Chapter 63: The Questioning of the Reach Nobles

Desmond watched the surprised reaction of this Reach noble, as well as the loss of composure shown by several people beside him at what he had said, and felt quite smug in his heart.

Even if you are all heirs to earldoms, viscounts, or whatever, haven't you heard of Arthur's legend?

"That's too outrageous, I can't believe it."

"If it were killing a few dozen enemies, I could explain it away as my own lack of experience and try to accept it. But three hundred? That's just too fake, isn't it?"

Several young nobles from the Reach did not really believe Desmond's words.

Desmond held up his index finger and shook it, putting on a look of disapproval:

"At the end of the day, it's because you all hole up in the Reach and never come out, so you don't know the wonders and marvels of this world. You must know, Mr. Arthur is a true god of war, the kind who is a one-man army."

The Master-at-arms of Riverrun boasted fiercely about the Lord of Red Mill, but it did not convince anyone.

Loras had previously been distracted by that exclamation, and after pricking up his ears to listen for a moment, he realized they were discussing certain experiences of the handsome young man beside him.

So he spoke up directly and asked: "It sounds like what this Master-at-arms of Riverrun is saying is about you?"

"That's right." Arthur did not deny it, and briefly recounted the conflict with Blackwood House a month ago.

He emphasized that he was the victim, which led to him going to Riverrun to lodge a complaint and the subsequent great battle.

"Actually, I only killed a little over a hundred enemies on the spot; the rest had their lives taken by the hot, humid weather and quack doctors. You know, those septons and maesters who follow the army are the most unskilled doctors; expecting them to cure sword wounds and arrow wounds is simply asking the impossible."

Arthur recounted the situation at the time quite objectively.

There was another reason for mentioning this matter, which was that the Tyrells were also great nobles who treated commoners relatively well, and the Knight of Flowers was a middle-schooler with an overflowing sense of justice.

He could use this to gain the other party's favor.

Throughout the entire continent of Westeros, there are many families who are nobles that value their reputation and cherish their feathers; they not only have low taxes but also care deeply for their subordinates and smallfolk.

For example, House Stark of The North, the Mormont bear family of Bear Island, and the Tyrell rose family of the Reach can barely be counted in this category.

Although Arthur guessed that their family's move was out of a desire to win over the hearts of the people—after all, the Tyrells' historical foundation was not very deep, and they had not pulled away from other great Reach nobles, so only in being close to the people did they walk at the forefront of the Reach nobility.

But it did indeed benefit the smallfolk.

Judging by actions rather than intentions, the Tyrells are still decent people.

"I admire your courage. If it were me, I wouldn't dare to take five hundred men and fight an enemy three times my size." Loras felt an extra layer of favor for the person in front of him, but he was still a bit skeptical inside, though he did not show it.

After all, someone who can kill three or five enemies is already a top-tier expert on the battlefield, and someone who can kill about ten enemies is worthy of being a vanguard general.

If one could kill dozens of people in a single battle, that would definitely make one famous across the entire continent, and bards of later generations would sing of his story.

As for someone like the Dawn Sword Arthur Dayne, who could take down five of his own Kingsguard brothers while taking a piss, he could serve as the ceiling of martial power for a certain period on the entire continent.

Of course, the Dawn Sword is the number one in the entire continent in one-on-one combat, but on a crowded battlefield, warriors like Arthur Bracken and Robert, who rely on brute force to create miracles, have stronger lethality.

Because a hammer is inherently better at armor penetration than a Greatsword.

Loras did not express doubt about Arthur's words on the surface, but clearly, others were still not very convinced.

"But we haven't seen Mr. Arthur display his divine might, so how do we know this is true?"

"Exactly, I only saw this Baron cut the sword of Ser Meryn Trant in two with one strike; that doesn't prove what Desmond said is true."

"Anyone can brag; you Riverlanders are no exception."

"As the foot-binding cloth of the Seven Kingdoms, the Riverlands probably only has one man, Ser Brynden Tully the Blackfish; as for the rest... hmph!"

A group of first and second-tier young nobles from the Reach beside Arthur expressed their disdain one after another.

It is no wonder they reacted this way; the Riverlands are at the very bottom of the Seven Kingdoms' combat power contempt chain.

If someone else were being looked down upon, Arthur might have just let it pass, but being questioned himself, he felt a surge of anger.

He turned to the few Reach nobles who were speaking aggressively, "What, do you want to test my skills?"

A tall, brown-haired Knight stood up with a thud, "Let's test it then, don't think I'm afraid of a lowly Baron like you."

Another man with a face extremely similar to his also stood up, keeping in line with the person beside him:

"It's just cutting a sword in two, what's so great about that? And now you want to use a fake story that I don't know how you made up to try and deceive Ser Loras; I really can't stand people like you."

These two had a grudge because Arthur had come and sat next to Loras right away; they were relatives of the Knight of Flowers and core young members of the Reach's first-tier nobility, yet they were only sitting in the row behind the main seat.

"These are Ser Horas and Ser Hobber, the twins of House Redwyne." The Knight of Flowers first explained softly to Arthur.

Then he turned to the two of them and said in a calm tone to smooth things over: "Two sirs, be friendly to our guests; don't let the guests think we are savages like the Dothraki."

Although all three were Knights, the difference in status was easily revealed.

After Loras spoke, the two twin brothers clearly restrained themselves a bit.

Although their faces were still full of unwillingness, they sat down obediently.

"Let's continue talking about methods to increase strength." Seeing the situation ease, Loras pulled the topic back to before.

Arthur shook his head, "No, no, no, I think it's time to give these two Knights some life experience, so they know not to be in such a hurry to question things they don't understand."

The Lord of Red Mill wanted to show his true strength in front of Loras and the many young nobles of the Reach, firstly to make this group believe him, and secondly to cultivate his own fans.

Fans like Desmond and Patrick, who are self-appointed, promote his battle achievements wherever they go.

Once a name is made like this, many things will be easier to solve.

Loras was puzzled, his handsome face full of confusion.

He asked: "Are you planning to challenge one of them?"

This pair of brothers became restless again after hearing the words of Arthur and the Knight of Flowers.

"What, you still want to spar with me?"

"Either one of us brothers can beat you, you lying fraud!"

Arthur shook his head, "You have misinterpreted my meaning."

He paused, and under the shocked gazes of many Reach nobles, he said to the two:

"Come at me together, what does Arthur have to fear?"

PS: Seeking recommendation votes and monthly tickets.

(End of this chapter)