Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Antonio?”
Upon hearing that name, everyone there, be it the Holy Sword adventurer team members or the passers-by, had puzzled looks on their faces. Almost everyone in the entire kingdom knew that name because Antonio was the name of the greatest mage in the kingdom.
However, the young man with platinum hair was somewhat different from the image of a great mage that everyone had in mind. Could that person be pretending to be the astrologer or simply sharing the same name as Antonio?
“Are you really Master Antonio?”
The swordmistress, Christina, was also a little surprised. When she saw Antonio at the Golden Quill Pavilion, she suspected that he was that person. However, Antonio’s behavior made her give up on the idea. Then, he admitted it on his own initiative.
“Why? You don’t believe me?”
Antonio smiled as he raised the ancient staff in his hand and gently knocked on the ground. His face suddenly became distorted from a handsome young man to an older man—it was his original appearance.
Christina was speechless.
Her mouth was wide open, but she could not make a sound. That was the Antonio that she remembered.
“Lady Swordmistress, don’t be fooled by that person. He said that he did not want to explore the dungeon with the Holy Sword adventurer team, but he pretended to be Master Antonio. He clearly wants you to keep him here.” Blake’s voice sounded from the side.
“Yes, Captain Blake is right. That person is definitely not Master Antonio,” a member of the Holy Sword adventurer team said.
“He is pretending to be the greatest mage in the kingdom. That person is too bold. Is he not afraid of being punished by the kingdom?” More people jeered at him.
“Not only did he pretend to be Master Antonio, but you also attacked our team members. Do you know what sins you have committed?”
Then, Blake took the opportunity to look at Claude, who had been tied up and beaten severely. “Vice-captain, please tell me about the atrocities that this person has committed against you.”
Even though he had made up his mind, Blake was still worried that his actions would be exposed and Christina would severely punish him. Coincidentally. However, Antonio’s arrival had allowed him to divert the conflict. He could blame it on the other party.
“Blake, you idiot! He is Master Antonio. I should not have listened to you and come out of the dungeon. Otherwise, I would not have become so miserable.”
To Blake’s surprise, Claude raised his head with difficulty. His swollen sausage-like lips moved as he answered him.
As he spoke, Claude recalled when they went to the Golden Quill Pavilion to look for trouble half an hour ago. Fear flashed through his eyes, which were black and blue like a panda’s eye.
Half an hour ago, he had used his foot to kick the tea table and ordered his subordinates to attack. He had planned to let his underlings torture Denise and Antonio for a while before stripping Denise’s clothes in front of Antonio. He would be the one to humiliate Denise. Even though Denise was a flame elf, she was also a rare beauty. It would ease the hatred in his heart and infuriate Watson when he learned of it.
It was a good idea, but unfortunately, there were some mistakes in implementing the plan.
He had brought some silver-tier elites with him to complete the mission. Those people were so proficient in their teamwork that not even ordinary gold-tier warriors might be able to curry favor with them. However, Denise only needed to stretch her finger to beat them to the ground. It was as if they were ants in comparison to Denise.
What happened after that could only be described as misery.
Denise had trampled each of them; they did not even get the chance to retaliate. The elf was powerful, but she was still very respectful toward the platinum-haired young man beside her. Denise had wanted to kill them and throw them out to feed the dogs, but the platinum-haired young man had stopped her.
Claude claimed that he was not a good person. However, he was not stupid. No one could say that he was ordinary as he could even get those at peak gold-tier to respect him. Therefore, no one would doubt him if he said that the platinum-haired young man was the greatest mage in the kingdom.
At that moment, he hated Blake terribly. If he had known that those people at the Golden Quill Pavilion were elites, he would not have sought death, no matter what the other man said. According to Lady Swordmistress, Blake seemed to have known that those people were not ordinary people. If that were the case, why did he not tell him?
Claude was still puzzled, but Blake looked at him with pity. “Claude, did they threaten you? Blink if they are threatening you.”
‘Threaten, my *ss.’
Claude cursed in his heart. Those words came from the bottom of his heart. Just as he was about to explain himself, Blake seemed to interrupt him deliberately. He said, “Lady Swordmistress, Claude has obviously been threatened by those people, so we can’t trust his words.”
“Christina, is this your subordinate? He looks very loyal, but I don’t know who he had pledged his loyalty to.”
Antonio glanced at Blake with a meaningful expression. His words caused Blake’s face to change drastically.
Antonio ignored Blake and said, “Since they don’t believe me, I’ll give you further proof!
“Christina, do you still remember the gift I gave you on your tenth birthday? The magic book that can sing? And your father? Has he been drinking every day? I remember that he likes to go to the roadside taverns in the royal city. He says that he likes to enjoy the lively atmosphere, but he doesn’t dare to go openly out of consideration for his identity as the sword saint…”
After he said a few words casually, Antonio stopped the conversation. “Do you want me to continue? If you still don’t believe me, then I can only say something that no one else knows. For example, when I was holding you in the bath when you were young, I found a birthmark on your body.”
“Stop talking. I believe you.” Christina looked a little embarrassed and annoyed.
She had believed Antonio when he told her the first few things. Very few people would know about those things, especially the gifts and her father’s hobbies. The fact that he knew about her birthmark sealed the deal for her. However, she could not let Antonio tell others about that because her birthmark was on her right buttock.
“Lady Swordmistress, is that information accurate? Perhaps he collected them from somewhere?”
Blake was still trying to fan the flames, but Christina interrupted him. “That’s enough, Blake. No matter what your motive is, I’ll settle the score with you later for what you’ve done. But if you slander Master Antonio again, don’t blame me for being impolite.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Christina knelt on one knee toward Antonio and bowed her head respectfully. “Christina of the Sword Saint family pays her respects to the Lord Astrologer.”
“No way. Is that man really the mage from the kingdom?”
There was a commotion from the crowd. They might not have believed Christina’s words, but since she had knelt in front of the man, it seemed like his identity was beyond doubt.
“Greetings, Lord Astrologer.”
No one knew who took the lead, but soon, the Holy Sword adventurer team and the crowd around them all knelt on the ground, their eyes filled with excitement. They had never seen such an influential figure in their entire lives; they did not expect him to visit the City of Steel. It was such an honor.
Blake moved his lips, but he could only lower his head. He was speechless.
“Christina, even if I already know the answer, I still have to ask you one more time. As my disciple, is Watson qualified to explore the underground city with you?”
Of course, he was qualified.
Before Christina could say anything, everyone else already had the answer in their mind. They looked at Watson with envy and hatred. It was no wonder that the youth could block the swordmistress’ sword attack—he was Antonio’s disciple. That was not strange, but they did not expect him to take in a disciple while he was at the border. After all, the man had not left the Temple of the Stars in years.
“Of course! Watson is more than qualified to explore with me. This is my fault; I haven’t managed my subordinates properly. I will teach them a good lesson, and then—”
“There’s no need, Miss Christina. After this matter, I find it very difficult to trust you. So, I will explore the underground city by myself.”
Watson’s voice was soft, but it had an unquestionable tone. He extended his right hand toward the sky and said, “I had wanted to keep a low profile while I am in the City of Steel. However, since Master has already revealed his identity, I guess there’s no need for me to keep a low profile.”
Since he had revealed his identity, there was no need for him to pretend anymore.
A thunderous rumble echoed outside the City of Steel in response to his words. It felt as if something had erupted from the ground, shaking the entire city.
