Way of the Knights

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Raven was of course surprised by the intense reaction of Albert. He could even see that even Raul and the rest of the guards were all looking at him weirdly as well. This caused him to feel a bit awkward.

"Well, I don't know him personally but he was the one who approached me first." He replied, "Why? Is there something wrong?"

"Of course there is! Don't you know which clan he comes from?" Albert asked rhetorically, looking at Raven as if he was a madman or something. 

"Son, don't forget that Raven hasn't even been in the Divine Realm for a year." Raul calmly commented on the side. 

"Ah! Damn! I forgot about that!" Albert scratched his head and sat back down, looking a bit embarrassed. 

Meanwhile, Raven didn't say anything and instead waited until they decide to tell him what's going on. Although he technically has been in the Divine Realm for a good amount of time if they were to include his previous life, it's not a good idea to reveal such thing. 

Moreover, he really has no recollection of Jason at all, not to mention his clan. So he was hoping that they would reveal more to him. 

"I think it would be best for you to avoid that guy." Albert said solemnly while patting Raven's shoulder. The room became silent for a bit, causing some annoyance to rise over Raven's heart. 

He wanted to know the reason why but he wouldn't understand anything if they don't tell him anything. In the end, it was Raul who sighed and decided to reveal the matters to Raven. 

"It's not some big secret anyways, so there shouldn't be any problem for us to tell you. But if anything, I would really like you to reconsider your connection with this person, dear nephew." 

Raven remained quiet and waited for Raul to speak. 

"Compared to the lower realms, the Divine Realm could be said to be the main headquarters for Humanity. This is a well known fact no matter where you go." Raul stated, "I've been in the lower realms before and through experiencing what it's like there, I had no other choice but to agree as well."

"In comparison to the lower realms, the Divine Realm offers so much more. The resources are very abundant and the opportunities for a breakthrough are seemingly endless. Additionally, since Humanity had been inhabiting this place for the longest time, our race were already deeply rooted here."

The things that Raul revealed to him weren't something new to Raven. He would know since he was once became the pillar of support for Humanity. 

"That being said of course, although the resources of the Divine Realm are abundant and opportunities exists everywhere, there are simply way too many people around who are also searching for this. The resources and opportunities within the Divine Realm might be abundant but its not infinite. And since the population of Humanity in the Divine Realm were massive in numbers, of course the competition for the said resources are intense."

Raul paused for a bit, wanting Raven to digest the pretext he provided just now, but he had no way of knowing that Raven was all too familiar with the statement he made, even more so that Raul himself. But of course, Raven still pretended in order to not blow his cover. 

After a while, Raul continued: "Those who were currently standing on the top - the Leaders of Humanity, feared that if the competition goes on like that, too much blood will be shed and too many resources will be wasted. If that happens, then our race will continue to decline and lose our foothold on the Divine Realm, ultimately ending up to our extinction."

'Those people actually call themselves as the 'Divine Council of Humanity' but Leaders of Humanity works too. Although they were more like couch potatoes to be honest…' Raven grumbled inwardly but didn't show any kind of reaction. 

"But of course, since they were part of Humanity themselves. They don't want to see such outcome to happen, therefore they formed certain rules in order to control the situation. Hoping to extend the longevity of Humanity as long as possible. And due to their intervention, order was restored and Humanity as a whole became stable."action

'Pfft. Rules? Ha. Humanity is stable? Ha.' Raven snickered inwardly. 

"That being said, there's just some people who refuses to comply with the rules they made." Raul sighed in disappointment. "These people didn't want to be subjected through their rules and wanted everything for themselves. They were greedy and evil, some even disregarded their own morality due to their incessant desire to dominate the entire Divine Realm."

'So he means to say that Jason's clan is…'

"Due to their actions, many crusades began in order to hunt them down and bring justice to their victims. Unfortunately, their forces had many means of surviving and retreating. Even though most of them were already hunted down, some of them are still around and biding their time to re-surface and take over the Divine Realm." 

"The Leaders of Humanity called them Rebels." Raul stated, "The forces of the Rebels grown to an astounding degree in the past but through the crusades, many of their forces were subjugated by the Leaders of Humanity."

"Most of them, due to the immensity of their crimes, were killed to serve as an example for those who were trying to follow their footsteps. Those who's crimes didn't touch the bottom line, were given a chance to repent by rendering meritorious services."

"And the Sigmus Clan, the one that Jason belongs to specifically, were once Rebels who fell into the latter case." Raul revealed as he looked intently at Raven's eyes. 

Raven wore a serious expression but all this time, he was actually laughing inwardly. In fact, he actually find it a miracle that he didn't burst out laughing just now. 

No one could actually blame him for finding this situation too funny. After all, he's all too familiar with what's going on. He couldn't believe that such a simple nonsense actually became a solemn belief for the people of the Divine Realm. 

Of course, he wouldn't blame Raul for falling into their tricks. After all, the methods and ideas of those old fogeys were simply too many. Those old foxes are way too cunning, therefore their 'soft approach' actually worked. 

This whole situation was like a thief calling out someone for stealing. How could Raven not find this situation funny? 

What's funnier is that, given the situation, they were actually using a prejudice as a factor to decide someone's worth, and still dare to believe that these so called 'Leaders' of Humanity kept their race's stability. 

'Ah, schemes. What a wonderful thing you are.' Raven grinned inwardly.

"Well, that was a shocking…" Raven sighed, but this sigh was more of a sigh of relief since he managed to hold his laughter. "That being said, from what little interaction I had with Jason, he doesn't really strike me as notorious criminal. In fact, with how he acts, he actually reminds me of you Albert."

"Ey! Don't say such thing. I won't allow you to sully my image by comparing me to such a shady individual." Albert snorted while waving his hand. "Additionally, who doesn't know how to put up an act?"

"Actually? Think about it for a second, why do you think he knows so much about the other participants? Not only that, all of the people he introduced to you actually ended up being disciples as well. I won't be surprised if he's actually planning on scheming behind their backs. Therefore you have to take care of yourself when you arrive there. I'm not one to judge but one can never really be too careful." Albert stated with a solemn air. 

'You're not one to judge you say…' Raven almost let out hollow laughter but managed to hold it in. 

"You're right." Raven smiled and leaned back to the couch, "One can never really be too careful, so I'll make sure to be on guard at all times. Thanks for warning me."

"You're welcome." Albert grinned, causing Raven's lips to twitch for a bit. 

He inwardly shook his head and focused his attention back to the arena, but talking about Jason just now caused him to remember one more matter. 

"Right, has he fought someone already?" Raven asked. 

"Not yet." Albert shook his head, answering Raven's question without looking away from the fight. "His match will be the one after this."

"Oh, is that so." Raven nodded softly and placed his attention back at the fight between Nelson and Jonathan. 

Due to the sudden reveal of Jonathan's Champion's Physique, the advantage that Nelson had effectively vanished. Both contestant uses a spear but because of Jonathan's powerful physique aided by his God Beast bloodline, the momentum and explosiveness of his strikes were slightly more powerful compared to Nelson. 

Additionally, Jonathan was slightly faster than Nelson as well. Even though there's not much differences between them, these small advantages that Jonathan grasps allowed him to cease the initiative and render Nelson incapable of fighting back. 

If Nelson can't catch his breath of launch a counter-attack, then his defeat is almost certain.