Pal Padraig remained calm despite the soldier on duty telling him that Eren Padraig had come to see him and continued to watch the soldiers training with his hands behind his back. He was under a pergola that protected him from the sun.
While Pal Padraig was watching the training, the soldier on duty stood silently next to him and waited for the commander-in-chief to give an order. After about five minutes of silence, Berfin came and broke the silence. Berfin arrived and stood at attention, bowing in front of her grandfather.
- Commander! The mission was completed as you ordered and we have achieved the results you desired. If you have no other orders, I would like to go and check on my team.
- (Pal Padraig remained calm even if his beloved grandchild came to him.) Good. Go check. They scattered and left in a rush just now. It is not clear where they went... Come back when you are done.
In the meantime, Eren has arrived. Bring it with you when you come.
Berfin bowed to her grandfather and then left with the soldier accompanying Eren. The priority was to meet Eren. As she walked towards where Eren was, she saw Han in the distance and Verm next to him.
If Verm is there, no problem. While they were entering the building where the training weapons were kept, Berfin walked towards the arena of the brave, the area where the hawk claw team was training.
A little later, when she arrived at the arena of the brave, she encountered the team leader.
- (Tolgaran respectfully bowed his head in front of his commander and saluted him.) Welcome, commander.
- Hello… Why can't I see anyone? Where is the team?
- Commander, an idiot challenged us, so they went to get their weapons.
- Didn't I forbid you from using weapons during mass training?
- You are right, sir, but the challenger wanted an armed fight. (He added with a slight grin.) We had no other choice. We must necessarily taken our weapons.
- If you say so… Well. Why is the arena empty. Where is the challenger?
- He went with Verm to buy a gun for himself. They'll be here soon.
Berfin had seen Han and Verm entering the building. So the challenger must be Han. Berfin suddenly got angry. "What are you trying to do, Eren? So you won't come alone and you will bring Han with you? Really? Was all your preparation for this?"
As her angry gaze roamed around, she saw Eren leaning on the railings in the distance. She turned to the soldier next to her and said, "Go and call Eren. Have him come here right away." When the soldier ran away, Berfin turned to the Team Leader.
- How confident are you in yourself?
- How so. What do you mean, Commander?
- Eren brought this man. He surely knows how we fight. He might have a trick or two. You better be careful.
The Team Leader was deep in thought... He was chatting with his men who had completed today's training. Then suddenly he heard a man enter the arena of the brave. A few of his men moved quickly and went to see who the man who entered the arena was.
Those left behind were surprised. Someone had entered the arena in front of their eyes, but the team leader did not see it. This man appeared out of nowhere and challenged the hawk claw team.
"Since Eren brought him, he must know our secrets. He is not an idle man. I have to make a list accordingly," he said. While he was muttering and planning what to do, Eren came to them.
- Hello everyone. Berfin, Tolgaran. (Eren bowed his head calmly to both of them.)
- (Berfin) Your man challenged us. You have news, right? How could you not know? Otherwise, why would you bring him here?
- What man are you talking about?
- I'm talking about the man you walked around with yesterday. You know, you came together to see my grandfather... Forgetfulness is a bad thing, cousin. It's not good for you to catch such an old age disease at this age.
- What disease? What man? What are you saying Berfin?
- I say Han, Han. How else can I explain it? What a stupid man you are.
- Han? He's just my workmate. I didn't see how he fought, but my the head guard said he was very good with using a knife. I want my grandfather to take a look at it. I brought it with me in case it might be useful, that's all... I didn't know that he challenged you.
- Are you serious... (She looked into Eren's eyes, but it wasn't because she believed him.) Okay then. Tolgaran, go call my grandfather. He should come and see if the man Eren brought can be of any use to him.
Before Eren could say anything, Tolgaran ran away. A little later, Han and Verm came to the arena. Han had a dagger in each hand. When Berfin saw the slightly curved daggers in Han's hand, she couldn't help but grumble.
- So... You didn't know he would choose such a weapon, did you, cousin? This is all a coincidence anyway. You don't know anything... Really?
Eren couldn't say anything in the face of Berfin's angry words. Because he knew Han used a knife. Of course, it was the right thing to do to choose such a weapon for himself. A dagger. But why? A curved dagger, not a straight one. Why?
Events were no longer controllable. Everything Han did was working against Eren. It definitely seemed like he brought Han here to challenge the hawk claw. No matter what he said after the curved daggers, he couldn't change Berfin's mind.
He calmly stood aside and began to watch what was going to happen. Actually, Eren was also curious about Han's ability to use a knife. Because he didn't know how Han killed three people using a knife. The head guard had said that the dead showed almost no resistance. He didn't understand what kind of ability this was.
...
When Han came to the arena, there was no one else around except a few people. When he saw Eren and Berfin side by side among them, he came over to them. These two had sullen faces and it was obvious from their stances that they were angry about something.
- Hello Eren, Berfin. (He bowed his head slightly to Berfin, but Berfin didn't care.)
- (Eren) Hello Han... What happened? I heard you challenged the hawk claw.
- It happened suddenly. After I left you, I saw an empty area surrounded by a fence here. I said let me come and take a look, but then I was stuck here. They surrounded me and didn't let me go.
When Berfin heard what Han said, she thought Eren might have told the truth. But rules are rules. Whether you enter the arena of the brave by mistake or willingly, the result will not change. No one who enters this arena can escape without fighting.
While Han and Eren were chatting, most of the members of the hawk claw team gathered around the arena. There was no team leader around, but the team commander was there. Realizing the situation, Berfin went to them and created the sequence that the team leader should do.
The curved daggers in Han's hands showed that he knew how to fight. After all, not every fighter could use such a curved blade. Berfin thought that the first person to face Han should be someone who was in the middle ranks in terms of the team's combat power and who used a dagger like Han. If Han defeated him, his next opponent would be one of the elite fighters of the team.
When Berfin told the first man to fight to enter the arena, Han stopped talking to Eren and went to the arena of the brave and faced his opponent.
Now, while the two fighters stood facing each other and looked at each other, Berfin, as the referee of the arena, came to them and explained the rules.
- Everyone here knows the rules of arena of the brave, but I still want to remind them once more.
One... Killing is forbidden. Whoever kills his opponent should know that he will be killed before leaving the arena.
Two… It is forbidden to use real weapons in this arena, except for training weapons. Whoever uses a real weapon should know that the limb he is holding the weapon with will be cut off. Whether this limb is a hand or a foot. Or anywhere else. There are no exceptions, the limb holding the weapon will be cut off.
Three… It is forbidden to tear off parts of his opponent's body. It doesn't matter whether he tears off his opponent's finger with his strength or bites off his ear. Likewise, that part of his body will be taken from him.
Four… Anyone who falls to the ground three times loses the fight.
Five… It is forbidden to attack an opponent who falls to the ground. Those who forget this rule in the excitement of the fight and attack their opponent will be considered defeated.
Six… The winner of fights that are not concluded within ten minutes is decided by the audience through open voting. In fights where there is no audience, the right to decide belongs to the referee.
Seven… No fight can be held in the arena of the brave without the supervision of the referee.
After Berfin listed the rules, she left the arena and left the two fighters alone. The presence of a third person in the already small arena would be nothing more than a hindrance.
While the rivals in the arena were observing each other, the noise around them gradually decreased...