Black Sail
Chapter 608: CCXXIV. Substitute Fighter

Chapter 608: CCXXIV. Substitute Fighter

As a silver adventurer at the buddy level of deceit, Galen has faced several life-and-death crises, encountering high-risk magic beasts when chopping down magic beasts for materials in the deep forest.

But he has never felt this tense before.

Because it’s a kind of... predetermined life and death where you can’t intervene, it’s purely random luck to see if you have that destiny.

Hands shaking, sweating, heart almost jumping out!

He lost nineteen hundred gold dragons gambling with a minor! Gren must have a powerful family—if her parents find out, wouldn’t they demand a full compensation? If you can’t pay, you’d die! Aran military police walk sideways, combined with increasingly poor relations with the sect, the sect priests assuming the roles of parents in each town are now useless; provoking officials is seeking death.

The Continental Martial Arts Competition schedules were packed for the past few days. After one battle ended, the next one had to start immediately; from worldwide selection, a thousand people still need to fight until few are left!

Until the September 9th top sixteen vie for the world summit in the "night of boxes" battle.

"Next is the first round, the fifty-seventh battle, the participants are, 114, from Cross Alliance Forgotten Port... Executioner."

Sack Head registered with a ridiculous name, leaving the beauty hostess in high-slit Aran-style qipao carefully selected by the Royal Court speechless—did he fill out the wrong section, putting his occupation as his name?

Superb professional skill quickly checked the scripts, making the utmost effort to resolve this broadcast accident. After confirmation, there was no error.

The broadcast speakers continued, "against contestant 479, from the Northern Prison, serving a life sentence, with the Thunder Wings title... Misya Pascal."

You could see two opposing iron gates on either side of the arena, as the staff pulled the lever, the chain links automatically rose, and the iron gates slowly opened.

Everyone loved watching the daring brother in action; Pascal was among the top hundred contestants in popularity from the adventurer’s guild’s wild list, some fans were cheering him on.

First of all, this person also had some fame.

A capable person can thrive on any path, a straightforward person would become an adventurer, earning hard money by job tasks, sometimes even high-risk commissions, but they can choose not to accept.

The foul ones engage in banditry, even if caught, won’t face execution; after decades in prison, they’re released.

The daring ones, shouldering charges, head to the Great Wetland, Narrow Sea boundary, and various sea regions.

But there is one profession that is the toughest and also legitimate.

That is the substitute fighter.

It’s well known, when the Noble Masters start showing off, they love a duel, but if I own several mistresses and a big house, what to do if I die unexpectedly?

So the substitute fighter profession arose, not quite a Guest of the nobles, only rentable, not purchasable.

Nobles get angry, the poor suffer, the tradition of dueling is still prevalent in the Western Continent, face on the line, no way to back down, yet they see life as precious, generally both Noble Masters hire substitute fighters to see who disgraces the other.

These people make a lot of money, in the substitute fighter industry, Hall-level ones earn more, as long as you take more orders, not afraid of death, risks are outrageously high, overall they are death battle professionals.

Pascal is one such substitute fighter, highly prestigious in the industry.

The reason he reached today’s level, many theories exist, some say he fought without charge for a noble’s distressed young lady, killing only the opposing substitute fighter wasn’t enough, he directly slayed the opposing noble.

Others say Pascal simply murdered and robbed, taking the nobles’ money, without so much love and affection.

Anyway, somehow he was caught by the Judicial Hall’s sheriff and sent to the big prison to suffer.

The Northern Prison has some slots annually, the Emperor favors martial prowess, as long as you haven’t reached Zote’s level, if the charges aren’t terrifying, you can try.

Pascal qualified from the prison selection and fought all the way to the Imperial City finals, indeed a fierce character.

Various accounts are believed by many to see him as standing up for the noble’s daughter because...

Appearance is a long-term profitable advantage; he’s very handsome, has a bit of Aran Jin Chengwu flavor.

However, Sack Head doesn’t have this advantage.

Because the Imperial City final needs to be decent, if an oddly shaped demon makes it to the top sixteen, it would damage the country’s reputation.

Although Sack Head still wore a black sack, he no longer donned his eternally bloodstained leather outfit; he was ordered to dress more modestly, in basic cloth garments, which somewhat concealed his excessively slender and extremely sickly physique, but he still looked rather odd, inexplicably eerie.

Just barely acceptable to the public.

Pascal’s legendary experiences, handsome, tough criminal amplified by charm.

But Sack Head frankly speaking, appears neither like a grunt nor strong, a bit like an elite monster, anyhow the first impression isn’t very formidable, bizarre towering proportions, looks skinny.

This pushed the odds to 2.6, for a debut in the first round, it’s considered quite high in odds.

There’s a top hundred popularity daring brother.

The packed crowd stands burst out in cheers and applauds, many betting on Pascal winning.

Various characters filled the audience seats.

The Female Mage with ambiguous relations with Kun Lan was present; Isis, firing Li Si’s Western Continent first shot, and her best friend were also there.

Though the former was on the fringe stage, the Imperial Arena was massive, hard to see clearly from below, relying mainly on the crystal projection above the arena, whereas wealthy Gione Nobles sat in the front seats.

Nishi, who married into a wealthy family, and her husband were also present, affluent people also sat in front.

Only Royal relatives are qualified to sit in the closest circle for such an event, in the semi-exclusive open seating, which isn’t open now.

"Please, the participants select their weaponry, the battle will commence in one minute."

As the female host’s announcement came.

Sack Head and Pascal had weapon racks and some light armor beside them.

But these items were standardized, no Magic Energy Materials, just Mortal Iron, the armor also being basic leather armor, actually of no use to masters in the Continental Martial Arts Competition.

Only using organizer-specified weapons, and each round’s weapon rack needs changing.

Else, if you’re filthy rich, you’d bring several Divine Artifacts in, what’s the point in fighting, it’d be about who has more money.

"Will he win?"

Gren went all in, the atmosphere overwhelmingly in favor of Pascal, Sack Head alone like an orphan, only extremely scattered die-hard gambles were cheering him, but they gambled a few on ten gold dragons for fun, attendees aren’t short on change.

Gren went full tilt on nineteen hundred.

"He’ll win!"

Galen could only suggestively reassure himself, or he’d crack.

As the speakers sounded a sharp, high horn, the battle began.

Pascal picked two weapons, a long sword and a backup short sword, and wearing chest and knee protective leather armor.

Sack Head only grabbed a long-handled axe, and strode boldly toward Pascal.

The scene’s atmosphere reached its peak, some find models for the night, some hit the hundredth floor at night.

Gren covered her eyes with her hand, only peeking through a slight finger gap, she could hardly bear to watch.