Knight: from Apprentice to the Almighty

The slightly yellowed Sheepskin Scroll glowed with a soft halo under the sunlight. Roland squinted, vaguely making out the faint words "Breathing Technique" on the scroll.

"Is this... the legendary Knight’s Breathing Technique?"

Thinking of the Extraordinary Power displayed by Beckham and Gandar, Roland’s breathing unconsciously quickened.

As long as he cultivated this Breathing Technique, he could step into the domain of Professionals and obtain power beyond that of an ordinary person.

But...

His gaze shifted from the Scroll, landing on Graham’s coarse features.

This Extraordinary Secret Technique, something that could change the fate of an ordinary person, seemed to be treated as casually as a common object in the other man’s eyes.

The Scroll had been carelessly tossed on the table. Its edges were covered in a thin layer of dust, and the sheepskin surface bore several distinct creases. It had clearly never been carefully preserved.

"Hah!"

Noticing Roland’s fervent gaze, Graham let out a sneer.

"You’ve never seen the world, kid. This thing isn’t as precious as you think... Wait!"

He suddenly remembered something, and the disdainful expression on his face turned playful.

"Heard from that guy Finn... you’re from the Golden Valley Kingdom? No wonder..."

The burly man clicked his tongue, thinking of the neighboring kingdom’s peculiar situation.

"Anyway... just like I was saying..."

Graham pushed the piece of sheepskin filled with the commission’s details forward.

"As long as you accept this commission, you can take this Knight’s Breathing Technique right now."

Roland took a deep breath to calm the turmoil in his chest and nodded solemnly.

"I understand, Lord Graham, but... could I first review the specific details of the commission?"

"Go ahead."

"Thank you."

Roland carefully picked up the commission letter and began to examine it closely.

But after a moment, his brows furrowed deeply.

The content of the commission seemed simple.

Subdue the Wolf King entrenched in the Land of Mist.

However, as Roland read it carefully, he found the commission to be exceptionally strange.

Unlike other detailed missions, this sheet of sheepskin had almost no concrete information besides the target’s name.

Everything about the Wolf King was shrouded in mist.

[Identity: Unknown.]

[Strength: Unknown.]

[Subordinate forces: Unknown.]

[Follower strength: Unknown.]

Even the Wolf King’s specific whereabouts were unclear, with only a general location hastily marked in the central region of the Land of Mist.

It was as if the person who drew the map had only heard rumors and had never actually ventured deep into that unknown domain.

"So, what do you think?"

Graham watched Roland’s grave expression and casually pulled a metal flask from the counter.

With a POP as the cork was pulled, the rich aroma of alcohol instantly filled the room.

Roland merely inhaled a whiff of the fumes inadvertently and felt his head spin slightly.

Graham, however, paid it no mind and tilted his head back, taking a large swig.

His Adam’s apple bobbed with loud GULPS as he swallowed. He casually wiped the liquor stains from his beard and said gruffly.

"If you think this commission is too difficult, then go pack your bags and wait for the Academy to officially open. Just be a good student and focus on your studies, understand?"

"Hmm..."

Roland nodded thoughtfully, but his gaze never left the sheepskin in his hands.

Among the fragmented pieces of information, he keenly spotted a key clue.

[After entrenching himself in the Land of Mist, the Wolf King has not only blocked trade routes and plundered passing merchant caravans, but has also declared his intention to establish his own kingdom there...]

’Blocking trade routes... establishing a kingdom...’

Roland mulled over these two key phrases, and his eyes suddenly lit up.

On his journey to the River Domain, he had been constantly gathering all sorts of intelligence about this nation.

Even in the cabins of the Black Shell Trading Company’s ships, he often chatted with fellow travelers, discreetly probing for information.

Just as his prior analysis and observations had suggested, the River Domain was ostensibly governed jointly by merchants and nobles, but secretly, these two great powers were constantly vying for dominance over the nation.

However, the two factions had completely different goals.

The Merchant Faction valued the River Domain’s abundant resources and strategic location, dedicating themselves to accumulating wealth through trade.

The noble faction, on the other hand, was more concerned with territorial integrity and the right to rule.

Despite their constant infighting, the two factions could always unite swiftly when facing an external enemy.

It was precisely this delicate balance that allowed the River Domain to not only survive but also thrive and grow stronger, caught between the powerful nations surrounding it.

And this mysterious figure calling himself the "Wolf King" had managed to step on the most sensitive nerves of both major factions in the River Domain at the same time.

For the Merchant Faction, his open plundering of caravans and blocking of trade routes was tantamount to shaking the economic lifeblood of the River Domain.

And while the Land of Mist was a remote region of lowlands or swamps, it was still territory belonging to the River Domain.

To openly declare the establishment of an independent regime was to flagrantly trample on the bottom line of the noble faction.

Logically speaking, neither the Merchant Faction nor the noble faction would ever tolerate the Wolf King continuing to run rampant in the River Domain’s territory.

’Then...’

Roland’s gaze returned to Graham, who was currently drinking heavily, and many questions arose in his mind.

’Why would Graham give this commission to me?’

’Could it be that the dangers in the Land of Mist have already exceeded the capabilities of the River Domain’s two great powers?’

’But even so, with the strength of this powerful expert before me, annihilating the Wolf King should be child’s play for him...’

Although he had never seen Graham go all out, just based on the power of that casual blow from earlier, Roland could tell that this seemingly coarse, burly man was in no way inferior to any Extraordinary Professional Knight he had ever seen.

’Unless... this expert simply disdains being dispatched by the two factions of the River Domain...’

Recalling Graham’s previous attitude toward Nelson and Finn, things gradually became clear in Roland’s mind.

He chose his words carefully and slowly began to speak.

"My apologies, Lord Graham... I don’t want to give up on this commission. However, I need some time to investigate the relevant information. Also..."

He gently closed the Sheepskin Scroll and placed it back on the table.

"Regarding the specific requirements for subduing the Wolf King..."

Before he could finish, Graham held up three thick fingers.

"Three months."

His deep voice echoed in the room.

"Within three months, I don’t care how you do it, just make that damn Wolf King disappear from the River Domain. Then your mission will be complete."

Roland keenly caught the deeper meaning in his words and raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Any method? Does that mean... it’s still a success even if I don’t kill him with my own hands?"

Noticing the flash of irritation in Graham’s eyes when he mentioned the Wolf King, Roland became even more certain of his judgment.

The head of the Knight Academy was clearly fed up with being pestered by the merchants and nobles.

"I understand, Lord Graham."

Roland bowed.

"Once I’ve gathered the necessary intelligence, I will formally accept this commission."

Seeing that Roland didn’t back down, Graham’s brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

"Hmph, a brat who doesn’t know his own limits..."

He waved his hand, signaling the end of their conversation.

After Roland left, Graham tilted his head back and drained the remaining liquor from his flask, muttering to himself.

"That kid was recommended by Colin... Since he’s willing to take on this mess... then that old coot Derek should understand my position..."

"Tsk!"

An irritated look appeared on Graham’s coarse face. Thinking of the escalating infighting within the River Domain, he clicked his tongue heavily, which finally ended in a helpless sigh.