Chapter 348 The Winner Of The First Event (Part 4)
Needless to say but most of the present people refused to believe the absurdity of someone from the younger generation capturing one hundred Arch ranked magic beasts, maybe setting them up with traps was possible with some meticulous preparations, but that would make it impossible to bring them back alive.
So of course, the accusations started, one of the many nobles who at this point accepted that his descendant was most likely dead was the first to stand from his seat and pointed at Daimon before saying.
"Kid, you surely aren't trying to say you captured all these beasts by yourself right?".
The Blackfin Duke saw a chance to get back at the silver haired youth who insulted him before, and snorted as he said.
"How curious, you returned with "company", how can we know they didn't help you, the array was damaged so there is no way to tell, without further investigation, I suggest Lord Vincent to render these extra points null".
Daimon simply stood there with a relaxed expression waiting for the accusations to end, after a couple of seconds, Vincent's voice echoed through the area.
"Silence", it wasn't angry or anything, but the authority behind it, made all those who were talking or even whispering to sit straight in their seats and turn silent at the spot.
Only then Daimon spoke.
"To begin with, the reason as to why my team had such low points is because I mainly encountered with pirates and Skelefiends…".
The Blackfin Duke didn't even let Daimon finish, as he snorted.
"What are you implying we should give the points to you because of an uncontrollable situation, these things happen in real life, you are too naïve kid!".
Daimon smirked the idiot took the bait.
"I couldn't have said it better myself, it was my decision to use those cages to keep your descendants and some war prisoners safe, and the enemies ambushing us was something that falls in the category… but if I have to accept the negative aspects why should I be deprived of the good aspects".
"When I was surfacing I was lucky enough to find a pack of sea magic beasts, which were blocking my way, and they were sucked by the current that took my group to the surface, though I did have some help to open a path through the ground in the form of one of that lady's generals, it's not my fault the beasts were caught in the current".
"I'm pretty sure you saw that pillar of pressured water which pierced the ground, all those beasts were hit by the current and while in the air they couldn't maneuver as they wanted, my team as well as the princesses attacked the beasts to exhaust them, after that I only asked for the Empress's general to keep the beasts together so they didn't drift away due to the chaotic battlefield, changes in a battlefield are indeed uncontrollable but what kind of idiot wouldn't take advantage of them?".
The Blackfin's Duke face turned sour, he fell in a provocation and gave an argument for the silver haired youth to defend his case, not to mention the three princesses were now involved and that made a lot of the nobles to reconsider his opinion as they wouldn't lie.
Daimon then walked towards the water sphere and took out one of the smaller beasts, which was still so lethargic it didn't even try to fight back.
"Here, you can see it for yourselves, the mark is there and I'm pretty sure you can feel my team's and the princesses energy firms on the wounds and not anyone's else", he said as he threw the beast towards Vincent's subordinate.
"Crack!", though the beast was rather small, an Arch rank magic beast is quite heavy due to the density of its bones and its high muscle mass, of course at contact with the ground the latter cracked,
That sole action had a lot of meaning, Daimon casually threw such a heavy magic beast, meaning his physical strength was anormal, and that placed him in the same category of the top three, meaning that if he didn't lose time to help the hostages, his base points would have been around the 105,000, add to that the 45,000 he brought back in corpses and the result was… 150,000, which means he by right would have gotten the first rank.
"Of course, dealing with so many magic beasts wouldn't have been possible for my team alone, and so the amount should be split in three ways, for mine, the first princess's and miss Jasmine's equally, that would be fair", added Daimon as he stole a gaze at those two.
The crowd was dumbfounded, 100 Arch rank magic beasts at 5000 points each was half a million points, divided in three that was still around 166,000, Daphne and Jasmine who basically lost their teams were really far in the ranks, since they weren't officially in Daimon's team, but with just there, then they would be the second and third place respectively.
In other words, the silver haired youth by "himself" pushed the three favorites out of the top three at the same time, it was outrageous.
The king was about to complain when Vincent waved his hand and inspected the wounds of all the magic beasts, if he were to make a detailed report about the percentages of the energy firms he found in the body of the magic beasts, it would be 30% Daimon's team, 30% Jasmine, 30% Daphne and the last 10% were only faint traces of that snake general that followed the black Empress.
"Luck is also a part of one's strength, is that what you are trying to say?", asked the Trident Marshal before he gave his verdict.
Daimon shrugged in response.
"Sheer luck is worthless unless one knows how to take advantage of an opportunity, some good opportunities come disguised as disasters, it's a matter of perspective".
The king saw that things were going in the direction he didn't want the most and he interfered in the conversation.
"Ahem, though your reasons are valid, you still received external help to keep your "trophies", while others didn't, we can't just overlook that".
Daimon shook his head before saying.
"In case the king's memory is chaotic due to the recent events, I seem to remember that besides my group, everyone else was brought back with help as they were stranded, they only arrived once the battle ended, but I returned as it was required and was met with the "frightening" experience of many high ranked people clashing, what did you expect me to do".
Vincent was inwardly laughing, but he remained calm on the surface, there were no flaws to Daimon's logic, for each "negative" part of his story, he had a positive one, the others indeed received help to transport their trophies all the way to the finish line, while he just asked for help so the lethargic beasts didn't drift away due to the waves caused by the many battles.
The Blackfin Duke could foresee the end of this, he saw his son looking at him and he gritted his teeth, before making one last attempt.
"I still think this was too much of a convenient situation, a further investigation should be upheld to verify…".
The Blackfin Duke suddenly stopped speaking when he was glared upon by both Aurora and Annete who had remained silent until now.
"Are you implying I can't recognize my own granddaughter's energy firm in all those beasts?", said the old woman with a serious voice.
"I was the one who taught Mellie most of her spells, and these beasts were clearly attacked by them, are you accusing my sister of cheating Blackfin Duke?", Annete's voice was clearly hostile.
And that was the last nail on the coffin for both the Blackfin Duke and the king, the four judges had to give their verdict and in a 3v1 situation, in which the king voted no, the top three took a different turn.
Vincent's subordinate counted the points and then loudly announced, so that everyone could hear it directly.
"Marquess Gabriel… 272,000 points".
"First princess Daphne Valas, 200,000 points".
"Young miss Jasmine Ivory, 198,000 points".
A sepulchral silence fell on the area, in past beast hunts the highest score belonged to the crowned prince and it was a total of about 185,000, which was also the highest score ever attained since the Trident Marshal's young years, that's why so many people idolized him, he showed the potential to easily reach the maximum stage of the Stellar rank, a genius who hasn't appeared since the chaotic war era, the young spear and the Blackfin family's second young master, weren't that far though so they were expected to be in the same category, a trio who was supposed to shape the future of the Clear Water kingdom.
And yet they were surpassed by a lot today, by someone who most of the present people haven't even heard about, call it luck or strategy, results are results.
The Blackfin Duke saw his son was about to lose it, and he abruptly stood up from his seat to excuse himself.
"Your majesty, this subject has some matters to tend to regarding what happened, we have some prisoners which I would like to interrogate, so I'll take my leave".
Of course, he didn't forget to glare at Daimon as he softly said.
"Lucky brat".
Daimon smirked in response as he said.
"This wouldn't have been possible with the help of the princesses, I guess loyalty is rewarded while treason is punished, I think the people of the Elemental Sea call it "Karma", am I right lady Aurora?", said Daimon as he looked at the old woman.
Aurora nodded in response.
"Yes, my that is one of the teachings of my Light Palace sect".
The Blackfin Duke felt the judging and ridiculing gazes of the nobles and neo nobles, the case of his son abandoning the sister of the queen to save himself, had spread through the kingdom like powder, and it has become a sore spot for him.
"Humph!", ultimately the Blackfin Duke snorted and took his son and his subordinates as he left in disgrace.
He nearly vomited blood when he heard Dominic's mocking voice calling him out from behind as he left.
"Don't forget I will submit a petition so you are stripped from the Minister of Defense's position, hahaha!".
The Blackfin Duke trembled due to anger, but he didn't turn back and just accelerated his pace.
The king's mood was spoiled too and he noticed his son wasn't exactly happy as well, so he decided to wrap things up for today.
"That will be it, honored guests please feel free to explore my kingdom while we prepare for the next event and the royal banquet, I leave you in senior Vincent's hands, don't worry we'll get to the end of this matter".
The king then stood up and looked at his wives, of course only Irma and Norma as well as the twin princes and the crowned prince followed him, the crowned prince stole a gaze at Daimon as he passed next to him, but didn't say anything.
Annete didn't give the king's wives any face though.
"Don't forget our little bet, I expect the payment later on", of course that made the king and his two wives to glare at the queen, but there was nothing they could do about Annete's sharp tongue.
The young spear on the other hand approached Daimon and offered a handshake.
"It was a nice competition, I hope to clash weapons with you at the three-art tournament, strategy isn't my strong point so one of my companions will be taking that spot, but I'm pretty confident in my battle skills".
Daimon accepted the handshake, the gaze in Lance's eyes was one he knew pretty well, as he has seen it in Aura's eyes before, it's the gaze of a battle maniac.
"Sure".
The madman Dominic also approached Daimon and roughly patted his shoulder.
"Nice way to put those bastards in their place, shall the situation allow it come and visit my Spear of the Sea's headquarters, there is always place for strong people who earn their titles to join hahaha!".
Apparently, Dominic was impressed by Daimon's performance, he earned a noble title with his own hands and that was the origin of the neo nobles after all.
Daimon then turned to see his own group, the other nobles were leaving so it was time for them to find a place to stay, probably Annete had a mansion here where they could rest.
But then both the Trident Marshal as well as Aurora, approached him.
"You all must be quite tired, let me invite you to this old man's mansion, of course all the present's are free to join".
Daimon could feel the gazes of the two Stellar ranks as well as the queen's and also the Daphne's mother and he knew they wouldn't accept a no, so he inwardly sighed and after seeing the girls were on board he nodded.
"I'll take on the offer".
The Black Empress as well as Karmandi and the other snake general also approached them.
"This Empress will join as well; I have some things to discuss with Annete".
Vincent raised an eyebrow, listening to the Black Empress calling his niece by her name directly, but since Annete didn't seem to mind, he nodded.
"Sure, follow me, there are enough rooms for everyone to relax, then we can have a nice meal before entering into more serious matters".
And so the strange group formed by people from three of the four seas and different galaxy, followed the Trident Marshal to his mansion.