A dozen warriors retreated consecutively under the weight of Qian Jing's words, the intangible pressure suddenly manifesting like an insurmountable wall, forcing them backward step after step. "Demon Vanquisher?" Grant showed surprise for the first time; such aura simply couldn't emanate from a mere Level Ten warrior. A Demon Vanquisher! It must be a Demon Vanquisher!

But... Grant frowned deeply. This young man looked barely nineteen years old. How could he already be a Demon Vanquisher? No wonder he was so arrogant, daring to draw a line of life and death on the ground. A Demon Vanquisher certainly had the right to do such a thing.

Kellar was also being pressed back by the sheer force, but Grant planted a hand firmly on his back. As the person in charge of the Kellar family's affairs this time, being forced back by the mere presence of a youth under nineteen years old would be utterly humiliating! Even if he were a Demon Vanquisher, retreat was unthinkable.

Qian Jing's shout abruptly shifted, twisting into a cold, disdainful, and provocative smile: "Principal Kellar, since it is a duel, how about we wager something else for entertainment?"

Kellar felt uncertain inside, yet he dared not show any weakness verbally. This time, the Kellar family was represented! How could the Kellar family show weakness before a young man under nineteen? "What do you wish to wager?" Kellar maintained a slightly stiff smile. "Wagering something during a duel is indeed an imperial tradition." "Let's make a small bet, just two items," Qian Jing reached out and picked up a jar placed beside the coffin: "This contains the proof of all the Luo family's assets."

The flesh on Kellar’s face twitched repeatedly, and avarice immediately flared in his small eyes. Wasn't the entire reason for this trip the Luo family's fortune?

"And the other item?" Kellar's breathing grew ragged. The busy work of these past days was finally showing a clear dawn. Even the path of marrying his nephew to Luo Qingqing and seizing the Luo estate was not as secure as winning these deeds outright.

Qian Jing raised his right index finger and poked forcefully at his own head, his face radiating a coldness seemingly cultivated from the depths of an ice lake. He stated calmly, "Also, my life. Mr. Kellar, what I want to bet on is twofold. First, the Kellar family must put forth assets equal in value to the Luo family's holdings. Second, I want to gamble my life against yours. If I lose the duel, the assets are yours, and you can take my head as you please. If you lose, you must produce the equivalent family fortune, and furthermore, you must offer up your head for me to sever."

Kellar’s heart seized violently! His scalp prickled and contracted! Uttering such a proposition as gambling with one's life with such placid tones—it was infinitely more eerie and terrifying than if it had been roared or uttered with icy menace. A faint trace of [Madness] rapidly spread throughout the courtyard.

"Of course—" Qian Jing's tone suddenly heightened: "It makes no difference to me, but I wonder if the Kellar family dares to accept this wager. If you truly lack the courage, I wouldn't mind slightly reducing the stakes."

Sabonis's grave expression was now touched by a playful smile. Remarks like these, not long ago, had seemed to originate from Kellar’s own mouth. Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, this Qian Jing—had tossed the exact same provocation back at Kellar.

"This Qian Jing is not only overbearing but also boldly insane. What's more rare is that he appears to possess a mind that isn't dull. Although I don't know what trump card he holds to be so confident of victory, since he dared to provoke the Kellar family, he must possess an extraordinary hidden strength."

Sabonis’s assessment of Qian Jing rose unconsciously, abandoning his previous view of him as a junior warrior, instead regarding him as someone whose dialogue was nearly equal to his own.

A warrior who became a Demon Vanquisher before the age of nineteen—his future potential... Sabonis quickly calculated. If Qian Jing survived this ordeal undefeated, then the Kellar family’s inclination regarding the Kellar and Luo families would truly need reconsideration.

A life-or-death gamble! Kellar had never once considered wagering his life against anyone. Although the Luo family's fortune was not comparable to the Kellar family's, staking the entire Luo estate was still an enormous sum... "Mr. Kellar," Grant murmured softly into Kellar's ear, "You must trust me, and more importantly, trust Young Master Kaiqi, and Magus Greenpan."

"Yes! You are absolutely right." Kellar’s wavering spirit recovered: "With Kaiqi, with Greenpan, and with Mr. Grant, how could we possibly lose?"

Grant chuckled lightly and straightened up, his large eyes fixed on Qian Jing as he thought in secret. Tomorrow’s duel would certainly be fought by Young Master Kaiqi himself; Grant would have no chance. To prevent any unexpected turns tomorrow, he could sneak over tonight to fight Qian Jing first, draining most of his battle energy, and even inflicting a serious injury upon him. Then, when he faced Young Master Kaiqi the next day... "Heh heh heh..." Grant was secretly pleased with his decision, and smug, cold snorts escaped him involuntarily.

"Since Qian Jing is interested in a wager, and if you have the authority over the Luo family's assets," Kellar’s gaze swept past Qian Jing to Luo Qingqing, who was hiding behind him, revealing teeth yellowed from excessive smoking, and he smiled, "I am inclined to take the gamble." Luo Qingqing slowly stepped to Qian Jing's side, her eyes never leaving his face, and said softly, "His every decision is my decision."

"Hahahaha—" Kellar laughed boisterously, turning to Sabonis: "Esteemed Lord Mayor, in the city of Oakland, you are the most impartial and authoritative person here. For the entirety of this matter, I hope you will act as the witness."

Sabonis had never disliked Kellar as much as he did at this moment. Looking at the fat, smiling face contrasted with the sharp-edged Qian Jing nearby, he deeply regretted getting involved in this affair.

If it were just Qian Jing, it would be manageable! Sabonis was even more wary of Fabredys standing beside him. If Qian Jing truly was Fabredys’s apprentice, then just as Kellar had Quan in his rear, didn't Fabredys have the entire Province’s Warrior Guild as powerful support? "Very well, I will witness this," Sabonis conceded.

Sabonis sighed. It was now impossible to withdraw. He only hoped this matter would pass quickly, and he would remain completely neutral throughout the subsequent proceedings. Whichever side suffered a loss in the duel would have nothing to do with him.

Kellar bowed to Sabonis with satisfaction, then glanced at Fabredys: "Then, respected Lord Mayor, we shall return to prepare for tomorrow’s duel. We will take our leave a little early."

Sabonis had no patience left for pleasantries with Kellar and responded with a solemn nod. Fabredys didn't even spare Kellar a glance.

Grant shot Fabredys a challenging glare, gripping his greatsword again before letting out another cold snort, and strode out of the courtyard with his head held high. "Mr. Grant..." Kellar said quietly as they left the gate, "The way you just treated the City Guardian was not good for our Kellar family, was it?"

"The City Guardian?" The thick beard on Grant’s face rippled as he sneered contemptuously, his bull-ring eyes filled with disdain: "I actually hoped he would lose his temper and confront me on the spot. That way, I could find an excuse to let him taste the power of my greatsword. Then, by defeating him, I would have a chance to become Oakland’s Guardian, making things much easier for the Kellar family in Oakland."

Kellar stopped, looking at Grant with curiosity: "You are confident? Absolutely confident you can defeat the City Guardian of Oakland?"

"Hmph!" Grant let out his habitual cold snort. "What is impossible? We are both Demon Vanquishers. He merely entered the Demon Vanquisher realm a few years before me. When it truly comes to a fight, I am confident I can knock him off his position as Oakland's City Guardian!"

"Is that so?" Kellar mused as he settled into the carriage. "If that is the case, after we resolve the Luo family's matters, I can find a way to help Mr. Grant secure the opportunity to challenge Fabredys."

"Really?" Grant exclaimed in ecstasy. "If this is true, after the mission is accomplished, I will certainly grant Mr. Kellar a massive reward. By then, if we join forces, Mr. Kellar might just have a chance to become the Lord Mayor of Oakland."

Kellar’s small eyes glittered with shrewd brilliance, and a look of longing flickered across his fat face: "In that case, I will have to rely on Mr. Grant's strong support." "No problem." Grant waved his large hand, and the two linked arms over each other's shoulders, as if the city of Oakland already belonged to them.

Sabonis nodded lightly to Fabredys: "I will treat this incident with complete fairness and impartiality. Mr. Fabredys can rest assured regarding the duel's fairness. I, too, must depart now to prepare for the upcoming contest." Fabredys nodded and replied flatly to Sabonis: "I trust in the Lord Mayor's noble character."

Sabonis truly lived up to his title as Lord Mayor. Facing the word [noble] character mentioned by Fabredys, he showed not the slightest hint of embarrassment; instead, he wore an expression of pleased acceptance, making even Qian Jing, who was watching from the side, doubt whether his Executioner’s Blade, capable of slaying monstrous beasts, could cut through his thick skin.

Outside the courtyard, the sound of carriage wheels rattling against the ground signaled Sabonis’s departure from the street strewn with white gauze.

Fabredys slowly stepped across the line of life and death Qian Jing had drawn on the ground. He approached Lin Luo's coffin and bowed slightly in homage, then resumed his upright posture.

Luo Qingqing slightly parted her rosy lips, gazing at Fabredys's action in astonishment, hardly daring to believe what she was witnessing. The City Guardian had come to mourn her brother! Even though it was only a slight bow, it was an extraordinary gesture.

Forget the memorial hall for Brother Lin Luo returning to the stars; even if Lord Mayor Sabonis himself had passed on, the City Guardian's attendance would at most warrant such a slight bow, but never a full kneeling kowtow to the deceased.