NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 696 The Test
696 The Test
What is the best way to lure someone out if one were to ask?
The answer is… identity theft.
When someone knows that their identity has been stolen, and the thief uses it to damage their reputation or commit uncalled-for deeds, they will do everything in their power to clear their name and prove that their identity was stolen. They'll also want to clarify that whatever the thief did while impersonating them is not their fault.
If this concept is still unclear, imagine this: You're at home, minding your own business, and one day, the police call to inform you that your ID has been linked to some shady dealings, maybe human trafficking or drug smuggling.
That news would undoubtedly light a fire in your ass! You'd immediately reach out to the police to clear your name and cooperate with them as much as possible to remove the false charges. In the process, you'd be desperate to find out who used your identity to cause such chaos, and you'd even want to strangle the life out of them yourself!
The same logic applies here. Especially without the police interfering as a middleman, Merlin would undoubtedly seek Daniel out to setttle teh score. But that's precisely the effect Daniel wants. He wants to meet Merlin and do everything he can to prevent Merlin from meeting with Envy!
"O Great Merlin! We've come bearing gifts and sincere intentions from both Ealdorman Norman and Thegn Cuthred. We wish to establish a friendship with you, O Great Merlin of the Lake of Avalon," Wiglaf said reverently.
"Wait! Wiglaf! This guy is not a sage or Merlin or whatever. He's just a warrior—the same one who beat us up!" The leader of the warriors guarding the procession pointed at Daniel.
Daniel nonchalantly snapped his fingers, and a lightning bolt struck through a gap in the forest canopy, hitting the ground nearby. The explosion left a small crater, sending dirt flying into the air. When the dust settled, all that remained was a charred hole in the earth.
"Are you suggesting I should use my magic to deal with all of you?" Daniel asked with a cold smile.
Seeing the black scorched ground, the warrior group gulped nervously.
"But… but you're clearly a warrior… your skills…" The warrior leader stammered, still doubting Daniel's magical identity. It wasn't that he didn't witness the demonstration with his own eyes. Still, Daniel's overwhelming first impression as a powerful warrior was deeply ingrained in his mind. It was hard for him to reconcile that image with someone capable of such supernatural feats.
Anticipating the warrior leader's protest, Daniel cut him off. "Do you use a sword to kill an ant? Just because I'm well-versed in magic doesn't mean I should neglect warrior skills."
As the tension escalated, Wiglaf quickly punched the warrior leader, the blow hard enough to knock out a tooth.
"I apologize for this disgraceful display from our warrior. I will return him to Thegn Cuthred and ensure he receives the punishment he deserves," Wiglaf said hastily, trying to placate Daniel.
Seeing this, an idea formed in Daniel's mind. He could use this situation to his advantage without revealing too much of his hand to the other side.
"I could… forgive this transgression and pretend it never happened. On one condition." Daniel held up a single finger, smiling as he signaled his terms.
— Evening - Thegn Cuthred Village —
The procession returned from the eastern woodland with news. In addition to the magical materials that Daniel had kept for himself to create various artifacts and potions, he returned all the other gifts, whether they were wealth or maidens.
Wiglaf reported what had transpired in the eastern woodland and informed the Thegn about Daniel's intentions.
"What? He wants to search for a worthy king who will be the foundation of Britain?" the Thegn asked.
"Yes, my Thegn. He only asked us to spread this news far and wide. Whoever passes the test of the sword in the stone will have Lord Merlin's support to become the king who will rule and form the foundation of Britain," Wiglaf confirmed.
"Why does he want to do that? From what you told me, he has the power to be king himself. Why bother supporting someone else to be king?" the Thegn asked, clearly puzzled.
"The reason for this, I do not know, nor do I dare to ask, my Thegn. But my guess is that Lord Merlin finds this to be a worthy endeavor, or perhaps he has peered into the future and seen what needs to be done," Wiglaf replied.
"I see... Then, send a horse messenger to inform Ealdorman Norman. We need to consult with him."
"Yes, my Thegn."
Wiglaf set things in motion without delay and ensured everything was arranged as the Thegn desired.
The horse messenger arrived at the Ealdorman's domain and delivered the news. This information spurred the Ealdorman into action, seeing it as a godsend opportunity.
In his mind, it didn't matter who passed the test as long as it was one of his people. He was confident he could control the chosen king and make the king his puppet.
Moreover, having Merlin's support in all his endeavors would be a tremendous advantage. It would grant him a powerful backer and legitimacy if one of his people were to pass the trial. However, he knew he must not attempt the trial himself.
If he fails the trial, his reputation will be ruinous, and later, if he makes the puppet king abdicate the throne and give it to him, he will lose all legitimacy.
But… it would be a different story if he sent one of his people to pass the trial and then offered his support to that person, turning them into his puppet.
This way, he will receive better benefits than he would if he became king himself. If something were to go wrong, the puppet king would bear the brunt of the consequences, leaving the puppet master, such as him, safe from any repercussions.
With this in mind, the Ealdorman sprang into action. He announced the news far and wide, but he eliminated anyone who worked for his enemies or the Ealdorman, who opposed him.
However, there was one thing the Ealdorman hadn't accounted for—his guest, Claudia.
Inside the guest wing, Claudia was reading the announcement on a parchment in her room. She turned to a young boy, around 15 or 16 years old, dressed in the wool garments of a servant.
"Are you ready, Artorius?" Claudia asked, her smile concealing a mischievous grin.
"Yes, Lady Claudia! I am ready," the blond-haired boy responded with determination.
Artorius was a war orphan of Roman descent. Claudia had found him crying over his father's corpse on the battlefield. She had adopted him and made him her servant ever since.
"No, you must call me Sister Morgan. From now on, my name is Morgan Le Fay. Understand?" Claudia—no, Morgan Le Fay—said with a mischievous smirk.
"Yes, Sister Morgan! I am ready!" Artorius replied with a determined nod.
This was something she did for fun—meddling in the affairs of other mages. She didn't like most mages because they hadn't lifted a finger to help Rome defend against the Visigoths, and her disdain for them had lingered ever since.
Sure, there were some good mages, but her dislike for the majority drove her to take pleasure in disrupting their plans. Whenever she saw another mage in misery because of her pranks, she felt better and less envious of them.
With this, the duo's fake brother and sister travel from Ealdorman Norman toward Thegn Cythred's village. The ultimate trial was set in the eastern woodland, just east of Thegn Cuthred's village. This allowed Ealdorman Norman to easily control the flow of people. Even with these restrictions, more than 10,000 people had gathered for the event.
Thankfully, Merlin had declared two preliminary tests before the ultimate trial. Only those who passed one of these tests would be allowed to participate in the ultimate trial.
The first test was the Test of the Wise, designed to evaluate a candidate's understanding of the art of rulership. This test would eliminate many candidates who couldn't read, leaving only nobles and elite warriors from various Ealdorman domains.
The second test was the Test of Steel, which assessed a candidate's combat prowess. Participants had to survive for five minutes in combat against one of Merlin's golems. Alternatively, a candidate could pass by destroying the golem outright if they were skilled enough.
Those who could pass the two tests will be granted priority to take the ultimate test first. If the chosen one in the priority group has passed the ultimate test, the test will end, and the later group will not have a chance to take the ultimate test.
The people who are undergoing the trial will be the ones who will become king and get support from Merlin, so there will be no representative in this trial.