CHAPTER 728: 570 UNCONVENTIONAL WEAPONS UNLIKE SWORDS AND KNIVES

Sgranot Bayard was indeed somewhat unstable mentally.

He was extremely averse to any Sword Saint other than himself, always believing that Xinyele was his own turf, where only he was the strongest, not tolerating the presence of peers besides himself.

The fall of his homeland made the city lord of Xinyele distrust anyone other than himself, especially not the constantly warring major nations like the Ginas Kingdom and Leiblu Kingdom.

Nothing was of concern to ordinary people, but relying on his status as a Sword Saint, he wasn’t too worried about any threats that minor hooligans might pose, which was why Xinyele’s underground force could continue to exist.

However, if it came to someone of the same level as him, regardless of whether the other was a foreigner or a local, Sgranot Bayard would instinctively repel them, simply not allowing them to stay within his domain.

Simply because, they had the ability and strength to threaten him.

Thus, Sgranot Bayard only allowed one Sword Saint in Xinyele, and that had to be himself.

Even if a native of Xinyele stepped into the realm of Sword Saint and obtained the ability to threaten him, he would not hesitate to expel them, forcing them out.

Take Borde, for example; although he was highly valued by Sgranot Bayard, if he ever showed potential to reach the realm of Sword Saint, Sgranot Bayard might turn against him, forcing him out or even eliminating him.

That is Sgranot Bayard, a Sword Saint who wouldn’t tolerate any threats — calling him cautious was a euphemism, but calling him narrow-minded sounded harsher.

In such a state, the arrival of Reiger, the youngest-ever Sword Saint and magicians of Tactical Level Magic, had already triggered Sgranot Bayard’s defenses, causing an overreaction.

Moreover, Reiger’s arrival was so sudden, so dominant, so imperious, and he even prepared to touch the taboo that Sgranot forbade anyone to touch, further reaching Sgranot’s bottom line and making him even more sensitive.

Thus, Sgranot Bayard’s reaction was monumental, his eyes filled with rejection and caution as he looked at Reiger.

Unaware of this, Reiger saw Sgranot Bayard’s exaggerated reaction and immediately narrowed his eyes.

"What agreements you Xinyele have with the Ginas Kingdom have nothing to do with me," Reiger said indifferently. "Although I was born in Ginas Kingdom, I’m just a commoner, with no titles nor intentions of loyalty to the Kingdom. I believe, city lord, you are well aware of this?"

"Since that is so, I do not represent Ginas Kingdom, nor does Ginas Kingdom represent me."

"I will do as I please; city lord, you would do well not to use Ginas Kingdom to pressure me."

Beyond these words, Sgranot Bayard did not relax his vigilance; instead, his nerves became even more strained.

"Then why are you here in Xinyele?"

Sgranot Bayard challenged aloud.

"Does that concern you?"

Reiger asked with a smirk.

"It doesn’t concern me?" Sgranot Bayard laughed in anger, saying, "I am the city lord of Xinyele, the builder of this city; I rule here, and no one can defy me. You come here to cause trouble and say it doesn’t concern me?"

"True, you are the city lord of Xinyele, the builder of this city, commanding respect, and no one can defy you," Reiger retorted sarcastically. "But your city does not require a detailed explanation of one’s purpose upon entry, right?"

"Does everyone who comes here have to report to you?"

"Why don’t you establish such a rule and inform everyone then?"

Sgranot Bayard was rendered speechless.

Indeed, Xinyele had no rule requiring a detailed explanation of one’s purpose to enter the city.

As a neutral city, although somewhat self-sufficient, it still needed to trade for materials not available in the neutral areas from neighboring countries. For the city to develop, it inevitably had to consider the population issue, and to attract foreigners to conduct business or settle down, Xinyele could not have too exclusionary rules that would deter potential incomers.

Who would have thought, Reiger would bring up just this issue.

Of course, Sgranot Bayard was not without a response or rebuttal.

"My city is just a small city built on a desert; what could it possibly offer to attract a Sword Saint?" Sgranot Bayard pressed. "Not to mention, upon your arrival, you touched the taboo, the forbidden objects; I have a reason to suspect you mean harm to Xinyele."

"Maybe you were spoiled in Ginas Kingdom, where no one dared to confront you."

"But, this is not Ginas Kingdom, this is my Xinyele."

"You do not respect the rules here, casually touching dangerous objects that I, the city lord, have forbidden; if I do nothing about it, then what kind of city lord would I be?"

"You ignore the rules I have established, that is provoking me, being hostile toward me and Xinyele!"

Sgranot Bayard raised his hand.

"Boom!"

The knights around immediately seemed to receive a signal, stepping forward in unison, making a loud stomping sound.

"Today I want to see, for myself, just what is so remarkable about this genius renowned across the entire Akasha Continent, allowing you to ignore me so brazenly and barge into my city lord’s mansion."

Sgranot Bayard grasped a sheathed weapon that was not yet drawn in his hand, his eyes shot towards Reiger filled with coldness.

"I’ll also tell you that a mere newcomer doesn’t have the right to provoke us, the veteran Sword Saints."

Speaking, Sgranot slowly drew the weapon that was sheathed at his side.

"Huh?"

Reiger, who was about to say something, was instantly captivated by the weapon.

It was a weapon that seemed neither like a sword nor a knife.

The reason it was said to be like a sword but not a sword was that it had a hilt and a blade, but no tip or edge.

The reason it was said to be like a knife but not a knife was that, although it sloped like a knife, it lacked both a knife tip and an edge.

Seeing this weapon, Reiger thought of something known as a "ruler."

It appeared to be a metal ruler the size of a sword, made of a very special material, presenting an amber hue throughout, stunningly regal and pleasing to the eye.

On the blade of this amber weapon, were inlaid twelve differently colored gems.

Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, purple, gold, silver, black, white, and brown — twelve colors of gems inlaid on the amber weapon, shining brightly and vividly in the darkness before dawn.

Of course, this was not what attracted Reiger the most.

What attracted him the most was the fact that, whether it was the twelve gems or the amber weapon itself, there was a very subtle yet immensely strong flow of Magic Power.

This told Reiger that the weapon Sgranot had drawn at that moment was likely no ordinary weapon.

The weapon gave Reiger the impression that its threat level was at least above Revin’s Sword of the Rebels, and among all the weapons Reiger knew, it was perhaps only weaker than the Sword of Moslo. Its quality was likely above divine-grade artifacts, comparable to world-class items.

"What kind of secret treasure is that?"

Reiger became somewhat curious.

However, Sgranot paid no attention to Reiger.

"Magicians, retreat! Open the multiple interference barriers of the City Lord’s Mansion!"

"Normal knights, fall back! You are permitted to use Magic Bolts and Magic Arrows for support from behind!"

"All Oasis Knights! Surround the enemy!"

Sgranot made a series of arrangements right in front of Reiger.

He had no intention of fighting Reiger one-on-one and directly deployed his troops, overwhelming with sheer numbers.

"Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!"

The surrounding people immediately responded and took action. Even knowing that the enemy before them was a Sword Saint of the same ranking as the City Lord and also a Tactical Level Magician, they maintained a calm and resolute demeanor, displaying exceptional battlefield discipline.

"Hum!"

The regular knights retreating to the rear started drawing their bows, aiming arrows made of what was clearly magic metal at Reiger. The Oasis Knights moved forward to surround him, blocking all possible escape routes. The Magicians in the surrounding buildings activated the barriers set up inside the City Lord’s Mansion, causing a transparent barrier to rise around it, enveloping the entire City Lord’s Mansion.

As the barrier rose, the magical reflection around Reiger and the auroras behind him were suddenly as if disturbed by some unknown force, becoming extremely unstable.

Seeing this, Reiger knew that within the City Lord Mansion’s multiple interference barriers, magic would hardly be effective.

Even if not as powerful as the "Light of the Celestial Pillar" in the palace of Ginsus Kingdom — a strategic-level protective barrier capable of totally suppressing magic — the multiple interference barriers of the City Lord’s Mansion could also disrupt most magic, greatly reducing the power of the spells Reiger cast and potentially causing them to fail.

This was also why many major powers were not very fearful of the threats posed by magicians but were more apprehensive towards higher-ranking swordsmen.

It is said, "use magic to defeat magic." Major powers generally set up extensive protections and traps in their strongholds to limit the actions of magicians, to avoid being stealthily slain by unknown spells.

Such protective measures were even in place in the royal townhouse of the Franzel family; naturally, the City Lord’s Mansion, as the administrative center of the Neutral City of Sinyere, would not be without them.

"Regret carelessly trespassing onto my grounds now," Sgranot said with a cold laugh.

"Attack!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the knights in the rear released their bowstrings, sending the arrows flying.

"Whiz whiz whiz whiz whiz whiz—"

Suddenly, a barrage of arrows flew from all directions, tracing arcs through the air, converging on Reiger.

"Hum!"

The arrows pulsated with surging Magic Power.

"Hah."

Facing the overwhelming volley of arrows, Reiger laughed, reaching down to grasp the knife at his waist...