Reborn with A Simulation Coin!

The tension in the air was palpable as Harry and Alfie walked into the banquet hall, drawing the eyes of every guest present. Alfie, with his rugged appearance and obvious discomfort, seemed like a stark contrast to the well-dressed, polished figures in the room. It was as if a stranger had suddenly entered a tightly-knit community; like a black man walking into a room full of white faces. Whispers rippled through the crowd, but no one dared to openly question Alfie's presence, knowing full well that he was still a part of Baron Ethan's bloodline, and by extension, Reggie's brother.

Harry, ever the calm and composed figure, led Alfie to their seats without missing a beat. He didn't seem bothered by the curious glances or hushed conversations that followed them. As they approached their designated spots, it was clear that the arrangement was deliberate; Alfie had been placed at a position of honor, close to the front of the hall, just below Harry's own seat. Their status here, whether they liked it or not, was undeniable. Despite the tension in the room, it was clear that the Kumu family respected their bloodlines, and as much as Reggie might have his reservations about Alfie, he would still get the treatment he deserved.

The room buzzed with murmurs as guests eyed Alfie with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion, but Harry remained unaffected, his posture straight and his expression neutral. He was used to this. Alfie, on the other hand, felt the weight of every stare, but he kept his chin up, determined not to show weakness.

Meanwhile, in a quieter room nearby, Reggie sat with an air of barely contained excitement. His fingers drummed anxiously on the table as he waited for confirmation.

"He really came?" Reggie's voice was tight with anticipation, his gaze fixed on the servant who had just entered.

"Yes, Master Reggie," the servant replied respectfully. "I saw them both. Master Alfie and Master Harry arrived together."

Reggie's lips curled into a sharp smile, and his eyes gleamed with something dark and calculating. "Good, very good. I didn't expect it to happen this quickly, but it looks like the stars are aligning." His voice lowered to a near whisper, a thrill of excitement coursing through him. "I was planning to handle it later, but why wait? Now's the perfect opportunity."

Reggie quickly stood, his heart pounding in his chest. "Notify Mr. Komou immediately. I need him here. We'll take care of everything tonight."

The servant nodded and quickly left to carry out his orders. Reggie stood there for a moment, thinking of all the possibilities, his mind racing with excitement at the thought of finally removing the threat that Harry represented. His hand tightened into a fist. 'This ends tonight.'

As he made his way out of the room and toward the banquet hall, the scene that greeted him was strange. The evening had only just begun, but the atmosphere felt oddly tense. A number of guests had already risen from their seats, and the chatter had quieted significantly. It was as though a silent signal had been given, and everyone had suddenly decided it was time to stand.

Reggie's gaze swept across the room, and his smile widened. 'This is it.'

But as he entered, he quickly noticed something else. The hall, once filled with lively conversation and the clinking of glasses, was now eerily quiet. The guests had scattered, and those who remained seemed oddly tense, as if waiting for something. He saw Harry still sitting at his seat, his posture unmoving, his face calm as always. It was as if he was unaware of the shifting tension around him or perhaps, Harry was too sharp to let on that he noticed.

Alfie's eyes flicked toward Harry, and for a split second, confusion flashed in his expression. 'Doesn't he notice?' Alfie thought, his mind racing. 'Is he just...pretending not to?'

Alfie stood up, a frown knitting his brow. "It seems like the evening's winding down," he muttered under his breath. "We should head back."

But Reggie wasn't about to let them leave just yet. He turned slowly toward Alfie, his smile spreading wider, a glint of something dangerous lurking in his eyes. "Why the hurry, Al? In my opinion, the party is just getting started."

Alfie froze, a sense of foreboding creeping over him. The way Reggie spoke, so casual, yet so cold, set off alarm bells in his head. Something wasn't right.

Before Alfie could respond, there was a sudden noise from the outside. A deep, muffled thud of boots on the floor echoed in the hall. At first, it seemed like nothing, just the usual sounds of servants moving about, but then Alfie's eyes darted to the doors as the sound grew louder. The unmistakable rhythm of soldiers marching steadily toward them. His pulse quickened.

Suddenly, there was a shift in the air, like a door slowly closing behind them. The atmosphere in the hall grew tense as groups of soldiers moved in, blocking the exits. Alfie's heart sank. The soldiers weren't here to serve drinks or escort guests. They were here for something much more sinister.

And there, at the front of the group, stood Cedric. The man who had been so cordial earlier, the one who had excused himself from the room, was now wearing a gleaming set of armor, his hand gripping a long sword. His expression was cold, unreadable, and his eyes locked on Alfie with a chilling intensity.

Alfie's breath caught in his throat. 'This is it.'

His mind raced. 'They've been planning this. From the moment I set foot here, they've been waiting for the right moment to make their move.'

Cedric's voice rang out, hard and steady. "You're not going anywhere, Alfie."

Harry's expression didn't change, his face still calm as he looked around, seemingly unaware of the gravity of the situation. But Alfie, feeling the weight of every soldier's eyes on him, finally understood the magnitude of the trap they were in.

"Reggie."

Alfie's voice was low, barely a whisper, but it cut through the tension in the air like a knife. His eyes flickered between the soldiers and the man who stood before him with an almost gleeful malice. "What do you want to do?"

Reggie's lips twisted into a cruel sneer, the kind that made his face seem sharper, more menacing. "What do I want to do?" He let the question hang in the air for a moment, savoring the suspense before his voice dropped into a growl. "I want to get rid of you."

Alfie felt his heart tighten at the words, his grip instinctively tightening on the hilt of his sword, but he didn't move.

"Do you know how much I hate you?" Reggie's voice was sharp with bitterness, the words as venomous as his stare. He took a slow step toward Alfie, his eyes narrowing with cold rage. "Since the day you were born, my father has never looked at me the same way again. Never acknowledged me. All because of you."

Reggie's gaze shifted to Harry, his eyes hardening further. "And you... Harry. I thought I treated you well. I thought we were brothers. But now I see you for what you truly are, a traitor."

His voice trembled with restrained fury. "Today, I will show you the price of betrayal."

The air seemed to freeze, the words hanging like a sword ready to fall. But Harry didn't flinch. His expression remained cool, his posture relaxed despite the dangerous tension.

"Betrayal?" Harry's voice was calm, even as Reggie's accusations sliced through the air. He looked at Reggie with an almost bemused expression. "I have never betrayed you, Reggie."

There it was, the heart of the matter. Harry was many things; manipulative, ruthless, and self-serving, but never a traitor. Reggie might have hated him, but there was no disloyalty in his heart. Not towards Reggie, at least.

Sure, Harry had been involved in some unsavory dealings under Reggie's rule. He had allowed orcs to raid caravans, taken part in a few of the robberies himself, and been far from a model subordinate. But there had never been a plan to overthrow Reggie, never a whisper of betrayal.

Reggie's eyes darkened with disbelief. "So you're still going to lie to me?" His voice was tinged with disgust. "Let's not even get into your dealings with Madam Glenda or the whole mess with the Aura Technique. Let's focus on the here and now."

He pointed a sharp finger at Alfie, his voice growing colder, more accusing. "How do you explain this? If you hadn't turned against me, why would this bastard be here? Why did you bring him here? Huh?"

Harry stayed silent, his gaze flicking briefly to Alfie before returning to Reggie. The truth was, Alfie's appearance was a complication he hadn't anticipated. It was hard to explain how Alfie had shown up at the manor, why he was here. After all, Alfie hadn't been invited by Reggie. And the last thing Harry wanted was to draw more attention to the situation.

But silence was all he could offer in response.

A tense beat passed before Reggie spoke again, his voice low and filled with venom. "I didn't invite him," Harry finally said, his tone carrying the weight of finality. "And whether you believe me or not doesn't change a thing."

Reggie's eyes narrowed dangerously, the hatred in them as sharp as a blade. "It doesn't matter anymore," he spat, his voice cold as ice. "From the moment you coveted the family's Aura Technique, you sealed your fate. You should have died long ago. You're nothing but a lowly bastard, unworthy of holding our family's legacy."

With a flick of his hand, the soldiers surged forward. They were well-trained, professional, and backed by the support of Komou and Reggie himself. There were knight apprentices among them; strong, capable warriors. Even Harry, a top knight apprentice in his own right, would have a hard time against this kind of force.

But to Reggie's shock, Harry didn't run. He didn't even move back. Instead, with a fluid, almost effortless motion, Harry rose from his seat.

He didn't need to run. He had no intention of fleeing. If anything, he seemed to welcome the challenge.

As the soldiers closed in on him, Harry didn't hesitate. With a single, swift movement, he stepped forward, his body moving like a blur of motion.

The first soldier lunged at him with a sword raised, but before the man could even react, Harry slammed his shoulder into the soldier's chest, sending him flying back with enough force to crack the stone floor beneath him.

Another soldier came at him from the left. Harry didn't even flinch as he spun, delivering a powerful elbow to the man's gut that sent him sprawling. A knight apprentice tried to block his path, but with a simple twist of his wrist, Harry knocked the weapon out of his hand and sent the apprentice tumbling to the ground.

It was over in moments. The soldiers, despite their training and numbers, were no match for Harry's speed and ferocity. The air was thick with the sound of heavy bodies hitting the ground, and Harry stood at the center of it all, his face calm, his eyes cold with resolve.

Reggie stood frozen, his hand still raised, staring in disbelief. "What...?" he muttered, as his soldiers struggled to rise from the ground, dazed and defeated.

Harry turned to face Reggie, his expression unshaken. "Is this really the best you can do, Reggie?"

For a moment, everything seemed to pause, as if time itself was holding its breath. Reggie's fury was palpable, but Harry wasn't about to give him the satisfaction of backing down. This wasn't just a fight, it was the end of a chapter, the culmination of all the twisted games they had played.