It was not yet time for the autumn wind to blow, but the withered yellow leaves fell from the treetops and fell in the hunting wind to the spotless square of the Knights, covering the shocked eyes and staining the blood on the ground a touch of red.

There was silence in the square, and everyone stared wide-eyed at Mercer Kane and Gaio Valence standing in the center. Clenching the hilt of the sword in his hand, the leaves fell on his shoulders without noticing, only the eyes were still trembling.

Gaio Valence hung his head, his shiny gown and armor were already in tatters, his shoulders were still bleeding, and the large coat behind him was already hanging like a piece of rag, only a small half was left. His chest kept rising and falling, but he couldn't see a single expression.

Mercer Kane's eyes had long since darkened in a pool of blood, and the once fearsome knight's sword had been broken in half, running through his back through his body, and the burly figure could no longer stand.

Leonardo, who was standing at the very edge of the square, had a very mixed mood - he couldn't believe that Mercer Kane had lost. Even if he didn't want to see Gaio Valence die here, he couldn't believe that the Grand Master, who had been so invincible, had fallen!

But such an outcome seemed inevitable, and I wonder why Leonardo was suddenly able to understand - perhaps this was the ending that Lord Mercer Kane had chosen for himself, and Leonardo understood why the moment he saw him pierced by Gaio with his own sword.

He couldn't do it, but Gaio could.

Expressionless, Gaio Valens bent down and picked up the saber on the ground, clenching it tightly in his hand. Lift the hilt of the sword upside down. The blade of the sword was aimed at Mercer Kane's neck.

Everyone knew what he was going to do - almost at the same time. One by one, the enraged Knights of the Sacred Tree drew their swords and roared towards the center of the square.

"Kill this traitor, kill him!" Old Cena glared at the only one-eyed and rushed to the front, slamming into the two Sacred Tree Knights who were in front of him: "Avenge the Grand Master!"

Standing at the very core, the knights of the sacred tree who had returned with Gaio from the East also raised their swords and aimed them at the brothers who wore their same robes, their faces struggling but with a bit of determination—as if they were destined for what terrible things would happen in the next moment.

"Stop it—!!!"

A thunderous explosion exploded in everyone's ears. One by one, they all froze in place as if they were stunned, and the originally chaotic square instantly returned to the dead silence just now. The knights standing in front of him made way for the man, and Leonardo Cambrai, with bloodied eyes, glared at everyone like a wounded lion.

"Look at you, look at you, do you remember what place this is, who are you?!" Leonardo held the hilt of his sword in his right hand and strode towards the center of the square: "Aim your sword at your brother, do you still have any dignity?!"

Leonardo's angry roar echoed through the center of the square over and over again, and Old Cena, who gritted his teeth, couldn't help but turn his head suddenly, and one by one the Knights of the Sacred Tree lowered their heads. And the young attendants were even more tearful, and forced themselves not to cry.

Sigh softly. Leonardo walked to the square, staring at the figure who had once trusted him with some desolation and resentment: "Gaio, you ...... Are you really going to do something like this?"

"I just think if I didn't, you probably wouldn't want to come out and confront me. Gaiyo said calmly: "Leonardo, you want to tear me to pieces right now, right?"

"No, I want to crush you to ashes now. Leonardo raised his long sword and pointed it at the stiff coffin face: "You shameless bastard!"

"I can take on your challenge now if you want. Gaiyo's expression couldn't even tell whether he was happy or sad: "If I lose, you can do it." ”

"You don't deserve to fight me anymore, Gaio Valence. Leonardo snorted coldly: "I will not admit you, the Grand Master of the Knights-even if you kill me, you will not want me to admit it." ”

"I wouldn't expect that, but the most important thing now is to keep the Order united - whatever the outcome, I'm sure Lord Mercer Kane doesn't want to see a Knights of the Sacred Tree torn apart. Gaiyo said expressionlessly, "Are you still going to stop me now?"

Leonardo's expression was extremely complicated: "I thought you had been completely blinded by hatred. ”

Both of them deliberately lowered their voices so that only the other could hear them. A slight smile appeared on Gaiyo's stiff face, and there was a bit of cynicism: "Probably in your opinion, I'm afraid I'm just a madman who will do anything to get revenge, right?"

"But I'm going to tell you Leonardo, I'm going to do the same thing as you, but in a different way - I'm going to save the Knights, and if I work with Horald Minest, it's the most terrible outcome. Gailo began, "Do you know why? Because for the little prince, the Knights are only one of the armies he has, and the Knights of the Sacred Tree are the only armies in the entire kingdom that absolutely support Berion. ”

"With him, we can get more respect, more support, because without us his throne would not be as secure - I'm not crazy, and as much as I desire revenge, I'm also a member of the Knights of the Sacred Tree. And now I'm the Grand Master of the Knights of the Sacred Tree, and I'm looking far ahead of you!"

"Once the Knights of the Sacred Tree was the supreme force in the entire kingdom, the pride and yearning of all knights, and we used to be the regents of the kingdom, and we used to save the kingdom again and again!But now, why do those Turin nobles dare to look at the people who have saved them again and again with such eyes?" Gaio's voice became more and more determined: "Don't you think it's time for change?"

“...... Maybe, maybe you're right. In the face of his former best friend, Leonardo's sword in his hand was no longer so firm, especially after receiving the will of Grand Master Mercer Kane: "But I still can't recognize you!"

"As I said, I don't expect any of this, not to mention that you have a more important mission. A slight smile finally appeared on Gaio's stiff face: "I won't kill you, you need to reorganize the entire Order after me - you will be the next Grand Master of the Order!"

"What did you say?!"

"Remember the painting that hung in the hallway, the story of the first Grand Master - there was always someone to explain it all at the end. I'll get it all done, and your mission is to keep the new Order alive. Gaiyo looked at Leonardo's surprised eyes: "Don't doubt it, Leonardo, you have an innate leadership talent, and I believe that Grand Master Mercer Kane should have said something similar to you when he decided to take on the challenge." ”

After saying that, Gaio Valence didn't look at Leonardo's surprised expression at all, his cold gaze returned to his original state, and he glanced out of the square: "The will of the Radiant Cross has been conveyed to all of us, and from today onwards, I, Gaio Valence, will be the new Grand Master of the Knights of the Sacred Tree!"

"Lock up Leonardo Cambrai and these lackeys of the traitor Mercer Kane and await the judgment of the laws of the kingdom!" Gaio waved the blade of his sword suddenly: "By the order of the Grand Master, I will deprive them of their status as Knights of the Sacred Tree!"

The tearful old Cena angrily threw away the weapon in his hand and was grabbed by the Knights of the Sacred Tree who swarmed around him, and Leonardo, who had a complicated expression, did not resist at all, but just stared at the back of Gaio Valence with a pair of eyes, watching him cut off Mercer Kane's head...... (To be continued.) )