Charlot was not particularly afraid of Julian Arsilo. After all, they had crossed paths before, and Charlot had not been at a disadvantage. However, as they practiced spear techniques together this time, Charlot belatedly realized that this youngest "Sky of Byron" had a terrifyingly adept spear technique.
Julian's spear skills surpassed even those of Hughes.
The same basic spear move, when performed by Hughes, was manageable for Charlot. But when Julian executed it, Charlot found it overwhelming. While some of this was due to Charlot's relative lack of proficiency with the spear, it was also clear that Julian wielded his weapon with far greater ease and confidence.
Julian’s only drawback was his youth—he was merely a freshman in university. If he reached Hughes' age, his strength would undoubtedly surpass Hughes'.
Under Julian's tutelage, Charlot’s progress in spear techniques was painfully slow.
The Mask of the Cat could extract skills but not extraordinary abilities. Undeterred, Charlot had tried once to extract from Julian, only to acquire "wine tasting," which was utterly useless to him.
After a few days of sparring with Julian, during which Charlot became somewhat familiar with the 77 Movements of Heaven’s Wing, Aurora Soumet sent someone to deliver three items: a duel writ, a knight's lance, and a rapier.
Charlot had been out at the Old Flor’s shop during the day and only received these items upon returning late that evening. Aurora had come by during the day but, upon learning from Dolores Soumet that Charlot wouldn’t return until late, left someone to wait and returned herself.
This was to be the third official duel of Charlot’s life!
His first two opponents had both been high-ranking Transcendents. Whether it was Harriet Alva or Zolman, they were both formidable and well-deserving of their reputations.
When Charlot received his third duel writ and saw the name of his opponent—Ban Lamorak—he couldn’t help but feel a tinge of sentimentality. At last, he had received a challenge from someone of his own rank. Both he and Ban Lamorak were mid-level Transcendents. Though Ban’s rank was slightly higher, the gap was no longer insurmountable.
The duel was scheduled for three days hence!
The witnesses would be Count Lamorak, Countess Aurora Soumet, and His Majesty, Emperor Alfred Guillaume!
Typically, duel writs were issued in triplicate: one copy for each participant and a third copy for the local City Patrol Guard Office for record-keeping. However, this writ was issued in quintuplicate, with two additional copies sent to the royal archives of the Ingrima Empire and the Fars Empire.
This elevated the duel to a whole new level of prestige.
The knight’s lance delivered by Aurora bore the emblem of the Ebrelrahan Clan. The lance was a dark crimson hue with intricate patterns, a razor-sharp tip, a flexible shaft, a sturdy guard, and a balancing cone at the tail.
Its overall design resembled the lances of medieval Europe on Earth, except that in this world of Transcendents, the nations of the Old Continent had developed sophisticated knightly spear techniques. Consequently, knight’s lances here were far sturdier than the disposable ones of Earth.
On the dueling grounds and battlefields of the Old Continent, one would never hear “the sound of a lance breaking resounding through the skies.”
This was a Transcendent-grade knight's lance!
Charlot already owned another such lance, which he had taken from Zolman during their duel beneath Mostar Castle. However, as he was not proficient with lances, he had sent it to Machubi for safekeeping and never carried it with him.
That lance, named Mountain Shatter, boasted five attributes: armor-piercing, concussive force, anti-magic, bloodletting, and life-draining to repair the lance itself.
Even in Byron, it was considered a remarkable knight's lance.
Perhaps due to time constraints, Aurora had been unable to procure a vampiric rapier. However, the rapier she delivered was of exceptionally high quality, on par with the Unicorn Griffon weapon.
The duel writ also specified the duel’s location, though the site had not been chosen by Ban Lamorak but rather by Emperor Alfred Guillaume himself.
The duel would take place on the Seventais River, which flows through Britain.
While Transcendents could run at full speed across water for short distances, remaining stationary would cause them to sink unless they had specific abilities. By designating the Seventais River as the dueling ground, the emperor added an element of spectacle to the duel, forcing the combatants to keep moving. This not only made the duel more lively but also allowed a larger audience to gather along the riverbanks, which were long enough to accommodate countless spectators.
Charlot, with his Swiftstep Technique and Spider Technique, was not overly concerned about dueling on the river. However, he knew that, as one of the witnesses, Count Lamorak would not have agreed without objection, meaning Ban Lamorak must have some corresponding abilities to give him an advantage on such terrain.
After signing the duel writ and sending it back with Aurora’s messengers, Charlot encountered a team of emissaries dressed in Fars uniforms rushing into the embassy late at night. Spotting Charlot holding the writ, one of them asked, “Where is High Priest Auguslatin? Is Mecklenburg here?”
Charlot, seeing the urgency of the delegation, was mildly curious and replied, “The High Priest is not here. He is currently meeting with Ingrima officials on foreign affairs business.”
“I am Charlot Mecklenburg. What business do you have with me?”
A finely dressed man stepped forward with an air of arrogance and said, “You’re the Mecklenburg who signed the alliance treaty?”
Charlot nodded slightly. “That’s correct.”
The man continued, “There’s no need for you to know my name. I am here to deliver my king’s decree. High Priest Auguslatin has made great diplomatic achievements in Ingrima, and you have rendered exceptional service by signing the alliance treaty. Therefore, you are both to be rewarded.”
“Here are the commendation documents for the two of you. I’ve traveled a long way and am utterly exhausted.”
“These documents are for you. Please deliver the High Priest’s document to him. I’ll be returning to rest now.”
With that, the man handed over the two documents and departed without further ado, his attitude remaining imperious but not openly antagonistic. He was clearly unwilling to waste time in unnecessary conversation with Charlot, his focus solely on completing his mission and returning.
Charlot accepted the documents, watching the man—likely a high-ranking noble—leave the embassy. He suddenly felt more at ease with the official role and responsibilities Emperor Alfred Guillaume had granted him, along with the residential estate.
In the Old Continent, the nobility often had intricate ties, sometimes even familial connections, spanning different nations. Many held positions in multiple countries, navigating diplomatic intricacies with ease and skill. Their primary loyalties were not to any single nation but first to themselves, then to their families, and finally to their territories. For most nobles, the concept of unwavering national loyalty, so common among commoners, was alien.
Charlot stowed the documents and retired to his room for the night.
In the coming days, he needed to conserve his energy and prepare for the duel.