Rise of the Cosmic_Emperor

Chapter 257 - Espionage. Part 1

*Clang*

With the preset rules that only their skills in weapons were to be used, Hal knew already that he was on the back foot because for one thing, after that demonstration, Henrik was surely the better man with the sword and his attacks were performed with incredible finesse.

However, what Hal lacked in skill, he more than made up for in the strength which came as a surprise to Henrik.

He had proposed the use of merely their skills with weapons in an attempt to be fair and take into consideration that Hal was not at his level.

Of course, even with those rules, there was still bound to be a disparity in body strength but that was something Henrik felt he could do nothing against.

After all, life was never truly fair in a strength-oriented world such as this, so what the point of attempting it now.

However, he could not help but feel that things were not as they seemed.

"What is your cultivation?" He asked in a level tone as he and Hal separated.

Hal stabbed his sword into the stage while flexing his wrists.

"I detest having to fight in this nice dress. The least you could do was allow me to change" he said with a shake of his head.

"Did you not hear me? What is your cultivation?" Henrik repeated.

Hal looked up as though he was only just hearing what Henrik asked, 

"I don't see how that is any of your business" He said and pulled out his sword while cranking his neck.

"Prepare yourself" he said and dashed forward.

Henrik's eyes narrowed and he quickly pulled his sword horizontally in front of his face and caught Hal's strike.

The strike had been with the serrated edge of his blade and it caught on Henrik's sword edge which Hal then pulled.

Henrik attempted to resist the pull but quickly found himself unable to as he moved closer to Hal who drew back his fist.

Clearly, Hal did not consider physical contact as a breach of the rules.

*Bam*

Henrik caught the punch in his palm and heard a faint crack as his wrist was sprained but not to a level he could not endure and continue fighting.

Even then, his eyes widened.

This confirmed it, impossible as it might be, Hal who was surely not yet in his thirties was already at the Cosmic Phenomenon Realm.

The crowd was enjoying the show and occasionally they applauded at the display and the fact that this unknown young man was contending with the Baron's brother.

Eva frowned lightly and glanced over at her sister who at that moment looked in her direction as well.

They were both clearly thinking the same thing which was that Hal needed to be interrogated.

And it was not something that could wait till after the end of the party which could potentially last till the next morning.

Meanwhile, the spar between Hal and Henrik continued in full swing with the older of the two finally gaining the upper hand.

Hal's strength had taken him by surprise but now that he had adjusted and no longer underestimated him, he now fought him as an equal.

Hal thrust his sword at Henrik's midsection but the other man simply parried the strike and reciprocated with a jab of his own at Hal's shoulder.

Hal managed to get his sword to intercept while also making use of the impact to push himself back and create a separation between them but Henrik was not interested in giving him a breathing room as he dashed forward and slashed at the front of Hal's robes.

A strike that had he not moved away from the sword's reach had the potential to cut right through him and kill him. Of course, his Bloodline ability {Regeneration} could heal him but Henrik did not know that.

This was getting real serious, real fast.

The crowd agreed and while they quite enjoyed the spar with many of them not giving a damn if one of the two of them died, they still wondered if the two had grudges before this spar. 

Eva agreed and was ready with a Comic phenomenon in hand and out of sight to stop things before they went too far.

*Clang*

"What are you?" Henrik asked with a growl as that was the main reason he wanted thus spar.

He was hoping Hal's low-level expertise with a weapon would help him ascertain that he was from a little city but while Hal's weapon expertise was really not that good, it was still better than what a country bumpkin should have.

Also, his potential Cosmic Phenomenon realm cultivation did not fit the bill of a small city either.

He could very well have a last name but be more interested in keeping it private. Secret.

"None of your business" Hal spat as Henrik struck out with his fist.

Hal dodged to the side and transitioned into a one-hand stand and in that position, 

*Bam*

...he kicked Henrik in the face.

"Let's keep it civil" The Baron's voice sounded.

'You keep quiet when he almost kills me but you want us to be civil when I kick him in the face. This is my kind of guy' Hal chuckled in his mind.

'You're praising someone who clearly does not care if you live or die? Are you crazy?' Grimoire was shocked.

Hal rolled his eyes mentally, 

'I'm not praising him. I can just relate to his actions.' He said.

'So if you get the chance to pay him back...' Grimoire started.

'... I'll take it. Nothing over the top of course and also maybe something that he does not exactly have complete knowledge about, but yes, I will take it' 

With that, Hal's communication to Grinoure stopped and he was back to focusing completely on Henrik who was pushing even harder now.

He felt it was about time to end this display and he wanted to do so in the most flashy manner possible.

He had just managed to smack Hal in the stomach with the flat of his sword, causing him to double up in pain and began to make exaggerated movements with his sword.

Keen observers could see that the movement was merely a cover for Henrik to harness cosmic energy and hold it at the edge of his sword blade.

He wanted to slash it and blast Hal off the platform when the 'whimpering' young man looked up suddenly and his eyes flashed nightmarish black.

Immediately, Henrik froze. He could not be clear if he had really seen the eye Change or had merely imagined it, but one thing was sure;

He was afraid.

Immensely so.

He did not know why and could not shake it off as he was paralyzed by the feeling.

Hal straightened up with a grin and walked briskly to Henrik to speak into his ear, 

"I am Hal from Sapphire city"

*Bang!*

There was a flash of a Cosmic phenomenon and Henrik was blasted off the stage while Hal dispersed his Armament.

The Baron frowned as Hal walked down from the stage to the applause of the crowd while Lady Penelope grabbed his arm. He took one step towards Hal when his wife stopped him, 

"Let me deal with him" Camira said.

The Baron took a deep breath and flashed her a smile, 

"Of course darling. I trust you to be efficient" 

With that, he ascended the stage and joined in on the applause while men took away a delirious-looking Henrik who was only just stunned and would be back on his feet soon enough.

"Impressive. That was simply impressive. Clearly, looks can be deceiving. A round of applause for the young man."

The applause grew louder while Penelope smiled at Hal, 

"That was an understatement." She said and before Hal could say anything, Eva approached him, 

"Follow me" was all she said and walked away from him.

Knowing this was the information he came here for, Hal followed after her.

Besides, there was nothing in Eva's tone that showed flexibility.