Free Web NovelChapter 43: Chapter 43: Tripartite Talks
Bard sat on his horse, waiting quietly.
It was his first time seeing Duane. The young Little Baron was certainly mindful of status, making a slow and deliberate entrance only after Bard and Daniels had arrived.
He sneered under his breath, "Heh, so young, yet he’s already mastered the essence of the Nobility’s obsession with ceremony."
Daniels maintained his seemingly kind and friendly smile. "He is the master here, after all. Isn’t it only natural that he’d make others wait?"
The three parties finally converged, stopping a mere four or five meters from one another.
There were no arguments, much less any sign of a fight.
The crowd that had followed them found this strange, feeling a sense of anticlimax.
But they didn’t leave, wanting to see just what this group was planning.
"Greetings, Baron," Daniels said. "Your gallant presence brings new life to this island!"
The Elder Mage was the first to break the silence. His tone was gentle, which left Duane with a good impression. freeweɓnovel.cøm
"A pleasure to meet you, Mage."
Duane responded in kind. "I hear your Healing Technique has eased the suffering of many on this island. As the new Lord here, I thank you on behalf of all those you have saved."
"The Light protects everyone. It is not just my ability, but my duty, Baron!"
After the two exchanged simple pleasantries, Duane turned his gaze to the silent Bard.
The man’s physique was on par with Kaelon’s. A single glance at his Plate Armor, the Shield on his back, and the Longsword at his side told you they were worth a small fortune.
An Earth Tier Warrior. He had a very imposing air about him.
Bard met Duane’s gaze without flinching. "Baron, we’ve come here as you requested. Shall we get to the business of the day?"
His tone wasn’t exactly offensive, but it was hardly polite.
Duane paid no mind to his attitude. "The leader of the Broken Wave Gang is certainly an impatient man. I much prefer someone as composed as Daniels."
Bard gave a dry laugh. Such a simple attempt to sow discord was useless against him.
"My apologies, Baron. This is just how I am. I’m simply worried about my subordinate. What will it take for you to release Hardy?"
Hardy was currently locked up, with two of Duane’s servants standing guard.
Although he was a Middle Level Warrior, he was already injured. Combined with having been starved for several meals, he had no way of breaking free from his bindings.
"He offended me first. The fact that I didn’t kill him and merely locked him up is already exceptionally generous."
Duane said nonchalantly, "If you win the duels, I can promise to release him. If you lose... well, that will depend on what you have to offer me."
"Fine!"
Bard agreed without a moment’s hesitation. "So, tell us. How do you propose to set the rules for these duels?"
The members of the Holy Hand Association and the Broken Wave Gang all grew alert, eager to see what the Baron had in mind.
Duane didn’t keep them in suspense.
"First, we’re changing the number of duels you proposed. I don’t have that much time to waste."
He held up three fingers. "Three bouts. I’ll only humor you for three bouts!"
The corner of Bard’s mouth twitched. Normally, his temper would have gotten the better of him, and he would have cursed aloud at such a tone.
’Humor us?’
But he swallowed the words on the tip of his tongue and asked instead, "Three bouts. How will the profits be divided?"
"The overall victor takes a forty-percent share. The remaining sixty percent is divided by the outcome of each bout—twenty percent for each win."
If one side won all three bouts, then all the resources—the iron mine, the oak trees, and so on—would belong to them exclusively.
Of course, that was unlikely to happen.
Not that winning all three bouts was impossible, but if he really took everything, the other side would likely drag him down with them in a final, desperate struggle.
So, even if Duane were to win a clean sweep, he would offer some concessions to give them a way out.
After all, his own military strength was currently the weaker of the three.
Daniels then asked, "And what about the territories?"
He was more concerned with the issue of territory.
Duane said, "Black Forest Island is my Territory. Everything on it belongs to me. However, considering your contributions over the years, I am willing to let you manage Broken Wave Bay, Forest Village, and Hutou Village."
Here, his tone sharpened. "However, you must pay a tax of twenty percent of your grain yield annually. Furthermore, you may not interfere with my people as they move freely through these areas."
Daniels frowned slightly. "My manor should be considered my private property. While you may be the Lord..."
Duane cut him off. "Rest assured, my people will not enter your private property without your consent."
Daniels nodded. "I have no objections."
Both men turned their gazes to Bard.
Bard didn’t agree immediately. He wanted Lingang Village, which would make it more convenient for him to manage the port.
But on second thought, he realized he only wanted the port for trade. If he didn’t win much from these duels, putting in the effort to manage the port would be a losing proposition.
’If I win all three bouts,’ he thought, ’I can just ignore everything the Baron says anyway.’
"Fine, I agree!"
In the end, Bard agreed.
Duane grinned. "Next is the matter of selecting the combatants. You go first."
Daniels was the first to speak. "The Broken Wave Gang is the one with the grievance against you. For these three duels, the Holy Hand Association will send out only one person. The other two will be from the Broken Wave Gang."
Bard had no objection to this, as it was what he had planned for anyway.
"Simone, you will represent the Holy Hand Association," Daniels said.
The weathered-looking Knight behind him glanced at Duane, then said, "Very well."
Duane looked him over.
’Monbodt said he’s an Advanced Warrior,’ Duane recalled.
"I thought you would be fighting yourself, Daniels."
Daniels gave an awkward smile. "I’m just a Level 3 Mage, and of the Light Element, which is weak in offense. To participate in a duel would be suicide."
"Fair enough. I accept your decision."
Duane glanced to his side. "Raymond, you will be his opponent."
"No problem, my lord!"
In the Third Legion’s competitions, Raymond had defeated several Human Tier opponents with his strength at the Peak of the Advanced stage. Facing a regular Advanced Warrior now should be a simple matter.
Duane turned to Bard. "Your turn to name your combatants."
Bard pointed to himself. "I’ll fight personally."
He raised a hand and pointed at Kaelon, his eyes narrowing provocatively. "You must be my opponent, then?"
Kaelon snorted but didn’t rise to the provocation, leaving it to Duane to respond.
"Correct. My Guard Officer, Kaelon, will be your opponent."
Duane continued, "Now, name your third combatant."
The third person was the key.
Duane planned to use some clever rhetoric after Bard named his choice, maneuvering things so that he himself would be a combatant, facing a Basic-level Warrior from their side.
But Bard’s next words took him completely by surprise.
"For the third combatant, I’d like to try something a little different."
Bard’s provocative gaze fell upon Duane. "Baron, most of Black Forest Island is fraught with peril. As its Lord, I believe you should demonstrate a certain degree of strength and courage to win the conviction of your people."
Duane froze for a second, his brow knitting. "Is that a challenge? Bard, you’re crossing a line!"
Bard seemed unconcerned by the threatening tone. "Does my lord not dare?"
Hearing this, Kaelon and Raymond glared angrily at Bard. His threatening, contemptuous tone infuriated them.
"Heh, I’m just a Basic-level Warrior," Duane said with a dry laugh.
Duane laughed and asked, "I hear your Vice Leader is an Advanced Warrior. You surely don’t expect me to fight him?"
"Oh, so that’s what you’re worried about."
Bard laughed, thinking he had exposed a sliver of Duane’s cowardice.
"Rest assured, if you are willing to fight, my side will naturally send out a Basic-level Warrior as well. We would never take advantage of you!"
He paused. "So, what do you say, Baron? Do you dare?"
Duane remained outwardly impassive, appearing to mull it over, but inwardly he was ecstatic.
’I was just about to go through the trouble of talking my way into this fight and getting them to put up a Basic-level Warrior,’ he thought. ’I can’t believe Bard saved me the effort!’
Not only that, but since Bard had been the one to suggest it, it wouldn’t expose the fact that Duane had no one else to send.
After a moment, Duane broke into a smile. "Fine. I accept!"
Bard let out a hearty laugh and praised him, "You are truly worthy of being the Lord of Black Forest Island! What remarkable spirit!"
He pointed to a young man in the ranks behind him. "Your opponent is him, Iron Hammer!"
He had positioned Iron Hammer at the front of his group ahead of time.
Even from this distance, Duane couldn’t make out the man’s face.
However, he already knew about Iron Hammer: he was a Basic Peak Warrior.
His own Strength Attribute was currently 6.9. Although he was still a ways off from the Peak of the Basic Stage, victory wasn’t impossible—and besides, the exact time of the duels hadn’t been set yet.
All that was left was to set the date.
