Chapter 438 - 244: The Much-Hated Constantine (2)

"What the hell does the Holy Cross Association know? The Prole Court issued the judgment, and the Holy Mechanism, the Templar Order, and the Demon Hunter Association all sent people to make the arrest. They received the order but dragged their feet and sent no one. Now they have the gall to criticize us? Unbelievable."

A Law Enforcer said:

"Constantine is the legendary Dragon Knight. I was part of the capture operation at Dragon Spear Plaza. To say he could take on ten men at once would be an understatement. You know those High Tier Dragon Descendants? Every single one of them was like a scared puppy in front of his Golden Eye.

And those Cultists from the Dragon Eater Association who ate Dragon Hearts and Transformed into Dragons? He killed them all with a single glare! Even Dewey, the Young Master of the Frank Family, passed out from just a look."

"’Was he really that strong back then? Killing people with a single glare...’" Freya muttered, side-eying the unremarkable Attendant beside her.

"Don’t talk nonsense! Brother Dewey fought a great battle with the Dragon Knight..."

Zick, who was about to refute the man, was stopped by Dewey. Dewey shook his head at him. "Some arguments aren’t necessary. As long as you become strong enough, others will speak for you."

’Cousin Dewey is truly worthy of admiration,’ Zick thought. ’He’s powerful, yet not arrogant or complacent. I must strive to be like him and one day surpass that Aile fellow.’

’That Dewey really knows how to brag,’ thought Gold, Freya, and all the surrounding Law Enforcers who had participated in the Dragon Spear Trial and knew what had really happened.

However, aside from Freya, Gold, Isabella, and the others who couldn’t be bothered to expose him, the other Law Enforcers didn’t dare say anything more, out of deference to the Frank Family.

The Law Enforcers among the guests who had participated in the capture operation continued to voice their objections to the words of Jiang Ge, the Faith Knight from the Holy Cross Association.

The gist of their arguments could be summed up as, "We were careless and didn’t notice."

Someone even brought up that not even the Inner Side’s famous Silver Lion Wilder had managed to capture Baron Constantin. Could Jiang Ge guarantee that he was stronger than Silver Lion Wilder?

Wizard K from the London Tower smiled at Wilder. "You’re just going to let them talk about you like that?"

Wilder replied nonchalantly, "The fire at King’s Cross Station was indeed my fault. I should bear the consequences of my actions. I will bring Constantine to justice... It’s how I’ll make up for my failure."

He added in a low voice, "And it will bring peace to Anthony’s spirit."

Anthony and Wilder had been good friends at the Holy Hall; Anthony had even been close to becoming Wilder’s brother-in-law. This was why the mission to hunt down Baron Constantin had been given to Wilder, a rising star in high demand not only in the Holy Hall but throughout the Inner Side.

Under normal circumstances, any mission that required the deployment of Silver Lion Wilder would involve a target of at least Pseudo-Silver Tier strength.

"Mr. Wilder can be considered a true Knight," Jill joined the conversation. "However, catching Baron Constantin might not be as simple as you think."

He lowered his voice. "According to the Hestia Family’s inquiries, there may be some other organization secretly supporting Baron Constantin’s escape. Otherwise, it’s hard to explain how he escaped the siege by the Griffin Knight Order led by my brother at Ben Mountain...

Furthermore, according to the report Roy wrote upon his return, Baron Constantin’s former teacher from the Constantine Clan, a Dwarf named Zophie, is in collusion with the Dragon Eater Association. It’s possible Baron Constantin sought refuge with the Dragon Eater Association through him."

"But Baron Constantin proved his innocence at Dragon Spear Plaza. Didn’t he kill all the members of the Dragon Eater Association who were present? That should mean he has cleared his name," another person replied.

Adam, a Demon Hunter from the Van Helsing Family, had personally witnessed the return of the Dragon Knight and had even clashed with him in London City that very morning. He simply couldn’t equate a beast-like man such as Constantine with the kind of petty schemers from the Dragon Eater Association who plot and conspire all over the world.

He felt that Baron Constantin was the same kind of person as him.

Jill hesitated for a moment, but then Elder Pence, who had just returned and was standing behind him, spoke up. "Because Baron Constantin may have become a traitor to the Dragon Eater Association. It’s as simple as that. At the very least, his collusion with the Dragon Witch is an indisputable fact.

Unless he can prove otherwise, the twelve-person Judgement panel of the Prole Court still has the authority to carry out the original verdict."

Jill said, "His sins are too numerous. The history of the Inner Side will eventually nail him to the pillar of shame."

"And so, you must become the hero, mustn’t you, Jill?" Elder Pence clapped him on the shoulder and sat down. "For the glory of the Hestia Clan."

Jill’s pupils dilated, not because Elder Pence had clapped his shoulder, but because of the words Elder Pence had whispered under the cover of that gesture:

"After tonight, you will know the whole truth and become the true master of the clan."

......

The guests were still buzzing with discussion over the Law Enforcers’ arguments. Even the High Priest on stage had forgotten to ask if there were any other bidders, his lips pursed as he watched the commotion below, all caused by Constantine, a piece that had jumped off the chessboard.

In short, the debate raged on. There were those annoyed by Jiang Ge’s comments, those who agreed, and those who were reflective. However, most of them shared a common sentiment: if they ever saw Baron Constantin again, there was no way they would let him escape!

"Constantine is certainly good at making enemies," Isabella said, her words laced with hidden meaning.

"Perhaps," Baron replied perfunctorily.

’To be honest, Baron could understand why they thought that way. He’d had the same feeling many times during exams in his previous life.’

’It was like getting a question wrong on a test that you absolutely should have known. You’d blame it on sloppy handwriting, carelessness, a cold, not studying, or changing an answer and forgetting to fill it in. Afterwards, when you got your score, you’d be filled with regret, convinced that if you could just do it over, you would never make such a simple mistake.’

’Unfortunately, reality doesn’t offer do-overs. The ancestors actually had a proverb for this kind of thing—’Three Zhuge Liangs are equal to one humble cobbler’... no, wait, that’s wrong. It’s ’everyone’s a Zhuge Liang after the event.’’

Freya, ever sharp-tongued, said, "Back at Dragon Spear Plaza, there were so many people, but when that fake Constantine appeared, not a single person dared to step up. Now they’re all acting tough."

Behind her, Zick wanted to object, but he gave up when he saw Dewey shake his head at him.

Gold, who was beside them, spoke up. "Miss Lancelot, why must you be like that? At Dragon Spear Plaza, we were caught off guard by the Dragon Eater Association’s sudden attack. Plus, the Dragon Tide was coming, and the plaza was surrounded by enemies.

If not for all that, if we had been prepared, Baron Constantin would have been nothing more than a Cyan Phoenix Tier. If we had all attacked together, even as a Dragon Knight, he wouldn’t necessarily have been a match for me."

"Are you saying you could handle him if he were here now?" Freya raised a delicate eyebrow, feigning annoyance.

Kesha picked up the conversation with a charming laugh. "This auction is full of Law Enforcers like us from the various Old Blood Clans and Law Enforcement Organizations, not to mention the big shots at the Silver Tier keeping watch. Even if you gave Constantine ten times the nerve, he still wouldn’t dare to show up."

The corner of Isabella’s exquisitely carved lips lifted slightly. "But of course."

Baron: "..."

"Eighty million!"

At the same time, on the other side, Jiang Ge raised his placard again, pouring all the savings he had accumulated over the years into the great cause of building up his organization.

"You..." Elvin sighed. ’I’m a real fool,’ he thought, ’for choosing to get into a bidding war with these Faith Knights from the Holy Cross Association, who were all born with a few screws loose.’

Continuing this would mean burning through his own savings. Saint Elvin didn’t share the Holy Cross Association’s strong sense of unity. After a brief moment of hesitation, he lowered his placard, clearly intending to withdraw from the bidding war.

Jiang Ge let out a cold snort, feeling a bit proud of his victory in this war without gunpowder.

————————

[PS: I’m all out of ideas.]