Chapter 183: The Alliance of Viscounts
An ability he had already displayed during the Count’s daughter’s dance party.
The moment that news spread, everyone’s perspective changed.
"A clone?"
"If that’s true."
"Then everything makes sense."
Some couldn’t help but gasp. Others exchanged solemn glances.
Suddenly the impossible no longer seemed so impossible.
This was also one of the reasons Luke had never wanted to expose too many of his trump cards.
After all.
Even his cloning ability was supposed to remain hidden.
There was still one fact that no one could wrap their heads around.
An Early Bronze Knight possessing the combat power of peak-golden knight?.
If it hadn’t been exposed. Luke could have continued using it as a cover for a much longer time.
At least until he had grown even stronger.
But.
What was done was done. There was no changing it now.
Then, another detail caught everyone’s attention.
When the Golden Knight launched his attack on the fortress where Luke was supposedly staying. Luke had mysteriously disappeared.
And when they matched the timing.
They discovered that Luke had reappeared on the battlefield shortly after that terrifying explosion.
The pieces slowly fell into place.
"It really was Hero Luke."
One by one they became convinced that Hero Luke was the one who had killed Viscount Aldaric.
After all he had more than enough motive.
The hatred between the two sides had already reached the point of no return.
Not only that Aldaric had even hired an assassination organization to eliminate Luke.
From every angle Luke had the strongest reason to seek revenge.
Sadly.
Reason alone wasn’t enough.
There wasn’t a single piece of concrete evidence.
No one had actually seen Luke at the battlefield where Aldaric was killed.
Even his **Sylvarion** form had remained high in the sky during that period, making it impossible for anyone to confirm his whereabouts.
Without any witnesses, evidence and proof.
They couldn’t accuse Hero Luke of murdering Viscount Aldaric.
After all he was both a noble and a Hero.
---
"Do you think Baron Luke really killed the Viscount?"
One of the men hiding beneath the branches of a towering tree lowered his telescope-like light artifact and quietly asked his companion.
Hearing those words. Luke was momentarily startled.
’Hm?’
’They actually guessed it was me?’
A baffled expression flashed across his face.
Curiosity getting the better of him, he remained silent and continued listening to their conversation.
Soon enough he understood everything.
"So that’s how they connected the dots."
Luke rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"My strength."
He couldn’t help but shake his head before silently listening to their gossip once again.
"Then are we really not going to make a move against him?" the same man asked hesitantly.
He had dark brown hair and was wrapped from neck to toe in a loose brown robe, with only his eyes visible.
His companion, whose black hair carried faint brown streaks, glanced around cautiously before replying in a wary tone.
"We still don’t know Baron Luke’s true strength."
He paused for a brief moment.
"So taking such a risk would be foolish."
Hearing that.
Luke nodded repeatedly with an approving smile.
"Good boy."
He was just about to withdraw his gaze.
However the other man seemed unwilling to let the matter end there.
A strange itch stirred within him.
As if he desperately wanted to provoke Luke.
"But didn’t you hear? Viscount Aldaric left his own territory like a fool."
"Besides he was only a newly risen Viscount."
"Our families have held our territories for far longer than his."
He folded his arms proudly, a smug grin spreading across his face.
"And I’m certain Luke wouldn’t dare attack our territory like he did Aldaric’s."
"Our army is stronger."
"Our defenses are stronger."
"The moment he sees our fortress. He’ll tuck his tail between his legs and run away like a chicken."
Luke’s mouth twitched violently.
The vein on his forehead almost bulged.
"Kid."
He took a slow, deep breath to suppress the urge to march over there immediately.
"Just wait until the Arcane Sky Tower finishes charging."
A dangerous smile slowly crept across his lips.
"Then I’ll personally rain a hundred bolts of lightning on your territory."
"Especially your house."
He muttered through gritted teeth, his eye twitching in irritation.
The second man instantly frowned and smacked the back of his companion’s head.
*Smack!*
"Idiot."
"If things were really that simple." He shot him an exasperated glare.
"Do you honestly think the other Viscounts would’ve just sat back and done nothing?"
"They would’ve attacked him long ago."
The black-haired man immediately rebuked him.
Hearing those words. The brown-haired man’s smug expression instantly stiffened.
His face fell.
"..."
He quietly lowered his head, no longer daring to speak.
Luke, on the other hand. Nearly teared up in joy.
His eyes actually became a little moist.
"Why can’t everyone be as intelligent as him?"
He muttered emotionally while looking at the black-haired man with newfound appreciation.
"Finally. Someone with a brain."
Then.
The black-haired man continued.
"And besides if this had happened before. We could’ve done something."
"In the worst-case scenario. We could’ve even formed an alliance with the other Viscount Territories."
The instant those words entered Luke’s ears.
His smile froze.
"..."
"..."
The corners of his lips slowly twitched downward.
His earlier excitement vanished without a trace.
"Nah." He sighed.
"I take it back."
"He is not idiot."
"He is actually pretty smart."
Luke rubbed his forehead with a helpless expression.
It seemed these people had already considered every possible solution.
If Blackstone had truly become a threat before. Several long-established Viscount families could have temporarily joined forces.
After all those Viscount Houses had ruled their territories for generations.
Their foundations were far deeper than Aldaric’s ever had been.
Each possessed multiple Golden Knights. Some even had hidden trump cards.
If several such families genuinely united. Even Luke would find the situation troublesome.
Not impossible. But definitely troublesome.
He narrowed his glowing eyes.
"Then."
"Why did he emphasize ’before’?" A trace of confusion surfaced on his face.