Chapter 313- The enticing wager arrives

The enticing wager arrives

"I admit defeat..."

The words rippled out clearly from the epicenter in the ring. The first shout after the teen broke away from the range of the attacker quieted the boisterous commentators. In the instant where the spectators hushed to listen in on the ring banter, the boy yelled a second time.

"I lose, I lose!"

Chu looked on as the younger opponent edged towards the wooden barricade while keeping out of the attacking range. The face of the older participant remained dark like a menacing thunderstorm. If not for the honor of his master or the fact that only swords were permitted, the man might have rained his sword from afar.

Outside the ring, however, the gamblers had few comments to make on what could only be described as a cowardly display. No matter the means, the outcome also remained the same. The nobles who bet to earn easy coins beamed while sharing their thoughts.

"I dare say that since the Caressing Inn began allowing us the use of the stables, this has to be the easiest wager yet. That fighter chosen by master Willow is a lucky coward."

"I know, lucky for us you mean. Too bad the odds were so small, otherwise, I would have earned a fortune."

"The fate of Clan Willow is grim if this is the kind of fighter that catches the young master's eye. They may very well end up in the slums by the winter."

Amidst the groups of discussion, Young Master Cleft rose from his cushioned bench.

"The entertainment tonight has been bland for some reason. I know most of my brothers have won a fortune but the level of combat has been lacking. As sons of the city which blocks the demon beasts of the north, we should never settle among cowards. So I now issue an open challenge. A thousand gold coins to anyone who can defeat my fighter!"

The statement initiated whispers.

"Master Cleft has a heart that can only be seethed with blood. That bodyguard of his has killed the most since he stepped into the ring."

"To challenge him means certain death. That purse of a thousand gold is maybe half of what Master Cleft earned during his participation in the stables. I think by now, the only ones to accept the challenge would be those from the Ancient Houses."

"I doubt it. With the House challenge looming around the corner, no one else would want to take the risk. Don't forget what happened last year. That man in the ring is actually a..."

"Hush! Only a few know about it. Don't spread the rumor, less you draw the ire of Young Master Cleft!"

Chu glanced around before wobbling around the benches to young master Willow. He yet had not gotten used to his cushioned stomach. Since arriving in this world, he experienced being malnourished but never accumulating the satisfactory potbelly he nurtured on earth. The little taste of good food always burned away through training and hard work. The road of exploration in this new world demanded a fit body to survive.

Listening to filter in any pertinent information, he suddenly paused and then shuffled forward. Standing before the dejected teen, he shot a spiteful glare at the dark-haired fellow sitting beside him.

"Young Master Willow, it appears that the prince of fortune is not with you tonight. Bear in mind, however, that luck shines on a man when he is down. Ten gold coins are but a drop in the ocean to repay. The opportunity you require lies not in such a pittance but in the sums now being offered before your eyes."

His sweet words of brotherly advice came across like the whispering of a devil. He continued to coax the boy into realizing what a golden opportunity opened before him. The young masters overhearing his soft voice gulped down the saliva in their throats. He would have continued if not for the interruption of that useless fellow.

"Hey, fatty. It wouldn't hurt anyone if you stuff a pheasant leg in your swollen mouth. Do you take commoners for fools? That guy in the ring might not look young but he shed a dangerous vibe. I already escaped through luck in those two challenges so no way am I heading back in that ring. This city is filled with wolves and Jagas."

"Vibe?... Who do you think you're calling fatty? Know your place when someone addresses your master."

Chu scowled while rebuking the fellow.

Young Master Willow stood up and bowed.

"Forgive my companion, brother Will. He has not learned the etiquette of the nobility. He, however, knows his limits better than me, so this fight can also count as a loss."

"Then maybe we can arrange it so the odds become more favorable. Can that uncouth fellow of yours dare say he can wound or injure the man standing in the ring?"

Chu spoke for his words to fall on the ears of master Cleft.

"Humph! Do you think that fighter is invincible? For the right sum of money, even a beggar would be able to draw blood. Don't look down on me because I am a commoner. Just so you know, I have fought a bandit on the road and lived to escape. Both of us shed blood at that time but I ran away with a speed he that he couldn't catch up."

"..."

"I see..."

Chu turned towards the seated Young Master Cleft.

"Righteous young master Cleft, if no one accepts your challenge, then this fighter of young master Willow is willing. However, because he has learned tonight that Frost City raises giants, he would like to change the requirements of the wager."

Young Master Cleft gazed at Chu and then glanced towards young Willow standing near to him. Shaking his head in disappointment he replied.

"To give face to our guest, young master Will, we can agree. But we also add another rule. The fighters must remain in the ring for the duration of this hourglass. Even if they wound each other, the fight does not end until all the grains of sand fall."

The crude hourglass held up by the servant standing behind him most likely placed the duration of the match for about half an hour.

The dark-haired teen fighter jumped up and scowled.

"Do you take me for a fool? Isn't that just asking for my life? In that time I could very well be dead!"

"Shut your mouth, commoner! Do not think the status of young master Cleft equals that of your young master! Are you trying to dishonor him in front of the nobility? Take a look at the size of the ring. Even an idiot would know you can whittle away time by running to keep a distance from your opponent."

Chu barked as he scolded this uncouth peasant. His words caused the surrounding spectators to nod in agreement. If the teen really did manage to draw blood then all he need to do was to avoid the skirmish. Given his physical build, he appeared fleet-footed enough to survive.

"Then I agree to the challenge but I want the full payment of a thousand gold coins!"

Hearing the gasps and murmurs of the crowd, young master Willow turned to his fighter but Chu raised his hand. Hardening his voice he shouted.

"You must have been raised in the boonies to be ignorant of the nobility. Do you know of the shame you just imparted on your master with that outrageous demand? What about your master? Is he invisible like the wind? For you to claim a thousand gold then this wager needs to amount to at least ten thousand gold coins. Do you take the honorable agreements between the nobility as dirt?"

"Young Master Willow! I beg your forgiveness for being so hasty! But I can win! This fight and the coins involved are within our favor! Even if I lose an arm, I will have no regrets. But I come from a poor farmer's house. I cannot risk my life for nothing less..."

The young fighter pleaded. The surrounding young masters shook their heads. Everyone present could see this guy was blinded by greed.

As the murmurs began to grow, an assertive voice silenced the benches.

"So be it, ten thousand gold coins. But I wonder if young master Willow has the capital?"

"Young Master!"

Young master Willow sighed on hearing the pleads from his fighter before turning to Young Master Cleft. Seeing the open disdain on the elder noble, he clenched his fists.

"Young master, I can win!"

Listening to the jealous murmurings about the rules of the challenge and the amount wagered, young master Willow finally succumbed. But the main obstacle remained. He could only glance towards the plump teen standing nearby. Ten gold coins might be loaned between strangers but even family would not part with ten thousand.

"If young master Willow is convinced this is an opportunity, then this visitor will act as a guarantee. Risk and rewards walk side by side and this one is an old hand in gambling."

"Then I will ask brother Will to aid me once more. Should I fail to seize this chance, I vow to follow brother Will for life."

"Haha, well said. Then as consideration to your spirit, I will take this to one step further."

Chu turned to young master Cleft and bowed.

"Most of Frost City know that this little brother has bought a mansion in the noble quarters. Apart from guaranteeing the bond of the wager of ten thousand gold coins, I also will take bets for this match. If young master Willow wins, then the payout is ten to one, but if young master Cleft wins, then the payout will be twenty to one. For those like me who are short of coins, agreements can be made. Let's have it done for the pleasure of young master Cleft!"

Glancing at young master Cleft, Chu received a slight nod from him.

"I want an agreement for a hundred gold for a master Cleft to win!"

"Hey, over here, I want one for two hundred!"

"Pass me one for a thousand gold coins!"

Ten thousand gold would definitely sink House Willow. As if that was not enough, he also gambled in favor of young master Cleft. The loss incurred after this gamble naturally fell on the shoulders of House Willow again. Judging from the rush to sign the gambling wagers, the members of House Willow would fall directly from nobility into slavery.

Young Master Cleft lips curled into a smile. The large wagers for over a thousand coins were being placed by the members of his inner circle. Just as young master Will said, everyone knew about his recently procured mansion. Once House Willow lost this challenge, even if they sold themselves, they would not be able to repay the young master of Seastone City.

Before young master Will learned of this, he planned to drain him for as many coins as possible. This way he could discard both the shameful thorn of the Ancient Houses and the unsuspecting spendthrift. Wolves in Frost City did not exist on the battlefield only but also prowled among the marketplace.

"Alright, alright. Young masters, allow me a moment to sift across your agreements. Ah! this one isn't stamped, send it to the owner. Nobles are honorable but we must also act responsibly. None of us wants to falter and renege on simple wagers."

Completing his task, he nodded to young master Cleft.

Chu muttered a few words as the dark-haired teen passed him by to enter the ring. He then sat down beside Young Master Willow. Sitting next to him, Pails clutched the stacks of agreed wagers tightly across his chest.

The sums written and stamped tallied nearly towards the mind-blowing figure of the challenge. Never in his life did he come close to such a ridiculous amount. Trembling, his fingers clamped onto the parchments while his eyes darted around as if searching for thieves.

The gong once again sounded as the crowd grew silent.

"Begin!"

****