Chapter 55: A Terrifying Stake

Seeing the two distinguished guests were interested in the bet, Jin trembled with excitement and quickly explained the situation of the bet to the two young women.

Two magical beasts were fighting. Lin Qi alone placed his bet on the Green-patterned Golden-eyed Python, while the other young masters and ladies from Dun Er Ke teamed up to bet on the Ice-armored Polar Bear. The problem was, the young masters and ladies who teamed up placed an incredibly huge bet, and Lin Qi didn’t have enough money.

“That sounds interesting!” The two young women glanced at each other, then looked at the Green-patterned Golden-eyed Python and the Ice-armored Polar Bear locked in iron cages. After a while, they both said, “We all know that snakes hibernate in winter, so their fighting ability is much weaker than usual. Since the Ice-armored Polar Bear can control ice and snow, even if this Green-patterned Golden-eyed Python is stronger than the bear, it’s more likely to lose.”

Smiling lightly, the two young women each took out a light Gold Note and slowly placed it among the bets.

Each Gold Note was worth five hundred thousand Gold Coins, so the two notes together were worth a million. The atmosphere in the Beast-Fighting Arena suddenly froze. Lafontaine, who had brought the two young women in, opened his mouth wide, drool uncontrollably dripping from the corner of his lips.

A bet worth a million Gold Coins—not to mention anything else, just the commission Lafontaine would get from Jin after this bet was over would be a huge sum, enough for Lafontaine to live a carefree life for many years. Lafontaine trembled all over with excitement. Truly, these were the daughters of the top wealthy families of the Vias Commercial Federation—their spending was incredibly generous.

The two young women said casually, “It’s just a bit of pocket money. Young Master Lin Qi, we’re also betting on the Ice-armored Polar Bear, but it seems you don’t have enough to cover the bet.”

Lin Qi’s eyes flickered as he stared hard at the two young women. From these two beautiful young girls, Lin Qi sensed an uncomfortable aura. Although the two young girls were smiling and laughing sweetly, behind their smiles, it seemed like there was another face hidden.

Especially when they smiled, their eyes didn’t change at all—they were cold, emotionless, like gods looking down on mortals.

Having grown up under the influence of the many eccentric experts around Blackbeard, Lin Qi had become quite skilled at reading people. He could feel the kind of inviolable dignity and authority radiating from these two beautiful young girls, and he could even detect the deep disgust hidden behind their smiles.

That disgust was like someone with a cleanliness obsession suddenly being thrown into a cesspit—it was a violent emotion of disgust that made them want to completely destroy everything around them. Lin Qi’s heart twitched slightly; he felt an instinctual danger from these two young girls.

Frowning, Lin Qi remembered the lesson Blackbeard had taught him with bloody facts when he was a child—when you sense danger, never try to be a hero. Leave the scene immediately, build up your strength, and only seek revenge when you’re absolutely sure you can win.

Glancing at Enzo standing beside him, Lin Qi embarrassedly grabbed his own Gold Note worth one hundred thousand Gold Coins. He sighed deeply and said, “Well, well, it’s not that I don’t want to bet against you, but my stake isn’t enough. Damn Jin, you refused to lend me money. Everyone should know, it’s Jin who wouldn’t lend me money—this isn’t my fault. How can you blame me?”

Kissing the Gold Note, Lin Qi said in a careless tone, “Well then, goodbye, dear brothers and lovely sisters. Next time we’ll try something new! Hmm, let’s just call off today’s bet, alright?”

Laughing loudly a few times, Lin Qi stuffed the Gold Note into his pocket and prepared to leave the Beast-Fighting Arena.

Angel, who had been greatly provoked by Ya and Ling’s astonishing beauty, laughed. The two women brought in by Lafontaine were so beautiful that they stole the attention that was originally focused on her, Angel! Now that Lin Qi was showing rare cowardice, Angel found an outlet for her frustration. Covering her mouth with an exquisite sandalwood folding fan, she sneered sharply, “Oh my, is this really the Young Master Lin Qi we know? He’s actually running away? Oh my, I can’t believe it!”

Lin Qi’s body stiffened slightly, but then he continued to walk toward the exit of the Beast-Fighting Arena as if nothing had happened.

His peripheral vision was observing Ya and Ling; these two unnaturally beautiful young girls made him deeply uneasy.

“This won’t do, you know!”

Ya and Ling both chuckled lightly and gently clapped their hands.

The middle-aged man who had driven the carriage for Ya and Ling silently emerged from the shadows behind them and blocked Lin Qi and Enzo’s path. The man spread his arms and said coldly, “Our young ladies said you can’t leave just like that!”

Enzo’s expression changed abruptly. He suddenly drew his Rapier and thrust it toward the middle-aged man’s thigh.

The sword gleamed, but Enzo’s Rapier stopped abruptly after only moving two feet. The middle-aged man stretched out his hand to block the Rapier. In his palm was a swirling blue glow, and the Rapier struck right at that glow. Flesh and blood actually blocked Enzo’s Rapier. No matter how hard Enzo tried, the Rapier couldn’t move forward at all.

In fact, because Enzo used so much force, the Rapier’s blade bent, but the middle-aged man’s palm wasn’t even scratched.

“Since you said you wanted to bet, you must see it through!” Ya and Ling both said coldly, “If you don’t have enough for the bet, then whatever is missing will be covered by your friend as collateral.”

Pursing their lips into a smile, Ya and Ling each took out another Gold Note and lightly tossed it into the bets.

“We heard this is the most interesting place in Dun Er Ke, so let’s make things a bit more fun. If Young Master Lin Qi wins, then all the bet money is his. If he loses, the one hundred thousand Gold Coins and his friend’s life will be ours! As for your losses, we will naturally compensate you!”

Enzo let out a low, angry Xiao. He threw aside his Rapier, clenched his fists, and charged at the middle-aged man. But the man just sneered, turned his hand, and punched Enzo in the back of the neck, easily knocking him unconscious.

Ya and Ling both looked at Lin Qi, whose forehead was covered in cold sweat. “Young Master Lin Qi, you must finish this bet before you can leave!”

The two young girls smiled brilliantly, a kind of nearly sacred radiance emanating from their smiles. But not just Lin Qi—all the spoiled young masters from Dun Er Ke present felt a chill in their hearts.

What exactly did these two daughters from the wealthy families of the Vias Commercial Federation want to do?

Lin Qi stared hard at the two young girls, his face gloomy as he said, “You want to play? Then let’s play!”

He gave a strange, tight-lipped smile and said darkly, “Jin, open the iron cage and release those two beasts.”

Jin looked at Lin Qi hesitantly, but Lin Qi slapped Jin hard across the face.

“Unless you want to be chopped up and thrown into the sea to feed the fish tomorrow, start the bet now!”