Chapter Fifty-Five: The Terrifying Stake

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Seeing that the two distinguished guests were interested in the wager, Jin was so excited his legs trembled, and he hurriedly explained the situation to the two women.

Two magical beasts were about to fight to the death. Lin Qi was the only one betting on the Green-striped Golden-eyed Python, while the other noble sons and daughters of Dunerk had pooled their stakes on the Ice-armored White Bear. The problem was, their combined wager was enormous, but Lin Qi did not have enough funds to match it.

"This sounds very interesting!" The two women exchanged glances and then looked simultaneously at the Green-striped Golden-eyed Python and the Ice-armored White Bear locked in their iron cages. After a while, they spoke in unison: "We know that snakes hibernate in winter, so their combat prowess is far inferior to usual. Since the Ice-armored White Bear can manipulate ice and snow, even if the python is stronger, it's much more likely to lose."

With gentle smiles, both women calmly took out a light gold banknote and placed it with the bets.

Two gold notes, each worth half a million coins—just those two alone amounted to a million. The atmosphere in the arena froze instantly. Lafondan, who had brought the women in, stood agape, drool slipping uncontrollably down his chin.

A wager of a million coins—without even considering the rest, Lafondan's commission from Jin after this round would be an astronomical sum, enough to let him live in leisure for years to come. Lafondan shivered with excitement; these heiresses from the top families of the Vias Commercial Federation were truly generous.

The two women spoke nonchalantly: "It's just pocket money. Mr. Lin Qi, we are also betting on the Ice-armored White Bear, but you seem not to have enough to match us."

Lin Qi's gaze flickered as he stared hard at the two women. From these beautiful girls, he sensed an aura that made him uncomfortable. Though they smiled sweetly, it felt as if another face lurked behind their expressions.

Especially when they smiled, their eyes remained cold and unfeeling, as if gods gazing disdainfully at mortals.

Having grown up among Blackbeard's circle of eccentric geniuses, Lin Qi was highly skilled at reading people. He sensed an inviolable dignity and authority emanating from these beauties, and even caught a glimpse of deep contempt behind their smiles.

It was the kind of disgust one might feel if a person with a fastidious nature were suddenly thrown into a cesspit—a violent revulsion that made one want to destroy everything around them. Lin Qi's heart clenched; he felt a primal sense of danger from these two girls.

He frowned, recalling the lesson Blackbeard had drilled into him in childhood, using bloody facts: when danger is detected, never play the hero—leave immediately, gather strength, and only return when absolute confidence is gained.

He glanced at Enzo beside him, awkwardly grabbed his ten-thousand-coin gold note, and sighed: "Look, it's not that I don't want to wager, but I simply don't have enough. Damn Jin, he won't lend me any money—everyone should understand, it's Jin's refusal, not mine. Is this my fault?"

He kissed the note and said carelessly, "Well then, goodbye, dear brothers and lovely sisters. Next time, let's try a new game! As for today's wager, let it go."

Laughing, Lin Qi stuffed the note into his pocket and prepared to leave the arena.

Angel, stung by the extraordinary beauty of Ya and Ling, burst into laughter. The two women brought in by Lafondan were so stunning, they stole all the attention that once belonged to Angel herself! Now, seeing Lin Qi display rare hesitation, Angel found an outlet for her frustration. She covered her mouth with a delicate sandalwood folding fan and mocked sharply: "Oh heavens, is this the Lin Qi we know? He's actually fleeing the scene? I can hardly believe it!"

Lin Qi's body tensed slightly, but he continued walking toward the arena's exit as if nothing had happened.

From the corner of his eye, he watched Ya and Ling—these beautiful yet oddly unsettling girls made him anxious.

"This won't do!"

Ya and Ling laughed softly in unison, gently clapping their hands.

The middle-aged man who had driven for Ya and Ling stepped quietly out of their shadow and blocked Lin Qi and Enzo's path. He spread his arms and said coldly, "Our ladies say you cannot leave just yet!"

Enzo's face changed; he suddenly drew his sword and thrust at the man's thigh.

A flash of steel—Enzo's sword had barely traveled two feet when it stopped abruptly. The man extended his palm in front of the blade. In his hand glowed a swirling blue light; the sword struck the light in the man's palm. Though it was flesh and blood, it blocked Enzo's thrust completely—no matter how much force Enzo used, the blade could not advance at all.

Enzo pressed so hard that the blade bent, but the man's palm remained unscathed.

"Since you've agreed to wager, you must see it through!" Ya and Ling spoke coldly in unison. "If your funds are insufficient, your friend's life will make up the difference."

Smiling slyly, Ya and Ling each drew out another gold note and tossed them lightly onto the pile.

"I've heard this is the most interesting place in Dunerk—so let's enjoy something truly entertaining. If Mr. Lin Qi wins, all the stakes are his. If he loses, his ten thousand coins and his friend's life are ours! As for anyone else's losses, we will compensate you."

Enzo growled in anger, abandoning his sword to charge the middle-aged man with his fists. But the man merely smirked and struck Enzo on the back of the neck, knocking him out with ease.

Ya and Ling turned to Lin Qi, whose forehead was covered in cold sweat: "Mr. Lin Qi, you must finish this wager before you can leave."

The two women smiled brilliantly, a radiance bordering on the divine emanating from their expressions. Yet not only Lin Qi, but all the scions and ladies of Dunerk present felt a chill in their hearts.

What did these two heiresses from the Vias Commercial Federation truly want?

Lin Qi stared at the two girls, his face dark as he said, "You want to play? Then let's play!"

With a strange smile, Lin Qi said sinisterly, "Jin, open the cages. Let those beasts out."

Jin hesitated, but Lin Qi slapped him hard across the face.

"If you don't want to be chopped up and fed to the fish tomorrow, start the wager!"