Chapter 6 - An Old Acquaintance

Leaving Elenor behind in anger, Luther made his way to the door to open it for Oliver, who was waiting outside. "Hello, Commander Oliver," he greeted the betrayed husband.

"Hello, Knight Luther. If you're ready, we can leave. Baron Shield has prepared a magnificent feast for you," Oliver said, glancing inside the house and noticing Elenor standing there.

However, seeing that Elenor was staring at the ground in a daze, Oliver had no idea what she was thinking or why she was in such a state.

Unfortunately, now was not the right time to ask Elenor what was wrong.

Luther also noticed Oliver looking into the house, but he chose to ignore it. After all, Oliver was Elenor's husband, and he had no idea that his wife had just betrayed him with Luther.

"We can go," Luther said confidently, though he did not find the idea of dining with Baron Shield particularly exciting.

A powerful knight like Luther would never serve under a minor noble like Baron Shield, nor would he consider it an honor.

Recalling the hierarchy of knight ranks, Luther briefly ran through the list in his mind.

The ranking was as follows:

Apprentice Knight

Senior Knight

Master Knight

Chief Knight

Supreme Knight

Anyone who could wield mana could directly reach the rank of Apprentice Knight. However, progressing beyond that was where everything changed.

Apprentice Knights were individuals who could sense or awaken their mana. At this stage, they could only use mana internally to strengthen their bodies and learn to control it.

Senior Knights, on the other hand, had reached a certain level of mastery in controlling mana. Unlike Apprentice Knights, who could only direct mana to specific limbs for strengthening, Senior Knights could manifest mana externally.

They could use mana to reinforce their weapons or activate specific knight abilities that allowed them to utilize mana in a more active manner. For instance, a knight using a speed-enhancing ability would gather mana around their feet and control it to reach superhuman speeds.

Similarly, a knight using a strength ability could manifest mana externally to strengthen a particular limb, increasing their attack power. This principle also applied to defensive knight abilities.

When it came to Master Knights, everything changed drastically. Those who reached this level possessed power far beyond ordinary humans.

If Apprentice Knights developed internally and Senior Knights developed externally, then Master Knights developed both internally and externally, taking mana usage beyond mere enhancement or external manifestation. They could shape mana into specific forms and use it as a free-flowing energy source.

For example, a Master Knight could envelop their sword in a flame of mana and unleash a fiery slash with a single swing. They could also create energy shields in mid-air. At this level, mana was no longer just a tool for strengthening their bodies or enhancing specific abilities—it became a weapon that shaped the battlefield to their advantage.

Luther considered his own level. He had reached the rank of Master Knight, but he had not had many opportunities to truly unleash his power. Of course, serving under someone like Baron Shield would not contribute much to his growth. However, he did not dismiss the possibility that this dinner could serve as a stepping stone for his plans.

As for what Chief Knights and Supreme Knights were capable of, that was a story for another time.

Oliver noticed Luther's silence. With a faint smile, he said, "Baron's banquets are usually boring, but this time, it will be a bit different."

Luther raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

Oliver paused for a moment before lowering his head slightly. "It's better if you see for yourself when we arrive."

Although Luther was not pleased with this vague answer, he could tell that Oliver was deliberately avoiding the subject. He did not press further, and the two mounted their horses and set off.

As they rode through the darkness of the night toward Baron Shield's mansion, a troubling thought lingered in Luther's mind. Lately, the image of the bandits who had slaughtered his family had begun to invade his dreams. But he could not allow past events to hinder his plans. What mattered now was seizing the opportunity before him.

Before long, they arrived in front of a grand stone mansion. Armored guards greeted them at the gate, and as they stepped into the spacious courtyard, the sound of music and conversation from inside indicated that the feast had already begun.

Ascending the stairs, Luther narrowed his eyes and surveyed the surroundings. He was not here just to eat. He wanted to see if there were any useful individuals among the guests Baron Shield had gathered.

After all, Luther sought revenge against the bandits who had killed his family—or more precisely, against the mastermind behind them. He knew that the one pulling the strings was none other than the Marquess of Spear.

However, as he stepped inside, he saw a figure that made him pause. A tall man clad in silver armor with sharp, piercing eyes stood in the corner of the hall. The sight of him reminded Luther of someone he despised.

Clenching his teeth, Luther muttered, "Viktor..."

As he wondered why Viktor was here, he struggled to contain his anger, his eyes narrowing and his brow furrowing.

"Haha, you don't look too pleased to see me, Luther," Viktor laughed, noticing Luther's entrance and walking toward him with a smirk.

"What are you doing here?" Luther asked, unwilling to engage with this nuisance any more than necessary.

"I heard you retired, so I decided to retire as well and settle here in Shield Village with my family," Viktor replied, observing Luther's irritated expression.

"Of all places, why Shield Village?" Luther continued, his tone growing harsher. "Are you following me?"

Viktor smirked at Luther's accusation. "Come on, Luther. The world doesn't revolve around you. Shield Village is a peaceful place, and I needed a quiet place away from the battlefield. But it seems this place has become anything but peaceful for you."

Just as Luther was about to respond, their conversation was interrupted by a voice.

A short, rotund man approached the two Master Knights and turned to the other guests. "My dear friends! Welcome to this special night! We are not only here for a feast but also for an important announcement!"

Baron Shield's words brought a brief silence to the hall. Luther's brows furrowed while Viktor offered a small bow with a smile.

"In addition to celebrating Knight Luther's settlement in our village, I am pleased to announce that Knight Viktor has taken on a new role in our region!"

Luther clenched his teeth upon hearing this. If Viktor was truly here to stay, it would be a major obstacle to his plans. He wanted to grow and gain power in Shield Village, but with Viktor watching his every move, things would become much more complicated.

Viktor, ignoring Luther's hostile gaze, smiled and said, "I will do my best, Baron."

Then, turning to Luther, he added, "It looks like we'll be spending a long time together here."

Although Luther cursed inwardly, he forced himself to remain outwardly calm. If Viktor was truly staying, he would have to be cautious. Because Luther was certain that Viktor's presence here was no coincidence.