Chapter 388: Chapter 383: The Match Chapter 388: Chapter 383: The Match Since his investiture, Muria has been receiving reports of troubles caused by prodigies almost every day. It seemed like an endless stream of problems, which were giving him quite a headache.

These young talents had too many reasons to fight with others or among themselves. Young people seldom know restraint or patience, choosing instead to settle grievances immediately and in person.

For the affection of an attractive maiden, these youthful show-offs could destroy an entire street and involve hundreds of innocent common people. Worse yet, these people would instigate fights and then run away, making them elusive and leaving no one to shoulder the responsibility and compensate for the losses.

Moreover, it was not just about the lasses. Many who had a stronger sense of justice and were keen to help others would intervene whenever they saw injustice.

Their targets ranged from high-ranking aristocrats to lowly thugs exploiting the local markets. They had no qualms about intervening in the contentious disputes among the Dark Races living among humans or even in curbing the propagation of anti-world teachings and doctrines of Cult of the Evil God.

Muria harbored a complex mixture of hatred and affection towards these prodigies. While their existence did indeed police the increasingly rampant Dark Races and evil forces plaguing the Lockman Kingdom, yet they never took the consequences of their reckless behavior into consideration, choosing to act with complete disregard for the aftermath.

Muria’s annoyance with them peaked when he received yet another intelligence report concerning them that day. A nineteen-year-old prodigy girl, already a Gold Rank prodigy, stumbled upon Demon Followers who were in the midst of conducting a sacrificial ritual in the underground sewage system of a big city.

Without wasting a moment, the girl and her companions engaged the Demon Followers in battle. The aftermath of their fierce face-off ended up annihilating the city’s underground drainage system.

Unsurprisingly, that was not the surprising part. Arresting was the fact that this girl had procured some dangerous weapon from an unknown source, which she unleashed within the confined underground city space.

The Count-Level city, with a population nearing five hundred thousand, felt like it was in the throes of an eighth-level earthquake. Countless residences collapsed, and the ground was fissured with numerous large cracks occasioned by the shockwaves. Moreover, the unprepared city walls were severely damaged, evincing eye-catching cracks.

Furthermore, because of the explosion initiated in the center of the city, the castle belonging to the Count, the city’s ruler, was literally blown to pieces.

Well, to be more precise, the castle didn’t disappear into thin air, but rather sank into the ground. As a result of the explosion, the area where the incident took place became the lowest point in the city. Dur to the hydrological principle of water following the path of least resistance, the castle was soon submerged in the filth and waste discharged by the city’s populace.

So, right now, the Count was on the brink of an emotional breakdown. Minding his own business in his castle, he was bombarded, with his castle sunk into a pile of filth and waste. What on earth was happening?

The fact that the castle was built with extreme care, along with the many protective arrays installed within, made the building incredibly robust. Even though the explosion took place directly beneath it, the castle didn’t crumble or deform, and the furniture and adornments suffered minimal damage.

Nevertheless, the unfortunate Count had no intentions of keeping the castle, including everything in it. Right now, all he wanted was to apprehend the prodigy girl who ruined his castle. Everything else ceased to matter.

“Hmph, incompetence. Demon followers were performing a sacrificial ceremony right beneath his castle, and he hadn’t the slightest clue,” lamented Muria, reading the Count’s request, “And now he dares to demand a Wanted Order for the young girl who helped him remove a hidden danger.”

“Mels.” At the sound of Muria’s summoning voice, a middle-aged man in a nobleman’s evening dress, a top hat on his head and a cane in his hand, stepped out of the shadow. Donned in a charming demeanour, he bowed humbly at Muria. “Your Excellency, how may I serve you?”

“Investigate the background of that noble. If there is evidence of his involvement with the Demon, inform the Cloud Giant to deal with it.”

“Yes, sir.” Mels, a member of a secret organization skilled in assassination and intelligence gathering, set out to fulfill Muria’s request.

“Also, while you’re at it, look into this girl’s background,” said Muria, throwing the case file of the culprit who almost razed an entire city, to Mels, “Remember, you’re only permitted to probe into her affairs, not touch her.”

“Understood.”

“It’s time to bring these troublemakers under control.” After Mels departed, Muria tapped his table and decided, “First, we need to use fame and profit to draw them all out.”

“Mia, summon all the ministers and nobles. I have an announcement to make.”

In less than a quarter of an hour, the alarmed ministers and nobles promptly convened in response to Muria’s summons. The last time Duke Muria disregarded conventional procedures to call them on short notice, it had led to the demise of three hundred influential aristocrats. They couldn’t help but wonder what had prompted another abrupt convening.

“I plan to host a competition.” After ensuring all the ministers and nobles were present, Muria introduced his novel plan that was inspired by literary sources from his past life.

“A competition exclusive to young prodigies, with no restrictions on occupation, social status or race. As long as you are a resident of the Lockman Kingdom, you are eligible to participate.”

The nobles and ministers exchanged confused glances upon hearing Muria’s sudden and unexpected plan. The Finance Minister, who had an inkling of the reasons behind Muria’s plan, timidly stepped forward and asked, “Your Grace, Duke Muria, on what scale do you intend to host this competition?”

“Naturally, on a national scale,” replied Muria without hesitation. “We shall divide the kingdom into forty-eight regions to hold preliminary competitions. The winners will be gathered in the Royal Capital to participate in the final matches. Afterward, we will see who is the foremost prodigy in the entire Lockman Kingdom.”

“Your Grace, Duke Muria… Who will bear the expenses of such a grand competition?” the Financial Minister ventured, trying to suppress the palpable fear in his countenance. He barely comprehended the need for hosting such a grand competition, but the mere thought of the enormous expenses associated made him weak in the knees.

“The expenses of the event will be borne by the kingdom’s treasury, and the rewards for the winners will be provided by the royal family.” With a confident smile on his face, Muria declared his decision in a tone that admitted no objection. This was a golden opportunity to win hearts.

“So, Your Grace, who would qualify as a young prodigy eligible to participate?”

“Anyone below the age of thirty,” responded Muria after contemplation, “Due to the significant strength disparity that can develop with age, in order to ensure fairness, the event will be divided into five age groups. Under tens, eleven to fifteen, sixteen to twenty…”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read