Chapter 493 - 272: Fiancé War

They subconsciously held their breath, their dazed expressions all turning in one direction—a look they had worn so many times today they had almost grown numb to it.

That was the direction where Jill Hestia and the Attendant had just fought over the sword. A man stood there, sword in hand, surrounded by the bewildered Knights who had just returned after discovering the "Hand Grenades" were nothing but rocks.

"He... he just snatched the vice-captain’s sword?"

"How is that possible? He’s just an ordinary Attendant. How could he possibly overpower the vice-captain in a contest of strength?"

The Knights murmured amongst themselves, clearly shaken by the outcome.

The guests, watching from a safe distance, also began to whisper amongst themselves:

"Jill actually lost? What’s this Attendant’s background? He couldn’t really be a Dragon Devourer Cultist, could he?"

"He doesn’t look the part, but we can’t rule it out... Still, to think that not even Jill Hestia could take him down. In any case, this Attendant is no simple man."

"Speaking of which, if I remember correctly, isn’t this Freya’s Attendant? So what does that make this? A fiancé who can’t even beat his fiancée’s Attendant?"

"Now that you mention it, I’m suddenly curious if the *former* fiancé could beat this Attendant."

A young dandy, who had been following Hilde, suddenly interjected with a suggestive grin, "And I’m even more curious who’s stronger—Jill Hestia, the current fiancé, or Baron Constantin, the former one."

And so, led by a few of the young dandies, the guests’ chatter gradually shifted to the topic of "Who is the more suitable fiancé for Freya: Jill or the Baron?"

"Silence!"

A Griffin Knight suddenly roared at the guests, who instantly fell silent, though a few scattered remarks like, "I’m filing a complaint against you with the Prole Court when this is over," could still be heard.

Veins pulsed on the Knights’ foreheads, but in the end, they merely tightened their circle around the Attendant as they had before.

The guests’ whispers had not escaped the Law Enforcers’ ears.

Jill had evidently heard the guests’ insulting remarks as well, but he showed no anger. He simply stared at his trembling sword hand and said in a low voice:

"There’s something wrong with his strength. Either he isn’t a Contract Knight, or he isn’t Bronze Tier."

He said this for the benefit of Aile and the few Lion-eyed Knights who had followed him.

’Not a Contract Knight? At the same tier, the only ones with more strength than a Contract Knight are Faith Knights and a few extreme Silver Demon Hunters. Is he a Demon Hunter?’

Aile instinctively dismissed the second half of Jill’s theory. Based on his age—the Attendant had an unremarkable appearance but looked to be about thirty—a Silver Tier of that age couldn’t possibly be unknown on the Inner Side.

Jill Hestia continued, "In short, avoid close combat with this guy at all costs. Avoid any situation that might test his strength. Use a weaving formation, quick attacks and quick retreats, without using Promise..."

Jill Hestia’s strategy was simple: since the Attendant possessed such outrageous strength, they just needed to avoid getting into a direct contest of power with him.

It was just like a pod of orcas hunting a shark: they would attack in rotation, giving their prey absolutely no opportunity to counterattack until it was dead.

He looked toward the Griffin Knights surrounding the Baron. As if understanding his gaze, they shifted their formation without a word.

’Has it only been a minute? Looks like this time they’re gearing up to deliver a "righteous" group beatdown. I need to find a way to stall for Time.’

The Baron wasn’t thinking in strategic terms like Jill, but as he watched the Knights begin to slowly weave around him, his expression grew grave.

From their movements, it was clear they not only planned to gang up on him, but also intended to avoid any direct contest of strength. ’All right, I have to admit, it wasn’t their movements,’ he thought. ’It was my Dragon Knight’s superhuman hearing turning their quiet plotting into loud whispers.’

Jill Hestia took a deep breath. The color of his pupils gradually shifted to the aquamarine of a Griffin, and the folded wings behind him slowly unfurled. A wind, far more chaotic than the one summoned by the Red-armored Knight, began to whip through the hall.

The guests, seemingly suffering from PTSD from the last gale, scrambled to get even farther away, terrified of being caught in the maelstrom.

But Jill Hestia was clearly no Red-armored Knight. No Griffin Feathers floated around him. Instead, the fierce wind simply gathered at his feet, lifting him into the air.

At the same time, the Baron’s enhanced Dragon Knight vision allowed him to see Jill’s skin growing taut and dry, fine, feather-like patterns emerging on its surface. Flecks of Thunderbolt crackled and vanished across his skin.

His instincts as both a Dragon Knight and a member of the Blood Faction screamed that whatever Jill was about to do, it was not going to be pleasant.

’Can’t rule out the possibility he’s about to use his ultimate.’

’This is bad. The cooldown for Illusory Cocoon isn’t over yet. If this keeps up, my identity as a Dragon Knight is sure to be exposed.’

’The guy is too calm and rational. If only there were a way to provoke him, turn this group assault into a one-on-one duel, and just run out the clock.’

The Baron thought for a moment. Actually, there just might be a way.

And so, just as Jill Hestia began to levitate high into the air, with the Griffin Knights and Lion-eyed Knights closing in, the Baron let out a cold snort and declared in a loud, clear voice:

"You’re not as good as Baron Constantin."

Floating in mid-air, Jill Hestia froze. Aile Lancelot froze. The Knights froze.

Claire and the crowd of onlookers also froze.

"What did you say?" Jill silenced his Knights, who were sputtering indignantly, and frowned at the Baron.