Chapter 111
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Chapter 111: For the Sake of Honor
Seeing that everyone had calculated their moves and grasped the disparity in bargaining chips, Fina finally revealed a satisfied smile, like a queen surveying her realm—proud, majestic, and impossible to ignore.
“In the name of the acting family head, I announce a vote to dismiss Golien Hamilton, branch leader of the swordsmanship branch,” the red-haired girl declared.
At this point, even a fool could predict the choice of these veteran nobles, who habitually sacrificed allies to save themselves.
Was he truly to become the first leader in fifty years ousted directly at a family meeting? Not even the Iron-Blood Duke’s era had seen such disgrace!
The thought turned Golien’s face ashen.
The once-arrogant leader now clenched his fists, bones cracking audibly. The air no longer smelled of gunpowder but seethed with raw hostility and fury!
As tensions peaked, an aged cough sliced through the silence.
Though soft, the sound swept through the hall like an invisible breeze, scattering the chaos.
Unnoticed until now, the old steward Pipin stood behind Fina, facing Midi like a second guardian knight.
A mere steward? Hardly. A first-awakened expert, second only to the Iron-Blood Duke in power, could never be ordinary.
His presence alone eased the pressure on Fina and Midi.
At last, they no longer bore the full brunt of fourteen high-level and peak-level practitioners’ oppressive aura.
Only then did Midi inwardly relax. The steward’s timing confirmed his loyalty—not just through action, but strategy.
Had Pipin intervened earlier, the pair’s authority would’ve crumbled. The branch leaders would’ve dismissed them as puppets clinging to the Iron-Blood Duke’s fading legacy.
By waiting until the decisive moment, the steward highlighted his role as a warrior, not a relic of the past. Midi and Fina remained the protagonists, now wielding a fearsome new advantage.
Such meticulous timing reassured Midi, the ever-wary reincarnator, completely.
With Midi’s eerie power and guardian knight status, Fina’s legitimate authority as acting head, and Pipin’s first-awakened might surpassing level 50, the outcome was sealed.
They’d unified the branches, purged dissent, and uncovered traces of betrayal.
Next, tracking the conspirators hinged on the swordsmanship branch’s cooperation. But without its leader, even its experts would fold easily.
The victory was assured.
“Wait. A moment, please.”
The pale young man behind Golien stepped forward calmly.
Martin Hamilton—the swordsmanship branch’s top expert!
Midi recalled the dossier: this low-profile deputy had seemed almost invisible during the meeting. Yet Midi took no chances.
This man’s slender blade had pierced Midi’s three-day honed Ultimate Intent, reducing a killing strike to mere theater.
Though not a peak-level practitioner, that single move marked Martin as deadlier than Golien.
Why intervene now, when all was settled?
Midi’s face betrayed nothing, but his mind sharpened.
“Votes cannot determine whether Lord Golien’s actions served us, or if intentions align with results,” Martin stated, iron resolve beneath his calm. “I invoke the Hamilton family’s oldest solution: let honor decide.”
“Honor” meant might makes right.
A duel in Rose Mountain City’s arena would replace debates and politics with pure strength.
Long ago, when the main and branch families hadn’t yet formed and the power gap between them remained small, the Hamilton family often suffered internal strife. When such conflicts grew too large, their overall strength would decline. To prevent this, the family heads created a method to turn large-scale infighting into one-on-one duels.
Nowadays, with clear divisions between main and branch families and the Golden Branch Legion’s dominance under the Iron-Blood Duke’s unmatched authority, anyone attempting to "fight for honor" would lose both honor and benefits.
As for current times, other branches hadn’t forgotten about restarting the "Battle for Honor"—they simply lacked suitable candidates.
The leaders themselves couldn’t participate. Being renowned peak-level practitioners managing vast territories, victory was expected while defeat would cost them their positions.
Their deputies were mostly administrative staff at levels 30-40, unlikely to withstand Midi who possessed one-strike lethal power against peak practitioners.
With risks outweighing rewards and the situation already settled, everyone conveniently forgot this method.
Yet unexpectedly, the most oppressed swordsmanship branch produced a challenger.
Was this truly the most martial branch of the Hamilton family?
Or just young hotheads refusing to swallow their pride?
All gazes turned to the composed Martin Hamilton. Many showed approving smiles and soft applause.
"The Hamilton family never lacks passionate youths."
"Worthy of being called the top expert in swordsmanship—a genius among geniuses."
The leaders praised openly. If someone wanted to trouble Fina, they welcomed it—cost-free with potential benefits.
On the main family’s side, Fina snorted coldly yet smiled genuinely. For the uncompromising Queen of Magic who despised schemes, the "Battle for Honor" suited her better than political maneuvering.
"You okay with this?" Fina turned questioning eyes toward Midi.
As acting family head, Fina couldn’t duel personally. The guardian knight Midi would fight.
Seeing the red-haired girl’s eager-yet-concerned gaze, Midi grinned: "Just don’t steal my prey. Let’s showcase the Hawk Brigade’s might properly."
"Don’t underestimate Hamilton’s arena—it dwarfs Eagle’s Nest. Everyone important will attend," Fina retorted proudly.
Their casual banter reached all ears—playful intimacy radiating confidence, as if facing no real threat.
Watching Fina’s smile, Martin Hamilton’s eyes flashed with hidden fury.
She was Hamilton’s jewel, Rose Mountain City’s beloved princess—his perfect political match. Yet now she’d grown powerful and brought some low-blooded stray!
This Midi Asreks—mediocre academy student, scandal-ridden playboy—had somehow gained Fina’s trust. Martin with superior bloodlines had never earned her smile, yet she grinned openly at this upstart.
He couldn’t tolerate it.
A swordsman needs no permission—he takes what he wants with his blade!
"Proposing a Battle for Honor seems rash," Domingo sighed post-meeting, eyeing his seething companion.
"You think I’d lose to that trash?" Martin snorted.
"Of course not. But victory brings no gain… unless…" Domingo’s voice turned honeyed.
"Unless?"
"You kill Midi mid-duel. That would shift the balance and make our princess reconsider her alliances."
"Kill him?" Martin frowned. Honor battles weren’t lethal. Midi wasn’t just a knight—he was Asreks’ heir, Queen’s faction member, nobility’s rising star. His death would cause backlash.
Though hating Midi, Martin wasn’t foolish. He shook his head.
"Not blinded by anger after all…" Domingo muttered disappointedly as Martin left. Then his lips curled coldly: "Doesn’t matter. I’ll make this duel lethal anyway."
