Chapter 317
Chapter 317
Chapter 317
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 317: The Iron-Blooded Love Song Composed by Lan Qi
Three days later.
The skies over Kingston City were scrubbed clean by a heavy rain.
Today was a rare fine day. Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds above the snowy ground, scattering over the land and even driving away the lingering haze.
Though it was still bitterly cold, there was a faint taste of spring in the air.
At the northern edge of the city lay the Snowfield Arena, now the day’s focus. Marble floors and towering stone columns, modeled after a temple, encircled the central stage, while tiered seating rose outward in rings, forming the grandeur of the building.
Today, many nobles from across the Snowfield Province had gathered in Kingston City’s knightly tournament arena.
The arena was often used for the training of the city’s knight order, local competitions, or grand ceremonies.
Fitting the fine weather, the bright morning sunlight streamed through the open roof, pouring onto the pristine white tiles of the stage, as though blessing the ground with divine light.
From early on, nobles in fine dress arrived one after another, seated high in the VIP boxes, chatting and gossiping.
Meanwhile, many ordinary citizens of Kingston City also came to witness the public duel.
As time passed, the seats filled.
The chatter of the townsfolk, full of excitement and curiosity for the coming contest, gathered into a buoyant atmosphere that hovered over the entire arena, waiting for the spectacle to begin.
“Perhaps today’s match will be remembered as a fine tale.”
“They say Viscount Kingston mentioned the two knew each other since childhood—now, meeting again after so many years, only to face such a trial.”
“Though young master Shaya has little chance of victory, isn’t it precisely a comeback against the odds that makes the romance of youth all the more moving?”
“...”
From the lofty VIP box, hearing the commoners’ chatter, Viscount Blake Bone gave a cold snort.
“What fine, beautiful things—just trample them underfoot, and it’s done.”
He had heard that Shaya had not shown himself in Kingston for three whole days. Blake thought the boy might have fled, forfeiting.
But today, Shaya had appeared in the contestants’ waiting room.
Rumor had it those two students had taken him out for three days of training.
Blake found the idea laughable. He turned to Professor Meiji beside him and asked:
“Professor Meiji, how do you see this match?”
“Ten to zero.”
Meiji’s tone was absolute, brimming with certainty.
“Heh. On such an auspicious day, it’s the perfect omen for my appointment as governor.”
Viscount Blake gave a dark, shadowy laugh.
In truth, he greatly despised those two young men and women who always looked so calm, as though everything were a show for their amusement. It felt like they looked down on him with the highest disdain.
And most of all—
The Ghost Gang he had sent should have been able to finish Shaya on the road.
Most likely, it was those two who had intervened, allowing Shaya to reach Kingston alive!
But soon, far from the Emperor’s reach, he would make sure they paid dearly in the Snowfield Province.
Meanwhile.
Across the arena.
In another section of the VIP seats, Viscount Levin Kingston, busy entertaining other provincial nobles, let his eyes roam until he spotted the unmistakable figures of Lan Qi and Sid.
Soon after finishing his polite chatter, Levin Kingston walked over to them.
Exhausted, he sank into the seat beside them.
“My apologies. I’ve not been able to properly host you two distinguished guests from Helrom.”
He bowed his head sincerely.“To have you arrive in Kingston only to suffer such unpleasantness—I can only ask you not to blame Shaya and Lilith.”
His belated apology came both from the press of official duties, and because, according to his butler, neither Shaya nor the two had been seen in the lord’s manor the past two days.
He himself hadn’t known where Shaya had gone.
“It’s fine. We have a good impression of Kingston City—though it seems there are indeed some lawless elements stirring trouble in Snowfield Province.”
Lan Qi smiled as he replied.
The viscount of Kingston was friendlier, more open-minded, and reasonable than expected. From the way he had defended Shaya earlier, it was clear he was a just man.
Sid sat silently at his side, chin propped on one hand, gazing down at the stage.
If she wished, killing everyone in the province would be no trouble at all. These affairs were, to her, nothing more than trifles.
“...”
Viscount Levin fell silent for a moment, watching the pair.
No matter what their rank appeared to be, or what they had claimed of themselves at the academy, their calm and steady air made a deep impression on him.
He could not quite describe it, nor point to evidence of it, but he was sure of one thing—
These two were people of higher standing.
As for that story of “40 and 60 credits,” that was surely just them mocking Viscount Bone.
“May I ask you to tell us more about the current situation in Snowfield Province?”
Lan Qi pulled a notebook and pen from his jacket, ready to record Viscount Levin’s words.
These past days, aside from training Shaya, he had been quietly gathering information. Now was a rare chance to confirm details with Levin directly.
“Ahem.”
The viscount straightened unconsciously, clearing his throat.
Whether from habit, or from having recently hosted an imperial investigation team from Helrom, or simply because the young man before him radiated a peculiar aura—he adjusted himself as though answering formally.
Sid, at his side, listened quietly. She well knew why Lan Qi had not immediately exposed the false Professor Meiji in Kingston.
To do so at once, in a town cut off from wider news, without gathering proper intelligence, would have been reckless.
Her Saint Son preferred to let the net stretch long, catching bigger fish.
“It all begins with a long-standing issue in our Snowfield Province—the vacancy of the governor’s seat.”
Viscount Levin sighed, and began his account.
As a remote, semi-autonomous province, it was a longstanding convention that the governor’s appointment must be recognized by several city lords.
This winter, the Ghost Gang grew increasingly rampant.
The lords agreed that criminals could no longer be allowed to run unchecked.
“But as for choosing a candidate, we cannot agree. Each noble family hopes to put forward their own, while capable men of the capital will not travel so far into our cold province, and the incapable cannot be accepted. And so, the stalemate continues.”
“Until Professor Meiji passed through, reached Bone City, and befriended Viscount Blake Bone—soon introduced by him to the other lords.”
Levin’s expression turned weary as he looked at Lan Qi, certain he did not need to explain further.
Professor Meiji indeed bore the credentials of the Protos Royal Academy of Magic—beyond doubt.
With Meiji’s authority, momentum, and connections, Viscount Bone quickly drew many nobles into a coalition. Once such an interest group formed, they could suppress dissenters. Clearly, Bone intended to seize the governorship.
Some lords may have already decided. Levin had not yet declared his stance.
It seemed likely today’s duel would become the stage where Bone sought to push all to make their positions known.
“You lords never doubted Meiji’s identity?”
Lan Qi asked, pen scratching in his notebook.
“A few days ago, some visitors from the capital passed through our cities. They confirmed that changes had indeed taken place in the Protos Royal Academy, and the details Meiji mentioned matched. But as for the deeper truths, even they didn’t know, since the reforms occurred just after they left the capital.”
Viscount Levin’s face tightened with bitterness as he shook his head.
Since then, no one dared risk offending Professor Meiji.
“I see.”
Lan Qi nodded. By “visitors from the capital,” Levin must mean the imperial investigation team. But he was discreet, as though under orders not to speak openly of them.
Lan Qi closed his notebook.
“Snowfield Province truly does need a capable governor.”
He lifted the now weeping Boss Cat in his arms, gazing at the stage, murmuring to himself.
“...”
Viscount Levin did not understand what Lan Qi meant.
Perhaps this guest from Helrom was expressing dissatisfaction with their province’s state.
But right now, Levin had no strength to worry about larger matters.
He did not even know how Shaya could possibly face Dean.
He dearly hoped Shaya could win.
If he did, all would be well—Bone would be thwarted, and Meiji’s supposed “guidance” would be revealed as empty.
But he could see little hope of it. He could only pray the Candis family’s secret inheritance would help.
And Shaya’s two friends, who had trained with him for three whole days—that too was the power of friendship!
The slumbering lion of a boy might hold a magic called courage. With love to awaken it, miracles might happen!
Clang, clang—
The bells tolled, summoning the duelists.
At last.
From the entrance nearest Lan Qi’s side, a figure slowly emerged.
From the shadows, the old iron hinges groaned as the wooden door creaked open. Sunlight spilled into the passage, catching only drifting dust motes.
Out of that darkness stepped a figure. Dark red and black chain-leather, stained with dried blood—the remnants of countless enemies.
The stench of blood drifted into the audience, making many recoil and cover their noses.
A pale face, with a sickly beauty. Deep-lined eyes, in which all sparks had long gone out, leaving only the black depths of despair and cruelty. His quick, steady steps fell like drumbeats, each lowering the temperature around him. From his shadow, it was as though countless dead souls stretched their hands toward him.
When Viscount Levin Kingston saw Shaya appear again, he froze in shock.
Is this... my dear nephew...?
(End of Chapter)