Free Web NovelChapter 120: Skeptical
Victor Shieldman stood momentarily paralyzed on the deck of the Traveling Mermaid, his name still echoing through the crowd. His eyes quickly scanned the sea of faces, and he felt all eyes on him like a sharp blade pressed to his throat.
He wasn’t used to being the center of attention like this.
As they looked at him, some people wore expressions of pure disbelief, others of curiosity, and even a handful of admiration.
The wry smile that Victor had worn just moments ago disappeared, then he sighed in regret at what Demetrius had done and crossed his arms.
Franky, standing next to Victor, seemed to enjoy the situation. "Looks like you’ve suddenly become a legend, Victor. How are you feeling?"
"Not well..." Victor replied and took a step forward, positioning himself in full view.
Once again, his eyes swept the crowd, noting every confused face, every expression of doubt, and every whisper. He knew he had to speak, but choosing the right words at this moment was crucial. He didn’t want to be famous, because if the other heroes found out he was still alive, Victor couldn’t imagine what they might do to someone like him who had abandoned the duty the gods had given him.
Some members of the crowd on the dock believed the story Demetrius was telling, while others did not.
There were some small pieces of evidence that could serve as a basis for trying to prove the story true, such as the lack of attacks from the Devourer of Ships, which had been a daily occurrence, and also the sounds coming from the horizon that many in the harbor had heard three days ago.
Still, convincing a crowd of skeptical sailors and suspicious pirates would be its own challenge, something Victor had never attempted.
"Is this the warrior? Victor Shieldman by name, right?" one sailor asked, frowning in doubt. "Isn’t he a bit old?"
"Yes, he is!" replied Demetrius, trying to keep confidence in his voice. "I mean, yes, he’s Victor Shieldman!"
"The story Demetrius told you is true." Victor, standing on the edge of the ship’s deck, finally said in a clear tone for everyone to hear. "Yes, I killed the Devourer of Ships three days ago, the same day we left the port of Klento City. I’m a hunter, and the Selvarum family hired me to kill him."
Victor’s firm voice, the strength he exuded with the confidence in his words, and the mention of the Selvarum Family gave his words credibility.
Many who "threw stones" at Victor had to swallow his words.
However, Cassandra, the one who managed the entry and exit of most of the port’s merchant ships, was not someone who tied her tail to anyone and was not afraid to question. In fact, her skeptical expression became even more pronounced when Victor began to speak. freewёbnoνel.com
"So you want us to believe that you faced the Devourer of Ships single-handedly and emerged victorious?" she asked. "That monster has sunk dozens of ships and killed hundreds of men in recent years." freēwēbnovel.com
"Actually, Demetrius may have exaggerated the details a bit, and it’s not true that I defeated the Devourer of Ships single-handedly. Demetrius is modest about his crew, who promptly came to my aid when I needed it most. Yes, the battle against the Devourer of Ships was a difficult and dangerous mission, but no one here should think that this is something that anyone can do alone. It takes courage, a little madness, and a good team."
The murmur of the crowd grew. Some people seemed relieved, others still unwilling to believe.
A man with a long beard and worn-out clothes stepped forward, pushing others back. "And why should we believe you? Who are you really? You might just as well be someone trying to make a name for himself!"
Before Victor could answer, Franky stepped forward and raised his hands in a conciliatory gesture.
"Gentlemen, many of you know me. I’m Franky, the carpenter who owns the dump on the outskirts of town. I’ve been working here in Klento for years, and I can assure you that what Demetrius said is not completely absurd. Victor is truly capable of extraordinary feats, he’s a fantastic hunter.
The presence of Franky, a familiar and trusted face, seemed to calm some of the crowd, but many were still agitated.
Franky knew that these people could easily become hostile if they felt they were being deceived, so he intervened, but even his presence didn’t help much.
Suddenly, an elderly woman with gray hair and flashy clothes shouted:
"Are you the warrior who defeated the Devourer of Ships? Are you sure? My ’daughters’ have been telling stories about a certain group of drunks since yesterday. They heard from customers in our ’bar’ that a stranger in one of the taverns was shouting that the Devourer of Ships had been defeated. I was skeptical at first, but then it could be true..."
Victor opened his mouth to reply, only to be interrupted by a young sailor with a hard, cynical expression.
"Stories are easy to tell, especially to impress harlots. We want proof! Where is the monster’s carcass?"
"At the bottom of the sea, of course!" Many around the young sailor answered immediately.
It was obvious that no one could loot or even drag away the corpse of a huge creature like the Ship-Eater, and Victor had no desire to expose the brain of the Ship-Eater, as it was a rare item that most people wouldn’t be able to tell apart from a lump of fat.
Demetrius then raised his voice again and announced:
"I have an idea! If anyone here doubts Victor Shieldman’s strength and believes that he is capable of defeating the man who killed the Devourer of Ships, or wants to prove that he is an imposter, I propose a duel. Anyone who feels up to it, come forward and prove your bravery by fighting him, on one!"
Demetrius’ proposal caused a stir in the crowd. Normally, many would volunteer for a duel, but even the boldest pirates on this dock knew that Victor was no ordinary man.
Amidst the commotion on the dock, two men spoke in low tones. One was a brutish man of imposing stature, with bulging muscles and a defiant expression. The other was a handsome young man in shining armor, his eyes reflecting a mixture of determination and contempt. They were the same bounty hunters who had entered the tavern where Victor had been last night.
"Are you going to do nothing, Aelius?" asked the brute whose name was Gorn. "Are you just going to stand there?"
Aelius, the noble-looking young man in armor, shook his head. "I will not lower myself to fight in a meaningless spectacle like this. My sword does not need to be sullied by something so trivial. Let them entertain themselves as they wish."
Contrary to what it seemed when they walked side by side, Gorn was not Aelius’ bodyguard, but his uncle, and he didn’t much care what Aelius said.
Gorn liked to have fun and had been itching to take on Victor since seeing him in the tavern last night, so he suddenly raised his arm.
"I accept the challenge!" Gorn announced loudly. His bold gesture drew curious and expectant looks.
Demetrius, finally seeing an opportunity to calm the tension, declared with satisfaction:
"So here we go! Come here, warrior!"
