Chapter 77: Provocation

"Isn't this Jim from Pelan City?" A burly man with a thick beard, nearly two meters tall, greeted Jim with a mocking tone as soon as he saw him. He glanced at the number of people from Pelan City and shook his head, saying, "It's such a waste to give you all invitation cards. They should've gone to us in Saho City. We couldn't even bring everyone we wanted, while you just squander them."

"Bruno, say that again after you get into Naan University. Right now, you don't have the qualifications to speak like that!" Jim replied with a grim face.

"Myron, is that man taking the college entrance exam with us?" David asked quietly, turning to Myron. Bruno, with his rugged features, looked at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight.

"He used some tricks, claiming a medical leave of absence, but he’s actually been accumulating strength, aiming to get straight into Naan University. However, the university has stricter standards for older students like him—he'll find it much harder to get in," Myron replied loudly, not only answering David but also mocking Bruno for everyone to hear.

"Others who passed the exam at his age were geniuses; dragging it out for two years like he did, even if he gets in, he’s nothing but mediocre!" De Quincy aligned himself with Myron, joining in the ridicule.

David understood now: Bruno, despite his mature appearance, was at most nineteen or twenty, but had delayed taking the exam for Naan University.

Bruno’s face flushed red at their words. The hall was packed—over a hundred people—and being insulted in front of so many sent his reputation echoing through the crowd.

Saho City was close to Pelan City, and the two were often at odds over mining and resources. These conflicts surfaced in many ways, including the rivalry among their youth.

"I, Bruno of Saho City, challenge Myron of Pelan City!" Bruno fixed his glare on Myron, calling him out for the harsh words.

"A challenge! Come on!" Bruno’s declaration stirred the crowd, who laughed and shouted, making the hall even livelier as more gathered to watch.

Before Myron could respond, most eyes in the hall were already drawn to the commotion.

"Aren't private duels forbidden here?" David, unfamiliar with the rules, asked.

Myron was equally perplexed—this was his first time at such an event.

"It's natural for young people to clash at gatherings like this. The Titan Consortium provides a venue and strong arbitrators—no one dies," Jim explained quietly.

Myron’s expression tightened. He knew his own strength: though he’d worked hard and reached the basic level with the warhammer, Bruno was two years older, and he couldn't match him.

Combat tested not only strength and speed, but also physical resilience, skill, and experience. Myron was only slightly behind Bruno in strength and speed, but the gap in the other areas was vast. Two years of experience were not easily overcome.

"Scared, Myron? You talk big, but only dare to fight with your mouth!" Bruno taunted loudly, feeling his lost pride restored.

Myron was about to step forward, but a hand blocked his path.

"Myron, let me handle this." It was David, stepping in. Myron had helped him so many times; now it was David’s turn to act.

"I, David of Pelan City, accept your challenge!" He looked Bruno in the eye and declared loudly.

"Fine! Watch me smash Pelan City!" Bruno swept his gaze over David and the others from Pelan City, boasting arrogantly.

But Myron, Jim, Daly, and De Quincy exchanged pitying glances. None knew David’s terrifying strength better—a single man wielding twin swords had swept through thirty larvae.

"Interesting. The young men this year are full of fire!" At a table by the railing on the second floor, two men sipped red wine. The middle-aged one smiled.

"Young people should have fire; without it, there’s no drive!" The elderly man waved to the side, then spoke.

"Mr. Boone, do you have any instructions?" A warrior in exoskeleton armor, with a giant axe strapped to his back, approached and bowed respectfully.

"Knight Eves, please arbitrate the duel. See that neither is seriously hurt," Mr. Boone replied with a smile.

"Yes, Mr. Boone!" Eves answered and headed downstairs to the hall.

"Boone, who have you got your eye on, that you want Eves to arbitrate?" The middle-aged man, Manson, asked curiously, scanning the contenders but seeing nothing special.

"Manson, I’ve lived long enough and seen plenty. In this regard, you still have much to learn," Boone said with a smile.

"Boone, you’re not infallible—you haven’t produced a standout talent in ten years!" Manson’s eyes flashed with irritation as he spoke in a low voice.

"Manson, you ought to temper your nature, or you’ll suffer for it in the future," Boone replied, still smiling.

Both were directors of the Titan Consortium, dedicated to scouting talent for the organization.

Boone was the chief, Manson his deputy, but whoever discovered talent would gain considerable influence.

"Are you two requesting a challenge?" Eves, in his exoskeleton armor, radiated such authority that the hall immediately quieted. He looked at Bruno and David for confirmation.

"Yes!" Bruno felt a surge of joy at the sight of the armored knight presiding. He wasn’t just stirring up trouble—this was his strategy.

He had endured two years just to qualify for Naan University; he wouldn’t be so easily provoked. He had already learned that the Titan Consortium’s directors were present today. He needed to showcase himself and catch their attention.

The later one displayed their strength, the harder it was to stand out among so many. Bruno chose this method, hoping to simultaneously suppress Pelan City.

"Choose your weapons," Eves said gravely.

"I choose the heavy axe!" Bruno declared first, then looked at David with disdain. "Will you use the longsword on your back? That’s a woman’s weapon—only someone as frail as you would pick it!"

Bruno spoke with satisfaction, but his words infuriated the women in the hall.

There weren’t many women present—less than thirty—but at that moment, all of them glared at Bruno. If not for Eves, he would have been swarmed.

"Bruno, are you sure you want me to use the longsword on my back?" David asked with a playful smile.

"You’re carrying a longsword—you must be skilled with it. Use it!" Bruno replied quickly. He was no fool; he’d chosen the heavy axe, and once he started swinging, David’s light sword would never let him get close.

Of course, he didn’t believe David possessed formidable swordsmanship—after all, Bruno had practiced with the heavy axe for years longer.

A staff member brought a synthetic metal training battleaxe. Bruno took it and swung it twice, clearly satisfied.

"Weapon selection complete. Activate the arena!" Eves announced.

He glanced at Bruno with an expression bordering on pity.

With his discerning eye, he could tell that David’s longsword was of exceptional quality—the unique materials of the hilt and the sealed scabbard marked it as extraordinary.

At Eves’ command, a ten-meter square arena rose in the center of the hall.

Eves tapped his foot lightly, flashing onto the stage, and beckoned to the two below.

Bruno took a running start and executed a graceful somersault onto the stage, drawing cheers for his agility—though many women booed.

David leapt effortlessly onto the platform, conserving his strength.

"Fight freely; don’t worry about danger. I’ll stop anything before it gets out of hand," Eves said confidently.

Even without his exoskeleton, he could halt any attack between the two.

To be honest, faced with a true combat knight like himself, these so-called young talents were mere children—especially Bruno. The real prodigies of his age had already entered top universities.

As for high schoolers who hadn’t taken the entrance exam, lacking university-level knight training, their combat ability was very limited, most crucially in experience.