Chapter 37 37: Offer For Freedom [Pt1]

The first thing Amelia and Keith did once they freshened up was to go to the gladiator ring's office and talk about getting Amelia's freedom back. It was going to be an uphill battle without Keith's reputation as the grandmaster.

"We are here. But are you sure you want to buy my freedom? I can understand if you do not want to spend money on me."

Amelia asked for the last time, trying to get Keith to change her mind about her.

A normal person would not have been able to understand her thinking process but Keith understood why she was asking this question again and again.

'Darn this protagonist and her sense of fairness. Just she thinks I am doing this not because I want to but because it is my duty. She should just take it easy for now and accept my generosity.'

Keith felt sorry for Amelia and her upbringing. But he was also shameless enough to take advantage of her so he could not complain. Her hood hid her expression but Keith could guess it.

Besides, this would all go a long way to increase her trust in Keith. That was a big reason he was doing this right now.

"For the last time Amelia. There is no need for you to worry about me and my money. I am loaded after all."

Keith assured Amelia, rendering all her worries will. Or at least, he tried to. But Amelia still looked worried.

"I am asking you again and again because I am worried about you. You don't know how vicious these people can be and I also reassure you that they won't let me go easily. You could end up being in trouble if you are not careful."

Amelia tried to stress how important her words were but Keith just flat-out ignored her. He had dealt with enough loan sharks in his life to know how to handle them.

"Don't worry. I am somewhat of an expert when it comes to handling difficult people. I assure you that I will not allow anyone to bully you."

Keith assured as he ruffled Amelia's hair. He was a foot taller than her so it was easy for him to do.

"Hey, that is not what I am worried about."

Amelia yelled as she followed after Keith. Her worried expression did not go away from her face for even a single second.

Inside the gladiator ring's main office was just as hectic as Keith had seen in the game. It had been included in Amelia's flashback when she talked about her first attempt to be free.

This place has made all kinds of stupid reasons to not let her go. And it had ended in her being in debt.

Keith instantly headed toward the front desk man. He ignored everyone else around him as he made a beeline toward the front.

"What do you want? Do you want to place a bet? Enter your slave in the competition? Or invest money?"

The front desk cashier questioned in a monotonous voice. Keith would have believed Amelia if she said that this person was an NPC in a game. He was just too bland in the way he spoke.

"It's nothing like that. I am here to buy a gladiator slave from your establishment. I want to buy Amelia, the gladiator champion."

The cashier went still, not willing to believe that someone had asked for it. His shock soon turned to ridicule and he ended up laughing out loud.

"Y-You want to buy Amelia? That famous gladiator Amelia? Are you even hearing yourself right now? What makes you think you can just buy her?"

The front desk man laughed out loud, not believing what he had just heard. He had never heard a funnier joke before.

"Do you even know how much she costs? Her debt is so massive that no one can even think of buying her. You will go broke even before you try."

Slowly, the other patrons in the office started to join in laughing as well. It did not take long for Keith to become a laughingstock but he did not mind.

A hesitant touch caused Keith to look down into worried green eyes of Amelia. She looked heartbroken but determined as well.

"W-We should go back now. I knew it was a stupid idea to ask you to do this for me. I will find another way to"

"No, there is no need for us to go away. If money of the problem then I don't mind. Here, take a look at this."

Keith took his V.I.P. paying card out of his pocket and held it up. The man looked at Keith, not willing to believe that this card was real but he swiped it anyway.

His eyes popped out as soon as he noticed the amount of money in the card and he swallowed his nervousness down.

The counter in charge now knew that Keith was not an ordinary person. The amount of money he had was not ordinary in the least.

But he could also not afford to let Amelia go away from this gladiator ring. Their master had ordered them to keep Amelia in check since she was their golden hen. People came to watch and bet on her from far and wide.

If she was set free then their ring would go bankrupt.

"I-I can see that money is not an issue for you. But I still cannot let you have Amelia. Y-You know who the organizer of this gladiator ring is? It's the one and only grandmaster. And you won't want to go against him, right?"

The officer in charge coughed court his lie with a confident expression on his face. He was certain that he would not be caught in his lie since no one wanted to risk making the grandmaster an opponent.

This was how he had been deceiving people this far and their master was a genius for coming up with this idea.

Any second now, this man would hesitate and then go away. That was how it always happened.

"Keith, let's head back. You have the money but the grandmaster is a whole other breed of trouble. Let's not get involved with him if we can help it."

Amelia tried to get Keith to back down and go back. She did not want him to get in trouble.

She had heard rumors about the grandmaster and his fairness. He was said to be the most benevolent friend and the worst enemy. But she had never seen him as a good guy for setting up this ring/

She expected Keith to be scared as well, but he seemed calm for some reason. His eyes said that everything would be ok as long as Amelia trusted him.

'I want to trust Keith. I don't know why but I feel like I can trust Keith with anything and everything. I cannot back down here.;

Keith placed his hand right on top of Amelia's in a calming manner. He seemed to be trying hard to hold back his anger.

'Is he getting angry for my sake? Keith is such a good person indeed. I wish I could help him out in any way.'

Amelia's thoughts were heartfelt and she stood her ground. She would not back down now.

"Grandmaster or not, it is wrong for you to keep a person here against their will. Especially even more so when they have the means to repay their debts. I will not stand for this injustice. Hurry up and bring your manager here."

Keith slammed his hand down on the table in anger. Everyone looked startled at his 'Karin' episode and took a step back.

Even Amelia took a step back from the angry man, not wanting to get caught up in his episode.

The one who was startled the most was the one in charge of the office. He had broken out into cold sweat, not expecting anyone to call him on his bluff. And the first person to do so was someone rich enough to punish them.

"I-just a second. Let me call my boss and he will handle things for you. You can wait on the sofa in the meantime. What will you have? Tea? Coffee? Juice?"

The officer asked with a pale face. He seemed to not even be able to stand straight right now. Keith found him to be utterly pathetic.

'This person would not have lasted five minutes in the service sector in my world. Why do evil people deploy such pathetic people as their workers? Are they looking for disaster?'

Since Keith was a villain right now, he could not help but complain about what he saw. He needed to go back home and re-examine his staff. He will need to weed out unworthy people from his side as well.

"M-Master, you are free to come in now. Master said that he would meet you."

The officer worker had a relieved look on his face when he said that and Keith got a horrible feeling from him.