Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

Alaric had already left the prison cell, but his words still echoed repeatedly in Austin’s mind.

What should I do?

He felt tempted to disclose everything, but he was afraid that it was just a ploy to make him confess.

“Sir, don’t fall for Alaric’s schemes! This might be a trap!” One of the assassins exclaimed, his voice trembling with agitation.

Austin lifted his head, but before he could respond, another assassin voiced out his opinion. “What if he is telling the truth? This is a chance for us to start a new life. Didn’t you guys always wish for this chance before?”

The others remained silent as if they were seriously contemplating their decision.

After almost five minutes of silence, another person said. “Whatever you decide, we will respect your choice, Sir Austin.”

Austin felt a huge weight pressing on his shoulders. “Thank you for trusting me, everyone. Whatever happens, you guys will always be my brothers.”

***

Meanwhile, Alaric headed to his bedchamber alone. He hadn’t used one of the items he had gotten from the recent mission, the Elite Knight Card.

Now that he had some privacy, he felt that it was the perfect time to finally use it.

I wonder what kind of warrior I will summon this time? I only got one Elite Knight Card before and it summoned Galanar who is a peak Elite Knight. I just hope that I will summon someone half as good as him.

While he was silently praying for a good outcome, he opened the cyan screen.

[Do you want to use your Elite Knight Card?]

[Yes] [No]

Alaric rubbed his hands before he pressed [Yes].

In the next moment, a bright light flashed in front of him, forcing him to close his eyes.

When he opened his eyes, he saw a tall and muscular warrior with a familiar face.

Alaric frowned as he tried to remember where he had seen this person.

Wait…this guy… Isn’t this the death row criminal who took the blame for Liam’s crime?!

He had finally realized who it was. It was the man he had fought in the sacred duel!

“My lord, my name is Ulric. I am at your command!” The giant kneeled before him to show his allegiance.

“Ulric? Do you know who ‘The Butcher’ is?” Alaric probed.

This man was known in Ryvaad as ‘The Butcher’. It was a moniker that was given to him for the crimes he didn’t commit.

Ulric opened his mouth and it looked like he was saying something. However, Alaric didn’t hear anything, as if a mysterious power prevented him from discovering something.

Alaric narrowed his eyes. He had tried this on Galanar before and the same thing happened.

Ulric was someone who had died. Does this mean that Galanar had also died before?

He learned a piece of crucial information about the summoned warriors, but he was yet to determine the truth since he didn’t know if Galanar had truly died before.

However, this was a good clue to start with.

Alaric stared at the giant and asked. “Ulric, do you know Liam Paxley?”

This time, Ulric’s face darkened as killing intent flashed in his eyes. He almost failed to hold back his rage, but as soon as he calmed down, he opened his mouth.

However, no words still came out of his mouth.

This is indeed him. He still remembers his past, but he cannot speak about it. Well, it looks like he can, but something is preventing me from hearing it.

Alaric’s head began to hurt the more he tried to comprehend the situation so he decided to put the matter aside.

I will leave it be for the time being since I do not have enough information. Perhaps one day, I will learn why these people were summoned.

“People know you, so we must do something about your identity. It will not be good for someone to recognize your face. Wait here. I will get something from the family’s treasury.” Alaric wouldn’t be able to explain himself if Ulric’s identity was exposed. After all, this was someone who had died recently and many from his household knew this man

Alaric stepped out of his room and headed straight to the household treasury to get a certain item.

The guards protecting the treasury only asked him a few questions before they allowed him entry.

House Silversword had grown wealthier in the past few months, especially with the recent business trades with the northern houses.

The empty treasury was once again filled with all sorts of treasures and valuable equipment.

The item that he was looking for was something that they had for a long time. It was an executioner’s mask, an item with unknown origins.

Alaric had seen this item in his past life, but he had ignored it.

It should be somewhere around here…

Alaric looked around the treasury in search of the executioner’s mask.

After about a quarter of an hour, he finally found it inside an old wooden box.

This thing really looks dreadful.

Alaric thought with a disgusted expression. He could sense the intense aura of death from the mask.

Just how many people did the owner of this mask kill for this to have such an intense aura of death?

He realized that this was no ordinary item. He could see some markings on the mask, but it seemed to have deteriorated due to the long time it had been stored.

This cannot be a relic, right?

He laughed at the idea, but he found it plausible.

In his curiosity, he imbued some mana into the mask.

Suddenly, the blurred markings on the surface of the mask lit up.

Holy shit!

His eyes widened when he saw it reveal its true form.

The markings on the mask became clearer after Alaric’s mana had purified it. It looked like it was taken off from the face of a creature, but he couldn’t determine what kind of monster it was.

Well, who cares about that? What matters is that this mask can hide Ulric’s identity.