"Absolutely not, you must not go!"

The sound of hurried and anxious footsteps echoed in the corridor over and over again, and there was a soft couch next to him to sit down and rest, but Leonardo was still pacing back and forth with a nervous face, and the beads of sweat and his eyes were constantly flashing to tell others how tight his heartstrings were now.

On the side, Grand Master Mercer Kane sat in place with a natural expression, holding the huge knight's sword in both hands and closing his eyes to recuperate, but the index finger of his right hand was constantly tapping the hilt of the sword, as if thinking about something.

When Gaio Valence asked for a duel to be sent to the palace, not only Leonardo, but even the attendant who delivered the letter seemed to be in a trance, and Leonardo didn't say anything to him, but only asked on behalf of Gaio Valen, hoping that Grand Master Mercer Kane would agree.

And Leonardo's real fear was not only here - Gaillo was able to submit this request, which meant that he had convinced at least the hundred Knights of the Sacred Tree of the Knights of the Sacred Tree that Lord Mercer Kane had compromised with the Minester family and had chosen to cooperate.

In other words, this guy has completely fallen for Berrion Marcherus!

Gaio Valens, you goddamn bastard, has always been calm, sensible, compromised and backed down on the big picture, loyal to the Knights...... Is it all pretending to deceive us all?

Compared to this, he prefers to believe that the other party is just carried away by the desire for revenge and lost his goal - although Leonardo also does not believe that this guy will be lost sometimes.

Think about yourself. Just a few days ago, Leonardo had sworn that nothing would happen to Holard Minest. It looks so stupid now - when I left the tavern that day. Gaiyo had probably already made up his mind.

I should have stopped him a long time ago.

"In any case, Lord Mercer Kane, you must not agree to this request, he is just impulsive, he just doesn't want to cooperate with the Minest family, you can blame me for all these things. Leonardo pursed the corners of his mouth, his eyes bloodshot: "I am willing to take all the responsibilities and let me confront him face to face!"

"No, you don't understand - though I know you both. And Tornier Gombray, how good the three of you are. Mercer, whose eyes were closed, shook his head slightly: "But you don't know what kind of person Gaio Valence is - this boy, he has a clear purpose from the first day he joined the Knights, he lived for revenge." ”

"But I don't care about that, just as you brothers Gombray for the honor of your family, and the boy named Edward, for his great and somewhat frightening ambitions—you are all loyal to the Order, you are all here, you have found your own path, and you have kept your oaths. Mercer looked up slowly. The corners of his mouth rose slightly: "I am very proud to be able to see this." ”

"So. I'll admit it all - and that's where I was negligent, and I'm going to make it clear to all the brethren of the Order that we're joining forces with House Minest, and that's what they should know. The Grand Master of the Knights of the Sacred Tree made up his mind: "When this duel is over, I will tell them all." ”

"But, but what if it ......" Leonardo couldn't help but say, "What if Gaio wins - it's not that I don't have confidence in you, but that guy is also very strong, maybe he will ......"

"Then it's up to the will of the Radiant Cross - if I am unfortunate enough to fail, you must say nothing, and explain nothing. Mercer stood up, with a little unbearable look in his eyes: "This is also the only way to preserve the dignity of the Knights, the only thing you need to do is to live!"

"Please let me come, let me duel him - I have this confidence, Gaio Valence will not kill me!" But after seeing Mercer's extremely determined face, he bowed his head in loneliness: "I understand. ”

"But why would you do it?!" Leonardo couldn't help but ask out loud: "If Gaio wins, he will, will ......"

"Will you become the new Grand Master of the Knights of the Sacred Tree, and stand in Berion's camp with great determination?" Mercer Kane glanced at him, "Do you think that ending is really hell, or do you mean that if we choose to do this, the Knights will perish?" But in the eyes of more people, if we cooperate with the Minest family, that is the choice that the Knights will surely perish. ”

"Sometimes we don't know if we're doing the right thing, if we're really making the right choice -- in this case, leave the choice to the Radiant Cross, and let us decide which one is right by life and death. The Grand Master said in a deep voice, "We are only mortal, and the price of truth is heavy. ”

"You are only right about one thing, Leonardo Gayor Valens has been blinded by hatred, and there is only one thing he wants to do now, and that is revenge. Patting Leonardo on the shoulder, Mercer smiled and stood up: "If I fail, the task of saving him falls to you." Don't worry, I'll try to keep him alive. ”

"Grand Master ......"

Looking at Mercer, who patted him on the shoulder, walked over, Leonardo didn't hold on any longer, but just let out a long sigh.

Mercer Kane didn't look back, striding toward the end of the hallway, with his back to the door he had guarded—and only then could he feel the weight of his heart.

Regardless of the outcome of this duel, I am afraid that I will never have the opportunity to protect the king of Turin again. Even if you continue to stay here, the result will not be any different, and it will be even more disappointing.

Mercer Kane was not afraid of death, even after all these years, even if his temples were gray, he was not afraid of death - the only thing that really scared him was shame.

If that bloody night were to happen again, would he be able to keep out everyone who dared to threaten the young king as he had done last time, and would he be able to protect him again?

I'm afraid it's already impossible to do - the passage of time has taken away not only energy, but also original strength. My heartbeat is getting weaker little by little, and my vision, physical fitness, touch, and intuition are ...... Little by little, they are becoming sluggish, decaying and festering, and sooner or later, they will no longer be able to wield this heavy sword, and can only lie on the bed and wait for the moment when the Radiant Cross will take them away.

He would never want to die like this, and Mercer Kane could not imagine himself taking his last breath like that—and that was the only reason he was unwilling, let alone daring to say it. At this point, he felt that he was not even as good as Gaio Valens, at least the other party could say everything he wanted to do and get without any scruples.

The only regret is that I can't continue to protect him this time...... The Grand Master stood at the end of the hallway, looking at the still closed door, and couldn't help but sigh long, but he clenched the hilt of his sword with great determination—this time, he was going to fight for himself.

It's not just an oath, it's not just for the Knights, it's its own final battle.

"Squire, come out!"

Mercer's roar seemed to be like an exploding thunderbolt, which made the attendant's ears ring, and the whole person walked out in a trance, standing respectfully in front of the person who didn't even dare to look up, and stammered: "Please give orders, Your Excellency, Grand Master!"

"You can go back now, squire. Mercer Kane began.

"But, you haven't given me your answer yet. Although frightened, the squire still stood still: "Master Gaio Valence has given me orders, I will never go back until it is done!"

"Then tell him that I, Mercer Kane, Grand Master of the Order, accept his challenge!" )