Lord: I can see loyalty.

Inside the basement, the dim yellow light of the oil lamp flickered, casting a dark, warm glow on the damp stone walls.

In a corner of the cell, a burly figure sat upright on the ground.

He was shirtless, revealing well-defined muscles, as if carved by a knife and axe... marks honed over many years, which had not faded in the slightest even after being trapped in this dark and sunless place for several years.

His chin was covered with a messy beard, which looked unkempt from years of neglect, but it couldn't hide the handsome features of his solemn face.

The dim light danced across his face, and his eyes, even in this cage, remained calm and composed, as if the walls of his cage had not imprisoned him.

He was the Great Knight, Alec Stone.

Looking at that figure, Marcus couldn't help but feel a surge of sorrow.

Looking at this former hero, this living legend...

Alec seemed to sense the arrival of the newcomers. He stood up, walked to the door, glanced at them, and then spoke calmly to the two knights guarding the door.

"You may all leave now."

The knight leading the way frowned and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword: "Alec Stone, our duty is to make sure you don't leave the West."

Alec looked at him, his calm eyes showing no emotion.

"We're still far from the western border."

His tone remained calm, yet it caused the knight to involuntarily take a half-step back.

"Besides," Alec paused slightly, his voice still soft but strangely unsettling, "if I want to leave, you can't stop me."

The expressions of the two knights changed simultaneously.

They exchanged a glance, their Adam's apples bobbing, but dared not utter another word. In the end, they could only snort coldly, turn around, and walk away quickly, their footsteps gradually fading into the corridor.

Marcus watched this scene with mixed feelings.

Even after being trapped in this dark underground for five years, even after being stripped of all glory and freedom, the radiance emanating from this man was still so intense that people dared not look directly at him.

"Alec..." he began, his voice slightly hoarse.

Alec turned around, looked at him, and a familiar faint smile appeared on his lips.

Marcus was stunned, as if the great knight before him was not imprisoned, nor had he succumbed to the pirates' threats, nor had the old count died with resentment.

Just like back then, they were full of vigor, leading their Western Frontier warriors into battle...

"Let's skip the formalities, Marcus."

Alec's words brought him back to reality. He returned to the bedside, sat down again, and asked in a gentle tone, "Did Ulysses send you here?"

Marcus was silent for a moment, then nodded.

"He wants me to ask you to help."

Alec's brow twitched slightly, but he remained silent.

Marcus took a deep breath and continued, "The Earl in the South has already taken over the territories of Philip and Derek, and Timothy has also pledged allegiance to him."

"Ulysses is scared and wants to use you as a trump card."

"The Earl of the Southern Border...?"

Alec murmured, a glint of something unfathomable flashing in his calm eyes. "I've heard about him recently. He's so young, yet he managed to kill two great pirates in such a short time. That's quite remarkable."

Marcus stepped forward, his voice even carrying a pleading tone.

"Alec, I know this request is unreasonable, but... I have no other choice."

Alec just looked at him without saying a word.

"Ulysses is using my family to blackmail me." Marcus's voice began to tremble. "My wife, my children, and the commoners in my territory... If I don't come, they will all die. Those pirates won't show any mercy."

He looked up, his eyes slightly red.

"Old friend, I'm begging you."

Alec remained silent for a long time, as dim light seeped in through the crack in the door and fell upon him.

The beam of light illuminated half of his face, while the other half remained hidden in shadow.

The expression in those calm eyes was so complex that it was impossible to read them.

"Marcus," he finally spoke, his voice still calm, "you know, the thing I hate most in my life is pirates."

Marcus lowered his head.

"That Earl of the South, what's his purpose in coming to the West? To seize territory? Or to become the ruler of the West?" Alec continued, "Or... is he really here to deal with the pirates?"

Marcus looked up, opened his mouth, but didn't know how to answer.

Alec sighed, slowly stood up, and walked to the wall without windows.

He reached out and touched the damp wall, as if touching something unattainable.

"For the past few years, I've been trapped here, but my men are still outside. I know what's going on."

He said, "Philip is dead, Derek is dead, Timothy chose to join them, and those pirates who once plagued the people of the West disappeared one by one at the hands of that young man."

He turned around and looked at Marcus with an extremely complex expression, his brows furrowed slightly. This sight left Marcus speechless.

"Logically, I should thank him."

"But……"

Alec's bare torso revealed muscles.

"Logically, I should thank him."

"But……"

On Alec's bare upper body, on his muscular chest, there was a dark red mark, like it had been branded with a hot iron, or like some kind of eerie tattoo.

At this moment, the mark is emitting a blinding red light.

Marcus's pupils contracted in disbelief.

"This is……"

"A magical contract." Alec's voice was bitter. "That bastard Ulysses thought the old count's verbal promises were unreliable, so he left this on me."

His fingers traced the mark, as if he were thinking of the old count in the West, and a trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes.

"And this mark will activate as soon as I leave the Western Territory even half a step."

"Will I die...?" Marcus tried to ask.

"No, it's not death." Alec's gaze was fixed on the mark. "It's something more painful than death. It will slowly erode my sanity and turn me into a monster who only knows how to kill."

Marcus's face turned deathly pale.

"So all these years..."

"I have no choice but to stay here." Alec calmed his breathing slightly, and the mark slowly faded away.

The basement fell into a deathly silence.

After a long while, Alec raised his head, and something flickered in his calm eyes.

"Tell Ulysses," he said, his voice eerily calm, "that I agree to take action."

Marcus was stunned; the result was completely different from what he had said earlier.

"Alec, you..."

"Don't worry, I have a plan." Alec interrupted him, his gaze passing through the tightly closed iron gate as if looking into a distant place. "It's for the sake of those innocent people."

He paused, and a faint smile reappeared on his lips.

"Furthermore, I also want to see what kind of person the Earl of the South, who can make the pirate kings of the West tremble with fear, really is."

…………

Western border, Frido Port, Frido Stone Tower.

Night had fallen, but Vio was wide awake.

He stood by the window, gazing at the shimmering sea in the distance, his brows slightly furrowed.

"Alec Stone..."

Footsteps sounded behind him, and Timothy's voice rang out: "What, are you still thinking about that great knight?"

Vio turned around and looked at her; it was the same person Timothy had told him about Alec's existence.

How much do you know about him?

Timothy walked over to him and leaned against the windowsill, the moonlight shining on her face and outlining her delicate features.

"The only Grand Knight in the Western Territory, he was once the Earl's strongest warrior." Her voice was steady. "It is said that he broke through to the Grand Knight realm at a very young age, and was already at the second rank in his early thirties."

Vio raised an eyebrow slightly, somewhat surprised.

"Second-order?"

"That's just a rumor." Timothy glanced at him, his tone becoming serious. "Actually... based on the intelligence I've gathered, he's very likely already at the third tier."

Vio fell silent.

Third-tier Grand Knight.

He himself had only recently broken through to the second tier. If the opponent was truly at the third tier, then that opponent might be the strongest he had ever encountered, perhaps even stronger than the Sea Bear Arnold.

"But you don't need to worry too much." Timothy suddenly smiled. "Alec Stone is different from those pirates."

"How so?"

"His character is renowned throughout the Westerlands." Timothy's tone carried a rare hint of respect. "The Perfect Knight of Rovia, don't you know? Back when the old Earl was still alive, he was known for his integrity, kindness, and courage."

"He was good to civilians, good to his subordinates, and never indiscriminately killed innocent people when facing enemies."

She paused, then continued, "It's said that he's been imprisoned by Ulysses all these years, for a simple reason: the knightly contract."

"It's not just because he, as a knight, abides by the contract, but also because Ulysses left a powerful magical contract on him."

Vio nodded thoughtfully.

"So he might not want to be enemies with the Southern Territory?"

"That's probably what you're thinking," Timothy said, looking at him. "So, what's your plan?"

Vio didn't answer, but turned around, shook his head, and looked out the window at the sea again.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the calm, windless sea, reflecting the bright moon.

A knightly contract versus your true heart—what will you choose, the perfect knight, Alec Stone…

He asked himself silently.