Chapter 183

Chapter 183

Gold slip...

Many influential and powerful people placed bets on the matches of this year’s Masters’ Battle, and their claim slips symbolized their wealth. A gold slip meant that they bet an enormous amount of money on a match.

Gold was definitely higher in rank compared to silver and white, and it meant that Iceline had bet at least...

“A hundred thousand gold... Iceline, did you bet a hundred thousand gold?” Akshuller muttered in disbelief. He had already forgotten that he was supposed to call Iceline ‘Selena,’ which was the fake name she used to introduce herself to Lilith.

A hundred thousand gold was the minimum bet to receive a gold slip. It was more than enough for someone to build a stronghold in the middle of nowhere and live there in luxury. It was surprising enough that Iceline had that much money in the first place, but it was even more surprising to know that she bet all that money on Joshua.

Who could have expected that she would put bet so much money on Joshua while he had been focused on the fight?

“Hm, I think I bet around five hundred thousand.”

Freeze

Akshuller and Lilith stiffened the moment they heard that from Iceline.

“Half a million gold with those odds is six million gold...!” Akshuller muttered while trembling.

“Half a million gold...” Lilith’s smile was nowhere to be seen.

Iceline stood akimbo with her chin raised up high in pride as she smirked at them and said, “Betting that much on my best friend’s victory is the least I can do when he was fighting on such a prestigious stage, am I right?”

Iceline’s smile was definitely targeting Lilith because it was definitely a victorious smile

Right now, she was the real champion of the Reinhardt Masters’ Battle.

‘Six million gold... with that much money, I can definitely...!’?Iceline clenched her tiny fists. Of course, she couldn’t let such a huge amount of money go to her head. She had to remember why she needed money.

‘Mister Akshuller has no idea that I used the family heirloom to wager...’

Indeed, Iceline used an heirloom of the Rebrecca Family. More specifically, she used a treasure that had never left her body, even after her family’s collapse, as the stake to bet on Joshua’s victory.

‘Blue Wing...’?Iceline made a sidelong glance at the wooden box in the tent. It was a treasure that had never left her side, but now, it was sitting in a pretty box behind the skinny man.

When Blue Wing was discovered, its value wasn’t readily apparent. Not many people knew of Blue Wing, but a mage would easily discover Blue Wing’s value because it was a treasure that would make any mage out there drool over it.

‘The final legacy of the best Battle Mage... Jerath dek Orbis. I have been wearing since forever, so it feels weird not wearing it right now...’?Iceline muttered to herself.

The Blue Wing necklace was a special artifact in its own right. When worn, one would find it easier to derive a magic formula by virtue of a clear mind and razor-sharp focus.

In other words, a mage’s casting time would be exponentially reduced whenever they were wearing the necklace. This was a big deal because casting time was a fatal flaw of mages.

If Iceline wasn’t certain of Joshua’s victory, there was no way she would have used Blue Wing as a stake to bet on Joshua. Blue Wing was too important to her that she couldn’t even begin to imagine losing it.

If Joshua lost, Blue Wing would have gone to someone else.

‘Fortunately, I managed to save Blue Wing and made a ton of money as a result. With this money, I can definitely...’?

Iceline’s mind started wandering.?‘I can definitely take revenge, reclaim our lands, and hoist the banner of Rebrecca once more.’

‘When I’m done with all that, I can use the remaining money to build a decent house for me to live happily ever after with him...’

‘It will be just the two of us by then, and we’re going to have—’

Iceline abruptly blushed.

“...na.”

“....”

“Selena!”

“Yes?” Iceline immediately turned her head.

“What are you daydreaming about?”

“Haha, what were you saying, Mister?” With an awkward chuckle, Iceline quickly changed the subject so that Akshuller wouldn’t get a glimpse of her hidden desires.

“What?” Akshuller stared oddly at Iceline. He then shrugged and said, “I was asking you about what you think about me...”

“Think about what?” Iceline stared at Akshuller in astonishment.

“We never talked about it, but I don’t really have any friends as well.” Akshuller put on a sad face and said, “You might not know this, but I’m usually pretty lonely. I don’t even have anyone to drink with whenever I’m down to drink. I want to be your best friend as well. You don’t discriminate on age or nationality, right?”

Iceline and Lilith didn’t know what to say. However, Lilith was looking at Akshuller as if he were scum for trying to deceive a baby-cheeked girl into giving him some money.

“Really, you’re amazing.”

“Huh?” Iceline muttered. Akshuller was staring at Lilith as well, and it seemed that he couldn’t quite believe that those words had just come out of the prideful Lilith’s mouth.

“I never really thought about it. Did you say your name was Selena?” Lilith smiled brightly at Iceline, who nodded without saying anything. “I didn’t think you or Mister Akshuller thought that highly of Joshua. Since you bet so much money on his victory, I suppose that means you’re very close to him and that you know his charms much better than I do. I thought I had known him for a long time but I guess not...”

‘Long?’

Iceline’s ears perked up upon hearing that.

“I’m very much interested in getting to know him better with your help,” Lilith said in a low voice.

“...” Iceline wanted to decline and tell her off, but she felt like it would be weird for a best friend to do that, so she closed her mouth and didn’t say anything in response.

“I’m only going to say this once...” Lilith trailed off.

Akshuller noticed that Lilith was staring at him with a strange smile.

- I’d like to get back to our transaction. It’s been on hold for quite a while now.

“...!” Akshuller’s voice widened at the voice that seemed like it had come from his own mind.

‘A magical voice transmission...!’

- I know you’ll find this strange because it’s rather sudden, but you don’t have to worry about the terms and conditions, Mister Akshuller. The terms are very generous.

At that, Akshuller revealed a grim look. He seemed to be contemplating something, but he eventually nodded.

Lilith’s smile widened when she saw Akshuller nodding.

- I actually made a deal with him as well. The deal involved challenging the Lion King once he wins.

“...!” Akshuller was stunned by the sudden revelation.

- Of course, I set those terms without thinking he would defeat Lion King since he is still young and have just become a Master. The Lion King is strong both in name and ability, but I still made those terms because some of our goals would be achieved as long as he unveiled his full potential to everyone.

“...” Akshuller’s thick lips twitched.

Lilith's reasoning evidently came from her other persona. Her every move was calculated down to the most mundane detail, so Akshuller wasn’t surprised that she knew that Joshua would win the Battle.

‘The new king needs to take root in the hearts of the people,’?Akshuller thought.?‘His seat, what he represents—it is the very essence of Reinhardt.’

Akshuller glanced to the side. Iceline was smart. When she felt the faint fluctuation of mana in the air and the feeling that she was being left out, she looked away as if she were distracted.

Akshuller noticed that, and he greatly appreciated Iceline’s polite gesture.

- Eyes on me, please. And pay attention.

‘Oh, sorry...’?Akshuller smiled dryly and slightly bowed in apology.

- Anyway, I was really skeptical of his ability until yesterday...

Lilith’s eyes lit up in a partly regretful and partly excited light.

- I changed my mind when I saw his match against His Highness Ulabis. I have pride in my own knowledge when it comes to fighting, but the spear arts he showed...

Lilith trailed off before continuing after a short pause.

- It made me think that perhaps he can really defeat the Lion King. Of course, I am not a hundred percent confident.

‘I see...’?Akshuller started muttering to himself. ‘So, she’s like everyone else.’

Lilith was known for being objective to the point of being cold-hearted when it came to fighting. However, she was saying that Joshua, who she knew better than anyone else, could win against the Lion King.

‘Well, I couldn’t even keep up with the speed he displayed to end the match...’?Akshuller bitterly smiled as he muttered to himself, ‘Could I even dodge that spear?’

There was no way he could dodge that spear. He still hadn’t gotten the chance to fight Joshua, but Akshuller had no choice but to admit that the fifteen-year-old Master of Avalon was stronger than him.

‘There’s no way to tell how much stronger he’ll become in the many years to come.’

- It’s about time we talk about the details.

Lilith's silver eyes shone brilliantly.

- If he can beat the Lion King, then he can definitely beat the Mercenary King. He can definitely force Barbarian to his knees... n0vELusB.c0m

“...!” Lilith stared right into Akshuller’s eyes as she continued.

- If he manages to beat Barbarian, a new Mercenary King will be born.

“...” Akshuller didn’t say anything.

However, Lilith paid his silence no heed and simply continued.

- I know what you’re thinking: even if he beats Barbarian, you won’t take that seat. You’re not tied to the throne; it’ll probably go to someone else. But you can’t do that. You have to sit at the highest seat of the mercenaries so you can help him. If you do, I will follow through with the deal you suggested earlier.

- I know what you’re thinking. There’s no way you’ll become the Mercenary King if Joshua was the one who defeated Barbarian. After all, you weren’t the one who defeated Barbarian, so the title will probably go to someone else.

- However, I’m sure that you won’t let that happen. If you want to help him, you have to be at the peak of a million mercenaries—you have to become the Mercenary King. Yes, my condition involves you becoming the Mercenary King.

- If you succeed, then I will follow through with the deal you suggested before.