After the kiss, Cecilia finally realized what she had done. She lowered her head slightly, and the majesty of the city lord disappeared. Her shy look could almost turn all men to stone.
"What's wrong with me? The moment I saw Dior, I couldn't bear it anymore, and all my reserve flew out of the sky. I don't know if it was an illusion, but when I first saw Dior, he became more charming... It seems so.
I haven’t seen him for a long time, this cruel thief!”
This is Cecilia's inner thought.
Standing's heart was broken at this time.
However, as a loser does not lose, Standing held on and said: "I am the second heir to the Ironthorn family and the fourth son of Earl Standing, Albert Standing!"
"Tiethorn family? Never heard of it." Bai Xiaowen said calmly.
Cecilia, who was holding her waist by Bai Xiaowen, felt a little weak and said softly to Bai Xiaowen: "Black Rock City is the territory of the Tiethorn family. Standing's family is very powerful and is the most powerful noble family in Northern Xinjiang.
"
Albert Standing calmed down his proud look and said calmly: "The Iron Thorn family is a wealthy family in northern Xinjiang, but they have always been relatively low-key, so it is not a big deal that some ignorant people have not heard of the name of the Iron Thorn coat of arms.
Strange."
"Really?" Bai Xiaowen said with a smile, "Since Black Rock City is the territory of your Tieji family, why did I lead the army to Black Rock City when the remnants attacked and I didn't see you? I didn't even see anyone named Standing.
arrive."
Baron Standing looked slightly embarrassed, and then said: "Father gave the command of Black Rock Fortress to His Highness the Prince, and he did behind-the-scenes work, dispatching food, and protecting the safety of food transportation routes. The importance of these logistical tasks is many
Young people who have not yet matured do not understand. They are just ignorant young men who only know fighting on the battlefield and regard it as their only glory."
Cecilia stood up straight, her beautiful face was stern, and she said in a deep voice: "Baron Standing, do you know who the person standing in front of you is?"
Baron Standing actually had some guesses, but he remained silent.
"The man standing in front of you is called Dio Skelboom. It was he who repeatedly contributed strategies and accomplished extraordinary feats in the offensive and defensive battles of Black Rock City. It was he who resolved the undead plague and left White Rock City in Northern Xinjiang.
, the two pure lands of Black Rock City, it was he who killed Absolun, the commander of the remnant coalition forces, so that those beasts no longer dared to peep at the Plantagenet Empire!"
"Are you sure you want to brag about your achievements in transporting food in front of such a person?"
Baron Standing took a step back: "It is indeed you, Dio Skelboom."
"It seems that my title is Viscount, right?" Bai Xiaowen snorted, "Your Excellency, Baron, is it too rude to call me by my first name?"
"I'm sorry, Your Excellency, Viscount Dio," Baron Standing quickly organized his words, "You have made some achievements in establishing yourself, but do you know that your military achievements are based on making most of the humans in Northern Xinjiang irrational?
Above the monsters? The people of the Plantagenet Empire all think you are a cold-blooded devil!"
Bai Xiaowen shook his head, glanced at Standing with contempt, hugged Cecilia and was about to enter the city lord's palace.
When passing by Baron Standing, the latter said sternly: "Don't you dare to defend yourself?"
Bai Xiaowen suddenly stopped and turned back to stare at Baron Standing.
"Who do you think you are? I need to defend you? Whatever I did before, I would do it again and I would never regret it. You are too stupid to understand what I did. I am not your father, so why should you follow me?
Can you explain the reason clearly and make you smarter?"
"You!" Baron Standing's face turned red with anger.
Cecilia whispered: "If possible, try not to conflict with him. The territory of the Iron Thorn family controls the road hub from the empire to northern Xinjiang. It is not appropriate to offend him."
Bai Xiaowen smiled and said: "I have already guessed that this is the reason."
If it weren't for the important status of Standing that made Cecilia jealous, this strong woman known as the White Rose would definitely not treat Standing with pretense.
The road hub from the empire to northern Xinjiang is indeed important. Once it is cut off, Baishi City will be no different from an isolated city, and the possibility of communication and development with the outside world will be cut off.
Moreover, there are only two large-scale human strongholds in northern Xinjiang today, one is White Rock City and the other is Black Rock City. Among them, Black Rock City is several times larger than White Rock City, and has relatively complete goods resources and even professional talents.
It can't be compared with Baishi City.
White Rock City needs to trade with Black Rock City to obtain the materials it needs for development.
Cecilia is so forbearing because she wants to better develop Baishi City, which Bai Xiaowen left behind.
After a pause, Bai Xiaowen said again: "Actually, you don't need to spoil that guy. I don't believe that Baishi City can't develop without his Iron Thorn family?"
Cecilia gently held Bai Xiaowen's arm: "You are the lord, you have the final say."
The two of them were affectionate, but Baron Standing behind them looked at them with eyes blazing. He rushed over in a few steps, pulled off his gloves in twos, and threw them at Bai Xiaowen's feet.
"Pick it up, you coward!"
A low exclamation sounded. In the world of Kane's plane, if a noble throws a glove to another person in public, it means a duel is initiated. If the other person picks up the glove, it means accepting the duel.
Then, something even more shocking happened. Bai Xiaowen stepped on the glove embroidered with iron spines.
"Are you worthy of a duel with me?" Bai Xiaowen said lightly.
Regardless of title or influence, world-class popularity is no small matter, although in the eyes of many people in the Plantagenet Empire, the name Dio Skelboom means notoriety.
"I am not dueling you as a warrior, and I have no interest in your martial arts. I am challenging you as a suitor!" Baron Standing roared, "A vulgar countryman like you
, not worthy of a delicate rose like Cecily. Do you dare to pick up your sword and accept my challenge?"
Bai Xiaowen is very familiar with Kane's cultural background. This kind of duel for lovers is very popular among nobles and is generally accepted.
Of course, those nobles who are not skilled in martial arts can also designate their own subordinates to accept the duel on their behalf. However, the party who takes the initiative to challenge cannot do this, and the challenger must appear in person.
Cecilia shook her head and said: "Your Excellency Baron Standing, have you forgotten that Baron Dio was the warrior who killed Absolun? Isn't it humiliating yourself to challenge him with your strength?"
Although people in the spirit world cannot have insight into each other's information like Bai Xiaowen, they can feel someone's general level of strength from the intensity of the fluctuations of psychic particles.
Judging from the fluctuations of psychic particles, Baron Standing is at the level of a fifth- and sixth-level elite, even inferior to Cecilia's knights, Tim, Mark and Phil, let alone Bai Xiaowen.
Baron Standing's face turned redder. He said word by word: "I cannot accept the shame of being despised by the woman I love. I will stake the honor of the Iron Thorn family, Viscount Dio, and I will have a life-and-death duel with you!"
Exclamations rang out, and everyone looked at each other, thinking that Standing was probably crazy.
Bai Xiaowen frowned slightly and cast Insight on Baron Standing.
"The target is in chameleon blood camouflage state..."
"Unknown factors are interfering, and the data is in chaos..."
"500 psychic points will be deducted for this insight. Do you want to pay?"
Bai Xiaowen immediately chose to pay. In an instant, in his eyes, Albert Standing's template information suddenly changed.
[Skill 1: Secret Seal of Carving: Cast a secret Seal of Carving on the target. The next spell cast by the opponent will be interfered by the secret seal and fail, and the spell energy will be sealed in one's own magic blade. The next 10
Within minutes, each time the magic blade hits an enemy, it will cause additional spell damage (the attribute type is determined by the interfering spell).]
[Skill 2: Magic Blade: Passive, your blade is surging with magic energy. Each successful physical attack will add 10 points of magic damage (no attributes). 】
[Skill 3: Instant Strike: Instantly disappear in place, appear behind the target and attack. If this attack hits, it will cause double damage. 】
【Skill 4:???】
[Skill 5: Wandering Swordsman lv1: Arquette’s health is increased by an additional 300 points, and the duration of abnormal status and control skills is reduced by 30%.]
"Good guy, there is actually some kind of chameleon blood disguise... This guy is not Baron Standing at all! He has ulterior motives!"
Bai Xiaowen opened his eyes slightly and looked at "Standing" carefully. This Standing's actual name is Arquette. He doesn't know where he came from, but he is quite strong, and he is especially powerful when fighting alone.
"A life and death duel, are you sure?"
"Of course!"
"Okay then," Bai Xiaowen said lightly, "As you wish. According to convention, I should decide the time and place, right?"
Arquette sneered and said, "It's up to you."
"The time is set at noon, and the location is in the central square of Baishi City. How about it?" Bai Xiaowen looked up at the sky. Noon is now only an hour or two away.
"Okay! I'll wait for you in the central square, don't be afraid to come!" After Arquette said that, he got into the carriage with the help of the butler and drove away.
Seeing the carriage engraved with the iron thorn coat of arms go away, Cecilia stepped forward and held Bai Xiaowen's hand and said: "Actually, there is no need to be familiar with such a superficial guy."
"You are wrong, this person is not simple!" Bai Xiaowen shook his head and said, "Cecilia, please tell me first, is there anything in the territory that needs help from Black Rock City recently?"
…
"Big news! The Lord is going to duel with Baron Standing!"
"I heard it was caused by the Lord of the City, or a life and death duel!"
"Where is it? I want to see it!"
In just over an hour, the news of the duel spread throughout Baishi City as if it had wings. Many residents rushed to the central square to witness this wonderful show.
The Tieji family's carriage is among the carriages.
An old man wearing a butler's costume lowered the thick plush curtains:
"No wonder it's getting noisier and noisier outside. There are so many people wanting to watch the game."
Standing sitting opposite, the wandering swordsman Arquette, sneered: "How can so many people gather in such a short time? It must be the lord who is adding fuel to the fire. He thinks he has a chance to win and wants to win in front of the people.
I'm just showing off."
The old housekeeper smiled and said: "He did not expect that his opponent was not the noble Master Standing, but a highly skilled wandering swordsman."
"Humph, the expression on Viscount Dior's face will be very wonderful when the time comes." Arquette said.
"However, we still cannot take it lightly. Dio's strength is absolutely extraordinary and he can kill the orc chief Absolon!"
Arquette shook his head and said disdainfully: "I have heard the whole story a long time ago. Absolun was surrounded by zombies, and Dio got a huge advantage in the end. His real strength is only average.
, not to mention that in this kind of arena battle, where my strength can be brought out even better, he will definitely die!"
"Well, that's right. As long as Dio dies and he has no heirs, the Tiethorn family can apply to take over the territory!" The old housekeeper said with a smile, "The magical zombie luring liquid and disguise used in White Rock City
The formula of the medicinal liquid is the property of the Tieji family."
"I'm not interested in it, as long as you give me what I deserve," Arquette said.
"You can rest assured..."
Suddenly, the noise from the outside world became louder, and someone shouted: "Lord! Lord Dio and the Lord of the City have both appeared!"
"It's your turn to perform, Mr. Arquette." The old butler smiled slyly.
Arquette smiled and nodded, opened the thick curtain, and jumped out of the carriage.
The central square was surrounded by enthusiastic spectators. Only in the central area, under the constraints of the city defense army guards, was a circular venue about a hundred meters in diameter, which was the duel ground.
Soon, Bai Xiaowen and Arquette arrived at the circular duel arena and stood facing each other.
"Only one person can survive today, Vicomte Dior," Arquette performed gracefully, "Only one person can win Cecily's heart!"
"Her heart has been mine for a long time." Bai Xiaowen's warm smile made Arquette feel inexplicably angry. "Hey, first sign the life-and-death duel contract."
For a duel contract, both parties must have a notary.
On Bai Xiaowen's side, with Cecilia as the notary, he signed the contract without any regrets.
On Arquette's side, there was no decent noble to testify, and he could only ask his personal butler, Mr. Harold, to testify. However, Arquette was obviously well-prepared, bringing with him the silver thorn seal that symbolizes the authority of the Iron Thorn family.
, stamped on Harold’s and his own names.
Two duelists and two notaries each signed a life and death contract. No matter which party dies, it does not violate the laws of the empire.