Thankfully, the boring speech the fogies in the center did not speak for much longer, finally asking the king as the nation to speak a few words. Unlike the previous speakers, the king had little to say, emphasizing that the tournament is meant to be a friendly competition and that it would be desirable if truly debilitating injuries could be avoided as much as possible, while also noting that accidents happen and everyone should always take care of their health first and foremost. The A ranked healers they had hired would, of course, do their utmost to ensure that as few as possible of such accidents leave permanent injuries. Then, once again, thanking all those participating and those watching, he declared that the tournament has officially started.

  There were two categories in the tournament, with one of the two, called exhibition matches happening right now. Select few members of each nation present would duel, using dulled blades, showing off whatever their origin nation had hoped to present- be it new armours, new techniques or even their new promising youngster, having just reached adulthood. Eve's father had at one point expressed his desire to have Eve compete, though he was quite quickly shot down by Rex. Eve, while a member of the royal family was his party member, additionally, her mother had asked Rex to look after her and he would do so. As a result, Eve would not take part in some pointless fights where she could not even utilize her true skills. How could there be a proper fight for a backline archer against melee fighters? Either they would reach her and she would have serious issues defending herself, or she could take them down during the dash to close said distance. What's worse, he was well aware that the fight would not start at the maximum distance Eve was capable of dispatching her enemies from- the arena was simply not wide enough. And, at the end of the day, Rex was fighting for her in the first place, so why would he take part(Danicas little blackmail not considering) if Eve was to fight.

  In the end, the king had to relent, one of his sons taking on the task. Son that, as Rex could see right now, was getting his ass handed to him by a rather experienced knight, pushing the young man around, eventually ending with his expected defeat. Still, the kid was not all that bad, though he lacked plenty of experience, something his opponent capitalised on resulting in the expected outcome. A few more, similar battles took place, none any more interesting than the first and Rex would have, gladly, once again zoned out, thought he was kept busy as the girls asked questions regarding the ongoing fights. Questions regarding their swords skills, their weakness and so on. And, being the nice guy that he was, combined with the puppy eyes and Danica's encouragement, he answered what he was asked. He analyzed the sword styles used, pointing out their strong sides and glaring weaknesses of each style, commented on the fights as they went on, predicting the finishing moves with frightening accuracy for quite some time. Still, there were only so many exhibition matches even the nations were willing to display, ending the day with a rather large spectacle in the form of monster slaying.

  Previously chosen group faced off against a group of monsters, captured by even more powerful adventurers some time ago. Since the adventurers were of similar rank, the group struggled quite a bit, eventually managing to take the creature down, though they too did not come out of the encounter entirely unschated. Broken equipment, disheveled hair, plenty of bruises and cuts marring their bodies indicated a fight fought valiantly. Teh exhausted, yet triumphant expressions on their faces said it all- the won.

  With that, the opening day was finished, at least as far as the general public was concerned, the people within the balconies already well aware of the event prepared for them to mingle and whatnot. Under the guidance of Eve, with Light's Oak leaving alongside with the commoners, disappearing in the flow of people, though still watched out for by Rex's trusty facons, and with their connection, by Rex himself in extension. Luckily, there were no fools just yet trying their damn hardest to try and lock down some of Rex's supposed weaknesses saving many lives with their own current inaction.

  Soon enough, Eve, Danica and Rex were in a rather large ballroom of sorts, filled with numerous tables and seats on the outer ring, with plenty of exotic and fancy snacks and drinks on said tables. Because the trio had been relatively slow to leave their own balcony, watching out for their friends, they were one of the last groups to arrive, plenty of discreet eyes turning their way. Unlike Eve, who was dressed in quite the stunning evening dress, receiving plenty of compliments from her friends in Light's Oak, Danica and even Rex, the remaining two, while no longer wielding their usual adventurer garbs, were still clothed in simple and comfortable casual clothes Eve had exchanged a couple of words with her siblings she had the best relationship with, ensuring the message was passed on and the lower rank nobles warned off from approaching him.

  With that particular problem solved, Rex and Danica could move over to the tables with food, collecting a wide assortment of offered snacks, finding the most remote corner possible and sitting down, enjoying the high class cuisine that was before them while Eve had to go and talk with at least her mother and father, leaving Rex and Danica on their own. And, as expected, as soon as they were all alone, the first person of interest approached them- the middle aged woman that Rex had spied on during the boring ass speech.

  "Hello there." she spoke with relatively soft tone of voice and a slight smile on her face, acting like a woman who's interest had been peaked. "I was wondering if I could borrow just a bit of your time?" she even bit her lip awkwardly, pretending to be the shy maiden who had barely gathered her courage to come and talk to him.

  "You are a good actress. I have to admit that." Rex replied, his eyes never leaving his food "But just like your eyes were on me during the introductions, so was I aware of you. I don't appreciate people peeking at mine, or my friends secrets. And while your intentions are heard, I am already aware of what you want to bring to my attention. And would you look at that, they are already approaching. Stay and watch the spectacle that is about to happen. Oh, and you should have sent a servant to deliver your message. Your rival no doubt will pay me more attention, where they would not have for a while longer still had you yourself not approached."

  That, well that was quite a few things to process for the woman who had, up until just a few moments ago, believed to be the best informed person around, her magic had attained for her quite a few secrets, but this man, besides just being like a wall, protecting not only himself but also those around him from her probes, was also apparently equipped with his own way to gather information in real time. His value was only growing and growing by the second. And thus, she smiled lightly and moved past Rex, finding a place nearby as she had decided to taste some of the delicacies placed on the tables.

  A moment later, just how Rex had warned her, the duo she had come to warn him about approached, the younger man acting like he owned the place- a wide smirk on his face, a glass of wine half emptied in his hand and eyes locked on the wolfkin woman, almost undressing here there and then with his hungry gaze. Though before he reached the woman, he was stopped by the man accompanying her.

  "Away you go peasant. I am here to talk with that pretty thing. Shoo." the young man arrogantly spoke, only receiving a dagger of a response in return.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  "And why would I allow a piece of shit to spoil her evening? Go annoy some of the old crones around. They will surely welcome your presence." His response left the youth standing there, stunned for a moment at the sheer level of insult, though luckily for him, the older man next to him did not lose his wits, starting his pre-prepared ramble.

  "INSOLENCE! You are in the presence of the son of lord Erbus Naramika, brother of the king of Naramika, and you will show him respect!"

  "Dragons don't respect cockroaches, nor do they kneel for them." Rex smirked as he looked at the duo with pure ridicule and disgust, tapping a medallion around his neck, something he had actually gone to the adventurers guild for and got it made. Unlike the adventurer cards that every member received for free, the medallions had to be ordered and paid for, something he had done during last week. The letter 'A' along with the golden color was a clear indicator that he was A ranked adventurer, making his stance clear. What's worse, was that most people around the world would not only agree with his stance but even go so far as to laugh in the face of the two fools who could be wiped off the face of the earth at Rex's convenience. Might makes right after all in this world first and foremost. Neither Visnuss- the young lord and son of Erebus Naramika, nor the elder alongside him, were even close to Rex's power. The former was an average D ranker, nowhere near B rank, let alone A. And while the elder here was B ranked, he was old and had been middle of the pack in heydays at best.

  "I believe you were informed not to annoy my guests, envoys of Naramika. A rankers are rather proud and confrontational. Go where you are wanted." resounded a beautiful voice, all to familiar for Rex as Eve approached, a slight smile on her lips at the humiliation she had just witnessed Visnuss receive, for that was precisely what it was.

  "Are you happy?" Rex asked, his head slightly moved towards Eve "This is getting terribly boring. We are leaving." he added, taking another snack from the table as he turned towards Danica, extending his free hand. "Let's go back. I have something better in mind for us to spend our evening on." and once Danica grabbed his hand, rising from hear seat and for the first time turning towards the duo of fools, she scrunched her face in clear disgust upon noticing them. Only she knew what she saw of their characters, but from the obvious expression on her face she was quite disgusted, as evident not only by the expression but the words she spoke as well.

  "Let's. I will need copious amounts of booze to wash away this disgusting sight."

  Once again a silence pervaded the hall, most other guests now watching the interaction with undisguised glee. It was such a fun pastime to witness a drama in the court of high society. So fun indeed. Rex had brought Danica a few meters away from the whole situation, the duo near the closest of balconies, when Visnuss sneered and laughed, demanding a duel for his wounded honour, instantly naming a champion that would represent him, only to receive a loud laugh from Rex in turn, the illuminated balcony behind him suddenly growing dark as the two, pitch black Falcons landed on the large thing, both pair of eyes locked on the poor fool and his elder.

  "And how do you think you, or your champion will fare against a tamer and his beasts? Run back to your mommy and cry yourself to sleep weakling. You are not even C rank, yet you dare to bark. Fools don't live long around these parts."

  With a scoff, Visnuss and his elder turned around and stormed away, though many did not notice the smirk on both their faces. The yhad set up a proper feud and it would not be all too strange when his champion would act with unrestrained aggression and cruelty again the tamer should they cross paths in the tournament, and with the might of their hired help, it was only a matter of time, unless the tamer was even weaker than expected and would be pushed out of the tournament by an unaffiliated party.

  Eve rushed over before Rex and Danica left, along with the middle aged woman who had tried to warn Rex, as she had moved close to Eve, as if they have had conversation for the time being.

  "They got what they desired." she spoke quietly, her words only meant for Rex's and Danica's ears.

  "That's what they think, yes, but so did I." Rex smirked back, not paying any attention towards an exceptionally beautiful redhead and elderly steward, the members of the Dawning Sun sect as they stared at Rex and his two abyss falcons, alternating between the two points of interest.

  "I will go with you. I was growing bored with the party anyways." Eve quickly added, accompanying the duo outside on the balcony. "Excuse me." Rex spoke as he wrapped one hand around Danica's waist and the other around Eve's and, with a graceful movement he was atop one of the two birds, both beauties by his side as they left the event, resulting in countless conversations and rumors around them for the entire evening. The noble ladies had what they wanted and their imagination was running wild as they gossiped and spun tales crazier and wilder than the last.

  "Learn everything you can about him ASAP." the redhead ordered her companion, a flash of greed and desire in her eyes. "Those were abyss falcons, a pair at that. That is the beginning of a new flock right there. We must obtain them at all cost. What's worse, those damn Frozen Moon bastards have already gotten in contact with him. And they even sent their damn Bansha here. Curses!"

  Within the few minutes that they spent reaching Eve's mansion, the young princess was brought up to speed, both regarding Rex's knowledge about the plot against him by Visnuss and his elder whatever, as well as the words spoken about her in particular by the same duo and the general plan he had come up with.

  "Great work back there love." Rex smiled as he kissed Danica's head. "What was it that you saw to make you so disgusted at them?" he asked, having wondered about the topic for some time now.

  "Huh? Ahhh, the pompous turd. Actually, nothing too horrible truth be told. That dumb bastard likes to get rough with whoever he happens to get his hands on. Detestable, sure, though nothing that would cause me to react as I did back then." she then grinned, a triumphant expression on her face. "Didn't think I could as as well as I did?"

  "Oh? Ohhhh." Rex reacted, his face adopting a similar grin to that of Danica's "You sly minx. I have to applaud you for your performance then. Truly magnificent. You fine with us leaving that party? I did not ask properly back then after all."

  "Mhm. It was dreadfully boring. While plenty of those sleezbags were eyeing me, none had come to vie for my attention. And no, that little shit does not count. Like seriously, how come a C rank has the sheer gall to even dream of such a possibility? Grrr." Danica growled at the mere thought, clearly disgusted with the idea "And what's worse still, he ain't no looker either. Not that I would care now." she nuzzled into Rex side happily "I already have a prize well in my hands."

  "Now wait there a minute. Don't twist the facts here. If I remember correctly, and I do, YOU were the prize, not the other way around." Rex replied, one eyebrow raised as he called his woman out.

  "Have you looked at what we have done the past month and a bit? Even with what you say being the truth, how can I not be the victor. I got sooo much more than I thought I ever would, even hoped for, trully."

  "To be fair to those sleazebags though," spoke up Eve as they approached her residence "They are in a similar, if not worse situation that that little shit, as you call him. Not only are you an A ranker, something that anyone looking into things for a bit would find out, but so is Rex, who currently holds the spot of your man, at least as far as they are concerned. While none of them do.What other choice but to look and dream they have? As unpleasant as it is to admit, there is a reason why the slavers could ever take root in the way they did. There are frighteningly few beastkin deciding to settle in our lands and far too many people who would jump at the opportunity to get down and dirty with them."

  "Hmmm." Rex hummed, interrupting the already ending conversation. "It seems that our guests are already waiting for our arrival." he spoke as they were above the mansion. "Do go on without me. I will go and meet them. There is so much I want to ask of them. Don't wait for me." Rex smiled as he jumped of off the falcon, the two birds continuing with their flight, soon enough also landing near the villa, close enough that they could see Light's Oak still practicing. With the arrival of the two girls, their practice session came to an end, numerous questions filling the air as the girls engaged in girls talk.