After all, idols don't lose their lives in the arena, but the dirty tricks these companies play to suppress competitors from other companies are immeasurable.
The legend who won the first three competitions—Black Knight—announced before this competition that he would not participate, retiring on the spot and heading south to Kjerag, where he would be responsible for security work at a company there.
The reason was simple: no one wanted to watch a predictable match. Three consecutive championships had already made many people dislike the Black Knight, so he chose to retreat gracefully.
After joining a Knight Order, Tournament Knights gained a smoother start compared to other independent knights who had not joined a Knight Order.
Debut matches, exhibition games, business negotiations, advertising endorsements—everything was handled by the company. They would provide their knights with resources commensurate with their potential, diligently cultivating them into popular superstars.
Of course, there's no such thing as a free lunch. When a knight's value is completely exploited, whether due to poor performance, retirement due to injury, or simply not wanting to continue in the profession, he will be immediately discarded into the historical corner of the Knight Tournament, forgotten by all.
And Margaret was particularly aware of this fact; her relative had once suffered this misfortune.
"Ah, I think I understand, Nona Margaret. Your rejection of the Commercial Federation stems from Whipblade Knight's experience. I assure you, that was merely a regrettable accident."
As if seeing through Margaret's thoughts, Chiarne put away his annoying smile and instead adopted a somewhat artificial expression of sadness.
"Although Whipblade Knight was injured in the arena, it was still a glorious victory—and she received a considerable reward for it. That was—"
Margaret, however, merely snorted, her tone exceptionally disdainful.
"If it weren't for the fact that only I visited Zofia during her hospitalization three years ago, I might believe your rhetoric—you have perverted the glory of knights, turning the Knight Tournament into slaves manipulated by money."
Margaret did not despise Tournament Knights. She always believed that it was the manipulation of the corporations behind them that severed the connection between Tournament Knights and Crusader Knights, leading to mutual animosity and causing the glory of knights to gradually fade from this competition.
"Perverted? This is clearly a win-win situation, Nona Margaret. It seems you still don't understand what a great endeavor this is—it is the Knight Tournament that brought Kazimierz into a new era, the best era!"
As for the young Margaret, Chiarne shook his head, his smile growing even brighter, and his tone becoming earnestly persuasive.
"I know the nobles of the Nearl Family are far-sighted; you are all brave warriors who guard the borders—but look at these low, dilapidated bungalows. Decades ago, the tallest residences in the entire Grand Knight Territory were the castles of the Grand Knights, while common people could only live in these shabby houses."
Chiarne had investigated: Margaret Nearl was the most promising candidate from the new generation of the Nearl Family to become a Grand Knight.
Such a favored child of heaven, from childhood, must have received the most orthodox knight training, never lifting a finger for mundane tasks, only training to become a Crusader Knight. She couldn't possibly have had the opportunity to experience the lives of the common people.
But the Family motto of the Nearl Family knights compelled them to dedicate their lives to protecting the people. This contradiction created an information gap, enough for Chiarne to unleash his silver tongue.
"Who brought the common people into tall buildings and improved their lives? It was the steadily improving economy; it was the Knight Tournament! It changed our impoverished and weak society, providing countless poor people with job opportunities, bringing us apartment buildings, Originium cars, household appliances..."
Chiarne's voice grew a few decibels louder, tinged with a hint of fanaticism. Were the words he spoke facts that he himself deeply believed?
"Nona Margaret, I believe your grandfather told you where the funding for Crusader Knights comes from. If one day the Knight Tournament disappears... if enterprises vanish overnight, who will provide the ever-increasing military funds for Crusader Knights? Who will secure Kazimierz's economic position to curb foreign aggression?"
Chiarne's voice was earnestly persuasive, and Margaret was irresistibly drawn into his rhythm—this was indeed true.
"Look, Tournament Knights are not the Puppets you speak of. This is a great profession; every Tournament Knight is a good person, no less than a Crusader Knight. They provide countless jobs and positions for the common people, let alone a champion—I believe you also wish to be a good person, don't you, Nona Margaret?"
Noticing Margaret's wavering, Chiarne pulled out a stack of contracts from his bag, as thick as a dictionary.
"Come, Nona Margaret, the old glory has passed; it is time to embrace a new era—sign this contract, and you will become a hero surpassing your grandfather."
Margaret shook her head. She had already made up her mind not to sign the contract, but after hearing Chiarne's words, she actually felt there was some truth to them.
"No, no, you are wrong, Mr. Chiarne. I will not sign this contract. Please leave now."
Although she somewhat wanted to use force to drive away this persuader, Margaret knew that with the Kazimierz newspaper reporters' ability to fabricate stories, her "scandal" would immediately be published on the front pages of major newspapers the next day, and the Nearl Family's reputation would surely be damaged.
"No, I don't know what to refute. If Aunt were here... Come quickly, Aunt, I'm terrible with words!"
Just as Margaret was struggling with how to refute Chiarne's words and reasonably kick him out of her house, a broad, strong hand suddenly clapped her shoulder.
"Then, what is the price of this good era—Mr. Chiarne?"
A faint vein rarely bulged on Goki's forehead as he looked at this lackey of the capitalist with a slightly indignant smile.
"It wouldn't be, everything Margaret has, would it?"
There are still too few good pictures of Nearl~
------------------------
There are already 70+ chapters available on my Patreon!
The story will continue to update 1 chapter per day on Webnovel,
while early access chapters are posted on Patreon.
Maybe it's not worth it today but it could be later
[email protected]/Kazenova223
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"