Henwell chuckles, "Once you're dead, he’ll have no choice but to believe me! Besides, you're the one responsible for that poor girl's death. If you hadn't been driven by lust that day, the tax officer and his men wouldn’t have dared to risk angering Sheriff Lynd by abducting Shire. So, no matter the reason, your death isn’t undeserved!"

  With those words, Henwell steps forward, slicing his left hand like a bde at Bode's sword-wielding wrist. As the sword ctters to the ground, Henwell's right hand forms a knife-edge, striking Bode's throat. The sharp crack of breaking bones echoes as Knight Bode clutches his neck, colpsing to the ground. With his throat crushed, he desperately tries to gasp for air.

  Henwell bends down, his face shrouded in darkness by the moonlight at his back. "See! I told you before, I wouldn’t need more than ten moves to kill you!"

  Henwell drags Knight Bode toward the flower-covered grave, turning to the two stunned veterans. "What are you standing there for? Hurry up and stab him a few times while the blood is still warm, let it nourish these flowers!"

  Then, Henwell draws his sword and indeed stabs it into Bode’s thigh. The artery ruptures, and a torrent of blood gushes out, soaking the grave. Under the sheen of blood, the flowers appear even more vibrant!

  After a long while, Old Potter, having vented his emotions, colpses onto his daughter's grave, sobbing uncontrolbly.

  Sheriff Lynd looks at the broken body, "Next, old Potter will flee, and you’ll use my life to close the case."

  Old Potter suddenly stands, "No! I'm already a ruined man, with no attachments left. I've avenged my daughter; let me pay for my crimes!"

  Lynd grips his old comrade's shoulder, "You saved my life on the battlefield several times. Your leg wouldn’t be crippled if not for saving me. I didn’t protect Shire; that's my fault. I owe you my life, and now it's time to repay you!"

  Henwell cps his hands, "No need to show your deep camaraderie now! Do you think the second truth I mentioned was made up on the spot?"

  "Bode indeed had an affair with the baroness, not uncommon among nobles. Also, Bode and the baroness did embezzle quite a bit of tax money. The tax officer was indeed a gambler, extorting money, but his target was the baroness, not Bode. But with Bode dead, he won’t mind carrying more bme. The tax officer is dead too, so he won’t testify."

  "As for the baroness, I doubt she’ll refute this and might even confirm it. So, everything fits perfectly! Bode is the murderer, and that’s the undeniable truth!"

  Lynd looks at Bode's corpse, "But how do we expin this?"

  Henwell twirls his sword, "I confronted him, and he resisted, trying to kill me to silence the truth. We had a fierce battle, and he couldn’t withstand my prowess, so I killed him on the spot."

  "But will the baron believe this?"

  Henwell wipes his sword with Bode's clothes, "That’s not important! What matters is that this affair is embarrassing. The baron won’t publicize it; for him, closing the case quietly is his only option!"

  The next day, after Henwell recounts the entire incident, the baron’s face turns as dark as soot. He immediately goes to confront the baroness. By that afternoon, a new mark appears on Henwell's Proof of Glory. Baron Lawrence doesn’t see Henwell again; he simply expels him from the castle.

  At the cemetery outside the town, Henwell passes by and finds Lynd and old Potter waiting there. Henwell signals his attendants to wait and enters the graveyard alone.

  Lynd asks, "Master Arius, thank you for everything you've done for us, but I still have questions. As a noble, you should have sided with the nobility, turned us in, and gained the friendship of the baron and the knights. Instead, you’ve been expelled from the castle, offending everyone here! So, I want to know, Master Arius, why did you do it?"

  Henwell smiles and tosses over a bag of coins, "Take it! Stay here and build a good life. I left a small chest under the bed in the inn, containing a knight’s body-strengthening potion. You have potential, train well and become a knight. Remember my gift today; someday I’ll come to collect repayment, perhaps with interest!"

  Then, Henwell bends down to pick a flower from a grave, tucks it behind his ear, and strides away with a spring in his step towards the sunset.

  Watching the young man's retreating figure, Lynd and old Potter salute together. It’s the only formality they know, and the highest honor they can give.

  Why did I help you?

  Because I am not Arius!

  Because I’m not a noble, but someone struggling to survive just like you!

  Because I am Henwell! The Fsh!

  ……

  "Master, why did you spare those two?" Rawkins asks, puzzled.

  Henwell smiles, "Two reasons. First, I was never going to gain Baron Lawrence's friendship. Instead of sucking up to him, I'd rather make him squirm a bit, especially since he wanted to humiliate me before. I'm walking the Path of Honor; I can't just compromise! I'm not just representing myself but the Phoenix family. Second reason, I really despise Bode—he cks any knightly spirit. Given the chance, I was definitely going to take him down!"

  Ay ughs along, "Master, you should have let me take him out back then. Him being a knight is an insult to all knights!"

  Henwell chuckles, "Next time, I'll definitely give you the chance!"

  The battles along the way have greatly enhanced their skills. The intense, frequent fights have pushed them to the brink of knighthood.

  Henwell continues visiting several nobles. Despite some difficulties, he manages to earn their crests. It's been over a month since the Cloud Tree City incident. The Kingdom of Ika and the Duchy of Vorry finally reach an agreement, withdrawing troops and easing tensions. The Kingdom of Ika dismisses the commander of the border's Eleventh Legion, appointing Roderick as acting commander, preparing to negotiate compensation once Henwell returns.

  On the duchy's side, many nobles colluding with foreign interests have been purged, and the Grand Duke has intimidated a batch of stubborn nobles. For now, the matter seems settled, but the stubborn nobles have turned their attention to Henwell.

  With Henwell's Path of Honor nearly complete, the remaining nobles can't stir up much trouble. However, these stubborn nobles still want to see the Phoenix family embarrassed. Their best pn is to kill Henwell, forcing the real Arius to emerge and disgrace the Phoenix family.

  So, the challenges Henwell faces next aren't noble snubs but vicious assassination attempts. Henwell knows this is the final stretch; if he can endure, he'll turn the tide. If not, it's all over!