Feeling someone push through, people turned their heads.
Then, they saw the girl in the black cloak walk in.
“It’s little Sonia!”
“She actually came!”
“Instead of running away, is she facing this duel head-on?”
Hearing the whispers in the crowd, Enshir, who was already in the arena, closed his eyes, his expression calm.
To be honest, Enshir wasn’t particularly looking forward to his upcoming duel.
It was just another routine job.
His job in the Mad Heart Gang was to specifically teach a lesson to duelists who had just entered this new world of dueling not long ago.
Enshir was quite satisfied that his job provided him with so many opportunities to beat weak opponents.
However, Enshir considered himself to have some ambition.
When the opponent was too weak, he would lose interest again.
Sonia was such an opponent.
He had already seen the information on this girl.
Just a first-year student expelled from the Duel Academy.
If it were a graduate of the Duel Academy, he would have to be more cautious.
An expelled student?
If you don’t run, are you staying to make a fool of yourself?
Forget it, just for the salary and the magic power plundered after winning the duel.
Enshir stretched.
But when he opened his eyes and saw Sonia, his movements suddenly paused.
Hmm?
This weakling, she seems a little different from the ones he’s seen before?
Sonia today… seems somewhat different?
It wasn’t just Enshir.
As Sonia’s good friend, Raya felt it even more clearly.
In the past, Sonia, although always appearing strong, was more of a pretense, not wanting to expose her weakness in front of outsiders.
But today, Raya truly felt something called “confidence” in her friend.
She had a feeling before, but now it was even more obvious.
And when did Sonia put that summoned pendant back on?
The surrounding spectators were unaware of the anomaly the two felt.
At this moment, seeing both of them present, they subconsciously held their breath.
Two low-level duelists naturally wouldn’t duel on some grand dueling platform; it was common for duels to suddenly start on the streets of the lower district.
But after a while, they became a bit confused.
“What’s that Mad Heart Gang duelist standing there foolishly for?”
“Aren’t they going to start the duel yet?”
Hearing the crowd’s discussion, Enshir came back to his senses and shook his head.
Forget it, it must be an illusion.
They’re all weaklings who just started dueling, what’s so different?
Just then, the girl opposite announced her name.
“Sonia Seth, E-rank duelist.”
“…Enshir, D-rank duelist.”
As expected, E-rank.
Enshir exhaled, feeling more and more foolish about himself just now.
What’s there to worry about with a beginner?
He’s D-rank, is he afraid he can’t beat an E-rank?
His face regained its cold expression, and Enshir looked at the girl standing opposite him.
“You’ve got guts, you actually didn’t run away?”
Sonia clenched her small fist: “I won’t run, because I won’t lose to anyone but you!”
“Hmph, less talk, since you didn’t run, hurry up and start…”
“Wait… wait a minute!”
Sonia suddenly interrupted him, stammering out the words she had prepared.
“I still have an objection to the stakes of this duel, so… so the duel cannot proceed!”
“You’re raising an objection with me now?”
Enshir’s tone suddenly became fierce.
He wasn’t some teacher teaching in an academy; she really thought he was easy to talk to, didn’t she?
Sonia knew that at this point, she couldn’t back down, so her tone also became uncharacteristically righteous.
“But, the cost of me losing this duel is losing my house, but it doesn’t say what I get if I win, that’s not fair!”
Enshir frowned.
This was indeed something he hadn’t thought of.
When stakes are involved in duel rules, the most basic rule is that both parties must propose stakes simultaneously.
If one party doesn’t provide them, the duel can’t even begin.
“So what do you want to ensure we don’t harass you again?”
Sonia didn’t answer directly but asked another question.
“How many refinement points do you have left?”
“As an enforcer for the Mad Heart Gang, you should have a lot of refinement points, right?”
Enshir felt something was off: “Why are you asking that?”
Refinement points are the elemental reserves duelists use to refine cards. To simplify calculations, duelists generally consider a week’s worth of elemental reserves as one point, representing the ability to refine one card.
But why was this woman asking about that?
Wait, is she trying to…
Sonia took a deep breath: “If I lose, I’ll give you my house in the lower district, and I’ll leave this city.”
“But if I win, I want all the refinement points you have on you right now!”
“Impossible!”
Enshir flatly refused.
“In that case, I won’t accept this duel.”
Sonia turned around without hesitation: “Didn’t you want to buy up the surrounding houses to force me out? Let’s talk then…”
“Wait!”
Enshir called out to her.
Looking at the woman who turned and walked away, Enshir’s face darkened: “So that’s your plan, is it?”
The duel with Sonia was their gang’s business, but now she was demanding a personal price from him.
Undoubtedly, the other party was exploiting the inconsistency between his personal interests and the gang’s.
If he refused, he wouldn’t be able to explain it to the Mad Heart Gang.
Not only would it waste a lot of time afterward, but it would also affect his image with the gang’s higher-ups.
A D-rank duelist dueling an E-rank duelist was a sure win, yet he refused because the opponent proposed stakes.
This move would inevitably leave the higher-ups with an impression of “cowardice,” and its negative impact would be immeasurable.
However, did she really think he’d be scared off by such a small increase in stakes?
Looking at the girl opposite him, who was feigning composure as if she were already victorious, Enshir let out an almost imperceptible scoff.
This woman had a good mind, but she seemed to have forgotten one thing.
To make him hesitate, she first had to make him worry about the possibility of losing.
This woman didn’t even have a theoretical chance of winning!
“I accept.”
Enshir spread his arms: “I have ten refinement points on me right now; if you win, they’re all yours.”
“You can’t refuse now, can you?”
“Alright, enough talk, let’s start the duel quickly.”
Sonia remained expressionless, but in her heart, she was already cheering as if she had won.
“Yes! Mr. Yide, he agreed!”
“Excellent, plan complete.”
In an unknown white space, Yide’s lips curved into a smile.
This wager was actually something he and Sonia had discussed before coming.
Sonia couldn’t just wash her hands of dueling after this match; there would definitely be new troubles coming her way, so the issue of start-up funds also needed to be resolved.
Coincidentally, Enshir was the perfect patsy.
To maintain his image within the gang, there was a high probability he wouldn’t refuse this additional condition.
This way, not only was the house saved, but the start-up funds were also secured.
A win-win!
The only problem left before them was how to win this duel.
But this was the least of Yide’s worries.
“You’ve done very well, Sonia.”
“Leave the rest to me.”
“I will win this duel for you.”
Sonia encouraged him: “Please, Mr. Yide!”
Soul Possession!
In an instant, Enshir felt as if he was being targeted by something, his movements suddenly freezing.
Looking at the girl opposite him, who raised her arm, Enshir inexplicably felt a shiver of fear.
That trembling sensation throughout his body, he had only ever felt it from his BOSS.
But how could it be…
“What, aren’t you going to start yet?”
The girl’s calm voice interrupted Enshir’s thoughts.
“I’m getting a little impatient waiting.”
Sonia: “Mr. Yide, that’s very rude!”
“Hmph, trying to act mysterious.”
Enshir took another look, but still couldn’t pinpoint the specific change.
Sure enough, this girl was still pretending.
She was right under his nose; what could possibly change?
“I hope you’re still smiling after the duel ends!”
Enshir said, pulling his deck from the card holder at his waist.
At the same time, Yide skillfully bent down and drew his deck from the card holder strapped to his thigh.
Sonia: “Mr. Yide, why are you so skilled at this?!”
Yide: “Don’t worry about such things!”
The next moment, a phantom dueling arena unfurled in front of both of them.
Sonia Life Points: 20
VS
Enshir Life Points: 20
“I swear by the duel!”
“I swear by the duel!”
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