Chapter 407 - 370: Slaughter and Invitation

Chapter 407: Chapter 370: Slaughter and Invitation

"Over two thousand contestants showed up today," Sikokun said. "Some who registered didn’t come. They must have calmed down and decided not to take the risk."

"Over two thousand people... and in the end..."

"Only one can survive in the end." Seeing the color drain from Yelena’s face, Sikokun added, "Governor, those are the rules. Once you enter the competition, you can’t quit midway... it’s to the death. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be fair to the other losers."

Guan Tong listened from the side. ’How cruel,’ he thought.

’Is it really worth sacrificing thousands of lives just to elevate one powerful individual, even for a high-ranking reward?’

But the rules were public and transparent. Everyone who registered and showed up for the competition had acknowledged them, willing to gamble for that single opportunity. Even if they died in battle, they had no one to blame but themselves.

"Governor, you needn’t worry too much. The ones who signed up for this competition are just the Ascenders who believe they excel at combat. But judging an Ascender’s strength can’t be based on combat alone. Even if the competition results in the loss of many Ascenders, the number of powerful individuals in other fields won’t be heavily affected."

Sikokun’s words made a lot of sense.

Many Ascenders simply had items or abilities that weren’t suited for combat, but that didn’t mean they were weak. Some non-combatants had Psychic Power limits no lower than those who excelled in battle. To judge an Ascender’s strength solely by their combat skills would be far too narrow-minded.

Guan Tong understood this principle himself. That was why, despite others constantly lavishing him with praise and calling him the world’s number one, he never took it seriously.

After listening to Sikokun, Yelena nodded, and some color returned to her face.

She and a few other officials walked to the speaker’s platform. When the contestants saw the Governor arrive, they all showed surprise and turned their gazes toward her.

"To all of you who have come to participate in the competition, you should already know the rules. Before the event officially begins, anyone who wishes to withdraw may still leave."

None of the contestants moved, all of them prepared to succeed or die trying.

Seeing this, Yelena said no more and stepped aside, letting the other officials speak. The content of their speeches was nothing more than encouragement for everyone to fight hard, and so on.

Guan Tong was watching from below when he suddenly sensed someone approaching. He turned his head to see another female official who had accompanied them.

She walked up to Guan Tong, discreetly slipped a piece of paper the size of a finger joint into his jacket pocket, and then walked away without saying a single word the entire time.

Guan Tong didn’t stop her, a suspicion already forming in his mind.

After the official speeches ended, the competition was about to begin. Not wanting to stay and watch the contestants slaughter each other, Yelena chose to leave.

After returning, Guan Tong took out the slip of paper. A short line of text was written on it.

Tonight at eleven, 18 West Leaf Avenue. Awaiting the grand arrival of ’Shadow’. —Valery

"So it really is this guy..."

Guan Tong wasn’t surprised when he saw the signature.

The director of the Sisiya Security Bureau, wanting to contact him at a time like this and openly naming his identity... the purpose was obvious.

He thought for a moment, then went to the study to see Yelena, and also called Shangyuan Zi over.

After the two saw the slip of paper, their reactions were just as he had expected.

Yelena said gravely, "I wonder what methods Valery will use to try and win you over, Teacher. Or could this be a trap?"

"It could be either," Guan Tong said. "And we can’t focus solely on me. We can’t rule out the possibility that this is a ploy to lure the tiger from the mountain."

Shangyuan Zi said, "On the surface, he’s trying to recruit you, but his real goal is to lure you away from Yelena’s side so he can make a move?"

"Both are possible, so we must be prepared for everything."

Guan Tong thought for a moment. "Here’s the plan. Shangyuan, you stay with Yelena tonight. I’ll go check it out. I’ll leave my shadows with both of you. If there’s any danger, I’ll return immediately."

"Okay."

"Then, Teacher, you must be careful too. Since they already know your identity, if they’ve decided to deal with you, they’ll surely have made thorough preparations."

"Mm, I know."

The three of them discussed for a moment, and Yelena also contacted Sikokun separately.

If Valery was truly making a big move, she needed to be ready for an all-out counterattack at any moment.

「That evening.」

Guan Tong first went to the Double Star Bar to retrieve the twice-recharged Psychic Power Crystal.

Afterward, he also commissioned Black Star and obtained some information he wanted.

"18 West Leaf Avenue? That place, ’Night Health’?"

Hearing Guan Tong’s question, Black Star looked extremely surprised.

The name of the establishment was a bit odd. Guan Tong asked, "Is this place famous?"

"Er, that depends on the crowd. The vast majority of people in Sisiya have definitely never heard of it, but it’s very famous in Sisiya’s elite circles."

"Elite circles..."

"If I weren’t a broker, I wouldn’t know about this place either," Black Star said, a strange expression on his face.

Seeing this, Guan Tong asked, "What kind of place is it?"

Black Star scratched his head. "Well... I’ve never actually been inside. I just once heard a client say that it’s a paradise that ordinary people can’t enjoy. I guess it must be..."

"I understand."

Guan Tong wasn’t stupid. It was self-evident what kind of establishment a place "that ordinary people can’t enjoy" would be.

Black Star didn’t ask why Guan Tong was asking about it, or if he was planning to go himself. He strictly adhered to his principles as a broker, especially when dealing with Guan Tong, never prying into matters unrelated to the commission.

However, when Guan Tong tried to pay the commission fee, he refused.

"No charge for this one. It’s just a piece of information without much value. It would be too much to take your money for it."

Guan Tong accepted Black Star’s gesture. After leaving the Double Star Bar, it wasn’t long before he arrived at West Leaf Avenue.

Before the Apocalypse Rules, this street was a bustling commercial avenue in the Capital, filled with luxury shops and high-end restaurants.

After the Apocalypse Rules, the age of consumerism ended and the age of supply began. But no matter the era, people’s need for entertainment never disappears.

In fact, West Leaf Avenue had become even more prosperous. The high-end restaurants hadn’t disappeared, and the luxury shops had simply been replaced by various "experiential service" establishments, staffed entirely by Ascenders with different abilities.

Number 18 on this street was the establishment called "Night Health." Before arriving, Guan Tong had used his Shadow Line to investigate the surroundings and found no signs of a large-scale ambush.

But that didn’t mean the enemy couldn’t lay an ambush. With the existence of teleportation-type items, ambushers could be stationed thousands of miles away, only using an item to teleport in when it was time to strike.

"Night Health..."

Guan Tong walked up to the front of the establishment. There was no sign and no staff at the entrance, only a set of lead-gray doors. From the fine quality of the material, he could tell it was expensive.

Before coming, he had talked with Yelena.

Yelena had said she’d never heard of this place that was famous in elite circles, but that her brother must have known about it when he was alive.

This further illustrated that Sisiya’s elite circles had all assumed Rijeka would succeed as Governor. They had never taken Yelena seriously, completely excluding her from their world.

’However, this exclusion wasn’t one-sided, but mutual,’ Guan Tong thought.

’Smart people know to bet on both sides, especially the rich and powerful. Even if everyone thought Rijeka had a better chance of winning, some would surely have been willing to take a gamble on Yelena.’

’It’s just that with Yelena’s personality, she certainly couldn’t stand certain things and would have rejected contact with such people. With this mutual rejection, it’s no wonder the situation is what it is today.’

Just as Guan Tong was lost in thought, the large doors opened.

A man and a woman in tuxedos and half-masks walked out, bowing to Guan Tong. "Welcome, esteemed guest. We are your attendants. Please allow us to lead the way."

"...Lead the way."

The two attendants walked in front, and Guan Tong followed.

Beyond the doors was a long corridor. The walls on both sides were inlaid with gemstones of various colors.

At the end of the corridor was a silver door, with a smaller door on either side.

The male attendant leading the way said, "Esteemed guest, you are required to change into more comfortable attire before entering the night banquet hall. The room on the left is the men’s changing room. Please follow me to change."

"I will not be changing my clothes."

"This... Esteemed guest, changing clothes before entering is a rule of Night Health. The purpose is to allow our guests to relax their body and mind. Please rest assured, we will take good care of your clothes," the female attendant said gently.

Guan Tong ignored her and said to the pair, "Go tell the person who invited me to stop playing games. Otherwise, I’m leaving."

"This..."

The two attendants hesitated.

Just then, the silver door in the middle opened, and a hearty laugh rang out. "Haha, there are no rules in this world that the famous ’Shadow’ needs to follow! Come on in!"