Catastrophe Card King
Chapter 1748 - 531 [Jack of Diamonds - War Commander]

Chapter 1748: Chapter 531 [Jack of Diamonds - War Commander]

The enormous Central Gladiator Arena was silent as death.

Tens of thousands of spectators stared at the huge pit on the stage, and at the old man in the sky whose robe was fluttering loudly, all with surprisingly uniform expressions: their eyes bulging roundly, mouths slightly agape.

Just now, the killing intent that Barre Shepherd erupted with seemed to press down on everyone, as if someone had clutched their throats and their breathing had come to a halt.

This eerie silence lasted for several breaths.

Not until the fight was over did one hear the sound of tens of thousands of people simultaneously letting out a long breath.

The audience, as if awakening from a dream, only then began to digest the information they had just seen.

"It’s... over?"

"This... Is that possible? That old man, with a single punch defeated ’Black Sword’ Marikas?"

"Could it be that the organizers deliberately brought in an Eighth Rank gladiator to create an upset? Otherwise... how could it have ended like this?"

"It’s definitely not Eighth Rank."

"..."

Not everyone could understand the impressiveness of Barre Shepherd’s punch just now.

In the common knowledge, how could a Same Tier card master be defeated with just one move?

"The King of the Gladiators Challenge" has been held countless times in the Southern Continent, and the audience is not foolish.

It’s true that some minor contests might see contestants with a huge power gap causing an upset.

But this was the final!

A formal contest, not an ambush, nor a disparity in equipment...

How could it be one move to defeat?

The only possibility they could accept for such a huge unexpected contrast was "fixed fights".

But at this moment, there was no controversy.

Even those unfamiliar with Martial Arts knew this was not a rigged match.

The old man in the sky with Gang Air raging about him like flames, imposing and domineering, made it hard for anyone to face him directly; while Marikas, lying in the pit with his armor smashed, was uncertain of life or death.

Could this be a rigged match?

...

In the stands, the expressions of the Revolutionary Army slowly changed from shock to great joy.

This match may just be a gladiator fight for outsiders, but for them, it was different in meaning.

Barre Shepherd represented the "Number One" Martial Artist of the Eastern Wilderness.

This was a confrontation between an Eastern Wilderness Card Master and a master of the Southern Continent.

Barre Shepherd’s victory brought an excitement from the bottom of the cadre’s hearts.

But even though they knew Barre Shepherd would win, they never expected him to win the match in such a manner.

Bonnie and the others had earlier heard Leonard Churchill’s betting results and couldn’t believe it.

Now seeing was believing, and one by one, the cadres’ faces revealed smiles with ill-intent.

Bonnie shook Leonard Churchill’s arm excitedly, saying, "Ah... Leonard Churchill, you... you’ve won the bet!"

"Mhm."

Leonard Churchill smiled, his eyes narrowing slightly, looking towards the few VIP boxes in the audience.

That was over three billion Gold Coins.

It’s unknown whether those bookmaking bastards could come up with it.

However, more than the winnings he was bound to receive, Leonard Churchill was more interested in the Demon God-like presence emanating from Barre Shepherd.

He did not comprehend the Martial Arts Realm of a Martial Saint from Barre Shepherd, but from that punch just now, he had gained some insight.

He had witnessed the same move "Domineering Fist·Gang Tiger" twice.

But with different effects.

It’s as if the same knife, one a blunt one, while the other has already been honed to extreme sharpness.

Sharp and unstoppable.

...

Unlike the astonishment of tens of thousands of spectators, in the VIP boxes, the managers of the major Commerce Guilds that co-hosted this gladiator match were not surprised at all.

In box number one, several Commerce Guild Managers dressed in lavish clothing were enjoying the match.

The leader was a fat man with eight fingers stacked with gemstone rings, a mutton-chop beard framing his face.

No other than Basanio, the president of the Rainbow Consortium.

One of the top tycoons of the Southern Continent.

Basanio, enjoying the massages from two scantily-clad female attendants behind him, watched Barre Shepherd win the match quickly and laughed unrestrainedly, "Tsk tsk, to think he won in one round. I must say that Eastern Wilderness, that barren land, has actually produced a Martial Arts genius..."

Beside him, the Chamber of Commerce Manager of the Giant Whale Business Association also laughed heartily, "Yes, indeed. With this upset, we’ve made a tidy little profit."

Speaking of making money, several managers who had set up betting booths all revealed knowing smiles as they raised their glasses and drank heartily.

The outcome of the match, which seemed uncertain to outsiders, was already predicted in their eyes.

They couldn’t be clearer about Barre Shepherd’s strength.

A true record of ninety-nine victories without a single defeat.

Definitely strong enough to claim the championship.

It was for the purpose of this final creating a surprise that they had been plotting for so long, deliberately spreading some false information.

This also led to the betting as they expected, with at least eighty percent of the bettors betting on "Black Sword" Marikas to win.

Normally, this would be enough for them to make a fortune.

Basanio, also feeling quite pleased, put down his glass and added, "Raise his odds a little more, promote him as the championship favorite. Suck in one last round of betting..."

"Yes, President."

The butler behind him went to carry out the orders.

At this moment, watching the gladiators in the arena start to leave, another Commerce Guild Manager sighed, "The performance of this fellow from the Eastern Wilderness was unexpected even to me, that he would defeat ’Black Sword’ Marikas with one move. Many people must have bet on him winning this time..."

After speaking, he continued, "But then again, Mr. Basanio, you never thought of keeping such a good gladiator for yourself?"

Basanio’s shrewd eyes flickered as he shook his head and said bluntly, "No more value. That old man’s nature is as stubborn as a rock, he won’t cooperate with us at all. After this final, there’s no more opportunity to make money. Such a person will sooner or later become a hassle to hold onto, better to make a bit more while we can..."