Chapter 26: Civil Unrest, Section 4

The Moor Empire was a warrior-oriented society. Whether commoners or nobles, everyone was extremely enthusiastic about duels as a form of entertainment. Especially at such high-class banquets… witnessing a fierce and exciting duel was far more thrilling than any other performance.

In the blink of an eye, cries demanding a duel swept through the entire venue. Almost all the guests were shouting excitedly. Some even found good seats to wait. The elegant atmosphere that had just emerged was instantly ruined. Now, the place resembled less a noble banquet and more a bustling market.

Under such circumstances, even Miss Veri, a member of the Moor royal family, could not stop the duel. She glanced at the dark-haired man in the crowd with a complex expression, sighed, and then summoned a servant to give quiet instructions.

The servant rushed to Lei Bao’s side and conveyed Miss Veri’s words. General Lei Bao’s eyes lit up, followed by a loud roar.

“Shut up, all of you!!”

With that, the noisy sounds vanished instantly. Everyone stared quietly at General Lei Bao, waiting for his judgment. Expressions ranged from gritted teeth and frowns to disdain and curiosity.

Amidst these gazes, General Lei Bao felt exceptionally good. He grinned triumphantly and pointed a finger at Little Norbi’s nose. “You!”

“Ah!” Little Norbi’s legs gave way, and he collapsed to the ground in terror. His pale face immediately drew laughter from those around him.

Unfortunately, his pitiful appearance failed to evoke any pity in General Lei Bao. This powerful Mammoth Warrior merely glanced at him disdainfully before continuing.

“You slandered a Bor merchant and ruined his reputation. That’s an unforgivable crime. By our laws, you should be sentenced to death, and your tribe’s war status should be lowered. But considering that the Bor merchant chose not to pursue justice and Miss Veri doesn’t want to ruin the banquet’s atmosphere, you’re granted amnesty. However, you must accept this guard’s duel request. Otherwise, you and your tribe will be branded as vegetable slaves!!”

“What!? Vegetable slaves? That punishment seems a bit too severe, doesn’t it?” Whispers immediately arose among the crowd, and everyone’s gaze toward Little Norbi changed.

Vegetable slaves were the lowest class among slaves. Simply put, they were meant to be eaten. Just like domestic livestock, their only purpose was to become delicious dishes on the tables of the elite in the Moor Empire!

The low murmurs also reached the black-haired man’s ears. When he understood what vegetable slaves meant, his expression changed instantly.

The Moors… actually… ate people?

At this point, even a fool could see that Little Noby was in trouble. These Bor merchants must have gained Miss Veri’s approval. Instantly, all the gazes directed at the black-haired man and the others were filled with envy and jealousy.

Little Noby let out a pained groan and listlessly lowered his head.

Did… did he even need to choose?

The duel venue was set on the stage, the most prominent spot in the hall. This stage covered nearly a thousand square meters—larger than a football field. Chandeliers overhead illuminated the entire stage in sharp detail. Countless guests surrounded it, blocking off all exits.

When the black-haired man saw Miss Veri, she was already seated in the VIP area beside the stage. General Thunderstorm, who was guiding him, smiled kindly at him before kneeling on one knee in a formal bow.

“Respected master, I have brought this Bor merchant here.”

The black-haired man immediately crossed his arms and performed a gesture unique to Bor merchants. “Respected Miss Veri, may your beauty forever rival the brightest stars. I, Beck, a Bor merchant, am honored by your invitation.”

“I am also honored to meet you, Lord Beck,” Miss Veri said with a smile, extending her hand.

Damn it, did he really have to use this ancient hand-kissing ritual?

The black-haired man felt disgusted. But on the surface, he had to pretend to be deeply grateful. When her pale hand, like a withered claw, reached toward him, he almost vomited. After barely kissing it, he raised his head, his face already turning slightly blue.

“Hmm? Lord Beck, your complexion seems poor. Are you worried about your guards?” Miss Veri was puzzled, not realizing it was because of her own excessive “beauty.”

“Oh, of course not. I have full confidence in my guards. They are all experienced warriors who have fought countless battles at my side,” the black-haired man quickly covered up, casually picking up a glass of red wine from the table. “Would you like a drink, my respected Miss Veri?”

“Oh, no. Go ahead as you please.” Miss Veli watched Yu Li’s actions with interest but did not stop him. General Thunderstorm, standing nearby, showed a hint of anger in his eyes, but she also restrained him.
Yu Li quickly drank the red wine in one gulp and cleared his throat before feeling a little better. “I’m truly sorry, Miss Veli. I was rude. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t rest yesterday. I still feel a bit dizzy.”
“Oh, that’s understandable. Long interstellar journeys must be exhausting. I heard you’re a successful armed merchant. But why haven’t I heard of your name before? Sir Beck? Especially someone like you, who can obtain precious black pearls—I would definitely remember such a person if I had heard of you.” Miss Veli smiled, and Yu Li hurriedly poured himself another glass of red wine to cover up his embarrassment.
After drinking the second glass, Yu Li finally calmed down. He quickly came up with an excuse. “Oh, it’s like this, Miss Veli. My family is a very ancient clan within the Bor tribe. It no longer exists. I’m the last descendant. All I have are these guards who have followed me since childhood. I have no power at all, let alone the means to engage in large-scale trade. I can only make a living by selling some rare goods. Of course, as an armed merchant, hunting from time to time is understandable, right?”
“Of course. Privateering is protected by law. If you get robbed, it’s only because you lack strength. Sir Beck, you don’t need to blame yourself for your actions.” General Thunderstorm chuckled and patted Yu Li on the shoulder. “Kid, you’re quite straightforward. It’s the first time I’ve seen someone dare to admit they’re a pirate face to face. I admire you.”
“Th-thank you…” Hearing the creaking of his own bones, Yu Li felt the terrifying strength of General Thunderstorm, his face contorted in pain.
“Hehe, stop hurting our little friend. Thunderstorm, you’re too strong.” Seeing Yu Li’s pained expression, Miss Veli burst into laughter, her face covered in powder as it scattered. Yu Li, frustrated, quickly offered her his gift.
“To keep your beauty forever young, my goddess.” The gift box was opened, revealing a black pearl that shone brilliantly.
Wow! The crowd around them immediately let out low gasps of awe. Everyone’s eyes were wide.
This black pearl was truly enormous—about the size of a bowl. It radiated intense brilliance, clearly a top-tier gem. Such a gift was probably even rare among the kings of the Moore tribe.

Miss Veli’s eyes also shone, and she stood there frozen for a moment. After a long while, she stretched out a hand and slowly covered the box lid, putting on an expression as if nothing had happened. She smiled slightly at Black Hair. “What a rare gift. Thank you, my dear Lord Beck.”
“It’s an honor for this black pearl to receive your praise,” Black Hair said humbly with a smile, subtly flattering Miss Veli a little. After thinking for a moment, he added, “Actually, although black pearls are rare, their true purpose isn’t for decoration.”
“Ah? Why is that?” Miss Veli was surprised and quickly asked.
“Hehe, it’s because of its beauty-boosting effects. Miss Veli, don’t you know? Black pearls are the most perfect beauty remedies in the universe. If ground and taken, they can preserve a woman’s youth and erase the traces of time from her face. Otherwise, just based on appearance, how could they be considered precious?” Black Hair chuckled softly and pointed at the gift box.
“This black pearl is a top-quality one obtained from the deepest frozen seas. In terms of effectiveness, I’m afraid no other pearl can compare. Miss Veli, only it is worthy of your ‘beautiful’ face.”
“Ah!” Miss Veli exclaimed in delight and quickly hugged the gift box to her chest, handling it with great care as if it were her own child. Her face immediately lit up with joy. “That’s absolutely wonderful. But it’s such a perfect pearl—I really don’t want to grind it into powder.”
“Compared to your beauty, what is this pearl anyway? Miss Veli, even the finest gems need a beautiful woman to match them,” Black Hair said, satisfied with her reaction. He then whispered, “Actually, I have another black diamond I plan to offer to you. But I don’t have it with me right now. After this banquet, I’ll personally deliver it to your residence. I think, if used merely as decoration, a black diamond might be even more effective.”
“Oh, my Goddess Tia! A black diamond!?” Another bombshell exploded in Miss Veli’s ears. Her gaze toward Black Hair instantly changed, filled with sparkling stars. Her enthusiasm was so intense that Black Hair almost thought she might swallow him whole.
Since both Black Hair and Miss Veli spoke in low voices, there were no exclamations around them this time. But General Thunderstorm nearby heard them and glanced at Black Hair in astonishment, his face full of disbelief.

This Pole merchant is truly amazing. He managed to get two top-quality gems. It seems he’s likely to win Miss Veri’s favor. I’ll need to get to know him better in the future.
Just as both sides had their own ulterior motives, a voice suddenly rang out from the stage.
“A duel between Lord Beck’s bodyguard, Blood Pupil, from the Pole tribe, and warrior Little Norby from the Allied Lands tribe…”
“It begins now!!”