Chapter 49: Did She Used to Be This Brave?
In a world driven by material desires, only the struggle between people remained pure.
Then there was the spectacle of women pulling each other’s hair, and men comparing sizes…
Wherever there were people, there were comparisons, and comparisons often led to conflict.
Calling each other “brothers” and “sisters” one moment, then wishing death upon each other’s families the next.
Compared to the deceitful human world, the physical clashes in the arena were much more direct, much more pure.
Lena sipped her ten-copper-coin iced drink, watching the reigning champion in the arena with an indifferent gaze.
She knew who owned this arena. Without the empire’s tacit approval, it couldn’t possibly operate so openly.
That’s right.
The existence of the Fran Black Market was a manifestation of the Empress’s will.
The empire needed a lawless place, free from social norms, to cater to the extravagant desires of the wealthy and powerful.
What to do with all that excess money?
Spend it in the black market, guaranteed to enter dressed to the nines and leave with nothing but your bare skin.
Tired of your old wife?
Choose a new slave from the black market, all sorts of exotic races available, stockings, fishnets, there was always something to satisfy your desires.
In short, the Fran Black Market was indeed operated by the empire. And the arena manager, upon learning of Lena’s arrival, was on high alert, ordering his staff to ensure Lena won this match.
“But the odds are one to one thousand, how can we afford that…?”
The rabbit-masked man trembled, kneeling on the ground, his hands covering his head, his speech slurred. “If I had known the young lady of the Falmouth family was coming, I wouldn’t have dared approach her. This jinx, of all places, she had to come here. We’re doomed! We’re going to lose a fortune!”
“Shut up! It’s not over yet!!”
A man emerged from the shadows. Jonathan Trelawney grabbed the rabbit man by the collar, his rank four Butcher profession allowing him to crush the man’s head like a watermelon.
He roared in his deep, violent voice, “So what if we let her win?! The Imperial Princess will compensate us!”
The news of Lena’s advancement to rank six had spread like wildfire, reaching even the imperial higher-ups.
Pressure came from above, forbidding any offense against this sixth-rank Necromancer, even offering an olive branch and a hefty reward.
Although these were the orders, it put him, the newly appointed arena manager, in a difficult position.
His superiors’ words were his command.
The arena was already short on funds, and its assets couldn’t be touched. It seemed he would have to use his own money to avert this disaster.
The only good news was that his direct superior was the Imperial Princess. If he reported truthfully, he might be reimbursed for some of the losses.
“How much did she bet…”
Jonathan took a deep breath, sighing. “If it’s just a small amount, we can still handle it…”
The rabbit man stood up, trembling, and held up five fingers.
“Fifty?” Jonathan asked.
The rabbit man shook his head, holding up his other hand, fingers spread.
“One hundred?”
“…”
“Don’t tell me it’s a thousand gold coins.”
Jonathan’s eyes widened, his voice losing its composure.
A thousand gold coins multiplied by a thousand, that was a million!
Deliberate, it was definitely deliberate!
Jonathan was furious, but he didn’t forget to think.
This wasn’t a coincidence.
She must have a hidden motive. What should he do? Was there a foolproof plan? He couldn’t let her win all that money, nor could he offend her…
“Boss…”
“What! Can’t you see I’m angry?!”
“To be precise… it’s one thousand four hundred and eighty-seven… I gave her a gold coupon worth one hundred… I thought she was a newbie, a whale…” The rabbit man dropped another bombshell, closing his eyes tightly, waiting for the storm.
Damn it…
He had just taken over the arena, and now this hot potato had landed in his lap. He couldn’t offend either side, and the brunt of the anger would fall on him. He was doomed…
The rabbit man had already decided what to be reincarnated as in his next life.
“Bandit! She’s here to rob us!!”
The enraged, six-foot-three giant of a man slammed his fist onto the floor, shattering the tiles beneath the rabbit man’s feet.
With a loud crash, the VIP section on the second floor collapsed, dust flying everywhere.
Jonathan jumped down from above, his fierce eyes searching through the dust, finally locking onto the gray figure. He strode towards Lena, his thick finger pointing at her. “You…!”
“Me?” Lena tilted her head.
“You! You!”
Pointing at Lena, Jonathan suddenly deflated like a punctured balloon, his anger vanishing, replaced by a stiff, flattering smile. “Have… have you eaten yet… ahahaha, Rabbit! Where are the fruits, snacks, and drinks?! A distinguished guest has arrived, and you didn’t even inform me, have you no manners?!”
Endure! A true man must be able to bend and stretch!
He would leave this problem to the Imperial Princess; this was a sacrifice for the empire, and the princess would surely understand.
“Miss Lena, this way please.”
Jonathan’s swift transformation from manager to lackey shocked even Lena, making her look at him with newfound respect.
He was a capable person, but that was all.
“Move aside, move aside! Rabbit! Where are Miss Lena’s refreshments?!”
Jonathan pushed aside the gamblers, calling for the rabbit man while announcing Lena’s name as if she were a descending deity.
This had many benefits. Jonathan, having climbed his way up from the bottom, was a master of opportunism.
“Miss Lena’s presence here can’t be just for casual gambling, right?”
He probed, mentioning Princess Diana’s name. “I heard Her Highness is about to enroll, and she’s a classmate of yours…”
“So what?”
Lena glanced at him sideways.
The bull-like man instantly fell silent, cold sweat dripping from his forehead, forgetting to breathe.
The pressure was immense, as if he were an ant at the foot of an insurmountable mountain, facing a towering storm. He could only curl up, minimizing his resistance.
“Since you’re a classmate of Her Highness, then you’re also a friend of mine, Jonathan. Today’s expenses are all on me, how about that…”
Jonathan hinted, rubbing his rough hands together like a fat, green fly.
“Mister Jonathan.” Lena interrupted, her voice light and airy. “I have a bad habit of being drawn to exciting things, like your arena… I personally think it’s a very worthwhile investment, don’t you agree?”
“So, you mean…?”
Jonathan was unsure.
What? Lena wanted to invest in him?
The young lady representing the Falmouth family wanted to go against the Imperial Family?
Didn’t she know the arena was Princess Diana’s property? Poaching like this, did she used to be this brave?
Uh… it seemed she actually was.
Lena’s reputation preceded her; who in the empire didn’t know her name?
Even Jonathan, a former mercenary, had heard of this “human bulldozer” with a preference for women. But this was too audacious. Jonathan couldn’t agree, he didn’t have the authority.
He would have to refuse her, politely.
Jonathan opened his mouth.
Lena’s gaze was fixed on the arena below. “The game has begun, Jonathan. Who do you think will win?”
…
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