Chapter 64

On the way back, the road was lit by the night lights.

The earth trembled slightly, and the hooves sounded crisp.

"Keinslon, this is the first time I have felt contempt for your efficiency."

On horseback, Saphirian muttered to himself. It had been a long time since he left. A very long time.

Could it be that something unexpected happened to him? He had considered this question, but he quickly dismissed the thought.

Because he did not believe that anything unexpected would happen to him, and this belief stemmed from the man's strength.

What kind of trouble could have entangled him?

He yawned, idly swinging the whip in his hand. Although the horse was not jolting, it was even somewhat steady, he felt tired, a fatigue that came from his personality.

He did not like a monotonous life, nor did he like the rigid constraints. Yet, he was now living a monotonous life under a rigid and rule-bound superior.

What a subtle irony.

So, he often mocked himself when drinking with others.

Saphirian sighed and looked back at Tylrante, who was hanging on the horse from a distance. At that moment, he seemed like a soulless puppet, a marionette, and Saphirian could almost see those lifeless, dull eyes.

I am truly sorry, for tonight I have become the executioner who shatters your ideals and slaughters you.

The price of growing up is different for everyone. Is the cruelty to him unfair?

Sometimes, he still envied them.

He unconsciously touched the long sword at his waist. This sword was a gift from his best friend during his college days, not ordinary, not valuable.

He had many swords because he was a person who liked to collect swords.

However, every time he went on a mission, he would bring this sword. Perhaps it was not as sharp as the others, perhaps it did not have the same imposing presence, but this did not stop him from choosing it.

Because it was the last gift from his best friend.

His friend was a warm and outgoing person, with a strong sense of responsibility. His dream was to become a general of the kingdom, leading the army to defeat every enemy who invaded the kingdom.

After graduation, he was assigned to the northern defense line of the kingdom as a sergeant, fulfilling his dream.

His dream began at that moment and ended at that moment.

In the year of the Fog Flower, the sudden invasion of the Ossasu barbarians, he died in the Ledan military town.

When the kingdom launched a counterattack to the north, due to his outstanding sword skills, he voluntarily joined the royal guard. He had better choices, but he resolutely chose to give them up.

Because, in the northern counterattack, part of the royal guard would become a special assault team, and each action would influence the balance of victory and defeat.

He wanted to kill, to kill the Ossasu barbarians.

He wanted revenge, to avenge his best friend.

That year, he killed many people, becoming numb, his sword becoming numb. He wanted to keep killing until he had killed all the barbarians.

During an important ambush, he could not forget that moment, the moment that completely woke him up, because he and his team suffered a devastating blow.

He still remembered that tall, ordinary barbarian with the large sword, who was reaping the lives of his teammates one by one.

He had fought to the death, resisted to the death, but it was all in vain.

That barbarian used his large sword to teach him what the difference in strength was, what the cruelty of war was.

He survived because he fled.

After the kingdom's army successfully reclaimed the northern defense line, he returned to the capital. There was no joy in victory, only the relentless pursuit of strength in his heart.

He did not choose to leave the royal guard because he wanted to become stronger. Only in the royal guard could he find the path to becoming stronger.

Over the years, he became the deputy of the third battalion of the royal guard, due to his strength.

Suddenly, a figure appeared under the dim street lights in the distance.

The guard team slowly moved forward and gradually stopped.

"Who are you?"

At the front of the team, Saphirian looked at the mysterious figure hidden in the black robe not far ahead and asked.

"A person who wants to keep you here."

He stood in the middle of the road, his face hidden, showing no expression. His low, hoarse voice was neither loud nor soft, but enough for Saphirian to hear.

Saphirian raised his whip. Behind him, swords were drawn, horses neighed restlessly, and the alert was set up.

"One person?"

Saphirian narrowed his eyes, his senses searching every corner, but found nothing.

"Hasn't your perception already told you the answer?" the black-robed man calmly revealed Saphirian's subconscious actions.

"If a person stands here and tells me he wants to keep us, do you know what I would be thinking?" Saphirian touched the hilt of his sword, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "If he's not crazy, then he must have a confidence that is hard to fathom."

"You are a smart man," the black-robed man said calmly. "But no matter how smart, it won't change your fate."

"Oh?" Saphirian raised an eyebrow. "But I don't see you having the strength to keep us here."

As they conversed, his perception collided violently with the other's. From the aura of the other's perception, he could vaguely understand that the other's strength was not as powerful as he imagined.

The black-robed man suddenly said, "Do you know why your superior, Lord Keinslon, has not returned for so long?"

Saphirian was startled but kept his composure. "Perhaps he encountered a small problem on the way back."

The black-robed man said, "Is self-deception very interesting?"

Saphirian said, "A boring joke is not a good deception."

The black-robed man said, "He will not come."

Saphirian's long, strong hand gripped the hilt of his sword. "He's dead?"

The black-robed man said, "He's not dead."

Saphirian said, "Then why won't he come?"

The black-robed man said, "He came, but it was too late."

The cold wind blew, the leaves rustled, and the falling leaves swirled around them.

Saphirian said, "What did you do?"

The black-robed man said, "Just to avoid affecting our plans, we temporarily trapped him in a place. Unfortunately, his subordinates did not have that luck."

He understood that the rescue mission had failed, and Keinslon's subordinates were probably all dead.

For some reason, his vigilance increased. Saphirian remained silent because he did not understand what confidence the other had to keep them here and what his true intentions were.

The black-robed man's hand reached into the wide sleeve and slowly pulled out a scroll.

"Do you want to know the answer? Your anticipation will soon be fulfilled."