The Fifth Elder looked down at Ken, and then up towards the other Elders of the Newblade and Wildroar families. Though they were from lesser families, he had to be careful with the Wildroar family.
Bluewind. Blackwind. Redwind. Wildwind.
These four families were considered the great families of the town, with the Firewind family ruling over the town. The Wildroar family was under the Wildwind family, one of their branches, though a powerful branch. The Wildwind family had always produced crazy bastards, and this branch of their’s was the craziest.
“I greet you, Second Elder Newblade, First Elder Wildroar.”
“I didn’t expect such a distinguished guest to join us,” Second Elder Newblade said. His eyes became sharp, like an eagle. “Do you have some of yours participating this hour?”
“That’s right,” Fifth Elder Bluewind replied. “So does Fourth Elder Redwind,” the man said, as another finely dressed man appeared, his eyes red and deathly.
“Do the honourable Elders need my assistance?” Fourth Elder Redwind asked.
“Just the assistance of your wallet,” Wildroar replied, with a wild grin on his face.
“I see.”
The guards behind the private booths began to sweat. What did the Dueling Head expect them to do when it was up against these four monsters? They just prayed nothing bad would happen.
All the while, Ken was wondering what he could do. He couldn’t just run away now, especially since this was a chance to see what would happen between all these four Elders. If he could figure out their relationships properly, he could figure out how to use that in the future in some way.
Also, if he ran away, they would think he was a coward. He doubted that they would start anything within the dueling arena, but at the same time, Emerald was on his left, in between he and the Bluewind and Redwind Elders.
Below them, several people were all entering the arena, which was a large square. There were some arrays made around the dueling arena in order to protect spectators, and there were many Martial Experts at the ready in case anything happened. Each of the private booths also had a Martial Expert waiting behind, as well as a servant which would wait for orders.
“So, shall we begin betting?” Wildroar asked. “I think the youngster with the red hair and the large sword will win the round.”
“His build is not so bad, but I believe the warrior with the chain and sickle will win,” Newblade replied.
“You’re not betting on someone with a sword?” Wildroar asked, grinning wildly as he teased the Second Elder.
“None of them have enough skill for me to set my eyes on.”
“So, the typical bet?” Wildroar tossed a gold coin back towards the servant, who held the coin clenched in one hand, and waited with their other hand outstretched. Newblade flipped the coin backwards into the outstretched hand.
“Can I join you?” Ken asked, twirling a gold coin between his fingers. “I’ll bet on the smallest one, the one with no weapon.”
“The one with no weapon?” Wildroar asked.
“It seems his eyes aren’t working either,” Bluewind said. “I will bet on the young lady with the staff, and what say you, Fourth Elder?”
“None of them catch my eye, but I’ll bet on the young man with the staff beside the young lady.” The pair tossed their coins too.
Ken tossed his coin back, but remained silent. He just wanted to have some fun betting, but it seemed that the betting would be soured with such a bad apple.
“We will wait two minutes for any formal bets! The sheets in front should have their betting odds for you to bet on!” The announcer was a sultry looking woman, one who invited them all to bet.
Ken looked at the odds for the smallest one, the young woman with no weapon. He wasn’t betting to win, but for the social aspect of it. Still, when he saw the odds, he couldn’t help but want to gamble.
1:12
It was the worst odds out of the entire lot of 12 people.
However, it did seem to be quite fun. He looked at Wildroar, who placed down ten gold coins on the red haired man with the greatsword, whose odds were 1:2.
Ken placed down ten gold coins too, since that seemed to be the typical bet, but then saw Newblade place down twelve, and then fourteen from Bluewind, and sixteen from Redwind. Ken placed down another ten gold coins to make it twenty.
“You’re quite the big spender,” Wildroar said.
“I haven’t spent as much money as the more experienced Elders here, so I thought I should catch up.”
“A fool and his money are soon parted,” Bluewind said, leaning back in his chair.
“Isn’t that why we’re all here?” Newblade asked. “To spend our coin in good company?”
Ken glanced over towards Newblade.
[Did he just… help me?]
He wasn’t sure if he was being helped, or if Newblade was trying to neutralise things.
Soon the food and drinks were brought, and the fight began. The red haired man was the first to move, swinging his blade wildly, and easily managed to defeat one of the other warriors.
The one with the sickle and chain fought the woman with the staff, and the young man with the staff leapt at the sickle and chain man. Unfortunately for him, something unlikely had occurred.
The little, unarmed girl had remained still. She had been gathering her ki as two others leapt up at her, and then her eyes opened, with blue light leaking out.
“!!!”
This was the general consensus of the audience as they watched as a giant palm shot forward and struck the two who had come to attack her, as well as the young man with the staff, the sickle and chain man, and finally the young woman with the staff.
They crashed against the walls of the dueling arena, the warriors all falling unconscious in that moment. It didn’t take long for the red haired youth and the little girl to be left alone.
The red haired youth grit his teeth together and held his blade in one hand, the other out in front of him. The little girl placed her palms together and then bowed.
“I’m sorry,” she said, as a massive amount of ki gathered together.
The red haired man quickly rushed forward, but it was already too late. The ki formed a small palm and struck him in the gut. He vomited blood and fell down on his knees, unconscious.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Tina Ghostfist has won the bout!”
“You’re quite lucky,” Wildroar said, looking at the sheet. “Seems like we’ll have to increase the bets.”
Ken’s jaw was open, and he was unsure of what had happened. Did he really just win so much money? He had a lot more he had made through his alchemy and arrays, but this was going to paint a target on his back.
Then he saw something in the corner of his eye, quickly looking to his left. His heart was pounding from the shock, but then he saw Emerald, holding up a piece of fruit.
“???”
He stared at her expectant eyes.
“Congratulations, Ken,” she said, and then slipped the fruit into his mouth.
Ken accepted the fruit, feeling her fingers against the sides of his mouth as he pulled back.
It was then he felt a sense of killing intent behind him as Wildroar glared at him.
[This bastard! Flirting in front of me!]
The women near him then did the same, offering the First Elder some fruit, and the killing intent dissipated. Unfortunately for Wildroar, Emerald had noted it, and was glaring at him, though it was Newblade who caught the look.
[Why is she looking at me like that?]
Then the next bout came, but this time it was a bout between the various families.
It was someone from the Bluewind family and someone from the Newblade family.
“Looks like our youngsters are ready to fight,” Bluewind said, smiling.
Newblade frowned slightly. “It appears to be the case.”
“How much do you want to bet?” Bluewind asked, smiling. “What about you, little Arrayist? Do you dare to bet? Aren’t you and the Newblade family close?”
“Fifth Elder, your words are inappropriate.” Newblade shook his head. “We are merely in a business relationship.”
“Is that so, then excuse me,” Bluewind said, enjoying the fact that the Newblade Elder had put some distance between them.
[Do you see, brat? Even if you help them, they still humble themselves in fear of our great family.]
“One low grade mountain pill, twenty high grade earth pills, and one hundred middle grade earth pills for the Newblade warrior.”
Ken looked to his left in shock, and the Elders glanced towards the woman beside Ken.
It was Emerald who had made the bet, her eyes darkened in anger. She had finally lost her patience with these men.
The Fifth Elder looked down at Ken, and then up towards the other Elders of the Newblade and Wildroar families. Though they were from lesser families, he had to be careful with the Wildroar family.
Bluewind. Blackwind. Redwind. Wildwind.
These four families were considered the great families of the town, with the Firewind family ruling over the town. The Wildroar family was under the Wildwind family, one of their branches, though a powerful branch. The Wildwind family had always produced crazy bastards, and this branch of their’s was the craziest.
“I greet you, Second Elder Newblade, First Elder Wildroar.”
“I didn’t expect such a distinguished guest to join us,” Second Elder Newblade said. His eyes became sharp, like an eagle. “Do you have some of yours participating this hour?”
“That’s right,” Fifth Elder Bluewind replied. “So does Fourth Elder Redwind,” the man said, as another finely dressed man appeared, his eyes red and deathly.
“Do the honourable Elders need my assistance?” Fourth Elder Redwind asked.
“Just the assistance of your wallet,” Wildroar replied, with a wild grin on his face.
“I see.”
The guards behind the private booths began to sweat. What did the Dueling Head expect them to do when it was up against these four monsters? They just prayed nothing bad would happen.
All the while, Ken was wondering what he could do. He couldn’t just run away now, especially since this was a chance to see what would happen between all these four Elders. If he could figure out their relationships properly, he could figure out how to use that in the future in some way.
Also, if he ran away, they would think he was a coward. He doubted that they would start anything within the dueling arena, but at the same time, Emerald was on his left, in between he and the Bluewind and Redwind Elders.
Below them, several people were all entering the arena, which was a large square. There were some arrays made around the dueling arena in order to protect spectators, and there were many Martial Experts at the ready in case anything happened. Each of the private booths also had a Martial Expert waiting behind, as well as a servant which would wait for orders.
“So, shall we begin betting?” Wildroar asked. “I think the youngster with the red hair and the large sword will win the round.”
“His build is not so bad, but I believe the warrior with the chain and sickle will win,” Newblade replied.
“You’re not betting on someone with a sword?” Wildroar asked, grinning wildly as he teased the Second Elder.
“None of them have enough skill for me to set my eyes on.”
“So, the typical bet?” Wildroar tossed a gold coin back towards the servant, who held the coin clenched in one hand, and waited with their other hand outstretched. Newblade flipped the coin backwards into the outstretched hand.
“Can I join you?” Ken asked, twirling a gold coin between his fingers. “I’ll bet on the smallest one, the one with no weapon.”
“The one with no weapon?” Wildroar asked.
“It seems his eyes aren’t working either,” Bluewind said. “I will bet on the young lady with the staff, and what say you, Fourth Elder?”
“None of them catch my eye, but I’ll bet on the young man with the staff beside the young lady.” The pair tossed their coins too.
Ken tossed his coin back, but remained silent. He just wanted to have some fun betting, but it seemed that the betting would be soured with such a bad apple.
“We will wait two minutes for any formal bets! The sheets in front should have their betting odds for you to bet on!” The announcer was a sultry looking woman, one who invited them all to bet.
Ken looked at the odds for the smallest one, the young woman with no weapon. He wasn’t betting to win, but for the social aspect of it. Still, when he saw the odds, he couldn’t help but want to gamble.
1:12
It was the worst odds out of the entire lot of 12 people.
However, it did seem to be quite fun. He looked at Wildroar, who placed down ten gold coins on the red haired man with the greatsword, whose odds were 1:2.
Ken placed down ten gold coins too, since that seemed to be the typical bet, but then saw Newblade place down twelve, and then fourteen from Bluewind, and sixteen from Redwind. Ken placed down another ten gold coins to make it twenty.
“You’re quite the big spender,” Wildroar said.
“I haven’t spent as much money as the more experienced Elders here, so I thought I should catch up.”
“A fool and his money are soon parted,” Bluewind said, leaning back in his chair.
“Isn’t that why we’re all here?” Newblade asked. “To spend our coin in good company?”
Ken glanced over towards Newblade.
[Did he just… help me?]
He wasn’t sure if he was being helped, or if Newblade was trying to neutralise things.
Soon the food and drinks were brought, and the fight began. The red haired man was the first to move, swinging his blade wildly, and easily managed to defeat one of the other warriors.
The one with the sickle and chain fought the woman with the staff, and the young man with the staff leapt at the sickle and chain man. Unfortunately for him, something unlikely had occurred.
The little, unarmed girl had remained still. She had been gathering her ki as two others leapt up at her, and then her eyes opened, with blue light leaking out.
“!!!”
This was the general consensus of the audience as they watched as a giant palm shot forward and struck the two who had come to attack her, as well as the young man with the staff, the sickle and chain man, and finally the young woman with the staff.
They crashed against the walls of the dueling arena, the warriors all falling unconscious in that moment. It didn’t take long for the red haired youth and the little girl to be left alone.
The red haired youth grit his teeth together and held his blade in one hand, the other out in front of him. The little girl placed her palms together and then bowed.
“I’m sorry,” she said, as a massive amount of ki gathered together.
The red haired man quickly rushed forward, but it was already too late. The ki formed a small palm and struck him in the gut. He vomited blood and fell down on his knees, unconscious.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“Tina Ghostfist has won the bout!”
“You’re quite lucky,” Wildroar said, looking at the sheet. “Seems like we’ll have to increase the bets.”
Ken’s jaw was open, and he was unsure of what had happened. Did he really just win so much money? He had a lot more he had made through his alchemy and arrays, but this was going to paint a target on his back.
Then he saw something in the corner of his eye, quickly looking to his left. His heart was pounding from the shock, but then he saw Emerald, holding up a piece of fruit.
“???”
He stared at her expectant eyes.
“Congratulations, Ken,” she said, and then slipped the fruit into his mouth.
Ken accepted the fruit, feeling her fingers against the sides of his mouth as he pulled back.
It was then he felt a sense of killing intent behind him as Wildroar glared at him.
[This bastard! Flirting in front of me!]
The women near him then did the same, offering the First Elder some fruit, and the killing intent dissipated. Unfortunately for Wildroar, Emerald had noted it, and was glaring at him, though it was Newblade who caught the look.
[Why is she looking at me like that?]
Then the next bout came, but this time it was a bout between the various families.
It was someone from the Bluewind family and someone from the Newblade family.
“Looks like our youngsters are ready to fight,” Bluewind said, smiling.
Newblade frowned slightly. “It appears to be the case.”
“How much do you want to bet?” Bluewind asked, smiling. “What about you, little Arrayist? Do you dare to bet? Aren’t you and the Newblade family close?”
“Fifth Elder, your words are inappropriate.” Newblade shook his head. “We are merely in a business relationship.”
“Is that so, then excuse me,” Bluewind said, enjoying the fact that the Newblade Elder had put some distance between them.
[Do you see, brat? Even if you help them, they still humble themselves in fear of our great family.]
“One low grade mountain pill, twenty high grade earth pills, and one hundred middle grade earth pills for the Newblade warrior.”
Ken looked to his left in shock, and the Elders glanced towards the woman beside Ken.
It was Emerald who had made the bet, her eyes darkened in anger. She had finally lost her patience with these men.
