignant, the group soon realized they had initially underestimated Ophelitâs depravity.
"What kind of payment did you offer them to make them do your bidding?"
Nipedeâs questioning was met with an answer that stunned everyone on the spot.
"People," Ophelit bluntly said, "They need people, many of them. As long as I give them people, they are willing to do anything."
"...Is that so?" Nipede said coldly, "So, every time you make them do something, you give them the people they need?"
"Yes," Ophelit laughed vacantly, saying, "After all, they are not picky, any person will do. The Meipros domain has plenty of lowly, filthy refugees, and if those refugees disappeared, no one would say anything or even care. Isnât that a great deal?"
"As long as I cooperate with them, not only can I periodically rid myself of some despicable filth but also have them do my bidding. Why not?"
"Rather, the existence of such riff-raff continuing to live in this world only serves to offend the eyes, waste resources, and food, and is simply displeasing. What right do such garbage remnants have to live on?"
"Itâs better for me to make use of this waste and give it some purpose. It is their honor, isnât it?"
Ophelit then laughed exceedingly proud, acting as if he had done something commendable, making everyone present wish they could hack him to pieces.
"Detestable bastard!"
Antie was infuriated, and immediately pulled out her wand, wanting to teach Ophelit a lesson.
"Donât rush." Nipede stopped Antie and coldly stared at Ophelit, saying, "So, the mysterious disappearances happening in the Meipros domain are related to you? Are you the kind of person who offers these heartless people their payment?"
"The soldiers missing from the Meipros familyâs army, are they related to you as well?"
Upon hearing this, Ophelit shook his head this time.
"No, itâs not related to me. I donât know whatâs going on with the Meipros family, I only use refugees as payment, I wouldnât dare use people from the army as payment."
Nipedeâs brow furrowed immediately.
At this moment, Liz could no longer hold back.
"Then, why did you have them come after me?"
Liz was puzzled and bewildered about this.
And Ophelit said.
"Of course, because I want you," Ophelit said nonchalantly, ignoring Lizâs stunned expression, "A girl as beautiful as you, even I have never seen in my life, not to mention your figure is so fine. If I could have you in my bed, it would definitely be very..."
Before he could finish his sentence, he was met with a harsh slash of a blade.
"Pfft!"
The blade severed Ophelitâs neck, beheading him on the spot.
Then Ophelitâs head flew into the air, and a great deal of blood sprayed from his body as the headless torso slowly fell.
Reiger held the black long knife, looking indifferently at the scene, as droplets of blood dripped from the knife in his hand, staining the ground red.
"Ah!"
Antie and Fannie immediately screamed, and Gel was also frightened, stepping back several steps, not expecting Reiger to suddenly kill someone.
"Young master!"
The surrounding knights shouted out loud, looking at Ophelit, who had turned into a headless corpse and died on the spot, their faces turned extremely pale.
"Master?"
Liz looked at Reiger, utterly at a loss.
"Itâs alright." Reiger dispelled the black blade in his hand, patted Lizâs head, soothing the shock in her heart, and said, "This guy, his death is insignificant."
Liz stared dazedly at Reiger as he spoke, but the perplexity and shock in her heart gradually dissipated.
It was Nipede, however, whose already furrowed brow tightened even more.
"You were too impulsive, Lord Brillhaut." Nipede said worriedly, "Although this man indeed deserved to die, he was still Hadiâs son and the nephew of the Marquis Meipros. Killing him outright like this could lead to serious trouble."
Clearly, Nipede did not approve of killing Ophelit outright.
But...
"Serious trouble?" Reiger turned his gaze towards Nipede, speaking very calmly, "Are you suggesting that if someone attacks my people, I shouldnât retaliate?"
"If I act against him, it brings trouble, but if they harm my people, doesnât that invite trouble as well?"
"Am I, Reiger Brillhaut, not important enough to be a significant trouble in their eyes?"
Accompanying these words, Reiger no longer had the unassuming presence he had before; instead, a remarkable aura began to rise from him, causing both the ground and atmosphere to tremble slightly.
Antie, Fannie, Gel, and others clearly felt that overwhelming presence, stopping their breathing.
Nipedeâs pupils tightened, his gaze at Reiger turning solemn.
As for the surrounding knights, they looked as though they were seeing a volcano ready to erupt, their faces filled with terror.
Reigerâs voice then rose gently.
"Hadi, the Earl, is it?"
"The Border Guardian Sword Saint, Marquis Meipros, is it?"
"If they are unhappy with this and wish to trouble me, they are welcome anytime. Iâm quite eager to witness their expertise."
Saying this, Reiger turned around, releasing the knights from their constraints.
"The words I just spoke, the actions you just witnessed, you saw them with your own eyes, right?" Reiger said coldly to these people, "Go back and tell Earl Hadi that I demand an explanation."
"This explanation, if he doesnât provide it, I will personally go to Karudi to take it."
"Leave."
Hearing Reigerâs icy words, the knights from the Hadi family immediately turned pale and retreated continuously, then quickly turned and fled in disorder.
The scene was suddenly cleared, the previously noisy campsite also instantly became deserted, with no sign of those many knights.
Only Reiger and his group remained in the campsite, silent for a long time.
"Letâs go, back to rest."
As if nothing had happened, Reiger, who had retracted his aura, said to Liz.
"Yes, yes!"
Liz then came to her senses, nodding vigorously in agreement.
The two then left under the watchful eyes of Nipede and the others.
Nipede and his group watched Reiger and Liz leave, some with complex expressions, some with looks of fear, unable to react in any other way for a long time.
"Sigh..."
Nipedeâs brow was so tightly furrowed it creased into a character, looking at Ophelit turned into a headless corpse lying in a pool of blood, he sighed deeply.
"It seems the Meipros domain is about to face a great turmoil."