The Lord Of Blood Hill

Ruper doesn’t tell the Marquess of Nothing to hold off on support, because he wants to discuss terms with Henwell first. If Henwell’s intentions make things difficult for him, Ruper plans to use the Marquess to pressure Henwell into leaving.

Coincidentally, Henwell has some matters he wants to discuss with the Marquess as well.

Before long, Henwell notices a number of skilled fighters gathering outside Ruper’s residence. Many are professionals, and several emit extraordinary auras at the Grand Knight level.

Among them, one stands out, the most formidable presence, like a bright beacon piercing the night.

This professional arrives at the garden gate. Tall but lean, dressed in a black and gold robe, the most striking feature is a mask covering his face.

The mask is pure black, without any patterns or decoration. Staring at it closely feels like looking into a black hole, inducing a strange dizziness.

Without a doubt, the mask is an extraordinary piece of equipment.

This man is the Marquess of Nothing. In Henwell’s perception, he is a top-tier Iron Knight.

As Henwell sizes him up, the Marquess returns the curious gaze. The two lock eyes for a moment before Henwell takes the initiative to greet him. “Henwell greets the Marquess of Nothing!”

The Marquess looks surprised. “Where does this young professional come from? Ah, so you’re the lord of Blood Hill! I wonder what brings the lord of Blood Hill all the way to my nephew’s home.”

His voice is hoarse, as if his vocal cords have suffered damage.

This is strange. Having reached Iron Knight, the Marquess should have undergone a transformation that heals many internal injuries and physical flaws.

Yet his voice doesn’t sound forced, it’s genuine evidence of a serious past injury.

The only conclusion is that after ascending to Iron Knight, the Marquess suffered a severe wound that left lasting scars.

Henwell grows curious about who the Marquess fought to earn such a mark.

It’s important to understand that on this continent, Iron Knights rank among the very top tier of professionals.

Of course, there are Glory Knights, higher-ranked professionals. But due to the continent’s unique circumstances, they rarely appear here. Some of the absolute elite have even moved directly to the Abundant Continent.

So, Iron Knights represent the pinnacle of strength commonly seen on this land.

Reaching this rank is no easy feat; those who do are usually influential figures. It’s extremely rare for two Iron Knights to engage in a deadly duel, and even Grand Knights seldom fight to the death.

For someone to wound the Marquess of Nothing, an Iron Knight, so severely, it must have been a life-or-death battle.

Battles involving Iron Knights tend to be loud and leave records. Yet Henwell has never heard of the Marquess engaging in such a fight before. This is Henwell’s first time meeting him and also the first time he realizes the Marquess is an Iron Knight.

Without Henwell’s exceptional perception, he might never have guessed that the so-called “unofficial king” of this sinful city is actually a top-tier professional.

According to the intelligence Henwell gathered, the Marquess of Nothing was known simply as a noble figure, not a powerful professional.

But now is clearly not the time to delve deeper into this mystery.

Facing the Marquess of Nothing’s questioning, Henwell smiles. “Your Lordship, you should know that Ruper and I fought together back in the Bloodhorn Arena. We’re not exactly close friends, but we’re old acquaintances. This time, I’m here on a church mission and thought I’d take the chance to visit an old contact.”

The Marquess sneers. “Heh… Henwell, you just introduced yourself as a lord, not a church knight. So, tell me, what do you want? Or what kind of deal are you hoping to make? If the price is right, I’m open to considering it.”

With that, Henwell realizes the Marquess understands exactly what he means.

Henwell came this time under the Paladin title, but when greeting the Marquess, he used his identity as the lord of Blood Hill. That’s a significant difference.

The former signals he’s here on official business, expecting cooperation. The latter means he’s seeking a partnership and needs to offer the Marquess an appropriate incentive.

Since the Marquess gets the hint, things become easier.

Henwell glances at the two Grand Knight-level guards beside the Marquess. “Your Lordship, what we’re about to discuss is sensitive. I suggest we find a more private place to talk. Also, Ruper’s wife is still worried, I think it’s best to move elsewhere.”

The Marquess shakes his head. “Henwell, you’re one of the strongest of your generation, and you’re speaking to me as the lord of Blood Hill. Given our potential rivalry, I have to be cautious. But as for secrecy, don’t worry. These two guards have followed me for years, I have nothing to hide from them.”

Still playing the commoner act, huh?

Of course, Henwell won’t expose the Marquess’s facade. That secret will serve its purpose when the time is right.

Revealing it now would do him no good and only make the Marquess hostile.

Next, the Marquess of Nothing leads Henwell back into the city lord’s mansion.

After dismissing the servants, only the two guards, Ruper, and the Marquess remain in the room.

The Marquess gestures for Henwell to begin.

Henwell gathers his thoughts. “I need to know what really happened with Veil’s assassination attempt on Ulysses.”

The Marquess nods lightly. “Alright. But what can you offer me in return?”

“That depends on what you want,” Henwell replies. “And the value of the information you share will depend on its importance.”

The Marquess scoffs. “You’re pretty arrogant, thinking you can just give me anything.”

Henwell shrugs. “Your Lordship, you misunderstand. I’m just someone trying to make a living. The one paying you is my backer, the Holy Spirit Church. If they can’t meet your demands, I doubt there’s many on this continent who can.”

The Marquess sneers. “You sure know how to play the favor game. You get the info, and the Holy Spirit Church foots the bill.”

Henwell looks innocent. “My lord, I’m risking my life out there. Veil is always after me. Taking out a Paladin would be a huge win for them, boosting their morale tremendously. I’m putting my life on the line, so naturally, the higher-ups reimburse my expenses. “

”But like I said, the payment has to match the information’s value. After all, it’s the church leaders paying, and they don’t like being fooled.”