The Kingmaker System

Ocean didn’t glance back at Lishen who was still on his knees probably processing his defeat.

"Ocean Ryujin wins!" Arian announced and Eric stood up clapping along with the other pro-Ocean people.

"Why’d you stretch it for so long though? You could have ended it in less than a minute." Sol yawned and Ocean smiled watching as Sol’s hair were a mess. It seemed like he was brought here right after he woke up and changed.

"Did you get bored?"

"No, but watching it wasn’t all that fun." Sol admitted.

Davian laughed, "I guess, we should have a spar when we return to Ryujin, Master. Sol might have fun to see you in your real action."

"I wouldn’t advise that, Your Highness." Rune said crossing his arms at his chest as he smirked, "I’m sure you’re already defeated by him."

Davian chuckled, "I have been defeated, yes, but I don’t mind. I know I cannot defeat Master unless..."

Davian’s eyes flickered over to Ocean before he shrugged, "Well, it’s fundamentally impossible for us."

The knights who were hearing the conversation couldn’t help but feel extremely bitter and insulted. How could a mere Marquis who hadn’t even fought in any war be strong enough to beat their experienced Captain?

There must be some trick he used.

"We don’t acknowledge this match!" One of them shouted.

"Marquis Ocean must have used his mana to manipulate this spar!"

"Yes, Marquis Ocean even fought in a strange way, I’ve never seen a knights fight in that sense!"

The knights started voicing their displeasure and angst while Ocean remained impassive. He didn’t care, he showed the place to the one who had disrespected Eric and now he could return and have some breakfast. He was so famished he thought he could eat up an army.

Arian stood up taking the lead here, "The spar happened before you and Captain Barclay was defeated before you, what’s there that you are saying is foul play in this?"

The knights were slight taken aback watching their Crown Prince siding with the outsider, but they weren’t backing down.

"Your Highness, we all know that Marquis Ocean isn’t a knight, nor has he participated in any war so, we’re sure that he used his mana to weaken Sir Barclay!"

"Exactly, or how else could he win against Sir Barclay?!"

The knights started shouting demanding an explanation from Ocean. Davian glared at the knights and even Reina’s family were growing livid because of the baseless accusations. Ocean didn’t seem to care about them as he simply reached out and picked Sol up into his arms.

"Sorry for boring you, let’s go eat. I’m famished." Ocean smiled.

Sol sighed before he glanced at the knights over Ocean’s shoulder, eyes glowing faintly with concealed anger.

"Of course, considering that unlike someone who was in a prim condition for this spar, you had to fight three cursed people alone and had most of your mana depleted."

"Not to mention you just woke up and were so rudely challenged." Davian added.

"By someone who was supposed to be there and protect their kingdom." Rune finished.

"Your Highness Crown Prince, should I take this as an insult to my people even after Marquis Ocean risked his life just last night to save yourself and His Majesty?" Eric asked turning his fiery gaze on Arian.

The knights as a group shuddered as the three young men along with other Sestian people glared at them with fierce mana pressure swirling around them.

Ocean didn’t say a word as he patted Sol’s back. Some of the knights who were rattled but still were fiercely loyal to their Captain still ended up pressing further.

"Th-This is unfair, we-we can’t accept-"

"I lost." Lishen announced, rising to his feet.

"What?"

"But Captain?!"

Lishen turned his head, form eyes fixing on the knights.

"I lost and Marquis Ocean won!" He announced solidly.

The knights looked in between their Captain and the Sestians, Ocean didn’t even bother to look at them as he was busy fixing Sol’s bedhead.

"And as for your accusations," Lishen said, his expression grew pinched as he looked ashamed.

"It’s wasn’t Marquis Ocean but myself who used mana."

The knights flinched, Lishen then turned and walked towards the two Princes, Eric had concealed his hostile expression but the temperature around him was enough to tell that he was livid.

Lishen walked over and sat on a knee before Eric bowing his head.

"I, Lishen Barclay, apologise to Your Highness Prince Eric for disrespecting your authority and presence... I had been rude and even let my knights misbehave with you. My offense is punishable by death!"

The knights were taken aback while Eric glared down at him, "Aren’t you also supposed to apologise to Marquis Ocean for so blatantly disrespecting him?"

Lishen was unmistakably able to feel the ire in the gazes of everyone who were on Ocean’s side there. He had been prideful about his strength, skills and experience but he had underestimated his opponent and the people around him to a great scale.

"I owe an apology to Marquis Ryujin as well, even though you aren’t a knight, I dared to challenge you for a spar. I admit my defeat and accept any punishment bestowed upon me." He said, he paused for a moment before he added, "I shall also punish my knights accordingly so, I’ll ask your generosity and let their behaviour pass. It is because I lack that they behaved so rudely with you."

The knights were stunned to see their Captain kneeling before anyone except for their King and Crown Prince. They couldn’t help but stare at the Captain before the Vice Captain rushed ahead and kneeled beside Lishen.

The Vice Captain was a man in his mid-thirties named Sir Garton Steele, he had trained and fought several battles under the leadership of Lishen and treated him as his older brother. Watching him defeated and then kneeling like this was a great blow but he still couldn’t let Lishen shoulder the burden of their knights’ words alone.

"It was also my responsibility to keep the knights in check, so, I request Your Highness Eric and Marquis Ocean to punish me as well but spare the other knights."

Eric looked at both of them before he looked at Ocean who had also turned his head to look at the two men.

The knights who watched their Captain and Vice Captain kneeling couldn’t stand in their places and quickly rushed over to kneel behind them.

"It’s our fault that we crossed the line and insulted the kingdom’s guests. Please punish us and let Captain and Vice Captain’s punishment be lighter. " The knights seemed to have good camaraderie.

Vice Captain turned his head, glowering at the knights, "You all, stay back!"

"Please Vice Captain, it was our fault, we can’t just stand there shamelessly and watch you take the punishment for our sake!"

"Yes, it was us who insulted the Marquis so, we should be punished accordingly!"

The knights shouted as they kneeled, Ocean glanced at all the Royal Knights who were kneeling before him and Eric. Arian looked at all the knights then turned his head to look at Ocean.

"What do you say, Marquis?" Arian asked.

Ocean’s gaze lingered over the heads of the two men before he looked at Arian.

"I didn’t really care about this whole ordeal, Your Highness. I was simply disturbed by the fact that my Prince was disrespected and I wanted him to apologise. That’s all. I’ll leave the decision of their punishment to His Highness Eric."

Eric, in turn looked at Arian, "I suppose Your Highness Arian would give them a befitting punishment for insulting Marquis Ocean and myself."

Arian sighed running his hand through his hair before he faced the knights.

"All right, I’ll decide your punishment." Arian announced.

Eric’s anger dwindled a bit before he looked at Ocean, "Marquis, let’s go have breakfast."

"Since we’re all together, let’s eat together." Davian offered.

Ocean hummed, "Good idea."

They all started walking off towards the annex while Arian lingered behind watching the knights still kneeling.

"Rise," he ordered.

The knights rose to their feet waiting for the further instructions, Arian watched them before he spoke.

"Captain, you are responsible for the security and the preparations of Sestia’s entourage when they leave, Vice Captain, you will assist him. As of the rest of you," he rose his voice a bit.

"You shall train two hours extra and the number of laps, sit ups and other exercises will increase by 100. Is there any objection?!"

"No, Sir!"

"And also, everyone of your pay will be half for three months." Arian added before he looked at Captain.

Arian could see that the defeat might have harmed the pride of the great Captain of the Royal Knights.

"I said, I’d tell you the reason why I’m betting over Marquis Ocean despite you being the Captain of our Royal Knights." Arian started.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"Then, you must have noticed his strength as well." He prompted and Lishen nodded.

"Yes, Your Highness."

"The moment you decided to challenge him you were bound so lose." Arian sighed, "I know him but there are only a few things that I could clearly testify for, first is that there is no doubt that he is the strongest person alive."

Garton and the knights who heard him flinched and Arian continued, "And second, you two might have been having a spar but he was the one who had been controlling it all since the beginning."

Arian gestured at the broken short sword, "He purposely chose that sword because he knew it would break, he dodged your attacks to study you and when he was done playing, he decided to finish it. If it were a real fight, you might have been dead before you could even step into the battlefield."

The knights were sweating buckets by now hearing their Crown Prince speak so grimly.

"Go back to your posts now, everyone!" Arian commanded and the knights slowly dispersed speaking amongst themselves.

Garton who saw his Captain still looking disappointed placed his hand over his shoulder.

"Captain, I’m sure, that once you grow stronger you will defeat that man." Garton spoke, though he found it hard to believe himself.

He had seen the way that man moved, it was almost invisible to anyone eyes. He had been on the battlefield for years and had seen all kinds of strong people but Ocean Ryujin was beyond all of them, the speed, the power and control was all he’d seen for the first time.

"No, Garton," Lishen spoke, "Even if I did train harder, I might come to the point where I could stand before him for a couple more minutes but, as His Highness said, he did have that spar in his hand. I could feel it..."

Lishen brought his hand up and clenched his fingers, "I felt like I was in the palm of a predator who could crush me any moment."

Garton gasped, "I had fought in several battles till date, but never have I feared for my life, Garton. That man... showed me that death could come so swiftly that I..."

Lishen released a shaky breath before he turned his head, heavy eyes meeting Garton’s.

"Ocean Ryujin is a monster, Garton. Now, I feel like it was a blessing that he wasn’t on the battlefield from Sestia’s side. He didn’t even use mana and I was overwhelmed by his power. If he were to use mana and that strength on the battlefield then, he would have taken a great portion of our army himself and Denril would have fallen ages ago."

Garton had no words as the blood drained from his face, he had always seen Lishen being powerful and composed, but watching him looking so shaken after a spar was unprecedented.

"That man mustn’t ever be our enemy."