Revive Rome: Wait! Why not make the empress fall in love with me first?
Chapter 105 - 10: Competition

Chapter 105: Chapter 10: Competition

"Next, we just need to wait for approval," Hasimodo said.

"How long will that take?" Nora asked.

"It’s hard to say," Hasimodo shook his head, "following the procedure, it needs to go through the Army Procurement Department, Financial Audit Department, Legal Cooperation Department, and the Morning Star headquarters for joint signatures, before finally reaching the Commander."

So long... everyone thought to themselves.

However, lengthy procedures are a common problem in large companies and enterprises, and this was unavoidable. Thinking again about the many items on the order, they suddenly felt it could be tolerated.

"Actually," everyone left the supply warehouse and walked toward the open area outside, Hasimodo continued, "whether it’s the Army Procurement Department or the Financial Audit Department, there shouldn’t be any obstacles because our external transactions are sold at a higher price, with extra profit included."

"For the Legal Audit Department, as long as it doesn’t involve a contract, this kind of cash-and-carry transaction on the spot is also no problem."

"The tricky part is the Morning Star headquarters, because as your guarantor, once there is any issue with the transaction, Morning Star needs to accept joint responsibility. And our Knight Commander Fubisi is a shrewd person not easily fooled..."

"I didn’t expect you to have some insight, Hasimodo." A middle-aged man walked over from the opposite side, dressed in the lining of Power Armor, his meticulously groomed glossy hair and mustache made him look quite mature and handsome.

Beside him was Claude, the previously mentioned Morning Star Team 2 Knight Captain, who was now smugly looking at Hasimodo.

"Knight Commander Fubisi!" As soon as Hasimodo saw the man, he immediately saluted.

"No need for formalities in an informal setting," Fubisi said indifferently, his profound gaze shifting their way.

This Knight Commander Fubisi is kind of handsome, Nora thought, somewhat surprised.

But still not as good-looking as our Squad Leader.

She turned her head to glance at Aske’s profile, and couldn’t help but scoff at herself.

"This is..." Fubisi slowly asked.

"The Squad Leader of The Azure Longsword Mercenary Corps, Aske," Hasimodo quickly introduced.

His tone was so solemn that Claude couldn’t help but snicker out loud.

"So it’s The Azure Longsword Mercenary Corps, well-known indeed," Claude mocked with a sarcastic tone.

His expression seemed to say, "Where did these trash mercenaries come from?"

Fubisi’s brow furrowed imperceptibly.

He had come here because Claude had ratted out Hasimodo, suspecting he had claimed the spoils of dead comrades as his own, falsely declaring them as his squad’s trophy.

According to the Night Watch’s rule, any knight who died during an Undead Mutant outbreak with unsubmitted spoils should have those goods officially cataloged and the money sent in full to the deceased’s family as an additional compensation.

Therefore, keeping the belongings of a deceased comrade not only severely violated the Night Watch’s rules but was also a grave moral blemish, subject to universal condemnation.

Fubisi knew Hasimodo from Squad 3 well enough; though the man was always proud and somewhat antisocial with his peers, he could discern right from wrong and was unlikely to engage in such disgraceful acts.

But Claude’s description was excessively exaggerated; seven Night Watch knights, taking down over a hundred ghouls and a Black Knight without any casualties? Not even knights of the Holy Sun and Silver Moon could achieve that, unless they were "Resting Holy Knights" from headquarters.

"I was just about to explain, Commander," Hasimodo said earnestly, "the spoils were not solely claimed by my squad, but were obtained with the help of The Azure Longsword Mercenary Corps."

He described the entire event, including the sudden redirection of the ghoul army, splitting into two and then being annihilated by the Mercenary Corps, followed by the appearance of the Black Knight, who was then straightforwardly blasted by Aske.

Fubisi and Claude were both dumbfounded. Are you kidding, Hasimodo?

Although the former was usually inscrutable and displayed little expression, the latter screamed:

"What? Straightforwardly blasted a Black Knight with Power Armor? You might as well have said this mercenary is a hidden Demigod."

"I have seen what I’ve said with my own eyes," Hasimodo insisted, "I guarantee with my integrity."

"That’s enough, Claude," Fubisi frowned, "if that is so, then..."

"How about I test him myself!" Claude said angrily, "A mercenary took down a Black Knight? This isn’t how you shirk responsibility! Do you think Knight Commander Fubisi and I are fools?"

Fubisi turned around, somewhat astonished.

In his view, although Knight Captain Claude was sharp and harsh, he wasn’t usually so irritable and foolish; why did he seem today like he wanted to perish together with Hasimodo?

"Medea?" Aske whispered inwardly.

"What a spectacle, isn’t it?" Medea chuckled, revealing her finely aligned white teeth.

Underneath her sleeve, her slender jade fingers clenched tightly around the Manipulation of Desire, and everyone heard Claude bitterly say:

"Knight Commander Fubisi! After I defeat this mercenary, please thoroughly question Hasimodo about where those spoils really came from!"

Fubisi stared expressionlessly at him, and after a moment, he suddenly cracked a slight smile.

"Lord Aske," he turned around, speaking gracefully, "I don’t doubt what Hasimodo has stated about you, but since Claude has requested validation, I wonder if you’d be willing to demonstrate some of your abilities here?"

"If you can defeat Claude, then there will be no further doubts about this matter. As compensation, I will immediately approve your trade application and personally deliver the order to Commander."

"Everything is going as planned; that’s wonderful," Medea’s voice echoed in Aske’s mind, "Next, it’s time for you, Squad Leader, to show your skills."

"Alright," Aske nodded, "I have no problems with that."

"Then let’s go to our training ground," Fubisi gestured invitingly.

The news that Knight Captain Claude of Morning Star Team 2 was about to compete with a foreign mercenary spread like the wind throughout the entire camp.

Not only the Night Watch Knights of Morning Star, but even the knights from the Holy Sun of Silver Moon and some non-combatant priests came to watch.

After all, everyone had just gone through a grueling mission, and they desperately needed an entertainment show to relax.

Curiosity is human nature, even for the Night Watch Knights.

The training ground was set at the bottom of a valley beneath the highlands, a not-so-large natural flat area.

Knight Captain Claude was armed with a Spider Web Shooter, a firearm specifically designed to capture undead spirits. Its ammunition was a type of super-polymer adhesive that, upon contact with air, oxidized into a viscous liquid rapidly entangling upon contact with human skin, thereby rendering the target immobile.

Aske, on the other hand, held an Iron Sword—this was Lord Fubisi’s ceremonial sword, used for self-defense. Due to its seldom use, the blade was exceptionally well preserved.

"This isn’t right, is it?" the Night Watch Knights on the surrounding hills started discussing in surprise, "One side has Power Armor plus a Spider Web Shooter, and the other has mere Lock Armor and an Iron Sword? Isn’t this equipment mismatch too great?"

"Is this some sort of performance? Modern technology crushing ancient weaponry?"

"Hey, hey, hey, Knight Captain Claude, at least take off the Power Armor!"

"Yeah, the opponent doesn’t have a gun; what are you wearing Power Armor for? It’s embarrassing! Please leave the field!"

Claude stood bewildered in the arena, listening to the jests and catcalls from his peers, filled with regret.

He didn’t know why he had impulsively suggested a contest with the mercenary.

On thinking it over, you, a formally trained Night Watch Knight, challenging this unorthodox mercenary—winning wouldn’t be surprising, but losing would be a disgrace!

A completely disadvantageous move; why had he ever impulsively proposed this in front of Lord Fubisi?

At that moment, he dearly wished he could slap himself.

The Power Armor wasn’t Claude’s choice; Fubisi had insisted he wear it.

Since Hasimodo claimed that Lord Aske had single-handedly defeated the Black Knight, it was only appropriate to wear Power Armor like the Black Knight for verification.

Under the intimidating might of the Power Armor, Fubisi wanted to personally verify how the opponent would react.

The reason for choosing a Spider Web Shooter instead of a melee weapon was to avoid injuring the opponent. With the output power of the Power Armor, even a wooden sword could split the opponent in half.

But his peers didn’t know this! Claude couldn’t exactly jump out and say, "Lord Fubisi wanted me to wear the Power Armor, you understand! It’s not my fault!"

Thus, he could only endure the discussions and mocking from his peers, aiming the muzzle harshly at Aske.

Let’s end this farce quickly, every second standing here is an embarrassment.

"Take your positions!" Hasimodo, serving as the referee, stood expressionless atop a high place, aiming the starting pistol at the sky.

"Ready!"

A gunshot sounded. Claude immediately pulled the trigger.

The web splattered on the empty ground, and as Claude’s eyes captured the opponent’s figure, a chill went down his spine.

So fast! Such Explosive Power...The opponent’s Physical Power is strong, at least level 4 or above!

In an instant, Aske had rushed to his front, his Longsword swinging level.

Claude took half a step back, slightly raising the Spider Web Gun and pulling the trigger.

My Power Armor’s defense can’t be breached by a Longsword! And as long as I hit my target once, this ridiculous duel will be over!

The web burst missed again. This time, however, Claude couldn’t catch the opponent’s figure. He instinctively surged forward to evade, already feeling a slight force behind his head.

The surrounding Night Watch Knights fell silent.

They could clearly see from outside the arena: the moment the web was sprayed, Aske had already spun and dodged, diving forward, slipping under Claude’s left arm, and positioning his Longsword against the back of Claude’s helmet.

If Claude had not been wearing the Power Armor, just that strike would have killed him.