https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-675-Lanchi-s-Overwhelming-Strength-Part-1-/12585049/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-676-The-Mystifying-Bond-Between-Lanchi-and-Thalia-Part-1-/12585053/
Chapter 675: Lanchi's Overwhelming Strength (Part 2)
Chapter 675: Lanchi's Overwhelming Strength (Part 2)
At that moment, the screens were still displaying the matches from other subdivisions, where two sword-wielding demons were locked in fierce combat, their blades flashing like waterfalls, their fighting spirits soaring. The spectators' cheers, applause, and disappointed sighs intermingled, occasionally carrying over to the edges of the arena.
Just as Christina and Lanchi were about to leave the rest area and walk towards the illuminated passageway leading out of the open-air arena, a man with a hawkish nose, dressed in an expensive suit, hurried over and blocked their path.
"Wait, please!"
The man's expression was earnest and urgent, indicating that he had an important matter to discuss with them.
"Do you need help?"
Both Christina and Lanchi were puzzled and stopped in their tracks.
"Miss Christina, I apologize for the interruption, but I have a request."
The hawk-nosed man seemed apprehensive of the Baptiste family's countess and was direct yet polite.
"I need a powerful messenger to participate in tonight's commercial dispute match. I witnessed your butler's extraordinary strength, and I'm willing to pay a high commission for him to represent me in the fight."
"Changing the participating fighter at the last moment will incur a fine."
Christina frowned slightly, taken aback by the sudden request.
"That is true, Miss Christina, but our opponent also changed their competitor at the last minute. Initially, I was fairly confident in our chances of winning, but now I'm not so sure. After watching Mr. Roki's performance, I feel that rather than waiting to lose, it might be better to spend a large sum to hire him."
Hawk-Nose Edward Winston, the current CEO of Winston Clock Manufacturing Ltd., quickly explained the situation and his reasons for approaching them. He then presented the offer of a 1,500-pound basic commission for the Baptiste family and an additional 4,500-pound victory bonus if they won.
"This..."
Christina was wealthy, but as a student, she had never earned so much money.
If it weren't for the large sums she had won betting on Roki that night, she would have thought that money was falling from the sky.
Even if they lost, they would still receive 1,500 pounds.
She noticed that Roki seemed indifferent, indicating that he was willing to take on the job as long as it didn't exceed his working hours.
"What about the opponent?"
Christina didn't immediately agree but calmly asked about the specifics of the situation.
"It's like this, Miss Christina, please take a look."
Hawk-nose Edward began to explain the details.
He introduced himself as Edward Winston, the current CEO of Winston Clock Manufacturing Ltd., a well-known and time-honored luxury watchmaker in the Portsen Kingdom.
Their opponent for the night was Charles Hammond of Hammond Financial Group, a provider of international financial services in the Southern Continent, offering a wide range of financial services, including investment banking, asset management, and insurance.
Behind this proxy arena battle lay a decades-long history of commercial competition and disputes.
Many years ago, Winston Clock Manufacturing Ltd. and Hammond Financial Group had become rivals in a large-scale international investment project. Winston aimed to use this investment to expand their watch brand into the Southern Continent, while Hammond Financial Group was attracted by the project's high potential for investment returns.
During the competition, a series of misunderstandings and opposing business strategies led to a prolonged legal and media war, severely damaging both parties' reputations and profits.
Ultimately, to avoid further financial losses and find a more direct and decisive solution, they agreed to settle the dispute through a proxy competition.
The agreement stipulated that the winning side would gain dominance over the disputed project, and both sides would drop all ongoing legal proceedings and restore each other's reputations in public and the media.
"Our opponent found a rather troublesome proxy fighter at the last moment."
Hawk-nose Edward frowned worriedly.
The opponent was reportedly a mysterious fighter who had recently gained fame, with a record of 16 consecutive victories, each a crushing win.
What was even more notable was that he never gave his opponents a chance to surrender, instead torturing them to the point of death, seemingly taking pleasure in their suffering.
Although there was no threat to life in the Artificial Shadow World, such a fighting style struck fear into the hearts of his opponents and quickly made him infamous.
The hawk-nosed businessman's years of experience told him that if it were the combatant he had originally hired, there would be no hope of winning against this opponent.
This match was not only a power struggle between the two employers but also a clash of two completely different business brands and philosophical ideas, involving long-term interests worth hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Christina flipped through the contract and glanced at the butler beside her.
She felt that Butler Roki was probably the more legally savvy one.
"There's no legal risk."
He seemed to understand her thoughts and replied.
"So, am I accepting?"
Christina asked Roki tentatively.
"You're the boss, you decide."
Lanchi couldn't help but find the situation a little amusing.
In some ways, Christina and Hyberrian had similar personalities, always approaching things with a bit of worry and fear.
"Then I'll leave it to you."
Christina thanked him and then turned to the hawk-nosed businessman, Edward Winston.
"Mr. Edward, I'm lending Butler Roki to you for this proxy battle."
She took the pen that Roki handed to her and began signing the contract.
With the fame he had gained, perhaps she could earn enough to pay the £50,000 breach of contract fee by renting him out for battles next week.
Of course, there was also a problem.
If he was too strong and no one believed he could be defeated, then no one would be willing to fight against him in the future.
So, they should earn as much as possible now and find a way to get Roki away from the family sooner.
...
Half an hour later.
Holy Silvervine Arena.
The oval-shaped arena was hundreds of meters long and wide, and about fifty-eight meters high. It was not only the culmination of Lost Empire engineering and architectural art but also one of the most famous ancient ruins in the Southern Continent today. According to historians, the arena was built to host gladiatorial battles, beast hunts, chariot races, and other large-scale entertainment activities to satisfy the ancient empire citizens' thirst for bloody entertainment.
This ancient ruin, fused with modern architectural technology, was characterized by its movable roof, which could be opened or closed as needed, making it the largest circular theater in the Southern Continent.
In another large subdivision separate from the previous one.
In the staff and coaches' rest area, Lanchi and Christina sat waiting in the section designated for Winston Clock Manufacturing Ltd.
Looking up, one could see the majestic circular structure composed of thousands of massive stones, towering into the clouds like the last spiritual symbol of the ancient empire.
Lanchi casually admired the building, biding his time until the last match of the night began.
Before long, all the screens in the arena changed simultaneously, displaying the competitor information.
[Roki McCarthy vs. Inoan Hornlensuo]
[Roki, representative combatant of Winston Clock Manufacturing Ltd., contracted servant of the Baptiste Count family, 10 wins, 0 losses]
[Inoan, representative combatant of Hammond Financial Group, no contracted servant, 16 wins, 0 losses]
This was the highlight of the night, a non-points match with a mercenary nature.
Christina gazed across the arena at the opposing coach's rest area.
Tonight's opponent, Charles Hammond, Viscount of Hammond Financial Group, was already from a faction that didn't get along with her father, Count Baptiste.
In fact, if she had a choice, Christina didn't want to get involved in these disputes among the nobility of Portsen.
Although if she won, her parents would surely praise her for a job well done.
But the title of 'evil young lady' would only become more entrenched—
At just seventeen years old, she would have toppled a long-standing enemy of the family.
At the moment, the arena's screens were not only displaying the competitor information but also projecting the match terms and detailed documents.
For fairness and transparency, the employment contracts of both competitors were submitted to the league and made public.
"How is the opponent's contract so extreme...?"
Christina also noticed the contract that her opponent had signed.
It was the most extreme type of bet-your-all contract.
If he lost, the combatant would have to pay a huge compensation to his employer.
Christina checked the league records and made a quick calculation, realizing that the amount was almost all the money the combatant had earned in the last two days.
On the other hand, if he won, the employer would also have to pay an extremely high amount.
Unlike Lanchi's contract, which guaranteed a commission regardless of the outcome.
Only with absolute confidence would one sign such a high-stakes contract, indicating that the opponent's combatant was extremely sure of victory.
As long as he believed his chances of winning were 100%, the amount wagered didn't matter.
Christina's heart suddenly sank.
She wasn't afraid of Roki losing, or rather, she would be pleased if he did.
But she didn't want to see Roki being brutally tortured by the opponent; she couldn't bear to witness such a scene.
As night fell, the air was filled with anticipation and tension, and the audience stands were packed with people from all walks of life, their eyes gleaming with excitement.
Until five minutes before the match.
A figure finally emerged from the opposing coach's passageway.
The shadows clung to his body, eventually dissipating—
He was a red-haired youth, slightly short, perhaps better described as a young man, but his appearance retained a boyish quality.
This red-haired youth, Inoan, exuded an aura that somehow reminded one of a butcher.
As he stepped out, even the noisy crowd at the back fell silent.
However.
When Christina's gaze landed on the red-haired youth walking out of the passageway, a sense of fear unlike anything she had ever experienced before suddenly engulfed her heart.
Despite her usual confidence and bravery, she felt utterly powerless at that moment.
Her palms began to sweat, her heart raced, and for a moment, she wanted to turn around and flee this place, escaping the arena that filled her with dread.
As if sensing the fear emanating from Christina, the red-haired youth's eyes briefly met hers.
In that instant, Christina felt as if she had been drenched in ice-cold water, and a soul-deep terror overwhelmed her.
The youth's deep purple eyes, dark and mysterious, were like the "Queen of the Night" flowers in the night, carrying an endless chill.
The crimson-haired youth's employer, a nobleman dressed in fine clothes, glanced at Christina, seemingly mocking their courage and decision.
"Christina, how brave of you. I hope your family's butler can still work normally next week."
Their opponent's employer, Viscount Hammond, smiled with a mix of interest and disdain as he strolled towards their coach's seat.
"Tsk..."
Christina glanced at him, feeling that he was cursing her.
She couldn't wait for the butler to leave the following week.
"Christina, your father has lost more than he's won against our family's servant. Of course, our current servant is even more out of the question... It's a good thing it's you; otherwise, it would have been Kyle losing face."
Viscount Hammond looked towards the giant screen, muttering to himself.
Christina ignored him, her eyes fixed on the battle display.
Within the arena, the multi-directional magic screens displayed the [Infinite Phantom Canyon] stage, which had now been activated.
The randomly generated stage was a vast grassland, lush with green grass, stretching to the horizon.
The tranquility was soon broken as two figures appeared on the grass, ready to engage in a fierce battle.
There was a one-minute period before the start of the match during which neither party could attack, and their movement range was limited. This served not only as preparation time but also as a fixed program where competitors could taunt or test each other's resolve through words.
However, the crimson-haired youth seemed indifferent to this customary ritual.
His hands remained in his pockets, and even his gaze remained unchanged, as if everything that was about to unfold had nothing to do with him.
His coldness caused the surrounding air to seem frozen.
In contrast to the youth, the brown-haired, green-eyed butler maintained his usual courteous demeanor.
He stood tall, his back straight, as if awaiting the arrival of an important guest rather than preparing for a life-or-death struggle.
"If you don't mind, could you tell me why you always resort to such violent moves?"
Lanchi took the initiative to strike up a conversation with his opponent.
He felt that Inoan's behavior was inappropriate.
Usually, he wouldn't talk much to his opponents, but after learning about this particular opponent's story and witnessing his state, Lanchi felt compelled to offer some assistance.
"..."
The crimson-haired youth remained silent, not even bothering to look at Lanchi.
"I mean no harm. I just want to offer you some psychological counseling. I sense that you're under a lot of mental stress."
Lanchi's tone was calm, and his face bore a polite and distant smile.
"..."
The crimson-haired youth's hood lifted slightly, as if he found these opening thirty seconds before the match interminable.
All those idiots who had tried to provoke him earlier were nothing compared to this guy.
He had encountered many idiots who attempted to taunt him before matches, but they only served as the perfect seasoning for when he tore them apart.
Yet, this guy with his show of concern was truly disgusting.
"Can you tell me what's been bothering you lately? I'm concerned. You seem irritable and resistant to my goodwill, even your breathing is filled with anger. If you keep bottling it up, you might break. I'll listen to whatever you want to share, of course, after the match is over."
Lanchi continued like a psychologist, unperturbed by whether his opponent responded or not.
"I'll break your throat so you'll never speak to me again..."
The crimson-haired youth finally spoke, his voice laced with threat.
"Then, if I succeed, I'll keep talking to you nonstop, even in your dreams tonight."
Lanchi smiled and tilted his head playfully in response.
"I'll kill you..."
The veins on the youth's forehead began to bulge.
Lanchi's constant show of kindness disgusted him to no end.
In the stands, the spectators sensed the stark contrast between the two competitors' attitudes. They held their breath, their eyes gleaming with anticipation for the imminent clash.
On the grassland, an ominous gray wind picked up, carrying a chilling aura. As the match bell rang, the crimson-haired youth's figure transformed into a blurry shadow, rushing towards Lanchi with ghostly speed.
The crimson-haired youth's employer, a nobleman dressed in fine clothes, glanced at Christina, seemingly mocking their courage and decision.
"Christina, how brave. I hope your family's butler can still work normally next week."
Their opponent's employer, Viscount Hammond, smiled with a mix of interest and disdain as he strolled towards their coach's seat.
"Tsk..."
Christina glanced at him, feeling that he was cursing her. She couldn't wait for the butler to leave the following week.
"Christina, your father has lost more than he's won against our family's servant. Of course, our current servant is even more out of the question... It's a good thing it's you; otherwise, it would've been Kyle losing face."
Viscount Hammond looked towards the giant screen, muttering to himself.
Christina ignored him, her eyes fixed on the battle display.
Within the arena, the multi-directional magic screens displayed the [Infinite Phantom Canyon] stage, which had now been activated.
The randomly generated stage was a vast grassland, lush with green grass stretching to the horizon.
The tranquility was soon broken as two figures appeared on the grass, ready to engage in a fierce battle.
There was a one-minute period before the start of the match during which neither party could attack, and their movement range was limited. This served not only as preparation time but also as a fixed program where competitors could taunt or test each other's resolve through words.
However, the crimson-haired youth seemed indifferent to this customary ritual. His hands remained in his pockets, and even his gaze remained unchanged, as if everything that was about to unfold had nothing to do with him.
His coldness caused the surrounding air to seem frozen.
In contrast, the brown-haired, green-eyed butler maintained his usual courteous demeanor. He stood tall, his back straight, as if awaiting the arrival of an important guest rather than preparing for a life-or-death struggle.
"If you don't mind, could you tell me why you always resort to such violent moves?"
Lanchi took the initiative to strike up a conversation with his opponent. He felt that Inoan's behavior was inappropriate. Usually, he wouldn't talk much to his opponents, but after learning about this particular opponent's story and witnessing his state, Lanchi felt compelled to offer some assistance.
"... "
The crimson-haired youth remained silent, not even bothering to look at Lanchi.
"I mean no harm. I just want to offer you some psychological counseling. I sense that you're under a lot of mental stress."
Lanchi's tone was calm, and his face bore a polite and distant smile.
"... "
The crimson-haired youth's hood lifted slightly, as if he found these opening thirty seconds before the match interminable.
All those idiots who had tried to provoke him earlier were nothing compared to this guy. He had encountered many idiots who attempted to taunt him before matches, but they only served as the perfect seasoning for when he tore them apart.
Yet, this guy with his show of concern was truly disgusting.
"Can you tell me what's been bothering you lately? I'm concerned. You seem irritable and resistant to my goodwill, even your breathing is filled with anger. If you keep bottling it up, you might break. I'll listen to whatever you want to share, of course, after the match is over."
Lanchi continued like a psychologist, unperturbed by whether his opponent responded or not.
"I'll break your throat so you'll never speak to me again..."
The crimson-haired youth finally spoke, his voice laced with threat.
"Then, if I succeed, I'll keep talking to you nonstop, even in your dreams tonight."
Lanchi smiled and tilted his head playfully in response.
"I'll kill you..."
The veins on the youth's forehead began to bulge. Lanchi's constant show of kindness disgusted him to no end.
In the stands, the spectators sensed the stark contrast between the two competitors' attitudes. They held their breath, their eyes gleaming with anticipation for the imminent clash.
On the grassland, an ominous gray wind picked up, carrying a chilling aura. As the match bell rang, the crimson-haired youth's figure transformed into a blurry shadow, rushing towards Lanchi with ghostly speed.
In the moonlight, the red-haired youth's face was partially illuminated, his crimson locks casting a sinister hue. His hands emerged from his pockets, and with a loud crash in the alley, he slammed one of the hybrids into the wall, crushing his skull and splattering blood onto his face.
His lips curled into a sinister grin as he removed his hood, allowing his scarlet locks to cascade freely. Despite his sickly pallor, the raging magic within him quickly incinerated the hybrid's corpse, leaving no trace behind.
"Don't kill me! If you do, the Fragment Gang will hunt you down in the Portsen Demon World, and they'll never stop!" The other hybrid, his face splattered with blood, pleaded as he scrambled backward on the ground.
However, it was as if she couldn't hear him. She approached and used him as a punching bag, pounding him into pieces. She had to vent her anger on this fool; otherwise, she wouldn't be able to sleep tonight.
Soon, another scream was cut short, leaving only the red-haired figure standing in the alley, with five bloody streaks on the wall.
"Roki McCarthy... Roki McCarthy... Roki McCarthy..." She kept muttering his name, as if she couldn't forget this person.
Now, at the top of her revenge list, after Loren and his student, was this Roki McCarthy.
She, the infamous Destruction Bishop Ivanos, had been reduced to this state, all because of those two and now this Roki McCarthy.
She had finally earned some legitimate money under the alias of Inoan Hornlensuo, intending to buy medicine in Portsen Kingdom to heal her injuries and lie low for a while to regain her strength. But then she encountered this shameless cheater, clearly above the sixth tier, who caused her to lose all her money in underground fights.
Roki McCarthy was like the last straw that broke the camel's back.
If she didn't kill him...
She would never find peace of mind!
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
