"Blade of Kahnver wins again! We have our champion!" The announcer declared with a loud voice as the tournament finally ended. The crowd burst into cheers of excitement and Albaer stood up.
"Congratulations! This was a wonderful and exciting tournament! I applaud all the brave warriors who participated and ask to stay for the banquet! Ser Kahn! As I have heard, you indeed live up to your fame. Please…" Albaer said as he asked Kahn to come to the stage.
Everyone started leaving the arena to enjoy the after-banquet that Albaer had specially prepared. While some of the participants who had gotten injured were being tended to by the White family's physician.
Kahn bowed respectfully and walked up to Albaer. He was quite tired after the continuous fighting but seemed to be rapidly recovering as well.
"You truly are skillful in your Sword Arte, I must say! I have never seen something quite like it in all my years." Albaer said with a smile.
"You honor me with your words, Your Grace! I still have yet to achieve much more." Kahn said humbly
"Then why don't you achieve new heights with us? Pledge yourself to the White Family. We would welcome you with open arms!" Albaer offered, although he didn't have many expectations.
Just as expected, Kahn moved his head from side to side rejecting the offer as he said courteously, "With all due respect, I must decline your generous offer, Your Grace."
Albaer narrowed his brows slightly and then sighed with regret, "I see… It's a pity then. But our doors will always be open for you." Albaer said.
"I will keep that in mind," Kahn responded just as respectfully as ever.
"Well, the reward prize is yours. Do enjoy the banquet before you leave!"
"Forgive me, but I must leave immediately as I have somewhere to be." Kahn bowed apologetically and said with the most sincere tone.
Albaer felt somewhat bitter that first his offer was rejected and then his invitation as well. However, he did not dwell on it and simply shrugged it off.
"... I see, well I wish you good fortune in your journey. Excuse me…" He said with a slight smile and turned back, leaving with the other nobles.
The entire White Family along with various guests also passed by Kehn with pleasant smiles on their faces.
Kahn shot a curious look at Ethan before he left and Ethan too looked back with an enigmatic glint in his eyes. Eventually, the courtyard emptied and the tents were being removed. Kahn grabbed the huge sack of coins and moved to leave as well.
Just as Kahn was about to leave, Ethan, who had sneaked off from everyone else, came back to the courtyard.
Kahn looked at him with surprise not understanding why he had come back.
"Kahn, yes? I'm Ethan White." He said with a smile.
"I know," Kahn replied bluntly in confusion.
"Why don't you work for us?" Ethan got straight to the point not wasting any more time.
"I have my reasons," Kahn said, raising his brows.
"Let me rephrase that, why don't you serve any family or kingdom? Anyone would love to take you in." He asked with a smile.
Kehn looked at Ethan's confident smug face through the helmet and narrowed his eyes feeling very annoyed for some reason. He felt irritated just looking at Ethan's face
"None of your business!" He said picking up the sack full of gold coins and turning around to leave.
"Is it because—"
As Kehn walked ahead moving away from Ethan, a voice rang in his ears from behind like a jolting bolt of lightning which made him halt in his steps abruptly.
"What did you say?!" He exclaimed in shock.
"I said... is it because you're a woman?" Ethan stated in a calm, matter of factly manner peering into Kahn's eyes firmly as if he knew all secrets of the world and nothing was hidden.
Kehn flinched as her eyes widened underneath the helmet. She became speechless looking at Ethan and couldn't register what was happening.
An awkward silence ensued as the reality of it all gradually dawned on her. The perfect disguise that she had been maintaining for years and which no one could unveil had been said by a seven-year-old boy in front of her so casually.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" She finally woke up from her daze panicking inwardly by the suddenness of the situation and blurted pretending to be clueless as she once again, resumed her steps, this time though she walked in large strides.
Kahn felt as if she was falling into some kind of dark abyss looking into Ethan's eyes. She didn't know how he knew her secret and all she wanted to do was to leave immediately.
Ethan smiled as he did not stop her simply looking at her back with a cunning glint in his eyes. Just as Kahn was about to disappear from his sight he chuckled and said, "I was just joking you know, guess it turned out to be true. I really am quite lucky. You should remember me, one day we shall meet again."
Kehn heard what Ethan said and felt even more frustrated that she fell into the trap and revealed the truth herself in panic. She would certainly not forget Ethan for a long time, that's for sure.
Ethan also left the courtyard. The tournament was over and the next day it would be the time for the actual event.
"Master, was it wise to reveal yourself to that woman?" Afriel's voice rang in Ethan's mind.
"Don't worry, it was a gamble, yes. But I have a feeling that it will pay off. I need skilled warriors like her. And I will have them sooner or later by hook or crook." Ethan said.
"I understand. What of the other thing?" Afriel asked once again.
"Soon… The water has boiled, the pressure is high and the cooker is about to blow up." Ethan muttered. He had a weird habit of talking in strange analogies.
".... Master?" Afriel asked awkwardly in confusion.
"Don't worry about it, by the way, good call there informing me of Kahn's disguise."
"It's nothing, you flatter me. It was just a hunch and I wasn't sure."
***
Albaer, Alier, and all the guests went on heading to the forest for hunting. After that, they did some more typical high-society stuff and at night, lavish arrangements were made for entertainment such as music, the dance of beautiful women, alcohol, and some drama shows such as shadow-play.
All in all, Albaer did not shy away from showing proper hospitality to his guests. It was a pleasant night for everyone.
While all that was happening, Ethan discreetly met up with Selene late at night and gave her some instructions. Despite being scared shitless. Selene, in the end, agreed to do his bidding after he fed her some more bullshit manipulating her into thinking that she was doing the Holy Work of God.
Ethan then did some preparation on his part as well and finally, everything was ready. It was time to wait it out and finally take care of his dear uncle once and for all.
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