Exiled from the Start and Dominating the Wasteland with an Intelligence System Chapter 122 : Chapter 122

Chapter 122. No Acquaintance Without a Fight

As Eli listened to the red-haired lady lord before him, Camilla, make her request to "talk," he was not actually unwilling.

The relationship between the Eastern Frontier and the Royal Domain was delicate, but an additional line of communication was hardly a bad thing under the present circumstances.

However, he had only just been chosen as the Alliance Lord of the Royal Domain lords.

And now, before everyone's eyes, the other side was openly provoking his own camp.

If he softened imdiately and agreed, it would do real damage to morale and chill the hearts of those standing behind him who had just given him their support.

They were all ready to fight to the death here, so how could their Alliance Lord be the first to yield?

His expression remained calm as he gave a crisp, decisive reply in two words.

"No."

"Good!"

"Eli is right!"

"We will talk after you apologize to us!"

The Royal Domain lords behind him instantly erupted in cheers and applause.

Every face lit up with fierce satisfaction, and inwardly they praised Eli's hardline attitude to the skies.

This unexpected clash had instead, by sheer coincidence, further solidified the Royal Domain group that had only just taken shape, uniting them in shared outrage against a common enemy.

Camilla Russell's brows drew tightly together, and a flash of displeasure and surprise passed through her gray eyes.

She had clearly not expected Eli to refuse so directly, much less with such force.

The mont both sides saw this, the shouting match that had only just subsided imdiately began escalating all over again.

One side hurled "country bumpkin," the other answered with "bloodsucking parasite."

As the insults grew harsher and tempers climbed higher, more than a few people had already placed their hands on their sword hilts and taken up openly confrontational stances.

The air in the hall seed to freeze, thick with the sll of powder. A duel looked ready to break out at any mont.

As the leaders of their respective sides, Eli and Camilla now both found themselves in a position where neither could easily retreat.

Eli had only just secured his footing and absolutely could not show weakness.

And Camilla ca from House Russell, the ducal family of the Eastern Frontier. Her status was exalted, and at present she was the leader of the Eastern Frontier lords behind her.

There was even less chance that she would lower her head and compromise before a group she viewed as "capital parasites."

Though neither of them wished for matters to spiral completely out of control, neither was willing to take the first step back.

Fortunately, the disturbance here had finally alard the Western Frontier officials responsible for managing this district.

Several officials in the uniforms of Thorne City's constables hurried to the Golden Cup and Antlers Inn under the escort of a squad of Western Frontier guards, all of them wearing anxious expressions.

The official at the front looked to be around forty years old, with a stern face.

The mont he entered and saw the scene poised on the verge of eruption, he barked out sharply,

"What are you trying to do?! Do you want to fight? If you want to fight, then get out of Thorne City and do it elsewhere!

"This is the capital of the Western Frontier, land under House La Roche's rule! There is no place here for your lawlessness!"

The guards who had followed him imdiately inserted themselves between the two groups with practiced efficiency.

Using their bodies and weapons, they forced the two sides apart, separating the lords who had nearly pressed face-to-face.

At the sight of that, Eli let out a breath of relief.

"My lord, we had no wish to cause trouble.

"It was the Eastern Frontier lords who kicked the door open and barged in without cause. They were the ones who provoked us first.

"We of the Royal Domain rely acted in self-defense and to protect our own dignity."

Hearing Eli's explanation, Camilla remained expressionless, her voice as cold as ever.

"Oh? And yet it was clearly your people who first spewed insults and abused us."

Eli frowned and t Camilla's icy gaze without the slightest retreat.

Their eyes clashed in midair, neither side yielding.

The scene fell temporarily silent. Only rough breathing and the crackle of burning firewood in the hearth remained.

The leading Western Frontier official—William Claude—looked at the deadlocked scene before him and felt an intense headache coming on.

Every one of these Frontier Lords had an unusual background, but that did not an he could allow them to cause trouble inside Thorne City.

Besides, Sir Lucius had already instructed him to choose a few representative cases and properly hamr so sense into these Frontier Lords.

Rubbing at his temples, he decided to cut the knot quickly and prevent an actual fight from breaking out.

He looked toward the core figures on both sides—Eli and Camilla.

"Baron Eli Pendragon. Baron Camilla Russell.

"The two of you will co with . Everyone else is to disperse at once. No further gatherings. No further disturbances."

But reality was...

William looked at the two groups, who still glared at one another and showed no willingness to back down first.

His brows knotted hard, and he repeated himself with greater weight.

"Well?"

Seeing this, Eli knew that continuing the standoff would benefit no one.

He turned first and said to the Royal Domain lords behind him,

"My friends, continue drinking. It is only a small misunderstanding. I will return shortly."

His calmness and consideration for the larger situation helped the Royal Domain lords settle sowhat.

Though they remained dissatisfied, they gradually dispersed.

Seeing this, Camilla also waved a hand to the Eastern Frontier lords behind her, signaling them to leave.

William saw that the two of them were at least willing to cooperate, but the ease with which they could command their followers only made him more dissatisfied.

He could not help letting out a cold snort before turning and leading the way out.

In his eyes, these outsider Frontier Lords were synonymous with trouble.

Eli and Camilla exchanged a glance, then silently followed William.

The three of them spoke not a word along the way.

William did not lead them to any formal reception room.

Instead, he brought them to a dark chamber inside a nearby constabulary office.

When he pushed the door open, the room beyond was dimly lit and simply furnished.

There were only two hard wooden cots and a single table. There was not even a window. It looked less like a room for proper discussion and more like a temporary holding cell.

Eli frowned. This did not look like an environnt ant for a serious conversation.

William, however, seed to have cald down sowhat. He turned and looked at the two young barons.

"Your Excellencies, whatever the cause may have been, you gathered a crowd in a public place, confronted one another, and nearly caused an ard brawl. That already constitutes a violation of Thorne City's public order regulations.

"Among the Frontier Lords, such conduct absolutely cannot be allowed to take root."

He paused, then continued when he saw that neither of their expressions had changed much.

"However, in consideration of your rank and the fact that this is your first offense, and since no actual losses were caused, no severe punishnt will be imposed.

"But a necessary warning must still be given. The ti will not be long. Remain here and quietly reflect on your conduct for half a day.

"When the ti cos, soone will release you. I hope both of you can understand."

At those words, Camilla's expression turned even colder. She fixed William Claude with her eyes, and her voice carried undisguised pressure.

"Are you truly certain you wish to do this?"

Faced with her imposing manner, William felt the pressure, though he still forced himself to let out a cold snort.

"This is the Western Frontier! Everything here is handled according to Western Frontier rules!

"And Sir Lucius himself previously instructed to keep a close eye on you."

Then his tone shifted.

"Besides, I heard from the guards that the two of you wanted to 'talk,' did you not?

"It is quiet here. No one will disturb you. It is the perfect place for the two of you to have that conversation at your leisure."

Without giving either of them any opportunity to argue, he turned and went straight out through the door, then instructed the guards outside,

"Keep watch here! No one is to disturb this room for half a day!

"After tonight, release the two barons at midday tomorrow!"

"Yes, sir!" the guards answered respectfully.

Their eyes even held a trace of admiration that William had actually dared to confine two nobles.

The door was shut from the outside, and a faint sound of locking followed.

In the dim room, only Eli and Camilla remained.

Each occupied one of the hard cots against opposite walls, and for a ti neither showed the slightest intention of speaking first.

In the end, Camilla was the one who broke the silence. Her voice was still cold, and the contempt in it was undisguised.

"Foolish man. You know nothing except how to show the courage of a brute."

Eli's mouth twitched, and he replied without the slightest politeness, "Stupid woman."

Camilla seed unwilling to waste ti on a war of words. She went straight to the point.

"You already know what happened in the royal capital, do you not...?" She stared fixedly at Eli's blurred silhouette in the darkness.

"You stayed in La Roche Castle for so many days. What did Lucius La Roche say to you?

"What exactly is his attitude toward the situation in the royal capital?

"And what is the true purpose behind summoning us this ti?"

Hearing that, Eli closed his eyes and let out a cold laugh, his tone dripping with mockery.

"Are you always this... stupidly direct? Why should I answer you? Are we that familiar with one another?"

"What did you say?" Camilla's voice rose instantly, cold rage suppressed beneath it.

Eli's contemptuous attitude had thoroughly infuriated her.

The mont the words left her mouth, Eli heard the rush of wind tearing toward him.

He had not expected this woman to be so hot-tempered that she would truly strike without warning.

Fortunately, his strength had already stabilized at the Lower Silver Tier. His senses and reactions had long surpassed those of ordinary n.

His sharpened combat instinct made him twist to the side on reflex.

At the sa ti, his right hand shot out like lightning and precisely caught the ankle of the foot Camilla had kicked toward him.

Her skin felt warm and taut beneath his grip, but he had no leisure to dwell on that now.

Her first strike missed, and her ankle was caught. Surprise flashed across Camilla's eyes, yet her movents did not pause for even an instant.

Borrowing the force of her turn, her other leg lashed out like a whip and swept viciously toward Eli's head.

Eli's brows tightened. His left hand ca up just as swiftly and blocked the fierce kick.

At the sa ti, the hand gripping her right ankle yanked hard toward himself and twisted.

Camilla instantly lost her balance and let out a startled cry.

Eli followed the motion and slamd her hard onto the cold, unforgiving floor.

"You—?! How dare you! Get off !" Camilla was both humiliated and furious. Never before had she been pinned to the ground by a man in such a disgraceful position.

She struggled with all her strength, but Eli's power was far greater than she had expected. His hands were like iron clamps around her legs.

His body weight also pinned her down, leaving her little room to break free.

At that mont, Eli felt sowhat awkward as well. Their current position was indeed far too intimate and far too embarrassing.

Holding down the body that kept twisting beneath him, he barked in a low voice, "Have you cald down yet?"

Camilla stopped struggling. Her chest rose and fell sharply, and in the darkness her gray eyes glared death at Eli.

Through clenched teeth, she forced out two words.

"Get off."

Eli did not loosen his hold. Instead, he pressed her down even harder, pinning her restless legs with his shoulder.

Then he freed one hand and struck her sharply across the... backside.

"Apologize. Then we can talk calmly."

Camilla froze outright.

When she recovered, overco with rage and humiliation, she bared a mouthful of silver teeth and bit down directly on Eli's exposed shoulder.

"Are you a dog?"

"I am absolutely going to kill you! Absolutely!" Camilla's reply was overflowing with fury and sha.

Inside the dim holding cell, the atmosphere once again fell into a deadlock.

Only this ti, it had shifted from a clash of words into a clash of bodies.