Chapter 236: Watson, I Want A Duel
Watson was unaware of the shock in Sylvan and Antonio’s hearts. If he knew, he would probably just smile. He had been exposed to modern technology since he was a child as his soul was modern. Epoch-making inventions were quite prevalent in the world he lived in for the people of that time.
As he glanced to the side, Watson discovered that every mayor, including Lubin, was taken aback by the magic escalator he had built. He nodded in satisfaction and turned to face the patrolling guards on Torch Town’s wall.
Those bronze-tier guards appeared to be exhausted. The armor on their bodies was rusty bronze items, and some of it was only iron-tier. They were much inferior to the Blackmoon Knights in terms of strength, equipment, spirit, and spirit.
Watson had stayed in Blackmoon Town and had never ventured outside. He had no idea that other towns’ defenses were so inadequate. He had always believed that Blackmoon Town was not strong enough, and he wished to offer everyone a Wish for the World ring. He wanted the citizens in Blackmoon Town to use their three wishes every day to duplicate some sun and moon gems.
His concept was straightforward—from administrators to servants, everyone in Blackmoon Town had to achieve the gold tier and become all-attribute cultivators.
While he was sizing up Torch Town, a few guards observed them from the corner of the wall. They noticed the platinum-colored cavernous passage beneath their feet.
“Where did you come from, bandits? What are those gleaming objects on the ground? They look like roads. Who permitted you to construct a road leading to Torch Town’s entrance?”
A guard raised his spear and shouted at them. As soon as he finished his words, someone slapped him. An older guard beside him pulled his companion aside and looked at Lubin in the crowd in bewilderment. “Mayor Lubin, is that you?”
As a veteran of the City Defense Department, he had seen the mayor more than once, so he could recognize him at a glance. However, did the mayor not go to Blackmoon Town two days ago? He even brought many men with him. Why was he suddenly back? Who were those people with him? Judging from their clothes, they should not be ordinary people.
“What do you think?”
Lubin tidied his garments and elevated his head 45 degrees, presenting a dignified countenance.
The question posed by the soldier was really idiotic. Who else could it be if not Lubin? Of course, he understood his subordinates. Anyone would be startled to see them as they had only left about two days ago. If it had not been for Watson, no technology in that world could transport a person hundreds of kilometers away.
“It really is the mayor! The mayor is back! Quickly! Open the gate!”
As the guards called out, the entire Torch Town quickly boiled with excitement.
In less than ten minutes, a team of 200 cavalrymen put down the sling of the city gate. They rode out of the town on horses with torches held high. A valiant female knight led the way, and she was in fiery red armor. She exuded the aura of a gold-tier warrior. When she came to Lubin’s side, she dismounted from her horse and kneeled on one knee respectfully. Her short, dark-red hair swayed in the wind.
“The leader of the Torch Knights, Elvira, pays her respects to the mayor.”
“Get up.” Lubin waved his hand.
When he left Torch Town, he had numerous silver-tier warriors accompany him. However, he had left a few of them behind due to his concerns about the demon rats or the goldbiter rats. Elvira was one of them. As Torch Town’s famous gold-tier expert, Elvira was equivalent to an army.
After Elvira stood up, she nodded at Lubin. Then, she looked at the few people beside Lubin. One was a handsome young man with purple hair. He had pointy ears, which was one of the characteristics of an elf, and he looked vaguely familiar. Another attractive man with soft platinum hair stood beside the purple-haired young man. Finally, an old man and a young man with gorgeous clothes stood behind them.
Those four people were insignificant. The most important person was the young man in the middle of them. He appeared to be about ten years old. The four people’s positions seemed to be defending the young man in the center. He seemed to be the leader of the group, and Elvira wondered about his name.
As the leader of Torchlight Town’s knights, the Torch Knights, Elvira was already a gold-tier warrior before the age of thirty. Everyone in Torch Town hailed her as a rare genius in a hundred years. However, when she saw the few people in front of her, she could not guess their strength. Other than the slightly younger man, who was obviously not as strong as her, the rest of them exuded an unfathomable aura.
“Elvira, let me introduce you! These people are important figures from the border. That is Lord Sylvan, the border count, and the person next to him is the kingdom’s greatest mage, Master Antonio. As for the remaining two people, one is the mayor of Fairy Town, and the other is the youngest young master of Blackmoon Castle.”
Lubin pointed at the people next to him and made a series of introductions; he skipped Gerant on purpose.
Gerant did not mind that and introduced himself. “I’ve long heard of Miss Elvira from Torch Town. Your gold-tier warrior reputation precedes you. Your strength is not only outstanding, but you are beautiful as well! It’s really unfair for a talent like you to stay in Torch Town. I wonder if you’ll be interested in working in my town? Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself. My name is Gerant. I’m the mayor of Monte Town.”
Despite the fact that the four border towns were about equal in strength, the situation in each town was unique. Fairy Town, for example, was powerful because it was linked to the border count. Monte Town was a believer in liberty. As a result, the mercenary groups and the Mage Guild were the most powerful forces in Monte Town, rather than the force from the kingdom.
Torch Town was a little different.
Torch Town’s distinct culture contributed to the town’s high level of cohesion. The Torch Knights were an independent organization from the City Defense Department. Everyone was thrilled to be a member of the Torch Knights, and the town’s youth idolized Elvira. She was supposed to have been born into a commoner’s family. The Campbell family appreciated her because of her exceptional talent, and she was then made an external member of the family.
The Campbell family rewarded Lubin as a result of his recommendation. The Campbell family and the Ptolemy family, Gerant’s family, had always had a strained relationship. Gerant had been attempting to poach Elvira for quite some time. That was why he had said what he had just said.
“The border count and the kingdom’s greatest mage, as well as the two mayors?”
Elvira took a deep breath as Gerant calculated in his head.
According to Mayor Lubin, those in front of him represented 80 percent of the border’s upper echelons, as well as the kingdom’s mages. Even folks on the border knew Antonio’s status as the astrologer. Why were so many important people assembled on the outskirts of Torch Town?
She was pondering that when she noticed Lubin walking to the side of the youngest youth among them. “Young Master Watson, thank you for prioritizing the development of the passage from Blackmoon Town to Torch Town,” he said graciously. “I would like to extend my gratitude to you on behalf of everyone in Torch Town. We will support all of Blackmoon Town’s arrangements! Also, Young Master Watson, what are your thoughts after seeing Torch Town?”
“I will just say what I think. First and foremost, Torch Town’s facilities are deplorable. Second, the soldiers are not strong enough, and their equipment is inadequate. I can help you with that since I’ve decided to aid you. I plan to restore Torch Town as a whole.”
When confronted with the question, Watson responded appropriately.
“Praise to the kingdom, and praise to Blackmoon Castle! We will have to trouble Young Master Watson with the arrangements for that then. Since we now have a route to Blackmoon Town, perhaps you can stay here for a while, Young Master Watson. Maybe for ten days to half a month; you can transform the town in this period.”
Lubin did not feel the least bit disappointed after he was mocked. Instead, he had a giddy expression on his face. Torch Town was in shambles when compared to the magnificent Blackmoon Town. Furthermore, Watson had just waved his hand and somehow built a pathway. Torch Town would prosper if Watson could help transform it.
He could hardly wait for Watson to insult Torch Town a little more. The more he belittled them, the worse Torch Town’s condition would appear to be, and the more areas he could improve.
“Do you have the audacity to say such things, Lubin?”
Gerant and Andre, who stood nearby, curled their lips. What would happen to Monte Town and Fairy Town if Watson stayed in Torch Town? Lubin had vehemently accused Watson of stealing not too long ago. He had appeared to be uninterested in Blackmoon Town then. However, it seemed like he had changed his mind; he was suddenly uninterested in the missing wealth. His expression shifted far too rapidly.
Gerant was considerably more furious than Andre. He was the one who had made friends with Watson and agreed to become Blackmoon Town’s ally. Why should Lubin fight with him?
Gerant continued to say, “Lubin, I think Torch Town is pretty good. You even have a powerful gold-tier warrior like Miss Elvira. As the mayor of Monte Town, I’m already very envious of you! We only have mercenaries, and they would run away at the first sign of danger, as proven when a magical beast broke into the town some time ago. In my opinion, there’s no need for more improvement in Torch Town. It’s better to let Young Master Watson go to Monte Town.”
“Gerant, stop bullshitting me. I heard that you bought a large number of materials from Blackmoon Castle. Now you are living a comfortable life! Besides, what’s so good about Torch Town? The city walls are too low; they are only more than ten meters high. Any random mound would be taller than that. The warriors in charge of patrolling don’t even have decent armor. Not to mention the knights—they are useless. Even the goldbiter rats can defeat them easily—”
Lubin hurriedly refuted Gerant’s words. However, someone cut him off before he could complete his sentence.
“Mayor Lubin, that’s enough. Are you so displeased with Torch Town and our knights?”
Elvira was the one who spoke up. She appeared to be upset.
She has been a dedicated leader for many years. She had worked hard despite the fact that she had little merit. She had no idea Lubin would see her in such a way. Even people from other towns wanted to keep her. Lubin, on the other hand, had belittled her. Even if he were an arrogant man, he should not have said such nasty words. What was his problem?
“Elvira, I think you have misunderstood me. I didn’t mean it that way.” Lubin’s expression was a little awkward. He had deliberately pretended to be miserable so that Watson could rebuild the town, but he had forgotten to organize his words.
“Mayor Lubin, you don’t have to say anything else.”
Elvira took a deep breath, and her expression became solemn. She approached Watson, drew the sword from her waist, and pointed it at the tip of his nose.
“Your name is Watson, right? The mayor only insulted Torch Town because of your words. I do not care who you are or why the mayor is so nice to you; Torch Town is where I grew up. Everyone here works hard for a living, and it is challenging to hear outsiders dismiss them. So, I would like to challenge you to a duel. If I win, you are free to leave. Torch Town doesn’t need help from people like you.”
Elvira was a knight, so she could not get mad at Lubin. So, she took her anger out on Watson.
Chapter 237: The Whole City Is Watching
“A duel? Miss, are you serious?”
Watson looked at Elvira, who had short red hair and wore heavy armor with a strange expression.
“Yes, I am serious about having a duel with you! Even though you are a child and I should not be bullying you as a knight, it is related to Torch Town’s glory. Please forgive me for refusing to back down.”
Elvira raised her arm, holding the blade directed at Watson’s nose.
People around her became silent when they heard her comments, including Sylvan and Antonio, who gazed at her with sympathy and admiration—Sylvan, in particular.
He had faced Watson once before on Dragonspine Snow Mountain, but he had lost. Watson was merely a gold-tier warrior and mage at the time, but he had entered the platinum tier since then; even he had no idea how powerful Watson had become.
Lubin also reacted. He stepped in front of Elvira and pulled the sword in her hand. With a stern expression on his face, he chastised her. “What are you doing, Elvira? Young Master Watson is my guest. Raise your sword to the guest. What is your etiquette as a noble?”
“I don’t think this person is a guest.”
Elvira made eye contact with Lubin without any hesitation.
In Torch Town, she resided with a commoner’s household. Her parents were not particularly cultured, but they had taught her that a person’s greatest virtue was to do the right thing from a young age. That helped her build a strong personality. She was certain that she was right, and no matter what Lubin said, she would not change her mind.
“Elvira, I believe you no longer wish to lead the Torch Knights. Do you suppose I should fire you if you continue to behave recklessly?”
Lubin raised his right hand as if about to strike. Elvira just stood there calmly watching everything; there was not even a hint of anxiety on her pretty face.
“Mayor, I am defending the honor of Torch Town. Please step aside! I do not care how you punish me after my fight with that child.”
Lubin was taken aback by Elvira’s statements and was at a loss for words. Antonio smiled and said, “What a tough young lady! I understand how you feel. No one should be vilified, especially when they are a mighty knight!” You can fight my disciple if you insist on it. I can be the judge.”
“I appreciate your patience, Master Antonio. Then that is decided... Wait, disciple? Who did you say was your disciple, Master Antonio?”
Elvira first smiled gratefully at Antonio, believing him to be the best mage in the realm. He was very wise. Then she sensed that something was wrong. Antonio had asked her to fight his disciple. She should not have misunderstood him. She was not Antonio’s disciple, so that would mean...
As if to put her prediction to the test, Antonio pointed to Watson and said, “It is him. The young man you are about to fight is my disciple.”
Buzz!
Elvira’s mind raced. Her face was flushed with disbelief, and her body shook.
Even though the boundary was far from the Royal City, Elvira was familiar with rumors about the astrologer. Not a single cultivator in the entire kingdom was unfamiliar with Antonio. The man was known for his ability to educate rather than his power. More than half of his students had attained platinum-tier.
There was a saying in the kingdom—how could one prove that a person had extraordinary talent? One only needed to get a nod from Antonio.
Unfortunately, Antonio had been residing in the Star Temple in recent years and no longer accepted disciples. Even if a great noble went to him for an audience, it would be futile. Antonio had unexpectedly broken the commandment.
Elvira could not help but gaze up and down at Watson as she reflected on that. Watson, she thought, did not seem to be anything special, aside from the fact that he was good-looking at such a young age. She had not understood why Mayor Lubin treated Watson so politely and why the astrologer would take a fancy to him. She felt disgusted when she realized what had happened.
If Elvira had only wanted to duel with Watson to protect the dignity of Torch Town and drive Watson away, then she had another reason for the duel. He must have acted arrogantly because of his master or father’s aristocracy. A wealthy second-generation elite was not uncommon in Torch Town. That was the type of person she despised the most.
He had mentioned Torch Town casually and took advantage of the fact that his master was Antonio. Watson, in her opinion, was such a person.
“Miss, it seems that you are very hostile toward me. If it is because of what I just said, then I have to apologize. I don’t mean to belittle Torch Town.” Watson looked helpless as he shrugged. “I’m just telling the truth.”
“And you have spoken to them. What’s the difference between apologizing after saying it and admitting guilt after killing someone?”
“Then what do you want?”
“Hmm, Torch Town has a place for duels. Follow me.”
Elvira concluded her speech and turned to enter Torch Town. It would have been great if Watson had not explained, but she became even more enraged after he did. What did he mean when he said he was telling the truth?
It was acceptable if Watson had purposefully dismissed Torch Town. After all, it was not the whole truth. If Watson said he was telling the truth, would that not imply Torch Town was not good enough? That made Elvira, born and raised in Torch Town, believe that the town was not all that bad, so she decided. She would undoubtedly teach Watson a valuable lesson about suppressing his arrogance later.
Watson had no choice but to follow Elvira as she walked into town.
“It is entirely my fault, Master Antonio, for not educating my subordinates well. I have failed in my duties as the mayor of Torch Town.” Lubin’s face was sorrowful as he watched the two walk away. Elvira was a stubborn lady, but he did not anticipate her to be that headstrong. It would be fine if Watson were to win. However, if he lost, would Blackmoon Town not look bad? What if he was injured again?
Lubin would never dare to imagine such a scene. It was not easy for him to be given the opportunity to help Torch Town flourish, but Elvira had spoiled it. He truly wanted to grab Elvira’s ear and chastised her if they did not have those notable guests.
“Do not blame yourself, Mayor Lubin. The duel can help to improve their connection and reduce tension. I have not been to Torch Town in a long time. Just think of it as a soothing experience! Lubin, go make the necessary arrangements. We can’t be hasty because the duel concerns Blackmoon Town and my teacher, Antonio. It is preferable if everyone in Torch Town sees it,” Sylvan remarked gently.
His concept was simple. Watson would surely win that duel. It was preferable to let the entire Torch Town see it and publicize Blackmoon Town’s might. It would make it easier for the residents of Torch Town to accept the matter of becoming an affiliated town and benefit from the circumstance. He was confident that Watson would be grateful to him as well.
Lubin was upset.
It was great to let Elvira fight Watson, but the entire city had to witness it. It was easy to imagine how disappointed the citizens of Torch Town would be if they lost. It would be even worse if they won. Blackmoon Town would not be in a good mood, so it would not be easy for him whether he was to win or lose.
Furthermore, Gerant had been gloatingly chuckling at the side since the beginning. He commented on Torch Town’s greatness and how they had the talent to compete with Young Master Watson. He even said that it would not have happened in Monte Town and how he was envious of Torch Town. He was irritated because those words were meant to ridicule him.
Chapter 238: Betting With A Million Gold Coins
Sigh!
“So be it, I suppose. It just so happens that I have not had a real battle with anyone since I advanced to platinum-tier! All I can hope for is that it will be over soon. I will be able to improve the town after the duel ends. After Torch Town, there are still many spots where I need to create roads.”
They had been in Torch Town for about an hour. Watson and Elvira would simply have to decide who would win secretly, according to Watson’s plan. Finally, Lubin used the magical loudspeaker equipment in the city hall. He declared to the entire community that the elites of Blackmoon Town would face Elvira on the round arena in an hour.
That news shook the entire community to its core. Elvira held a high position in Torch Town, not to mention how much everyone adored her. At least 90% of the population loved her. When they heard that the duel involved Elvira, people ran toward the arena; many shops were even closed.
Watson groaned and looked around at the bustling setting. He opted to go for a solitary walk around Torch Town as it was not time for the duel yet. He would be able to renovate the town more readily if he knew the specifics of the area.
Torch Town’s structures were clearly not as strong as those in Blackmoon Town. Outside the dwellings, the rocks were all iron-tier. Some of the houses were composed of mud and wood and were flimsy. The rat teeth marks on the house walls were confirmation of that. Watson learned that A swarm of goldbiter rats had invaded Torch Town. Those walls were as innocuous as tofu in front of those rats.
The only peculiar thing was that, regardless of the type of the house, torches were strung under the eaves to guarantee that there was enough light at night. The design was brilliant. Many of the people who had left their apartments grabbed a torch from beneath the eaves. They transported it to the arena after lighting it. That appeared to be their method of showing their support.
After looking at the buildings beside him, Watson looked up and looked into the distance.
Watson gazed up and into the distance after staring at the buildings beside him.
Torch Town’s structures were vulnerable. The City Hall, the research facility, and the Torch Knights’ headquarter were all located in the center. Outside were the nobles’ courtyards. On the outskirts, there was mixed-income housing for commoners and the impoverished. There was a clear distinction at first glance. The circular arena stood between the noble district and the city hall.
That arena has a multi-decade history. More than half of Torch Town’s festivities were hosted there each year. Watson would need 20 minutes to walk from the town’s entrance to the circular arena. He estimated the time and decided it was time for him to leave.
The closer he was to the circular arena, the more people he saw. When he approached the entrance, Watson discovered 20,000 to 30,000 people in front of the enormous Roman-style building that covered thousands of square meters. That was the first time he saw so many people outside of Blackmoon Town. That was not all of them. There were still people on the way there.
“Have you heard? Our commander is going to duel with someone. I wonder who the opponent is. How could he be qualified to fight with the commander?” A young girl dressed like a Knight leaned against the wall of the circular arena. She was holding a long sword and had an enthusiastic expression on her face.
“Who cares? He is no match for our commander.”
“It is time to make a wager. Bet on Commander Elvira’s triumph on the left side. Place your bet on the challenger’s success on the right. The challenger’s current chances are 1 to 100!”
Many people were conversing with one another. Some people even set up a betting booth outside the circular arena.
Several residents said, “I wagered ten silver coins on the commander’s victory.”
“I wager one gold coin. That is the sum of my assets.”
They dashed forward to place their bets and were prepared to pay for it. However, they were halted by a middle-aged guard before they could make a move.
The middle-aged guard signaled for them not to be confused, then he explained in detail. “Do not bet on a whim. I heard that the opponent has an impressive background. He is Blackmoon Town’s Young Master. Do you know where Blackmoon Town is?”
“Blackmoon Town? No.”
Several residents shook their heads in unison.
“The Blackmoon Town, or Blackmoon Castle, is an emerging force at the border. In just a few months, it is reported that its power has grown to the level of a normal town. Didn’t the mayor leave two days ago? That was where he went! It’s okay if you don’t know the border count and the kingdom’s top mage, the astrologer. Blackmoon Town is linked to these two important people. Do you realize how powerful they are now?”
When he saw the shock on the residents’ faces, the middle-aged guard appeared pleased. He knew so much about Blackmoon Town since he was chosen as a guard two days before Lubin had left. He was one of the chosen, and even though he was not selected in the end, he had a lot of insider information.
“I am telling you this because I like all of you. I would like for you all to make some money with me! Ordinary folks are unaware of this. Do not disseminate it. Put your money on Blackmoon Town to win. I am confident you will make a lot of money.”
The middle-aged guard urged them in a bewitching tone. Those who heard his words gritted their teeth as they walked into the gambling house and placed their bets on Elvira. “Let’s bet on Miss Elvira to win!”
“Hey, you bunch of idiots. Didn’t I tell you to place your bets on Blackmoon Town? Did I tell you so much for nothing?” The middle-aged guard’s expression changed.
“Who knows if you are telling the truth? What if you are deceiving us?”
The residents were not fools. They retorted and left the middle-aged guard there, who was frustrated for a while. He gritted his teeth and took a bag of money from his pocket. It looked like there was quite a lot of money, and he also placed it on Elvira.
“Since you advised others to bet on Blackmoon Town, why don’t you bet on them?”
A somewhat childlike voice echoed behind the man, prompting him to react. “Who are you?”
As he turned around, the man noticed a young man with brown hair and blue eyes behind him. He was dressed in a long black robe and had a foolish smile on his face as he glanced up at him.
He had no idea whose child that young boy was, but he was pretty attractive. He was most likely there to see the battle between Commander Elvira and Blackmoon Town. The middle-aged guard crouched and patted the boy’s head.
“You don’t get it, Little Guy. I advised others to bet on Blackmoon Town, not because the challenger could win, but because if everyone bets on Commander Elvira, I would not be able to win any money! Even if I told you that at your age, you probably would not understand. You should go find your folks.”
“Why is Elvira sure to win?” the boy asked curiously. He did not leave.
“Are you from Torch Town?”
The middle-aged guard regarded the child in front of him with suspicion. Everyone in Torch Town was aware of Elvira’s power, but he decided to let it go since the person in front of him was a child.
“Let me tell you a little bit about Commander Elvira’s exploits! Commander Elvira began developing her combat aura when she was three years old. She joined the professional union when she was five years old and was given the title of Iron-tier Professional. She even outwitted an adult examiner. She joined the adventurer team when she was seven years old and single-handedly defeated a frightening bronze-tier monster. It was a bronze-tier monster!”
The middle-aged guard recounted the story like it was a family treasure, and his eyes lit up.
“Things became a lot easier after that. Commander Elvira was a genius who joined the City Defense Department. She got to the top and founded the Torch Knights. Commander Elvira has even broken through to gold-tier in recent years! A 30-year-old gold-tier is not unique in the entire kingdom, but she is still a genius. I dare to state that no gold-tier elites at the border can compete with our commander. Oh, you might not know her nickname yet. Her moniker is the undefeated Flame Queen.”
“She’s that powerful?”
The boy raised his brows. Even though he claimed that the commander was powerful, the boy’s expression was weird. The middle-aged guard was perplexed by that. It was as if the boy thought that the occurrence was a normal one.
Just as he wondered if his story-telling skill was inadequate, he noticed the youngster stroll straight to the betting station and twist the ring in his hand. “I want to place a wager,” he said to the boss, who was urging people to cast their bets. “I bet that the individual from Blackmoon Town will win. A million gold coins.”
How many gold coins?
As soon as his voice fell, not only the fat boss who had set up the betting station and the people who had placed their bets, but the residents who were standing at the arena entrance also shifted their gazes to the boy. The entire arena was silent.
Chapter 239: Only One Move
“Little Brother, how much money did you say? I did not hear you clearly. Can you repeat it?”
The betting station’s boss swallowed his saliva as he stared at the boy in front of him.
A million dollars in gold. Torch Town had to pay tens of thousands of gold coins in taxes in a year. One million gold coins could cover Torch Town’s tax bill for the next twenty years. Even he, who managed a gambling den, had never seen such a large sum of money. The highest amount of money in a game was only a few thousand gold coins. He suspected that the teenager had duped him or that he had misheard. The youth must have meant a hundred gold coins, not a million.
“I said I wanted to bet one million gold coins. What’s the matter?” the boy said again.
He did mean one million gold coins.
The betting station owner felt suffocated, followed by a wave of anger. He could confirm that he had been fooled. The entire Torch Town might not even be able to take out so many gold coins even if they emptied their pockets. Furthermore, the youth in front of him did not look like he had any money with him.
“Men, get rid of that little brat! Don’t let him stand here and talk nonsense to affect my business!”
Two bodyguards appeared from behind the owner. They approached the boy and reached out to grab him.
Those two bodyguards were bronze-tier warriors. Before their powerful palms could touch the young man’s body, they were bounced off by an invisible force. They took two steps back and sat on the ground, revealing an incredulous expression.
As bronze-tier warriors, they were considered to be above average in Torch Town. However, they were no match for the young man in front of them. That young man was at least a silver-tier elite, but he only looked a little over ten years old. Such talent was too shocking!
“Boss, I placed my bet sincerely, but you sent your men to attack me. Do you think that one million gold coins are too much? Since that’s the case, I’ll bet less then. What about 100,000 gold coins?” The young man revealed a bit of combat aura in his body. After he defeated the two strong men, the youth calmly flicked the dust off his body.
“Well, if you can show us the 10,000 gold coins, then you’re good,” the boss sneered. He had already confirmed that the youth was there to cause trouble. Otherwise, why would he injure his subordinates and bet on Blackmoon Town to win? Who did not know that Commander Elvira would definitely win the duel?
He debated whether to summon the guards and chase that lad away when he noticed him twisting a ring on his finger. He chanted with conviction, “I want to make a wish. I make 1,000,000 gold coins. The price is to consume 500,000 gold coins’ worth of resources in Blackmoon Town.”
As soon as his voice faded, a massive black hole emerged above the young man’s head. Numerous gold coins dropped from the sky with audible sounds when they landed on the streets or people’s bodies; those coins almost completely covered the ground.
“Is money actually falling from the sky?”
“How much does it cost to cover the entire street?”
People around the circular arena raised their heads to look up at the sky and discovered that gold coins had taken up their whole field of vision. They sighed openly. They had forgotten to pick up the money on the ground as they were in shock.
The black hole in the sky lasted one minute before dissipating. There were a few small mounds of gold coins on the street—one million to be exact. The teenager extended his right hand and clenched it in front of the coins. “System fusion, Activate.”
The gold coins on the ground instantly transformed into streams of light and fused into a sculpture dozens of meters tall and entirely comprised of gold coins. That sculpture was of that young person.
The youth smiled contentedly as he admired the sculpture of his appearance. He turned to face the boss, whose face looked horrified. “One million gold coins take up too much space, so I condensed them into a sculpture! Do you now believe that I can have one million gold coins?”
“Who... Who Are You?”
It had only been a few minutes from the first rage of being duped, to the shock of discovering Watson’s strength, to his state of panic. It was a rush of emotions, and he felt a little disoriented.
It was no surprise. Anyone who witnessed a young person who could wave a million gold coins from the sky and instantaneously condensed them into a sculpture would suspect that they were in a dream.
“Are you asking me?” The adolescent lifted his hand and pointed to himself. “Oh, I nearly forgot to introduce myself. My name is Watson, and I am the person from Blackmoon Town who will duel with Elvira later.”
When Watson finished speaking, the entire room fell silent again.
Commander Elvira was about to engage in a duel with a young child. Her opponent should at least be at the gold tier. Was the boy a gold-tier elite rather than a silver-tier one?
The residents of Torch Town had always viewed Elvira as their pride and had shared the legend of how she became a gold-tier warrior before she was 30 years old. The appearance of the adolescent in front of them, however, had broken their pride. Furthermore, the youth had made a golden sculpture. Some people began to wonder if Elvira would be able to win the duel.
“I heard you making noises from two streets away, Watson. What are you up to?”
A stern lady’s voice could be heard on the other side of the street. Elvira approached slowly, accompanied by a couple of Torch Knights in red armor. Several knights raised their heads in amazement to gaze at the golden sculpture. Elvira’s expression was critical.
“Commander Elvira, you have arrived.” Everyone in the room nodded when they saw Elvira. Some of them even bowed politely.
“You will know when you see it, Miss Elvira. I am betting on myself. Right now, my chances of winning are one in a hundred! So, I bet a million gold coins on myself. Torch Town will have to pay me 100,000,000 gold coins if I win. Would you like to join the bet?”
“I’m not interested.”
Elvira sniffed bitterly in response to Watson’s question. She was an upright knight who had always despised gambling. She would have arrested everyone who put up the gambling dens if not for the approaching duel.
Her gaze was drawn to the sculpture Watson had fused as she looked around. “Even though I’m not interested, if I win, that sculpture will become a permanent fixture in our Torch Town.”
Watson’s creation of such a tall golden sculpture astounded Elvira as well. She had no idea Watson was so wealthy. The standard of living in Torch Town would rise several notches if she had that sculpture. She was considerably calmer than the rest because she knew Watson was Antonio’s pupil. The wealth might have been Antonio’s.
“Of course, if Miss Elvira wins, I will not only deliver the sculpture, but I will also leave Torch Town. But what if you lose, Miss Elvira?” Watson inquired, a pleasant expression on his face.
“If I lose, I will take off my clothes and run around the arena! Let’s cut the crap and start the duel.”
Elvira walked right to the round arena after she said that. She could not wait to get rid of Watson. She had only casually mentioned the punishment, so she did not expect to lose.
Watson shrugged and followed Elvira into the arena.
..
Time flew by, and almost twenty minutes had passed.
Watson and Elvira were more than ten meters apart on the rocky platform. Rows of seats were arranged in a round pattern around them. People were filling the seats as they yelled at the top of their lungs.
“Defeat that arrogant brat, Captain Elvira!”
“He dares to make a sculpture of himself.”
“He is clearly looking down on us!”
“The commander will triumph.”
Almost no one was cheering for Watson. The heated gazes of the residents were all focused on Elvira. They looked out from the seats in the arena and saw the towering sculpture of Watson outside. That made everyone in Torch Town feel unhappy.
The battle had yet to begin, but their opponent had already built a giant sculpture outside. Did they think that they would definitely win?
Elvira was glancing at the sculpture outside the arena as well. She reasoned that if she were to defeat Watson, she would not only have to leave the gold sculpture there, but she would also have to ask someone to change the sculpture’s appearance to hers.
Lubin led Antonio, Sylvan, Andre, and Gerant into the arena while she was thinking about it. They made their way to the front of the viewing platform. Lubin was holding a magical box that could be used to magnify sound. He used the box’s winding pipes to speak loudly.
“I am Lubin. First and foremost, I would like to thank everyone for coming to see the duel between Blackmoon Town’s youngest Young Master and the head of the Torch Knights. According to the rules of the duel, one party must admit defeat or forfeit the ability to fight! This is a fight between two towns, as well as a battle between individuals. As a result, I hope that both sides will not hurt others deliberately. That is all I have to say. Next, I would like to invite the border count and the king’s astrologer to say a few words.”
Lubin switched his focus to the two significant men beside him. The entire audience’s attention was drawn to Sylvan and Antonio. It had been a long time since Sylvan, let alone Antonio, had visited Torch Town, but they were fortunate to be able to see the best mage in the kingdom. Even though more than half of the audience had come to watch Elvira, Antonio had a slew of fans.
“I have nothing to say. Besides, if you keep talking before the match, people will hate you. Let the two of them decide on a winner,” Antonio said with a smile. Sylvan, who was beside him, nodded as well. “I agree with Master’s words.”
“Very well, I shall announce the start of the duel.”
Lubin’s voice was transmitted through the loudspeaker to the entire arena.
On the stage, Elvira immediately acted after she heard that. She pulled a tiny blade from her waist and charged at Watson. During that process, flamed wings appeared on her back before they transformed into brilliant dragon scales on her body. She opened her mouth. Instead of a human language, she spoke in the roars of a dragon.
“Gold-tier battle technique, Flame Dragon Descent!”
The air beneath the entire arena had heated up, and several nearby residents had sweat trickling down their brows. Watson, who was in the midst of the attack, was under considerably more duress. Elvira’s entire body was engulfed in flames, and the ground beneath his feet had turned black. She had morphed into a ten-meter-long fire dragon and charged toward him as if she wanted to devour him.
Watson opened his mouth and gently blew at the air in front of him as he faced that horrific attack. The flames that had filled the sky faded with a swoosh before it revealed Elvira’s body. She half-knelt on the ground with a pale face, and the thin sword in her hand propped on the ground. She seemed to be under some heavy pressure; her body was bent into an arc that looked as if it was about to break.
Elvira, who was stunned, raised her head in bewilderment. “How is that possible?”
Watson had cracked her strongest gold-tier fighting technique in one move, and she felt as if she were dreaming.
Chapter 240: Diamond-tier Ability Fusion
“What happened? How did Commander Elvira fall?”
“Did you all see it?”
The Torch Town people in the grandstand were all looking down at the discussion, slightly perplexed.
They only witnessed Elvira use a powerful gold-tier battle technique to transform into a fire dragon, leaving a charred black mark in the arena. Even the air was scorched. They were still concerned about the young man, who looked a little more than ten years old. Would he be reduced to ashes as a result of such an attack? However, the situation was reversed in just a moment.
Watson was unharmed. On the contrary, Elvira knelt on the ground.
“Lords Silvan and Antonio, what’s going on?”
Lubin, who was at the front of the viewing platform, did not understand what had happened either. So, he carefully asked the two elites beside him. Those two were the top mages in the kingdom. They must have known what Watson had done.
“Sylvan, do you know?”
Antonio did not answer him. Instead, he asked Sylvan.
Sylvan looked at the field with a serious expression. He paused for a few seconds before he said, “I think I understand. I did not expect Watson to have entered such a realm! I think he is the only person in that world who could fuse Strictly Enforced Words and Law of Domain. Even if I were to stand on the stage right now, I’m afraid I would not be a match for him.”
In the eyes of ordinary people, Watson had only exhaled a breath of air. However, Sylvan could analyze Watson’s actions from his subtle movements. Watson had opened his mouth and used the Strictly Enforced Words to stir the fire elements in the world. Then, after Elvira approached him, he used the Law of Domain to suppress the fire elements.
The Strictly Enforced Words could activate the world’s elements, while the Law of Domain could turn itself into elements and suppress enemies within a specific range. Those two special platinum-tier abilities were combined to form an even more unique effect.
“Sylvan, you may reach the diamond tier in the future if you can understand that.”
Antonio nodded. Then, he turned in the direction of the arena. He stroked his nonexistent beard and revealed a gratified smile. “Watson is my most talented disciple, indeed. It seems that there is no suspense in that competition.”
“Lords Sylvan and Antonio, what are you talking about? What laws and domains? Why can’t I understand anything?”
Lubin was perplexed as he listened to their conversation, especially when he dimly heard Sylvan concede that he was no match for Watson. He feared he had heard incorrectly. Sylvan was the powerful mage in the kingdom, and he was no match for a youngster? How did that happen?
While he was puzzled, Fairy Town’s mayor, Andre, who had been silent the whole time, said faintly, “It’s expected that you don’t understand. That is because Law of Domain and Strictly Enforced Words are the symbols of platinum-tier elites. The former represents platinum-tier warriors, while the latter can only be comprehended by platinum-tier mages. As far as I know, Watson is the only one in the entire kingdom who can perceive those two abilities simultaneously.”
There were not many platinum-tier warriors in the kingdom anyway. Those who could reach that level would either train in combat aura or magic. Very few would train in both because there was a limit to one’s energy.
Andre knew so much because he was a warrior at the peak of the gold tier, and he was not far from the platinum tier. That was also why he felt that Watson was a complete monster.
“Mayor Andre, do you mean to say that Watson is a platinum-tier warrior?”
Lubin felt as if he had been struck by lightning. He exchanged a glance with Gerant, who was also speechless, and he saw the shock in the other’s eyes. Earlier, Watson had created a magic tunnel that led straight to Torch Town. They knew that Watson’s strength was not ordinary, but they thought it was all thanks to the ring on his finger. Who would have thought that a ten-year-old youth would be a platinum-tier elite?
If Lubin had known that earlier, he would not have agreed to the duel between Elvira and Watson. Unfortunately, it was too late for him to go back on his word.
..
The sound of a system notification resonated in Watson’s ears as he competed.
[Congratulations, Master, for successfully fusing Law of Domain and Strictly Enforced Words. You have obtained a diamond-tier unique ability, Absolute Seal, which can seal the magic and combat aura within the enemy’s body. When used against stronger enemies, the effect will be weakened, and the area of impact will be limited to a radius of 100 meters.]
He had used the system to fuse that ability before the start of the competition. Since he would obtain a unique ability after advancing to platinum-tier, would he be able to fuse those two special abilities as well?
With such a question in mind, he gave it a try. The answer was yes.
The Absolute Seal was an ability that only diamond-tier elites could master. It allowed him to be invincible in front of people weaker than him. Furthermore, he was not afraid of being attacked from all sides. The only drawback was that the effect would be weakened when used on people of a higher level. However, Elvira was not in that category.
At that moment, he looked at the pale-faced Elvira, who was half-kneeling on the ground and unable to breathe properly. Then, Watson said politely, “Miss Elvira, the difference in our strength is too great. There is no need to continue with this duel. You should admit defeat.”
He had previously heard a middle-aged guard explain Elvira’s life outside the arena. She also had an honorific title—The Undefeated Flame Queen. It made him believe that she was extremely powerful. As a result, he had combined the two platinum-tier abilities before the tournament. Elvira turned out to be very different from what he had expected. He was able to seal her combat aura quickly.
“What did you do to me? Why can’t I use my combat aura?”
Elvira pursed her lips, which had completely lost their color. Her beautiful face was no longer as strong as it had been, and it was filled with fear.
She could understand Watson defeating her after 300 rounds, but she could not accept what had occurred. Her combat aura was frozen in her body, and she was unable to move. She could not employ the formidable combat techniques that had previously worked for her.
She felt angry and unhappy after losing in that manner.
“I simply employed a unique ability to seal the combat aura in your body. You may understand that as a kind of magic.”
Watson explained everything thoroughly. Elvira did not want to continue listening to him. She yelled and jumped up from the ground as he spoke. She smacked her right fist into the bridge of his nose.
Elvira did not need to use her combat aura for that attack. She relied entirely on the skills that she had honed over the years as a leader. Her movements were swift and swift, like a leopard.
Unfortunately, it was useless.
A delicate finger stopped her fist from landing on Watson’s face. “Miss Elvira, a sneak assault is not a good habit,” Watson said as he blocked Elvira’s punch with one finger and peered into her angry and lovely eyes from a close distance.
He flicked his finger as soon as his words faded, and Elvira’s body blasted backward like a rock. The powerful impact penetrated the competition ground, leaving a deep ravine that spread to the distant stands.
Elvira’s body crashed into the granite wall beneath the stands, causing it to fracture. Her body sunk deep into it as gravel and dust drifted. The people in the stands stood up, accompanied by women’s shouts and men’s angry curses.
“Argh! Commander Elvira lost. Even the wall was shattered. Is she okay?”
“How can she lose? I bet my money on her. I bet ten gold coins on her. She can’t have gone easy on him, right?”
They could not believe Watson had sent Elvira flying that far away. He appeared to be a helpless child. How did he get such incredible strength? Furthermore, Elvira had demonstrated her formidable combat abilities, but she had yet to even touch Watson. The flames on her body had died down on their own. The others were worried if Elvira had taken part in a sham match.
“My opponent has lost the ability to fight. This is my win.”
Watson did not care about the discussions around him. He retracted his finger and looked at Lubin. His combat aura helped his voice to travel far and wide. Lubin looked at Elvira with concern before he picked up the loudspeaker. “I announce that the match is—”
“Wait a minute!”
Before he could finish his announcement, Elvira climbed out of a pile of rocks. The fiery red armor on her body was worn and covered in dust. There was a wound on her forehead, and blood oozed down her pale face. She looked very miserable.
“I haven’t lost yet.”
The audience’s discussion did not reach Watson’s ears, but it got to hers.
She looked around her. She realized that the eyes that usually looked at her with envy had become suspicious. Her heart ached because of that.
Many of those people were speculating about her maliciously. Some of them said, “Elvira might have colluded with that little brat from Blackmoon Town and deliberately lost so that she could get paid 1 to 100! That little brat just bet that he would win. Maybe she arranged it. Our leader has fallen.” Those statements made her feel even more aggrieved.
It was not the time to worry about those things. She had to defeat Watson to prove her worth.
Elvira took a big breath and glanced at the young people on stage. “Watson, you cheated! I can’t release my combat aura because I don’t know what method you employed, but you can use your ability freely. This is not a fair fight.”
Cheated?
When everyone in the room heard that, they all looked at each other in disbelief. Someone had dared to cheat while Antonio and Sylvan were there. They looked relieved. Yes, someone must have cheated. Otherwise, how could a small child defeat Elvira?
“What? So Blackmoon Town? No wonder he can defeat Elvira! That young child would not have won if he had not cheated. I am not worried about anything.”
The audience who had risen from the seats sat down with a contented grin on their faces. They shifted their gaze to Watson and began to curse him.
“Foreigners are quite disgusting!”
“Return to your Blackmoon Town; Torch Town does not welcome you.”
People also tossed empty wine bottles and rotten fruit at Watson.
The situation had gotten a little out of hand.