Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

The father and son stepped out of the mansion. Surprisingly, Lucas brought another person with them.

It was Bastian, the household’s butler.

He looked like someone in his fifties, with graying hair and a surprisingly fit body for his age. He also possessed the distinguishing features of someone of Veronican descent—a pair of monolid eyes.

Looking at the gentle-looking butler, Alaric realized that he still hadn’t used his Appraisal on him.

[Do you want to use Appraisal on the selected target?]

[Yes] [No]

A trace of anticipation flashed in his eyes as he clicked [Yes].

Bastian Banados [Elite Knight] EXP: 988/1000

Potential: A

Traits: Calligraphy (S), Military Instructor (S), Horseback Riding (A), Spear Mastery (A), Swordsmanship (A), Archery (A), Assassination (A), Hunting (A), Information Gathering (A), Quick Learner (A), Housework (A), Shield Mastery (B), Dagger Mastery (B), Tracking (B), Walking Encyclopedia (B), First Aid (C)

Strength: 249

Stamina: 242

Agility: 244

Vitality: 233

Endurance: 250

Mana: 230

What?! There is actually someone this versatile in the household…

Alaric couldn’t believe his eyes. Most of Bastian’s traits were highly rated, with the lowest being C-rank. He also possessed two S-rated traits, a level which he had only seen in a few individuals.

The most shocking thing was Bastian’s attributes.

From what he remembered, 250 was the normal maximum stats for Elite Knights. Some of his attributes were even higher than Fredrinn’s who was about to advance to the Transcendent realm!

He had overlooked Bastian’s abilities because he had never seen him fight before.

Who would have thought that he was actually a warrior on the same level as Fredrinn?

Sensing his unusual gaze, Bastian smiled amicably at him. “Is there anything wrong, Your Highness?”

His voice reminded him of their kindhearted old gardener who couldn’t even kill an insect.

Just as Alaric was about to respond, Lucas’s voice suddenly drifted over.

“What are you two waiting for? Let’s go!”

Hearing this, Alaric gave Bastian a nod before he jumped onto his horse.

Bastian quickly followed suit and jumped onto his horse.

Riding their horses, the trio soon left the estate under the curious gazes of the servants and warriors.

“Where are we headed, Dad?” Alaric asked while looking at his father’s face.

Lucas glanced at him and replied with a mysterious smile. “To a town called Ubec. I haven’t taken you there before, but I think you have already heard of it.”

“Ubec…”

Alaric furrowed his eyebrows and recollected his thoughts. He had indeed heard of Ubec, but he didn’t know much about the town. He only knew that it was a town known for having a lot of hunters.

It took them over an hour to reach their destination.

They could have ridden Zephyr to get here faster, but it seemed like Lucas didn’t want to attract unnecessary attention.

Looking at the town surrounded by sturdy brick walls, Alaric narrowed his eyes.

Ubec was a lot bigger than he had imagined. He estimated that it was probably two to three times larger than North Pine Town.

At the entrance, they saw a team of about a dozen guards warily staring at them.

At this moment, Lucas turned his head and called out indifferently.

“Bastian.”

The old butler understood his intentions. He unrolled his right sleeve, revealing an arm that was covered with scars. There was also a unique shield tattoo on his wrist that looked like a symbol of some kind of organization.

Alaric who was watching this was stunned.

That tattoo and those scars… why do they seem so familiar?

Suddenly, he recalled the image of another Transcendent Knight in his past life. He was a fierce warrior who led a group of heavy cavalrymen.

No one knew his real name and people only called him the Black Knight. This was because he wore a full set of black armor with a blood-red cape on his back.

Together with the hundred-man heavy cavalry unit, everyone in the crown prince’s faction respectfully called them the Undaunted Heavy Cavalry Unit!

The name was something they had earned for the countless dangerous battles they had fought.

No wonder he suddenly disappeared when my father died. I thought he had been killed by my uncle, but it seems like something else had happened.

Now that he had remembered this, he felt like he had solved a mystery. It was as if something had clicked within him.

Thinking back, the Undaunted Heavy Cavalry Unit had always been with him in every battle.

Whenever Alaric’s troops were in dangerous situations, the Black Knight, together with his heavy cavalrymen would suddenly appear to save them.

At that time, he thought that it was just a coincidence.

So it was you all along, Bastian… You were the Black Knight, the commander of the Undaunted Heavy Cavalry Unit!

Now, another question flashed in his mind.

Why did Bastian hide his identity from him?

While Alaric was immersed in his thoughts, Bastian revealed his shield tattoo to one of the guards.

“Bring Einar here,” Bastian spoke in a stern voice which was completely different from his usual character.

The particular guard seemed to be startled and repeatedly bowed to Bastian which made the other guards shocked.

However, they didn’t dare ask anything. They felt that the three visitors had significant status based on their clothes.

Meanwhile, Alaric seemed to have understood something.

I understand now… My father’s death must have been a big blow to Bastian so he chose to leave out of shame and decided to protect me in secret instead.

This was only a guess on his part, but it was the most likely explanation for Bastian’s sudden disappearance in his past life.

Thinking about this, he couldn’t help but give the old butler a deep look.

One of the guards suddenly approached them and nervously asked, his voice shaking.

“Uhm, my lords, m-may I know from which house you hail from?”

Bastian turned his head to Lucas, as if asking him whether they should disclose their identity.

Lucas nodded his head.

After getting his lord’s answer, Bastian responded to the guard.

“We are from House Silversword.”