Chapter 138: Talking To Berman Once Again

"What?" Berman muttered in surprise.

"Every other day, you are standing at my manor’s gates," Elias said, his expression remaining impassive. "Does an Exalted knight such as yourself have nothing better to do during such times?"

Berman fell silent, while Benjamin and Himber stared at Elias in pure shock.

The nobleman had just openly disrespected an Exalted swordsman.

Exalteds were considered equal in status to baronets, and although Elias was a bastard, he was still the recognized son of a duke. His position within the kingdom was therefore far above that of an ordinary Exalted knight.

"I am simply following the orders given to me, Lord Elias," Berman said, narrowing his eyes. "You seem quite on edge today. Why is that?"

Elias chuckled, although there was little amusement in his expression.

"Do you know anything about basic decency, Sir Berman?" he asked.

Berman frowned.

"You walk up to my gates at the dead of morning and expect me to greet you with warm hugs?" Elias snickered and stepped closer.

"If you had any respect for me or for the name I carry, you would have the sense to inform me of your visit beforehand, and preferably arrive at a more reasonable hour."

Benjamin stared at his master with trembling eyes and a pale face. He had no idea what had happened to Elias this morning, but the more his master spoke, the worse the situation seemed to become.

Meanwhile, the Sword Spirit watched with barely concealed excitement.

Berman and Himber were equally confused. However, while Himber did not dare say a word, Berman’s expression gradually turned cold.

"I do apologize for the inconvenience I have caused, but I did not have a choice in this either," Berman said sharply.

Elias felt those words strike him, and his heart began beating harder.

For a moment, his mind instinctively told him to stop.

He remembered the words his maidservant had once taught him.

’Before the strong, the weak must lower their head, as that is the nature of this wretched world.’

He had followed those words for his entire life.

Defiance had always existed somewhere within him, but he had been taught never to challenge those stronger than himself. He had been taught to obey the Crimson Ducal Clan, never question their decisions, and accept the hierarchy that governed their world.

That was why Elias had wanted to become strong.

Yet his training had produced no result, and eventually his own clansmen, siblings, cousins, and uncles had called him trash and a stain upon their reputation.

So his goal had slowly changed.

If he could not become someone powerful enough to command respect, then he would at least defy the titles and judgments that had been forced upon him.

That was why he had never stopped swinging his sword.

And now, he would no longer allow someone to simply walk over him.

"You had no choice, you say..." Elias mumbled.

He stepped closer and met Berman’s gaze directly.

"Are you implying that your lord deliberately sent you here in such a disrespectful and distasteful manner?"

Berman’s expression hardened.

Elias watched him carefully before pressing, "Are you trying to push your own wrongdoing onto your lord?"

Berman’s hand tightened into a fist.

Elias noticed the movement immediately.

’This should be enough.’

"Now that you have already ruined my morning, you may as well tell me why you are at my gates," Elias said.

Berman stared coldly at him before finally answering.

"We have been ordered to take you for questioning."

"Hmm?" Elias furrowed his brows. "For what?"

"The last person who was murdered was one of the rangers who entered the rift with you," Berman explained. "And you were the only swordsman among that ranger team."

"I understand."

Elias nodded slowly.

Berman then turned around.

"We will wait for you to prepare—"

"When did I say that I am going with you?" Elias interrupted.

Berman froze and muttered, "What?"

"Do you have any written decree proving that you were actually ordered to take me for questioning?" Elias asked.

Berman fell silent.

Elias simply stared at him.

One minute passed, then another.

Berman continued standing there with his brows knitted together, seemingly unable to provide an answer.

Himber glanced between the two men, while Benjamin remained frozen nearby.

Finally, Elias exhaled. He had grown tired of waiting.

"If not, then I hope you come back with one," he said as he turned around. "And next time, make sure to be respectful."

With that, Elias began walking back into the manor.

Benjamin watched his master leave with a completely dumbfounded expression.

Himber glanced toward Berman, seemingly trying to understand what the Exalted knight was thinking.

But Berman remained motionless at the gate, his expression cold and his fist still tightly clenched.

Meanwhile, the Sword Spirit was laughing as she circled them.

As Elias took a step inside the main manor, he let out the breath he had been holding since the beginning of the conversation, and a grin split his face.

What he had done may seem as something disregardable to others, but to him it was his first step toward freeing himself from the Crimson Ducal Clan’s control and from the schemes of his enemies.

He was genuinely scared, however, as he stood against them, a strange sense of satisfaction and fulfillment filled him. It was as though he was finally recognizing a part of himself that he had locked away for a long time.

His heart was beating loudly in his chest; however, it wasn’t due to fear but due to excitement.

’Things may get a bit more troublesome...’ his expression became somber for a moment, and he shook his head.

"It is for the better," he mumbled and walked further inside the room.

"You have heard, My Lord, Sir Berman," Benjamin said.

"Next time, I may as well prepare tea for us." The old butler turned around and began walking toward the manor.

Berman’s jaw tightened, and he turned around as well.

"Let’s go."