"But of course! You can see my mark on my mount." Vicente said loudly, pointing to the back of the 3rd-stage basilisk, where there were still some open wounds, but also the symbol of the union of two pentagrams.
Part of this symbol was red, while the other was yellow, just like Vicente's pentagrams.
Seeing it, no one believed the basilisk was actually one of Vicente's mounts. But everyone was startled to see such a mark, which indicated that someone with a second yellow pentagram had tamed the creature.
"Impossible! That must be some kind of trick by this young man to fool us!" A level 5 Acolyte shook his head, afraid this was not a tamed beast and that they would let it into Millfall.
Vicente didn't want to waste time with these people. Knowing that sooner or later, he would have to reveal his pentagrams by acting locally and that people beyond his control already knew of his reality, he decided to show everyone there he was indeed Bart's master.
By circulating his mana and revealing his two pentagrams, Vicente shocked all those magicians, especially with how much stronger his aura became after he stopped restricting himself.
"What?" The Viscount couldn't stand it any longer and exclaimed in shock, seeing and feeling the most ridiculous thing he had ever felt.
"That..." Arthur also opened his mouth in astonishment as he saw Vicente's pentagrams and the symbol on Bart's back glowing, indicating it was 100% real.
"Is that proof enough for you?" He asked as he stood between the group of humans and Bart in this area outside Millfall, where there was a dirt road and lawns on the outskirts.
"How did you do that? Tell the truth, Cesar!" Arthur shouted as he took a step forward.
As he did so, Bart opened its mouth and stepped closer to Vicente, its muscles twitching as it let out a warning hiss.
Gulp!
"Shit!"
"That bastard actually tamed a fucking 3rd-stage basilisk!"
The soldiers could feel sweat forming on their bodies as they raised their guard as high as they could, afraid to face the basilisk and Cesar.
Cesar was already extremely difficult to deal with before. But now, at level 3, with a yellow pentagram, he was just as dangerous as the basilisk behind him!
As much as they were confident in their ability to entertain the 3rd-stage basilisk, they were not confident in their ability to entertain Cesar and this beast simultaneously.
Under the command of a master, beasts tended to become stronger due to the rationality and strategies of the party commanding them.
That was another problem for them!
The Viscount realized the tension in the air. "Commander, let's retreat." He said in a serious tone. "There is no danger here. Cesar is a citizen of Millfall, and his mount obviously won't act without his command."
Vicente let his guard down when he heard it, seeing the Viscount was much more intelligent than Marcus.
Still, he wouldn't forgive that family!
'If you had taken care of the situation from the beginning, maybe...' He thought, but then shook his head and let it go.
'Ifs' didn't matter. Everything had already happened, and thinking about how things could have been different wouldn't make any difference!
"If that's all, I'll say goodbye now." He climbed back onto Bart's back and pointed it in the direction of his destination.
Bart flapped its wings and took off quickly toward the Scarlet Syndicate headquarters.
Flying was not forbidden in towns like Millfall since only a few creatures capable of flight passed through such small places.
So, without breaking any of the royal rules, Vicente landed on the roof of the Scarlet Syndicate's estate shortly after arriving in Millfall, drawing the attention of many in the town to the skies.
As he dismounted his mount, Vicente soon saw the leader of the Scarlet Syndicate faction and several high-ranking men from that force appear on the roof, all with worried looks on their faces.
They had just felt a strong tremor in their building and a terrifying aura closing in on them.
Coming out of their places of business to see what this was all about, they all had pale faces as they stared at the hostile-looking creature behind Cesar Mazzanti.
"Cesar, what does this mean?" A level 5 redhead asked as he moved his mana, preparing himself in case Vicente betrayed him.
Vicente looked at the people in front of him, Brody Wright and five level 4 Acolytes, and smiled under his mask as he stood before Bart.
"Why fear, Brody? When you 'kindly invited' me to the Scarlet Syndicate months ago, you didn't have this tone in your voice, let alone this look on your face." Vicente said as he released his aura to the maximum and showed his pentagrams to the men.
"Cesar..." Brody clenched his fists and stared at the holes in Vicente's mask. "Have you come to break your contract with me? Aren't you afraid of being punished by the heavens?"
"Break my contract with you?" Vicente laughed, speaking loudly enough for many people on the lower floors of the building to hear him. "Brody, you're wrong. I have no intention of going against the Scarlet Syndicate. I'm here to follow the rules that you made yourself!"
Brody narrowed his eyes, not quite understanding what that meant. "What are you talking about?" He asked in a low tone.
Vicente looked at the level 4 Acolytes and said. "My friends, it's time for the faction to change leadership. As a member of the Scarlet Syndicate, I nominate myself as your new leader."
Everyone there opened their mouths in surprise, realizing Cesar intended to act against them, but within the rules of the Scarlet Syndicate.
The Scarlet Syndicate stipulated that when one of its members reached a certain level, power, or influence, they could challenge the current leader and take his position if at least half of the group's strongest members agreed.
Since this group was already producing a type of firearm and was ahead of the Mazzanti family in local business, Vicente would rather take control of this faction than destroy it!
With him in charge, he could be the head of the Scarlet Syndicate and the Mazzanti family without risking giving other local groups room to grow!
"My friends, I ask your permission to challenge Brody Wright to a duel to the death," Vicente said while Brody trembled with anger but also with fear.
Even if he killed Cesar, Vicente's mount would kill him instantly!
There was no escape for Brody.
"Damn it!" He shouted as he looked at his men, intending to threaten them.
But before he could do anything, all those men moved further away from him, knowing they couldn't choose their boss' side.
At that moment, Brody was betrayed by all his trusted men.
"We accept Cesar Mazzanti's challenge." They all said at the same time.
