Chapter 36

"Someone accepted the challenge?"

In the palace, Count Francis, seated high on his throne, frowned slightly.

He didn't give this matter much thought.

The notice had been posted for over a decade.

Of the thousands of brave souls who sought to rescue the princess, at least eight hundred had tried.

Yet, the notice remained, which spoke volumes about the fate of those would-be heroes.

The gnoll camp was no easy matter to resolve.

If it were, he, as an earl, wouldn't be so powerless against it.

What's more, the leader of the gnolls was an exceptionally powerful creature. A true monster.

To kill the leader, protected by countless gnolls, would require a legendary warrior or mage.

"Legendary..."

Count Francis sighed.

Such beings were rare, even in the imperial capital.

Their status rivaled that of the great noble families.

Why would someone of such caliber be interested in a small earldom like his?

By comparison, it seemed more practical to find a way to deal with the banshee.

Though the banshee was strong, she had a fatal weakness.

As long as his soldiers were given the right opportunity, they could easily subdue her.

Boom!

Suddenly, a deafening explosion echoed, and the sky was painted red with flames.

"What's happening!"

The earl panicked, almost believing the banshee from the Silent Forest had returned to attack.

However, years of being an earl had honed his cunning, though his hands trembled with fear, the expression on his face remained calm.

"My Lord, the sound came from the gnoll camp!"

A palace guard rushed in, frantic.

The gnoll camp?

Count Francis was taken aback.

Someone had just accepted the trial concerning the gnoll camp, and now there was such a commotion there.

Was this merely a coincidence?

"Send someone to investigate immediately!"

Half an hour later, a knight hurried back into the palace.

"My Lord, the gold mine has been leveled, and the entire gnoll camp has been annihilated!"

The knight's face was pale, filled with a mix of horror and disbelief.

It was as if he had witnessed something utterly terrifying.

"Is this true?"

Count Francis shot to his feet, pacing excitedly around the palace.

"A legendary figure… It must be the work of a legendary mage!"

"Heaven hasn't forsaken my Kingdom of Francis after all."

After years of waiting, he had finally caught a big fish.

He wasn't sure just how powerful the banshee was.

But at most, she'd be at the level of a legendary being.

If the Kingdom of Francis had a legendary archmage as a backer, not only could the curse on his daughter be lifted, but the threat from the Silent Forest would also vanish.

"Mobilize all the soldiers to find the hero who accepted the trial. Treat him with the utmost respect and escort him to the palace."

After wandering around for a while, Rhodes returned to the castle with the head of the gnoll leader in hand.

The moment he stepped inside, a group of heavily armed soldiers surrounded him.

Rhodes raised an eyebrow, wondering if he had offended some big shot.

Why was there such a large-scale deployment?

The leader of the soldiers pulled out a drawing dictated by an artist.

"He's tall and handsome, carries a massive axe on his back, and radiates like the sun, making people too afraid to look directly at him..."

As he murmured softly, the soldier's eyes scanned Rhodes from head to toe.

Nearly two meters tall, his muscles rippled with strength, exuding a pressure akin to a distant sunrise.

The golden one-handed axe on his back gleamed with a deadly edge.

When the soldier saw the head of the gnoll leader in Rhodes' hand, all doubt vanished.

"It's him!"

The captain of the soldiers put away the drawing and asked cautiously.

"Brave warrior, are you the one who accepted the bounty?"

"It's me."

Rhodes nodded curiously.

It was just a bounty notice—was there a need for an arrest?

Upon receiving confirmation, the soldier's expression shifted to one of deep respect.

He bowed slightly, gesturing for Rhodes to follow.

"The earl invites you to a banquet in the palace. Please, come with me!"

A banquet at the palace?

Rhodes quickly understood what was happening.

He had taken down the notice, and the gnoll camp was destroyed shortly after.

Even a fool could connect the dots.

"Lead the way."

Rhodes nodded calmly.

The soldier captain was awestruck by his composure. Knowing he was about to meet the earl, and yet remaining so calm—he must have anticipated this outcome all along. Truly, a hero!

The captain marveled internally.

The look of admiration on the captain's face left Rhodes confused.

Has this guy gone mad?

Did I even say anything impressive?

As it turns out, when someone is on the path to success, even a simple gesture is misinterpreted a hundred different ways.

It's like a famous writer, who once carved the word "Morning" on his desk as a student.

Such a simple action would later be dissected by countless scholars, given layers of complex interpretations.

Rhodes remembered his Chinese teacher asking him seriously what emotions the writer must have felt when carving the word "morning."

Emotions? For carving a word?

Ridiculous.

Many students carve things on their desks out of boredom.

They're just kids in school, having a bit of fun. There's no need to write a three-to-five-hundred-word essay analyzing it.

Is it really noble sentiment you're looking for?

Rhodes was escorted by a group of soldiers into a carriage.

Before long, they arrived at the palace gates. As he stepped down, a red carpet was laid out before him, stretching all the way into the palace. Two rows of heavily armored knights lined the sides.

"Underwhelming."

Rhodes curled his lips in slight disdain.

This kind of display would only impress some country bumpkin warriors with little experience.

He, on the other hand, had seen far grander spectacles.

Compared to when the evil god had descended, this scene was nothing more than child's play.

"Brave warrior, this way please!"

"The earl is waiting for you in the palace!"

Rhodes stepped onto the red carpet and slowly made his way up the palace steps under the gaze of all present.

Inside the palace, a large dining table was laid out, covered with all manner of delicacies.

Nobles dressed in extravagant clothing sat at the table, speaking in hushed tones.

None of them understood why the earl had summoned them all so suddenly.

At the head of the table, Count Francis tapped his fingers nervously on the table, his face filled with anticipation.

He remained silent, and none of the other nobles dared to ask any questions.

At that moment, the sound of approaching footsteps filled the room.

All eyes turned toward the entrance, curious to see the identity of this special guest the earl had been waiting for.

Could it be a noble from the imperial capital?

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