“Watson,” Christina muttered his name. Then, she said something shocking under everyone’s apprehensive gaze.
“Are you interested in joining the Holy Sword adventurer team?”
What?
“The swordmistress is inviting someone to join her adventurer team? Did I mishear her?” an adventurer asked in surprise.
The swordmistress, Christina, was famous for her pride in the City of Steel. As a result, the entry requirements for the Holy Sword adventurer team were extremely stringent. Numerous individuals who sought to join her team had been refused. Otherwise, the number of people in the Holy Sword adventurer team would have increased tenfold. No one had ever known her to extend a personal invitation to another person.
“Lady Swordmistress, are you sure you want me to join your team?” Watson asked as he pointed at himself as if he did not hear her clearly.
He thought Christina was there to punish him or to thank him for saving two members of her Holy Sword adventurer team. He did not expect she would invite him to join her team; it was not something he would ever imagine.
“Yes, you heard correctly. I would like to invite you to become a member of the Holy Sword adventurer team! We now have more than 50,000 members, and there are only less than a million people in the City of Steel. If you agree to join us, then I’ll make you a vice-captain. You have the authority to command those in your immediate vicinity.”
“A vice-captain?”
The crowd gasped. They had been pretty surprised when Christina invited Watson to join her team, but that had changed to shock after the swordmistress’ latest offer. If Watson joined her adventurer team, he could be promoted as the vice-captain. What was that preferential treatment? Did Christina overestimate Watson’s importance?
“Lady Swordmistress, if you allow that young man to become the vice-leader, then I—” Claude, who was standing on the side, asked nervously.
“Just demote yourself to an ordinary member, Claude. I remember telling you that an adventurer from the Holy Sword team must be upright, no matter what they do. But it seems like you don’t want to listen to what I said. Virtue comes first, followed by ability, if one were to join the Holy Sword adventurer team. That is our creed, or have you forgotten about that?”
Christina tilted her head slightly and glared at Clyde sternly. The man’s body trembled. It was as if he could not withstand the intense pressure in her eyes. Cold sweat dripped down his forehead.
“I did not forget, Lady Swordmistress. Everything I did was for the team.”
“A poisonous seed can’t bloom into a brilliant flower, just like how a wrong move will never get the right result. This time, I won’t expel you from the team. Instead, I shall demote you. On account of your past contributions, you should go back and reflect on your actions! Blake, take him away and give him a lesson while you’re at it.”
“Yes, Lady Swordmistress.”
Blake rose to his feet in response to Christina’s request and went in front of Clyde. He dragged him outdoors, holding his arms. Clyde struggled and shouted, “Lady Swordmistress, everything I did was for the Holy Sword adventurer team’s benefit. You can’t treat me like this—”
Gradually, the voice grew weaker. Clyde was no match for Blake, especially after his serious injuries at the hands of Watson. No matter how hard he fought, it was in vain.
“Watson, I am aware of all that Clyde has done to you. The Holy Sword adventurer team is at fault here, and I am also to blame for not strictly disciplining my subordinates. I wonder if this offer would satisfy you,” Christina asked after she had gotten rid of Claude.
“Miss Christina, since you have already punished Claude, let’s put that subject to rest! I am sorry, but I cannot join the Holy Sword adventurer team since I have already pledged to join my friend’s team.”
“Really? That is truly regrettable.”
Christina’s face was filled with unconcealed regret.
“That young man actually turned down the offer? Is that right? Is he a moron?” Numerous adventurers in attendance expressed shock when they saw Watson’s rejection. Christina had taken the initiative to invite Watson into her team, for Watson’s sake. She had even offered a high price and punished Claude in front of him. Every step she took was sincere.
Given Christina’s identity and strength, few people in attendance would be able to resist that temptation. Numerous adventurers’ lips quivered. They wanted to replace Watson, so they shouted, “I am willing to join the Holy Sword adventurer team.”
Clyde’s and the others’ gazes were similarly wrought with conflicted emotions. They might not have had the courage to refuse if Christina had asked them. However, Watson, the young master they had just met, had rejected her because of them. They were moved and instinctively looked up to Watson.
Of course, they might not have thought so if they had known what Watson was thinking.
Watson did not join the Holy Sword adventurer team because he wanted to conceal his strength. If he joined the Holy Sword and was constantly exposed to platinum-tier elites, he might not be able to hide his secret. It would be easier to fool Clyde and the others.
“Is there anything else, Lady Swordmistress? If there’s nothing else, we will continue with the Adventurers’ Association’s test.”
Watson’s words were implying to Christina that she should not bother him if there was nothing else. However, Christina did not leave. Instead, she looked contemplative. “You have not taken the strength test? Well, then I can test you on behalf of the Adventurers’ Association. I don’t think I’m overstepping my bounds by doing that, right?”
The second half of Christina’s sentence was directed at the two ladies behind the counter.
“Of course, Miss Christina. With your strength, you are the best candidate to be the tester,” the two counter ladies responded feebly.
“The test is a little tedious. Perhaps a wager, Watson? Let’s bet on whether you can withstand a stroke of my sword. You won’t need to join my team if you can do that, and I won’t bother you again. But if you can’t, then you’ll take up the role as my vice-captain. What do you think?”
Christina remarked unhurriedly, gently pressing her right hand against the slender sword at her belt.
Watson smiled bitterly. “Lady Swordmistress, I can agree to a duel, but I want to know one thing. Why are you so persistent with me?”
It was one thing for Christina to invite him to her team, but after he refused, she continued to pester him. Had she seen through his background?
He noticed Christina took a big breath as he contemplated; the air entered her nose at a speed visible to the naked eye. “I don’t know. My gut says to keep you, and it has always been right. Well, let’s not waste time. You should be careful of the next attack. My weapon is a platinum-tier item that my father had given me. It is called the Sky Severing Blade.”
Slash!
The swordmistress took a stride toward Watson as soon as she finished speaking. She yanked her razor-sharp sword about an inch upward. The exposed blade emitted a cold light in all directions, shining so brightly that everyone there had to close their eyes. Christina retracted the blade just as everyone thought she would draw it.
Watson squinted his eyes as he sensed a piercing cold sword aura that went straight at him. That sword aura was so swift that it transcended everything. It passed in front of him in an instant, snatching a strand of hair near his ear.
“What happened?”
“Did Miss Christina not use her sword technique?”
The adventurers ‘ conversations came from all directions. They had no idea what had occurred. They watched Christina draw a part of her sword and then sheathed it again. It appeared as though she made no move at all, and all of them had reservations about it.
Crack!
Suddenly, a crisp sound echoed from the Adventurers’ Association. Then, a straight line spread out and covered the entire Adventurers’ Association. It started at where Christina and Watson stood.
Then, the Adventurers’ Association was split in half. On the damaged ceiling, a faint outline of blue sky and white clouds could be seen. There was a faint trace in the middle of the white clouds. The sword seemed to have cut through the building and soared toward the sky.
That was the sword that severed the sky.
