About the time I was picked up and adopted by Tallulah

"Even the capitalists are not as exploitative as you, Miss Platinum!"

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53. You said you can do anything, right?

"My fellow buns are so tired! Today's match is our little infected knight versus the apprentice knight of the Bladehelm Knights!"

Although it wasn't the same time, it was the same arena. The familiar, broom-haired host was at the commentary booth, holding the microphone to stimulate the atmosphere, but the number of people seated in the arena today was not as large as before.

"Alas, it looks like there aren't many spectators at today's competition. After the Infected Knight lost to the Deer-Headed Man in the last round, everyone's expectations for this contestant have almost dropped to rock bottom. But everyone still needs to cheer up! Even if it's not for the two knights present, you should at least cheer for them for the money you invested in the pool, right?"

The host was still trying to liven up the atmosphere, but it was obvious that today's session was not the highlight of the competition. Most of the few people present were simply bored and just found a place to spend the day.

Of course, there were a few exceptions. Those people were completely different from the other audiences. They mindlessly spent a lot of money on Orson, and their expressions did not show any panic at all.

That’s right, these people are Tallulah and the members of the Reunion Movement—of course, it’s not just them. It can be said that all the audience members who actually attended the first match between Orson and the Patriots became fans of Orson without a doubt.

This extremely obvious difference is actually because most people only learned about it from newspapers and news reports that "the highly anticipated Infected Knight lost to an unknown Sarkaz from an unknown company."

This can also be seen from the post-match interview.

"Orson? You mean that retainer knight of the Linguang family? That guy is nothing but a complete jerk! Let me tell you, this 'possible successor to the Blood Knight's glory' and 'savior of the infected'... it's all bullshit! Forget about that guy talking about his duty to restore the glory of Casimir. I think just making it to the special tournament is considered a success."

——This is how a passerby described Orson.

"Orson? He's definitely got what it takes to win the championship! Everyone knows that last fight with the Antlered Man was because his weapons reached their limits. If they were to fight again, it's hard to say who would win! This year's Knights' Games will be something to watch!"

——A passerby B described Orson in this way.

"Orson? Hmm... don't you think he's handsome? He's a little short, but that's part of his cuteness. It's a shame many people don't understand that. What? No, no... I'm not a fan. If I had to say, my relationship with that little knight should be qing—cough cough cough, this, this part shouldn't be broadcast!"

——The head of a new security company described Orson in this way.

Of course, although some people hold different opinions, the fact is that Orson's attention has indeed dropped to a very low level, which also makes his opponent today very unhappy:

"Damn it, why did you have to lose just now?! Doesn't this mean I can't finish you off in front of everyone?"

Orson's opponent, an apprentice knight of the Bladehelm Knights, who had previously had a feud with him in the weapons shop, brandished his knight's sword and made vicious remarks.

"Ahahaha... I'm really sorry, but you really can't beat someone you can't defeat. Why don't you try it yourself?"

Orson smiled politely and pulled out the 'Scarlet Queen', a weapon Maria had specially made for him.

"You slick-tongued fellow! I think you and your master are the same. You only know how to flatter yourselves by relying on fame that no one cares about anymore!"

The knight's apprentice mocked Orson and looked at the host at the same time, as if urging the game to proceed quickly.

"My master is an excellent knight, and I hope you can take back what you just said."

Orson gently gripped the hilt of Red Queen's sword and conducted the high temperature into the sword through tuning.

Although Orson had been curious about the extent of the grudge the Knights of the Bladehelm would harbor against him after he'd scared the crap out of a bunch of newbies at the weapons shop, he hadn't expected these newbies, who didn't even know him, to still harbor such hostility towards him and Maria. It seemed like he was already a public enemy within the Bladehelm Knights.

"Okay! We see that the apprentice knight Kaisai from the Blade Helmet Knights is eager to try! He won the last game easily and is very confident that he can defeat the infected knight in front of him who suffered a defeat in his first battle. And can the infected knight Orson, who we once had high hopes for, wipe out the slump in the last game? Hurry up and buy the faith ticket to recharge the player you are looking forward to! Then now I declare that the game begins-"

The host, Big Mouth Mob, gave an order and announced the official start of this one-on-one knight battle.

"Die! You—"

Keng! !

Three seconds after the match was officially announced to start, the apprentice knight who was roaring and rushing towards Orson suddenly half-knelt on the ground, with the Scarlet Queen holding his neck tightly and holding a knight's sword that had been broken in two in his hand.

"Is it convenient for me to admit defeat?"

Orson asked the apprentice knight with a smile.

"I...I, I give up!!"

After spending more than ten seconds to understand the current situation, the trainee knight saluted in the French military style at the speed of light.

"Wha-what's going on!? The game just started and it's already over?! Did you sprain your ankle, Knight Kaisai!?"

The host, Mob, and the few audience members were all stunned. Although the organizers often arranged some "massacre games" with a huge disparity in strength to satisfy the psychology of some audiences, this was the first time for them to end a game so quickly.

From start to finish, Orson swung his sword only once. The 'Explosion' slash cleaved the enemy's knight's sword, and Orson then used a pause to forcibly stop the Red Queen, stopping her right in front of the apprentice knight's neck.

"Sorry, if it were any other day I wouldn't mind sparring with you, but I have other things to deal with today, so I'm sorry."

Orson put the Red Queen back to his waist, bowed slightly to the dumbfounded apprentice knight, and then left the arena without looking back.

"You won so quickly and decisively. I should have put more money on you. That way, even if you're late and don't get your year-end bonus, you can still make up for it."

After leaving the arena, a white figure was already waiting for Orson in the corridor, greeting him in a lazy tone.

"However, being so high-profile doesn't do any good, even though there aren't many spectators for today's match."

"Ahahaha... Sorry, Ms. Shirogane, I'll be more careful next time. It was the same before. I really don't know how to thank you."

Orson gave Shirogane a goofy grin, while Shirogane sighed.

"Put on a maid outfit and serve me as a servant for the whole day?"

"Please allow me to refuse this..."

Orson instantly broke out in a cold sweat. After all, from Bai Jin's expression of indifference to everything, Orson really couldn't tell whether she was joking or serious.

"Compared to those, the documents you requested. I don't know where you got the information from, but this long cavalry of the Sangster family is indeed a bit strange."

Bai Jin handed Orson a file containing some information about the 'Noon Knight'.

"Thank you very much, Miss Platinum!"

Orson put his palms together and bowed to Platinum to express his gratitude, then immediately looked through the information of the man who seduced Maria.

"I don't know what you want this information for, but I think I saw the girl from the Linguang family and this Noon Knight going out together a while ago—Eh!?"

Bai Jin, who always remained calm in the face of adversity, suddenly let out a cute and short exclamation. The reason was that Orson, who was just a few steps away from him, suddenly pounced on him after hearing his words.

"Really!? Where did you see them, Ms. Platinum?"

Orson came up to Platinum, staring at him straight in the eyes, and asked him in an urgent tone about the specific meaning of what Platinum had just said.

"...the coffee shop on Horseshoe Street."

Bai Jin avoided Orson's gaze and whispered.

"Thank you so much, Miss Platinum. From now on, I can do whatever you want me to do!"

After hearing this, Orson immediately left with the information. As for Platinum, he looked at his back and pouting angrily.

"Don't be so eager to show affection to another girl in front of another girl, idiot."

Bai Jin sighed, then thought of what Orson said before he left.

“Anything is fine…?”

After thinking for a moment, Bai Jin showed a devilish smile.

54. The clown should leave early

"You are Miss Maria Rinkou, right? You are truly as beautiful as the rumors say... no, you are even more beautiful than the rumors say."

"……Eh?"

When Maria first met the Noon Knight and greeted him, she was completely confused. She couldn't understand why this handsome and elegant man would take the initiative to greet her.

It wasn't long after he finished his match with Plastic Knight Serchiak that the Noon Knight came to him.

"I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself - I'm the Knight of Noon, Rhys Sangster. As you can see, I'm the Long Rider of House Sangster."

Although the Sangster family was a well-known and influential family in Casimir, Maria did not want to have too much contact with the knight at first, because she heard that in the game that had just ended, Orson had fought fiercely with the patriot who concealed his identity, and Orson seemed to be injured.

"Ms. Lin Guang, I watched your match just now. Contrary to what others have said, you weren't defeated by Mr. Plastic Knight. Instead, you voluntarily chose to give up an unjust victory. I completely agree with your approach. I wonder if you would be willing to take the time to discuss with me in detail your current views on Casimir?"

"I'm sorry, I didn't—well?"

Maria was about to refuse, but her eyes caught the emblem on the Noon Knight's sleeve. She had seen that emblem in the book left by her grandfather, and it was in the section related to the "Ministerial Court".

Maria hopes to help Orson realize their vision, and for this she must do something.

According to his grandfather's records, some "changes" seemed to have occurred within the Jianzhengyuan, and in front of him was the heir of one of the core families involved in these changes.

"...Okay, thank you for your invitation. I will contact you later."

After hesitating for a moment, Maria accepted the invitation of the Noon Knight.

In the following days, the Noon Knight and Maria interacted very frequently, and the other party would often take the initiative to invite him over and chat about other topics.

Maria felt that the Noon Knight was indeed a gentle and elegant young man, like a true "knight", but that was all she thought of. She had never thought of any further development with the "Noon Knight". Her purpose was just to inquire about the connection between the Sangster family and the Supervisory Council.

After Orson broke into the mansion a few days ago, causing a commotion and taking her away, the Noon Knight had been quiet for a day or two. But today, he suddenly called her again, and the content wasn't just "small talk to strengthen the relationship" like before, but to tell Maria that "I can tell her about the family."

Maria, having received the promise from the Noon Knight, arrived at the meeting place, which was a deserted coffee shop.

After arriving at the coffee shop, the Noon Knight, who had been waiting there early, noticed Maria's arrival and waved with a smile. After a brief chat, Maria followed the Noon Knight to the place of today's "date": a sparsely populated park.

"Ms. Maria, I'm truly sorry for always inviting you out like this. Please allow me to apologize for the unpleasantness of our last meeting and for bothering you all along."

"No... please don't say that. I'm the one who's always bothering you."

The Noon Knight apologized solemnly, while Maria quickly responded with a wry smile.

"So, Mr. Sangster, you said before that you would share some family information this time—"

"Maria, why are you always unwilling to take the next step with me?"

Maria hadn't even uttered her question when the Noon Knight asked it first.

"Eh...um, sorry, I think you're a great knight, but...someone like me isn't really suitable."

Maria responded somewhat embarrassedly, and after hearing this, the Noon Knight's expression instantly twisted.

"Why is it inappropriate? Is it because you already have a lover? Is it that maggot-like infected person? You actually keep that wild dog-like guy by your side all the time. Do you still have the pride of the Linguang family?"

"Maggot—Orson is not some despicable being! His lifestyle is more—Ugh!?"

Hearing the Noon Knight insulting Orson, Maria immediately tried to refute, but before she could finish her words, she suddenly felt a sharp spike piercing her neck.

——What…what’s going on?

Consciousness vanished from my mind almost immediately, leaving only endless darkness.

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When she opened her eyes again, Maria first noticed the pain in her shoulders, and then noticed her current situation.

His hands were handcuffed together and hung with chains, while he was kneeling on the cold stone slabs, as if he was in an airtight basement.

On the wall not far away, transparent display cabinets displayed the bodies of girls of various ages and appearances.

“…Hmm!?”

"Are you awake?"

The voice of the Noon Knight came from the side, and Maria looked at him in horror. At this moment, this so-called "noble knight" no longer had any humility or chivalrous etiquette, only madness and a chilling bloody aura.

"This is my showroom. I like to invite girls I'm interested in and gradually become friends with them from strangers. Then, when I get tired of playing with them, I'll bring them here, kill them, and make specimens out of their bodies. How's that? It's fun, right?"

The Noon Knight squatted in front of Maria, with the sharp scalpel in his hand gently against Maria's throat, his expression crazy and intoxicated.

"Why...why do you do this?"

"Because I have the ability to do so, and I want to do so. Do you know why I chose you, from the Linguang family? Because your ridiculous family has long been in decline, and such a family will no longer have any rights."

The Noon Knight showed a terrifying smile. Although Maria tried her best to suppress her inner panic, she could still clearly feel the cold sweat soaking her back.

"You've asked before about our family's relationship with the Supervisory Commission, right? It's simple. My family provides the Commission with operating funds, which is why I can freely create 'specimens' without worrying about sanctions. My family will, as always, help me block any news. After today, people will only be curious about the whereabouts of that presumptuous Lin Guang. In a few days, you will disappear, displayed here forever."

The Noon Knight smiled and rubbed Maria's trembling cheek, then stood up and pushed over a cart filled with props and potions.

"You are the best material I have ever encountered, so I will craft you carefully and meticulously. Although the process will probably be extremely painful, if you are a qualified female knight, you should be able to endure this level of pain easily, right?"

The Noon Knight's chilling sneer reappeared, and he raised the scalpel towards Maria's dazzling Pegasus eyes.

"...Orson"

Amidst the violent trembling and shaking, Maria blurted out the name of the little attendant knight.