Chapter 144: Cards Revealed
Chapter 144: Cards Revealed
As it was not an actual room, the furnishings inside were not elaborate. Other than a few sofas and a coffee table, there was nothing else.
Even so, compared to the tiered seats outside the court, it was much more comfortable.
At least the private room was not as messy and crowded as the outside. Not only did it have a floor-to-ceiling observation window, but there was also a 40-inch ultra-thin monitor on the wall, which broadcasted the scene in the arena. This allowed them to view the competition from different angles.
As one took in the entire venue from the full-length window and watched the fight from here, one would feel a sense of superiority.
In a short while, there was a knock on the door and a server came in, respectfully handing a few betting machines to the group. According to him, once they entered their numbers into the machine, they could begin placing their bets.
Chen Chen tossed this machine, which looked like a remote control, to one side. He sat on the single sofa at the side and silently watched as a middle-aged man with slicked-back silver hair stepped into the ring.
He seemed to be acting as the host. With a microphone in his hand, he said in a loud rousing, announcer-like voice, “Gentlemen, ladies, homies, b*tches, welcome to the no-holds-barred fight of the Symphony of the Seas!”
He leaped onto the arena and roared. “Anything in this world consists of two opposites. Where there’s light, there’s darkness. Where there’s earth, there’s the sky. Similarly, where there are UFC and other world-certified fighting, there are also brutal, bloody underground fighting! And today, you’ll be lucky enough to see such a fight!
“They’re bloodthirsty, they’re ruthless, they’re inhuman enough to break your neck — this is the draw of fighting without rules! They are demons from hell, killing machines that have lost their humanity, and they’ll ignite every single violent desire in your heart!”
As the host spat out these crude and even insulting words, it enlivened the once-quiet atmosphere. A few young people, spurred on by the host, started screaming peculiarly.
It was not the first time most of them had watched an event like this.
At the same time, at the end of the ring, an iron door suddenly opened and a bony black man walked out.
“Very well, looks like the first contender for today is a black brother!”
The host yelled excitedly, “Please let me introduce him properly. He’s the proud warrior of Wakanda, the loyal guard of the Black Panther. He’s chewed the Heart-shaped Herb and f*cked Captain America in the ass. He hails from the Rainbow Nation and his mighty, blazing name is:
“Aaaaaarches!”
“Roar —!”
Galvanized by the host’s provocative tone, the audience present howled even louder. The host’s vulgar language had stirred up the darkness deep in the hearts of these upper-class people.
The stadium filled with hundreds slowly became rowdier. Many people were staring at the arena with great interest, including most who were already familiar with fights like this.
Currently, the skinny black man had stepped into the ring, but he did not fit the host’s description. Under the blinding light which shone from above, he displayed a helpless manner and even his legs were trembling slightly.
“Alright, the next one to come out will be our other killer.”
The host turned around and faced the other door of the ring. “He’s a Western cowboy from the Middle Ages, a conservative grouch, half-man, half-machine, shotgun, beer, and b*tches...”
With that, a white man with fierce eyes, wearing a cowboy hat, slowly walked out.
“Oh f*ck, this bastard is so primitive! This bastard, he’ll even eat the butt of a live cow! He’s the cowboy from North America —”
“Saaaaaaarion!”
“Roar!”
There was another raucous cheer from the audience. At this point, the entire arena was fully warmed up.
Within the private room, Chen Chen stared speechlessly at the two men in the ring. The white man in the cowboy hat was not too shabby. Although his build was average, at least he had the right attitude. Still, Chen Chen could see the deep, hidden fear within his eyes.
As for the other black man, Chen Chen was somewhat stumped. With that build and that demeanor, he had just come from a slum, and now he was here to join an underground fight?
However, after thinking about it, Chen Chen understood.
Most people had the impression that this sort of fighting, underground boxing, should be more intense than regular boxing. After all, one would be fighting for one’s life on stage all year round, and had to be even stronger than professional boxers — this was what most people thought.
However, this was a misunderstanding.
First, whether it was boxing or MMA or even fighting without rules, their purpose was nothing more than to make money. Both the boxers and the organizer of the fight were in it for the money.
However, the world’s top UFC fighters could make tens of millions of USD in one tournament. How much would an underground fighter make?
After all, the box office of an underground tournament definitely could not compare to a regular, professional one. Not only that, but there was also no webcast or pre-match publicity for underground fights. Even if underground fights were targeted at this group of wealthy people, there were only a few hundred people. How could it compare to a market that spanned the entire globe?
Therefore, if these boxers were good enough, they could become professional, instead of risking their lives by joining the unprofitable and extremely dangerous venture of underground boxing.
As he thought of this, Chen Chen suddenly recalled the contenders he saw on the deck who had reeked of blood.
Those were not the contenders for this underground boxing. Their identities were...
Time ticked by slowly.
It seemed as if the approaching rainstorm, which turned the air heavy and damp, put the crowd in the casino into a jittery mood.
Leo and the rest kept checking their watches and their faces grew solemn. Although they were still watching the ring, their minds had drifted elsewhere.
The first match between the black man and the white man took only half a minute to determine the winner. The result was truly astounding. Although the white man had appeared to be the more aggressive one, when they fought, he was knocked out by the black man in two or three strikes.
Not only that, but under the inciting cheers of the audience, the black man displayed a ferocious side for the first time. He directly sat atop the white man’s body and pummeled the white man’s face, until it was reduced to a bloody pulp...
Still, this was just the appetizer.
Following that, ordinary folk, with almost no training, stepped into the ring one after another, fighting to the death with strangers they had just met. Folding chairs, steel pipes, and other weapons were even thrown up from under the stage, increasing the bloodiness of the fights.
This was what they called underground boxing. Although there were no rules, it was bloody and merciless.
The cruel scenes caused some people to withdraw from the audience, but the other type of crazed spectators opted to remain.
These people roared and snarled freely like a pack of wild beasts. They had temporarily put aside the rationality and morality that human beings should possess and only unleash the most primitive trait of violence in mankind.
Yes, there were genes in humans that yearned for violence. The history of human progress was a history of massacres. Without this violent trait, humans could not possibly have come this far.
Therefore, were savagery and cruelty in the inherent nature of some people?
“Mr. Chen Chen...”
Just as Chen Chen was deep in thought, Leo spoke up beside him.
This time, Leo sounded different. When he spoke, he had abandoned the intimate manner of addressing Chen Chen. At the same time, there was a decisive edge to his voice.
“Mr. Chen Chen, it’s time for you to choose.”
Meanwhile, Davis and the other two looked away from the ring and stared quietly at Chen Chen.
“I can pretend that nothing happened today.”
Chen Chen said calmly, “I have no interest in joining your little family games.”
“Shame.”
When Leo heard this, his face turned icy. At the same time, on the deck outside the casino, one could hear a sudden explosion, then the fearful screams of countless people.
“The pirates we’ve hired have started their attack on the Symphony of the Seas.”
Leo and the rest got up. Davis said, somewhat ruefully, “Mr. Chen Chen, you’re really too naïve. There’s no middle ground in this world. Even Austria and the other countries who claimed to be neutral had already fallen under the iron boots of the Nazis whereas Switzerland only escaped by luck.”
“Although we haven’t found out who’s backing you, after we capture you, it’ll be easy enough,” Leo said as he looked down at the arena.
At this point, there was a sudden tumult outside the private room. Everyone looked over instinctively, only to see that the underground boxers who had mixed in with the audience were suddenly rushing out, immediately guarding the casino door and trapping everyone inside.
Meanwhile, a few crew members within the casino did not react at all but instead nodded to each other.
“What’s going on?”
“Where did these fighters come from? What’s the matter?”
“D*mn it, what’s that noise outside? Is someone attacking our ship? Leo, what are you guys planning?”
The crowd was in chaos. A few members from the other plutocratic families even dashed out of their rooms and asked in shock.
Leo ignored their questions and directly looked toward those few crew members. “Where are the weapons?”
The crew members dragged out a few metal cabinets at once and gleaming blades were produced before everyone’s eyes. “When we boarded the ship, Prince Steele took away our guns. Sorry, but we couldn’t get it back.”
The leader of the crew shrugged.
Leo frowned but finally said, “It’s fine. In a surprise attack, Wilson’s gang should still be able to take over the Symphony of the Seas. We just need to provide support.”
With that, they started distributing the weapons. From one side, a young man from another family boldly walked to Leo and questioned, “Leo, what are you doing? Do you realize that doing something like this on Prince Steele’s ship will...”
Before he could finish, Leo suddenly drew out a dagger and thrust it viciously into the man’s stomach!
“John, did you know that I’ve put up with you for too long?” Leo’s face twisted sinisterly. “Go to hell, you piece of sh*t!”
With that, he tugged the dagger out forcefully and a large spray of blood splattered his clothes.
When the crowd witnessed the man dying on the spot, there was a high-pitched scream. A few of them tried to flee but were hacked to death by the group of boxers.
At once, the stench of blood pervaded the casino, prompting countless screams and tears.
Leo shot a look at the casino doors that were shut tight. He could hear a ceaseless cacophony of gunshots and shouts. He pointed to Chen Chen who stood at the forefront and said grimly, “Kill them! Except for him, don’t leave anyone alive!”
At Leo’s command, the vicious fighters brandished their blades and rushed into the crowd.
In an instant, the crowd was wailing and howling as blood splashed everywhere! Countless dying screams and desperate sobs could be heard endlessly!
“Mr. Chen Chen, do you now regret turning us down previously?”
At this point, Leo seemed to have become someone else entirely. As he wiped his bloodstained hands, he stared steadily at Chen Chen. “Unfortunately, it’s too late now...”
“Yes, it’s too late.”
Chen Chen silently stood where he was, a peculiar smile twitching his mouth. In his hand, a black handle had appeared at an unknown time.
“Rumble!”
As the thunderous roar split heaven and earth asunder, Leo subconsciously glanced out the window. Beneath the lightning-lit sky, big fat raindrops had started to fall with a patter.
The rainstorm had finally arrived...