When he arrived before Randidly he extended a calloused hand Hello Mr Ghosthound IÆm Eli Iron captain of the 10th Squad I fought in the first challenge as well although I was just a regular member back then so you probably donÆt remember me
Randidly looked down at the hand And then Randidly grinned Even if Eli Iron was over here just as a ruse to make Randidly seem more approachable and friendly to the watching public Randidly didnÆt mind that sort of manipulation Even if the introduction was completely a cover the aura that Randidly threw off was not so weak that someone with a half assed motivation could approach easily
This man had strength Which meant that Randidly would give him the respect he deserved
So Randidly reached out and took EliÆs hand Even regular members have a role And the fact that you grew to this position makes me doubt you were regular
Blinking RandidlyÆs first response was confusion For a split second he was so shocked by what he was seeing that he didnÆt react He felt Acri tighten its grip on his neck but still Randidly didnÆt move
It seemed to him that what he was seeing was incorrect Like a warped surreal monster that appeared and made one realize that they were within a dream The dull talk of the arena spectators stretched into rumbling drums Finally Randidly gave Acri his assent
Randidly blinked again as Acri slashed forward and cut off EliÆs hand The appendage and the clutched dagger soared past RandidlyÆs arm and hit the arena ground with a clatter Tilting his head to the side Randidly tightened his grip on EliÆs right hand Flecks of blood hit RandidlyÆs cheek
For a full second no one moved Blood spurted out of the stump of EliÆs wrist dripping onto RandidlyÆs White Steel greaves
To EliÆs credit he didnÆt flinch and had the decency to flush with embarrassment The arena which had steadily increased its volume to a murmur since Randidly had triumphed over the Cortez siblings instantly froze
RandidlyÆs eyes narrowed What the hell was that
When Eli spoke his voice echoed throughout the whole arena I suppose a sneak attack was a bad idea But still I hope you understand I bear you no ill will
The boneÆs of EliÆs right hand began to groan as Yyrwood Body of Yggdrasil instinctively activated RandidlyÆs grip tightened like a vice Did you really expect that to work No you must have known it wouldnÆt So why
Someone had to change the focus Eli sighed Even though the pain of his hand being crushed must have been immense his face remained entirely focused on their conversation You are coming at Donnyton with intent to destroy everything that Donnyton has worked to accomplish over the past few years And yet we still revere you as a hero IsnÆt it strange to respect you when you are threatening our livelihood with this challenge
Almost disgusted Randidly looked at Eli Iron He was also hyper aware that there were thousands of people listening in to their conversation The possibilities buzzed in RandidlyÆs temples You are one of the most powerful people in Donnyton You lead the Tenth Squad Setting aside the competition breaking the rules like this and trying to attack a guest has consequences
Maybe But I think I have a good read on you Still Eli seemed to be obvious to his twitching hand on the ground The respectable seeming old man looked earnestly at Randidly as though he were urging a student to put in just a little more work to pass the course This is still within the zone you can accept Besides you want to shatter the image of power that Donnyton has right Certainly my actions helped in that regard With this isnÆt Donnyton shattered
Fury coursed through Randidly veins Because Eli Iron was certainly right
But this isnÆt fucking about our challenge or my goal of getting Donnyton to embrace a new image Randidly fumed inwardly as he felt a bone in EliÆs hand shatter This has political ramifications That Donnyton was willing to strike at me to try and win a challenge that they were clearly losing before Even if it had no effect on the challenge the effect on DonnytonÆs pride
RandidlyÆs gaze swept sideways to the VIP box This was a politically idiotic mood It was basically suicide for DonnytonÆs global aspirations This single event if the viewers correctly grasped what was going on would result in the other Zones always having a bullet to the head of DonnytonÆs political credibility
The modern world couldnÆt function without trust in the institution Donnyton was the same the threat of violence could only carry you so far It was possible to be feared and revered but to change the world
It was true that Randidly was here to erase the mission statement of the current institution But he didnÆt want to destroy the whole establishment Images were his focus Yet this made the consequences of the challenge much more far reaching
If he had been able to figure out what was happening a bit more quickly but no how could he have been ready for such a poor executed sneak attack
Even now Randidly quaked with wrath as he considered it Mrs Hamilton would not have gambled so brazenly with DonnytonÆs credibility No this
Randidly gaze alighted on a certain individual A coward who could not even face his own truth RandidlyÆs expression turned grim
The moment continued to stretch Only a few seconds had passed since Randidly had severed the hand For most people the violence had happened more quickly than they could follow The words were not vague but the casual tone likely confused anyone who could listen Even now the spectators were struggling to catch up and understand what had just occurred
The referee stood on the side his face blank There was still a few minutes until the rung was scheduled to start It was clear from his expression that his Perception was high enough to understand what had just occurred Right now he was simply trying to rationalize why the attack had occurred
Finally RandidlyÆs gaze went back to Eli Iron An old man strong too Level 57 Certainly capable likely well respected based upon his status Yet he now faced Randidly without the hint of remorse Eli only displayed embarrassment that he had failed so spectacularly That he had taken the chance to attempt to tear down the Ghosthound and instead brought a calamity to Donnyton
Randidly squeezed and EliÆs remaining hand shattered Powerful and confident Someone who could influence the future of Donnyton Decisive and self righteous very suited to an image If you werenÆt I might think about killing you No you would already be dead
His gaze slid to the referee whose face twisted into a frown the man had come to a decision RandidlyÆs thought flitted back and forth Then his gaze darkened
was this a trap
He gazed for a very long second at Stan unleashing his bloodlust Even though they were fifty meters apart and there was the wall of the VIP section separating them the man flinched and stumbled backward
Because Randidly came to one conclusion no matter what his thoughts were on his image allowing Donnyton to be known as a traitorous group would be disastrous for Donnyton Not only that but RandidlyÆs plan involved Donnyton influencing the rest of the world to pick up an image as well But this small incident had enough weight to completely shatter his plan
Which left only a single option
Randidly would need to take the fall for this transgression
An ashen blade cut Eli IronÆs legs at the knees even as the referee was opening his mouth to say something Once more the spray of blood froze the man
Randidly gestured sharply at Helen Although she was confused She nodded and rushed forward toward the arranged Squads As though they had prepared for just this eventuality they fell into formation and lowered their weapons
Randidly smiled like a hungry shark Fine then Stan IÆll walk into your trap LetÆs see if youÆve developed any bite while IÆve been away
Chapter 926
Helen rushed forward activating her Tides of Blood Domain Even as the energies exploded outward and swirled around the Squad members in front of her she felt someone in the back of the group unleash blasts of water into her Domain Very concentrated and accurate blasts of water