Lord: I can see loyalty.

But what caught Vio's attention on the main stand was not Felix; Vio's gaze fell on another figure beside the Count.

The man stood out awkwardly between the count and the knight. Although he wore exquisite armor, he had no knightly demeanor, and his bare arms were covered with old and new scars.

Even more surprisingly, his face was unexpectedly handsome, even resembling Felix.

Vio's fingers, which were resting on his knees, tightened slightly as he looked at them intently.

Name: Neil Donovan

Race: Human

Age: 26

[Hobbies: dueling, watching gladiatorial performances, torturing defeated opponents, and abusing servants]

【Characteristics: Fighting fanatic, swordsmanship talent, beginner level Quicksand Swordsmanship, advanced level Basic Swordsmanship】

Loyalty: Not loyal to you

Quicksand Sword Technique? Although Vio had never heard of it, he guessed that it was probably his family's knightly swordsmanship.

This guy is actually a relative of the count?

Vio then looked at the others, and it was worth mentioning that only Felix had the "illness" and "malice" afflictions, while both knights had only the ordinary "advanced basic swordsmanship" affliction.

Just as Vio was staring intently at the other person, Felix's eyes also turned to Vio, and the two locked eyes for a moment.

Vio quickly looked away, but then the count stood up from the main stand, gave a few instructions to those beside him, and then walked straight toward Vio with two knights and Neil.

The surrounding nobles and wealthy merchants consciously dispersed, leaving a passage, and Felix came to Vio, a perfectly timed smile appearing on his pale face.

"Lord Vio, I didn't expect you to actually come. I'm so sorry for not welcoming you properly." His voice was gentle, but it carried a strange weariness.

"You're too kind, Count." Vio and the others stood up to greet him.

Standing to Felix's side and slightly behind, Neil suddenly chuckled, his gaze sweeping over Vio with undisguised disdain: "Brother, are all the people in Bordeaux village dead? Bordeaux can even boss around some young punk now?"

"Neil," Felix said, his tone slightly lower, but without much anger, "Don't be rude."

He looked at Vio again, nodded apologetically, and said, "This is my younger brother. He has been neglected since childhood, so please forgive him."

Neil snorted and turned his head away. Vio merely glanced at him and didn't pay him any attention.

"I wonder if you have had lunch yet? I have had a small feast prepared, which will be a good opportunity to discuss with you in detail the matter of eliminating the bandits."

Vio was about to speak when a lightly equipped soldier hurriedly squeezed through the crowd and whispered urgently in Felix's ear.

The count's smile froze instantly, a hint of anger appearing on his pale face, but he quickly regained his composure.

"...I apologize, Your Excellency," Felix spoke again, "There are some urgent matters that must be dealt with immediately. Please wait here for a moment; I will be back soon. Excuse me."

He didn't even wait for Vio's response before leaving with his knights and soldiers, leaving Neil standing there.

Vio was dumbfounded. Was the count really not playing a trick on him? But he didn't say anything. He just turned around and sat down again. At least there was still the gladiatorial show to watch.

"Feed," Neil's voice came from behind.

Vio turned around and saw Neil with his arms crossed, his gaze fixed on Gina with interest, as if he were appraising merchandise.

The other person's gaze made Gina subconsciously move her hand to the hilt of her sword.

"Your female servant looks pretty good in a fight," Neil grinned and said, "Sell her to me, I'll give you a high price."

What is this guy talking about? Are these two brothers even human?

Vio suppressed his anger and said calmly, "Gina is my personal bodyguard, not a slave."

"What does it matter? Is there a difference between slaves and guards?" Neil raised an eyebrow and waved his hand, saying, "Fifty gold coins, enough for you to buy five more."

Vio ignored him and stood up, gesturing for Gina and Cohen to leave.

"Hey, didn't my brother tell you to wait for him? It's not appropriate for you to leave like this, is it?" Neil's smile vanished.

"Not suitable? I don't care."

"Stop!" Seeing Vio still walking off the field, Neil's voice suddenly rose, drawing the attention of the surrounding spectators.

He stepped forward, blocking Vio's path, his eyes full of provocation, and said, word by word, "I challenge you to a duel."

As soon as he finished speaking, the surrounding noise suddenly quieted down, and then burst into cheers!

Vio was taken aback, and Cohen, who was beside him, came over and explained in a deep voice: "My lord, according to the rules of the fortress, when one side initiates a duel, unless someone concedes, even if someone dies, it will not be subject to the fortress's laws."

"Of course, commoners are not allowed to challenge nobles to duels."

"What abstract rules..." Vio murmured to himself, looking at Neil in front of him, but he knew very well that this man was not to be underestimated.

Although he looks like a fool, his skill level is among the top in this fortress.

"Hmph, why are you surrendering before we even fight? How about this, don't say I'm bullying you, you can send your men to duel with me."

After saying that, he glanced at the two people behind Vio and couldn't suppress his smile even more. In his eyes, Vio was already the most skilled of the three.

"Lord Vio, let me do it." Just then, Gina grasped Vio's hand, her expression resolute.

"This person is very strong, not like he seems..."

"I understand, my lord," Gina interrupted Vio, gripping her sword hilt and speaking solemnly, "We will win."

For some reason, looking into the other person's gray-blue eyes, Vio felt a strange sense of trust.

Vio paused for a moment, then took her hand and said, "Safety is our priority."

Waaah—waaah—!

The long, drawn-out horn sounded throughout the arena, accompanied by the cheers of the spectators. Neil, wielding his twin swords, slowly walked into the arena.

The other door was quickly opened, and Gina stepped forward, her hand on the sword at her waist, her gaze fixed on her opponent's weapon.

"You actually sent me to duel?! Hahahaha!" Neil burst into laughter when he saw that the newcomer was Gina, and looked up at Vio in the stands above.

"Does it mean you look down on me?"

Neil lowered his body, a smile spreading across his face. He stopped spinning his twin swords, and with a cold snort, his figure vanished from the spot!

In the next instant, he appeared to Gina's left, his twin swords not slashing straight down, but drawing two arcs, aiming for her throat and ribs respectively.

Gina's pupils contracted sharply, she stepped back, and then swiftly parried with her sword, dodging both sword strikes.

Faster than expected… Neil licked his dry lips and thought, then charged forward again, giving his opponent no chance to catch his breath.

The twin swords attacked again, but this time it was not just a test. The sword shadows swept across like quicksand, rushing towards Gina from all directions. Each golden sand shadow was a sharp blade!

Gina reacted quickly, wielding her sword in a dazzling display of light and shadow. The dense clanging sounds made Vio on the stage hold his breath in suspense.

puff!

As Neil accelerated, Gina's arm was slashed, leaving a bloody gash, and a burning pain immediately followed.

Neil dodged her desperate attack, which she launched in pain, and created some distance. A smile returned to his face. This was his modified family sword technique, the Quicksand Sword Technique.

His father's quicksand swordsmanship was suited for one-handed swords, and while it was good for both offense and defense, it lacked the ability to end a fight. He, on the other hand, abandoned defense and only needed to overwhelm his opponent with extremely fast speed...

"call……"

Gina's breathing made Neil look at his opponent again, somewhat puzzled.

A glint flashed in Gina's grey-blue eyes, as if she had made up her mind. The next moment, she abandoned her defense and poured all her strength into her limbs, then charged forward!

Seeing the figure in front of him moving more than twice as fast, Neil raised his twin swords once more.

clang!clang!clang!

Gina's attack was not a single strike; she unleashed several sword blows in an instant, each aimed directly at a vital point, forcing Neil to parry while retreating.

But Gina's attacks were relentless, precisely targeting Neil's movement path, forcing him to retreat continuously.

The spectators on the field were also surprised that someone could outrun Neil in terms of speed!

Neil dodged step by step, feeling a bit annoyed. The guy in front of him was imitating his swordsmanship.

It wasn't until his back slammed into the stone wall of the arena that Neil realized he had been cornered!

But soon, a smile returned to Neil's face; he had already adapted to his opponent's speed.

Watching Gina's relentless attacks, he sneered inwardly: Trying to exhaust me through constant attacks? Or... attempting to break my weapon?

Thinking of this, Neil's smile became even more unrestrained. His stamina had been honed through several battles, and the twin swords in his hands were forged from dwarven iron!

No matter how fast the attack, it will eventually reveal a flaw when the defense is abandoned. Neil quickly noticed Gina's momentary lapse in concentration.

Now! Neil was overjoyed. Countless people had made the same mistake and died by his sword. A bunch of stupid imitators!

As long as he blocked this attack, his opponent would have no chance to dodge his counterattack in the next instant. Neil raised his twin swords in front of him, ready to deflect the attack.

clang!!!

A deafening explosion erupted!

Instead of the expected resistance from the weapon impact, Neil felt an unbearable pain in his palm, followed by a crisp cracking sound—

Bang!

A sandstorm instantly enveloped the two, and the people in the arena craned their necks to try and see the outcome of the battle.

"This guy can actually hold his own against Lord Neil..."

"It was so fast, I couldn't see anything clearly."

Vio ignored the surrounding noise, stood up with a solemn expression, and the dust finally settled at that moment.

At the edge of the arena, Neil slumped to the ground, still clutching his broken twin swords, his eyes glazed over.

Gina stood in front of Neil, her sword already half an inch deep in his shoulder, blood flowing down the blade and leaving a dark red stain on the sand.