Chapter 405 - 369: The Allure of the Arena (2)

Chapter 405: Chapter 369: The Allure of the Arena (2)

He knew he couldn’t compete with the professional bidders from the major organizations in the terminal market on his own.

But the Strategy Research Room had contacted him today, wanting to cooperate. ’Once I’m done with my business here in Sisiya,’ Guan Tong thought, ’I can ask for some Psychic Power transmission items as an advance payment when our collaboration begins.’

After all, Gao Liangwei had explicitly stated during their video call that he would be supplied with all the materials needed for the operation. As for what specific materials were needed, he, as the team leader, would surely have the final say.

After thinking for a moment, Guan Tong returned the crystal to the Double Star Bar, then went back to Yelena’s manor.

When he returned, Yelena was just leaving her study, having finished her work.

"Teacher, I’m heading to the competition venue shortly. Please come with me."

"Are you going there to watch? After all..."

Even though Sisiya’s competition venue wasn’t open to the public and operated in a closed-match format, watching people slaughter each other in person was hardly a pleasant experience.

Yelena’s expression was complicated. "Regardless, everyone who signed up for the competition is a powerful expert with confidence in themselves, yet they have to face such brutal competition... As the Governor, making an appearance at the venue would show that I value them, I suppose..."

Guan Tong saw she wasn’t as decisive as usual. ’She’s probably uncertain whether the decision to open an official competition venue was right or wrong,’ he thought.

...

Unlike other countries that chose to be secretive about their competition venues, the Soloma Empire announced it would sell tickets for live viewing. Despite a storm of criticism, the tickets sold out within seconds of being released.

From the cheapest ones at 50 Sublimation Coins to the expensive ones at 600, they all sold out in a flash with not a single one left.

Many who managed to buy tickets immediately resold them for double the price. Scalped tickets for better seats even went for several times their original value.

This high demand was truly shocking to many people.

Judging by the overwhelmingly negative public opinion, many had assumed no one would go watch the competition in person.

But in the end, human nature prevailed.

Now, after a full day of preparations yesterday and this morning, the Soloma competition venue officially opened in the afternoon.

The venue was a converted large-scale basketball arena. With the hoops and other equipment removed, the entire spacious court was designated as the competition area.

The spectator area was largely unchanged, though some of the front-row seats had been removed out of concern for stray attacks from the contestants.

The first match was about to begin. The ticket-holding audience had all taken their seats and were buzzing with excited chatter. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Is it starting soon? I can’t wait!"

"Yeah, I barely managed to snag a ticket."

"You’re lucky you got one at all. I had to pay double for a scalped ticket!"

"The contestants aren’t out yet. Hurry up!"

"I hope there are a lot of matches. That’s the only way to get your fill!"

In a private suite high above the arena, a few well-dressed, powerful figures looked down on the expectant crowd below, chatting and laughing amongst themselves in small groups.

One of them said with contempt, "People’s bodies are always more honest than their mouths. They raise hell online boycotting it, but the venue is packed. It’s ridiculous."

"It’s perfectly normal," someone next to him said coolly. "People love to watch conflict. Otherwise, where would boxing and MMA matches of the past have gotten their fans and profits? Many spectators back then knew the matches were just scripted performances, but they still couldn’t get enough of it."

"Haha, well this competition won’t have any script. And there are no countdowns for a loss or forfeits."

"That’s right. Once you’re on that stage, it’s win or die. A competition where death is a certainty—that’s what brought this sea of people here."

Someone rubbed their hands together, unable to hide the excitement on their face. "I’m starting to understand why the ancients loved watching slaves slaughter each other in the gladiator arenas. If there’s no blood, it’s just no fun!"

"I wonder if any true powerhouses will be born here. I’m really looking forward to it."

"Heh heh~ A *real* powerhouse would never compete like a clown in front of a massive crowd~"

When this cloyingly sweet voice sounded, everyone in the private suite turned to look. Upon seeing the woman who had just entered, looks of surprise appeared on their faces.

"Miss Ishan is here."

"Please, have a seat, Miss Ishan!"

The more perceptive members of the group stepped forward to greet her, their words and expressions dripping with flattery.

Even though everyone present was a child of nobility, their status paled in comparison to the blonde-haired, green-eyed woman before them.

Facing their fawning, Ishan nonchalantly took a seat on the central sofa in the suite as if it were her natural right. Gazing down at the competition floor, she spoke, "What I just said... do you think I’m right?"

"Of course you’re right! People are buying tickets to watch them perform. How does that not make them clowns?"

"The real powerhouses should be us... no, the real powerhouse is Miss Ishan."

"Yes, yes, of course."

As everyone chimed in with agreement, the woman named Ishan smiled and said, "I’m very interested in the rewards for this Rule Stage. So, my goal is a top-three finish."

A top-three finish?!

The group exchanged glances. Placing in the top three among all the Ascenders in the world was no easy feat.

Especially...

They looked at the number above Ishan’s head. The "1" was particularly conspicuous.

"You think I’m talking nonsense because I only have one point?" Ishan saw right through them. "But why should I be in a hurry? I’ll just wait until these competitors have racked up a ton of points, and then I’ll take it all at the end."

...!

Ishan’s words startled them, but it wasn’t a complete surprise.

Killing a high-point player to seize all their accumulated points was indeed a fast track to the top of the rankings.

But the prerequisite for that was—you had to be able to kill the high-point player.

It seemed like a paradox. If an Ascender wasn’t strong, how would they have a high score in the first place? And if they were strong, how could it be so easy to kill them and steal their points?

But everyone in the suite knew that for the woman named Ishan, it would be effortless.

As the biological daughter of the King of the Soloma Empire, she undoubtedly wielded immense power. Perhaps she had no skills of her own, but with a single word, countless capable people would be willing to get the job done for her.

If she wanted to snatch points, she didn’t need to fight a powerful expert herself. She could just order others to beat a high-point player to the brink of death, then gracefully deliver the final blow herself.

The power that came with her status and position was greater than that of any powerful expert, and the children of nobility in the suite knew this all too well.

"Hasn’t the match started yet? There are so many people, and it’s so noisy. I don’t want to wait too long," Ishan said, displeased. "I have a beauty appointment later."

"Don’t worry, Miss Ishan. I’ll have someone hurry the staff along right away."

"I’ll go down there myself!"

"I’ll go too."

Everyone wanted to leave a good impression on Ishan. They just couldn’t see that as her back was turned to them, her eyes were filled with disgust for their fawning.

Seven or eight minutes later, the match was finally ready to begin.

A TV host, a household name in Soloma, was the first to take the stage. He announced with great passion, "Ladies and gentlemen, today is the opening day of the ’Death Race’! Our Soloma warriors will fight for victory and honor! And now, let’s give a roaring cheer as we welcome our first group of contestants!"

"OHHHH!!!"

Amidst the crowd’s cheers, more than a dozen people walked onto the competition floor, further igniting the excitement in the arena.

"It’s not a one-on-one duel!"

"Is it a free-for-all? That’s awesome! This will definitely be more satisfying to watch than a duel!"

"Kill, kill, kill! I want to see some killing!"

The arena was in an uproar. The host had to shout several times to quiet the crowd enough to make his announcement. "As you all know, this Rule Stage is only seven days long. One day has already passed, leaving six. Given the large number of entrants, there isn’t enough time for one-on-one duels. Therefore, the competition will take the form of a melee."

"Each round of the competition will feature fifteen Ascenders. They will fight and slaughter each other on the competition floor, and the last one standing will be the winner of the round and advance to the next!"