Helmut: The Forsaken Child - H.F.C Chapter 160 (Part 1):
The place that was attacked is a small oasis village near the desert, six days away from the capital by horse.
What Lutus Cicero received at the martial arts tournament was urgent news that had flown in from nearby.
The reason why the news of the village being massacred spread so quickly was because there was a survivor.
When the village was attacked, there was only one person who managed to escape and survive. Rather than miraculously surviving, it was more accurate to say that the beasts had spared him.
As if urging them to quickly inform the other humans about the attack.
It was a gathering of all the members of the Palma Knights. After an aged knight finished giving a rough explanation, Lutus Cicero, who had been silent, opened his mouth.
“The survivor said they saw the figure of the leader commanding the beasts.”
His eyes darkened.
“A giant scorpion of a dark red color.”
A murmur broke out among the members of the Palma Knights. As time had passed and generations had changed, not many had witnessed the appearance of Scorpion, the ruler of the desert.
But even the steadfast knights could not help but feel a sense of urgency.
To the people of Basor, the name Scorpion had been a synonym for fear from childhood.
One by one, they began to speak.
“So it’s the new Scorpion we’ve only heard about.”
“I heard that the Sword Saint disappeared while chasing it.”
Luke Yeager twitched. His gaze fixed on the one who had mentioned it.
Lutus Cicero nodded gravely.
“Yes, we couldn’t find any trace of it, whether it was severely injured at the time or not, but it seems it has resumed its activities now.”
A smirk lifted one corner of Helmut’s mouth. A blatant lie, worthy of scorn.
“The king’s approval has been given. From today, all members of the Palma Knights will be deployed. Although an unexpected situation has occurred, this is similar to the annual beast subjugation. It may be a bit more perilous than usual, but we are the Palma Knights. Many of us have experience in subjugation, so I believe we will manage well.”
An aged knight, looking middle-aged, asked.
“What about the support troops?”
“We will join forces with the soldiers from that region at the border. However, they will only be responsible for scouting, not joining the battle. As you know, against powerful beasts, the slow movements of soldiers are of no help anyway. It would only increase the number of victims. If there are too many of us, it would only make it easier for them to hide. We aim to win by mobile warfare and eradicate them.”
The Palma Knights. It was clear they planned to operate exclusively with their own members.
No one questioned whether this would be too difficult. The words of the commander held that much power.
He was the true master of Palma, surpassing even the king. Lutus Cicero’s judgments were always accurate.
Helmut glanced sideways. Luke Yeager’s expression was stiff with tension.
He hadn’t been with the Palma Knights for long. He had never experienced beast subjugation before.
“And Hyde!”
Lutus called out with a loud voice, perhaps intending to pressure him. The gaze of the Palma Knights members simultaneously focused on him.
Even if Helmut was skilled, facing off against all thirty or so platinum-rank knights would be impossible.
The strongest group he had seen since coming into the human world. It was a new sentiment. Helmut calmly met their gaze.
“Yes.”
“You are the only member of the Palma Knights from outside. From now on, you will follow Vice-commander Dasim Alvis.”
“I have some objections to that.”
Sharpness filled the gazes directed at Helmut. It was as if they were saying, how dare you argue with the commander’s words!
“As if putting a dog above, do you become the leader of the wolves?”
Even so, the hierarchy was irrelevant to Helmut. The commander’s eyes grew harsher.
“You were clearly ordered to follow.”
“That’s right. But there’s a reason I’m participating in this subjugation, isn’t there?”
“To honor the victor of the martial arts tournament through achievements in the subjugation.”
The way they looked at Helmut changed. It was a realization.
To articulate it made them truly feel the fact. At first glance, Helmut, with his blond hair and delicate appearance, would naturally be underestimated.
But he was a strong swordsman who had defeated several Palma Knights under the name Hyde.
Those he had defeated were not low in the ranks of the Palma Knights. They were also present here.
Even if someone is from outside the Palma Knights, being a contender for the champion of the martial arts tournament in Basor grants them certain rights. Like the right to speak in such a gathering.
“I must act together with Luke Yeager. That would make the opportunity fair.”
“The opportunity will be given fairly as much as possible.”
“How can I believe that? The Palma Knights could secretly favor him. I want to compete fairly.”
“Hyde!”
Luke Yeager glared at Helmut as if to say, what nonsense are you spouting? Helmut didn’t even twitch an eyebrow.
It was all for his sake. Like a parental kind of thought.
“How dare you say such things about the Palma Knights!”
Horten, who had lost to Helmut in the preliminaries, burst out angrily.
As he tried to stand up, Vice-commander Dasim Alvis pressed down on his shoulder. He was sitting right next to Lutus Cicero.