Those sitting around the courtyard hurried to greet Fletcher as soon as he stepped out. “Mr. Atkinson, you look like you’re in top form! Seems like you’re confident of winning today’s fight, huh?”
“It’s such an honor for us to have this chance to witness this fight up close, Mr. Atkinson. I bet it’ll be a feast for the eyes.”
“Mr. Atkinson has been in Battlefield for twenty years, yet someone still dares to challenge his reputation. This is no different from courting death.”
“Mr. Atkinson, we’re all here to witness you display your great might! I’m dying to see that pathetic wretch who dared to challenge you!”
“…”
A chorus of voices chimed in. Everyone present was sharing their views on the upcoming fight.
For them, it’s an honor of the highest order to see Fletcher in combat with their own eyes. Many of those present had witnessed the power of Nathan before, but their understanding of Fletcher’s strength was based solely on hearsay.
They all had heard of Fletcher’s prowess, yet it still remained a mystery how far his strength could reach!
Fletcher gave a slight nod to them, which was as polite a greeting as they could expect from him.
Fletcher took a seat, and soon a few influential figures made their way into the Atkinson family’s spacious courtyard. Among them were the head of Inassea, the head of the Southwest region, and several other persons of high status.
Standing in the courtyard, they expressed the purpose of this visit to Fletcher. “Mr. Atkinson, we heard someone dared to challenge your authority, so we came here to show our support. We hope you won’t mind us coming uninvited.”
It’s Tanner who’s speaking, and there was a clear note of flattery in his tone. As the head of Inassea, Tanner held a significant position, but he’s still a nobody in Fletcher’s eyes. After all, he was Fletcher Atkinson who had served alongside Kayden for so long and earned great military achievements. He deserved all the respect and privilege in Inassea.
“Exactly! Anyone bold enough to stir up trouble for Mr. Atkinson in Inassea is digging his own grave!”
After a bit of casual chit-chat and some flattery, their patience was wearing thin. Bruce Mullin, the head of Southwest region, couldn’t hold back and said, “Maybe that guy is just trying to use Mr. Atkinson’s name to grab some attention. It’s been so long, and he still hasn’t shown up. I bet he’s too scared to come.”
Someone roared with laughter. “Honestly, it’s nothing too surprising. I predicted this outcome a long time ago. No one would be dumb enough to take this kind of risk, after all.”
Unlike the others, these few had witnessed Fletcher’s strength firsthand. Last time, Fletcher subdued a ruthless murderer, using merely a fork. His strength, that kind of speed-no ordinary person could possibly achieve. After that, Fletcher’s reputation skyrocketed and reached its peak under the influence of Tanner, Bruce, and some other bigwigs. Before long, Fletcher became a legend in Inassea.
To this day, Fletcher’s influence surpassed both Tanner and Bruce. Most people would even have to gauge his mood before taking any action. Just as they finished their words, Fletcher’s face darkened as his forehead creased in an unconscious frown.
He lifted his head, eyes fixed on the view beyond the walls. “He’s here,” Fletcher murmured.
His words sounded cryptic, leaving everyone puzzled as they looked at him in confusion. Just then, an abrupt gust of wind swept through the courtyard, stirring a few fallen leaves. They tumbled and spun before being lifted into the sky by the invisible current.
It seemed like nothing more than an ordinary phenomenon of wind rising, too ordinary to catch anyone’s attention. Yet Fletcher was an exception. This sudden gust of wind was enough to make him tense with caution because he clearly noticed that the leaves were actually stirred by a subtle force. Even a few tree branches twisted and curled under the influence of this eerie wind.
Someone had summoned this wind through his sheer internal energy, from such a distance-what kind of master could wield such power?
It was unmistakable now-Fletcher was about to face a tough opponent!
It didn’t bring him any fear, but a sharpened sense of vigilance.
“Mr. Atkinson, it’s just the wind, nothing more.” Tanner casually took a sip of his tea.
But before his words even settled, an eerie laughter suddenly pierced through the air. At times, the laughter seemed to be right beside the ear, yet at others, it felt as though it came from miles away. It felt so unreal as though they were now in a sci-fi movie.
Yes, it was exactly like that. The laughter had a creepy tone to it. It echoed through the courtyard as if the walls around had been rigged with some sort of audio amplifier. That unsettling sound rang from every corner of this courtyard.
A wave of unease swept over the once-calm crowd of onlookers. Many people rose from their seats and craned their necks to peer around. Living in this modern age, it’s their first time to hear such an eerie laugh. It was downright chilling.
As everyone scanned the surroundings, the voice boomed again from above, “Who is Fletcher Atkinson?!”
Everyone darted their eyes toward the direction where the voice came from-up on the roof!
On the expansive rooftop of the Atkinson family’s grand mansion, a domineering figure stood tall and proud. It was a grey-haired old man who crossed his arms and had an upright stance that exuded confidence. He wore a tattered white robe that faintly carried a moldy scent that whispered of history, almost as if he had been wearing this for years.
He stood stop the roof, about sixteen or seventeen meters above the ground. At this moment, he seemed to tower over the world like a sovereign gazing down at his empire. As a gust of wind swept past, his tattered robe billowed, and his hair fluttered wildly in the air. He wasn’t a traditionally good-looking man, but at this moment, he exuded great charm, a sense of raw vitality, and untamed dominance.
The sight of him stunned everyone present. Such a surreal way of appearing was beyond what anyone had anticipated. Even though he appeared unremarkable, now he commanded the quiet admiration and reverence of everyone!
Standing atop the roof, with his robes billowing in the wind, he looked every bit like a grandmaster of martial arts.
Anyone passing by might mistakenly think they were filming a movie, but actually, it was not. This old man did come to provoke and start a fight.
The old man stood there motionless. His gaze was fixed on the distant, on the ethereal clouds, rather than the people below. It was so cool. It felt like he made the scenes that existed only in imagination come to life.
Suddenly, the old man made a slight move. He turned his head slightly as his piercing eyes scanned the crowd below, sweeping over them like a tempest. Just one glance from him ignited feelings of longing, admiration, and even reverence in many!
In a voice that commanded authority, he boomed again, “Who is Fletcher Atkinson?!”
His tone was so powerful it seemed to shake the very ground of the Atkinson family courtyard!
Most people present had never encountered such an overwhelming presence. They felt utterly crushed under his gaze! The way he looked down upon them stirred envy and resentment in their hearts.
Fletcher slowly rose from his chair and lifted his head to meet the old man’s gaze. “Here I am.”