CLEAVER OF SIN Chapter 1065: Peculiar Reputation [GT Ranking Bonus - ]

"After awakening, my talents became more pronounced, and I was even lucky enough to be invited by the Star Academy for the entrance exam," Teo Swig continued. "But a certain issue has befallen my family because of my talent," he stated as his tone seemed to harden a bit.

Hearing Teo Swig skip right to the issue, Asher couldn’t help but heave a mental sigh of relief, but he didn’t show it, as he didn’t want to appear inconsiderate.

"The Viscount... Viscount Raymond has constantly sent his men to force me into serving his family by joining his Knight Order ever since I was sixteen, as I was pretty famous as the most talented commoner within the Raymond Viscounty," Teo Swig continued in a heavy tone.

"And of course, my family and I always rejected his invitation, as my Father’s excuse at the time was that I would make my own decision when I turned eighteen. But luckily, before I could be forced into joining the Raymond Knights, I was invited to the Star Academy," he leaned back into the chair.

"But before I was invited, my parents had tried escaping the Raymond Viscounty because they knew I never wanted to join... and Viscount Raymond has a peculiar reputation," Teo Swig continued, but before he could go further, Asher cut him off.

"What peculiar reputation?" he asked, as he couldn’t believe that Teo Swig was about to just gloss over such juicy information and gossip.

"...Raping new male recruits," Teo Swig answered after a moment of pause.

Asher was speechless the moment he heard this. Even if Teo Swig had given him a hundred tries to guess, he would never have guessed this.

Teo Swig sighed, then continued, "My parents and I were caught as we were escaping, and we were banned from ever leaving the Viscounty. And when I turned eighteen, I was only able to leave because of the Star Academy’s invitation, and even at that time, my parents didn’t come with me, as the Viscount sent his Knights to escort me to the Territory where I would head to the Star Academy from." He paused for a moment, then continued.

"Even during this three-day break we were all granted, I didn’t spend it with my family, and none of the academic breaks in the past three years were spent with my family," he shook his head as he spoke. "Because the moment I step foot into the Raymond Viscounty, I would be forced to join their Knight Order."

Although Teo Swig didn’t exactly show it, Asher could literally see and feel the rage pouring from the man sitting before him. There was a flicker of killing intent the boy was trying to conceal. He understood Teo Swig; he and his family were basically being held hostage at this point.

"Various Nobles have made moves to recruit me these past three years," Teo Swig continued. "But before I can even accept any of them, they immediately withdraw their offer, as though Viscount Raymond has gotten to them first," he stated as he broke eye contact with Asher and stared at the table for a moment.

"All in all, if I continue to resist, my family and I will end up getting killed, hence why I’m here," he continued, his blue eyes shifting towards Asher. "If I’m able to join the Wargraves, Viscount Raymond wouldn’t dare do anything to my family. I’ve avoided home and that man for three years, and my time is up," he stated in finality as he leaned forward and picked up the glass of juice.

Asher stayed silent as his mind went through everything Teo Swig had just said, and he couldn’t help but agree that he, Asher, had indeed been naive.

Teo Swig was a talent that would make it to the Crownstar Life Rank one day. There was no way Viscount Raymond would easily let go of such talent. And not only that, other Nobles were also on his tail, and if he didn’t submit to one of them, death was the only way forward.

Teo Swig had been Rank 1 from the moment of his admission into the Star Academy to the point of graduation. Even making it to the final round of the Inter-Empire competition, he was no small, random talent by any means. Even without the Inter-Empire competition, Nobles already knew of this talent. After all, the Star Academy accepted only the best of every year.

Teo Swig was practically a hot cake.

Although Teo Swig was powerful right now, obviously the gay rapist known as Viscount Raymond was also insanely strong, meaning he would be at the Dust Voidstar Life Rank at minimum, and that was without even accounting for his Knights, Knight Commander, and Vice Commander.

How could Teo Swig possibly rescue his family from such a force?

Even if he swore loyalty to another Noble, that in itself was a risk. After all, there was a saying that went, "Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know."

It was like it was better to just get raped only once by Viscount Raymond, who would lose interest after that, than to meet some unknown Noble who might rape you and your family together, kill you all, then rape your corpse too.

But still, Asher felt like the solution was obvious: either join hands with Cindralis or join the Emperor’s Knights, problem solved. And Asher didn’t keep this solution to himself.

"Not to sound harsh, but you could have chosen to serve under Principal Cindralis or join the Emperor’s Knights, hence solving your issue," Asher stated after two seconds of contemplation.

Teo Swig nodded as he spoke, "That was the plan, and it was to join the Separate Dimension, that way, Viscount Raymond can’t reach my family through any means." He paused for a moment. "But since I’ve crossed paths with you during the Inter-Empire competition, I decided to meet up with you before I meet up with one of the Instructors and ask them how to serve under the Principal," he explained.

Asher arched an eyebrow as he asked, "Why?"

Teo Swig seemed to have anticipated the question as he answered, "I feel like the Separate Dimension isn’t suited for me. I don’t want to stay here teaching students and whatnot," he shook his head as he spoke. "I want to fight, which is why I felt joining the Wargrave Knight Order would be better," he explained.

Asher sighed at Teo Swig’s words; he understood where the boy was coming from. But there was one problem... the Wargraves trained all their Knights from a very young age, right from the moment they entered the Three Training Grounds, meaning Teo Swig couldn’t just be thrust into the Wargrave Knight Order.

Asher leaned back into his chair, his head facing the ceiling as he wondered whether to tell Teo Swig this or go back to the Wargrave family and try his luck first. And if it didn’t work out, at least he had done the best he could.

Teo Swig didn’t rush Asher. Just as he had said, his original plan was the Cindralis route, so at this moment, he didn’t exactly raise his hopes high, as he didn’t want to end up being disappointed.

______