116 Chapter 116: Rival (2/2)

”Then why not do so?”

”…huh?”

Everyone turned to stare at Adrian. He had raised his hand and was smiling brightly at his own suggestion.

”The two of you should have a duel. The winner will obviously be the one who's stronger. Instead of arguing in words, isn't it more concrete to decide the answer through an actual fight?”

”Ha ha ha ha!” Stuart burst out laughing as he ruffled the hair of his nephew. ”Adrian's proposal indeed has merit. As everyone knows, I enjoy watching mage battles the most.” He swiveled to me. ”I have always been interested in your abilities, Richard. I hope you don't mind indulging this old man and showing some of your skills?”

”Um…I'm afraid you'll be disappointed, sir.” I lowered my head uncertainly. ”I lack the skills and ability to put on any sort of entertaining display. It'll most likely be a one-sided fight in Mr. Franklin's favor and end under a minute.”

”Stop degrading yourself like that. It's getting annoying.” Stuart scowled. He wasn't the only one who was irritated. Even the readers were getting riled up, judging from the irate comments at the side. ”I get that you're trying to be modest and avoid conflict, but you're going way too far. Just fight.”

I glanced at Alicia, and she nodded encouragingly. Adrian was cheering excitedly, confident that I would be able to stomp Franklin to the curb. He was going to be very bitterly disappointed. As was I if I thought either of them was going to help me stop this nonsense.

Sighing heavily, I nodded.

”Very well. I will do my best in this fight and give my all.”

”Splendid!” Stuart clapped his hands in undisguised joy. He turned to Franklin, the handsome young man waiting expectantly. ”I suppose you are more than eager to participate, Shawn? I hope you will also indulge this greedy old man with another fine display of your skills.”

Franklin flicked his neatly combed golden hair back and smiled cockily.

”I would be happy to oblige as well,” he declared. ”But Mr. Richard has a point. It will be boring if the match ends under a minute. Perhaps I should give him a handicap or two? To level the playing field.”

Stuart sighed as he covered his face with his palm.

”One is too modest to the point of self-depreciation, and the other is too arrogant and looks down on other people. Why can't the two of you be more balanced?!”

”Uh, well…because pride comes before a fall?” I suggested. Stuart gave me a look.

”But if you don't even believe in yourself, how can you succeed?”

Perhaps what I said wasn't necessarily what I thought. Even so, I knew how important it was to avoid complacency, but Stuart had a point. I was taking the whole modest act too far. So I decided to put on an admonished expression.

”Yes, sir.”

On the other hand, Franklin showed no sign of taking Stuart's advice. He was sneering derisively at me. Stuart paid him no attention.

”I am really looking forward to this match,” he gushed enthusiastically. ”I hope you two can begin as soon as possible because I'm itching to see what the both of you are capable of. Even you, Shawn.” He nodded at the proud youngster. ”I know that despite defeating ten mages in a row, including my daughter, you still haven't shown the true extent of your power.”

”I definitely won't disappoint you, Lord Stuart,” Franklin promised. Turning to me, he grinned cockily. ”Are you sure you don't want a handicap? I certainly don't want the match to end in a minute. Perhaps you can get the Miss from the Violet Clan to help you. Two against one doesn't sound like bad odds. I want to put on an entertaining show for Lord Stuart.”

I felt a twinge of annoyance. Did this punk really think he could beat me if I got serious?

”Richard doesn't need my help,” Alicia said sweetly, stepping in before I could say anything. ”He can defeat someone of your level by himself.”

”That's right! Brother Richard will definitely kick your ass!” Adrian shouted. Damn it, kid, just shut up already. In some ways, he reminded me of Harvey Deng.

”Ho…then I'll have to see for myself what he really is capable of.” Even though he said that, it was clear that Franklin was scoffing at their words. For the first time, I felt rage. Making fun of me was one thing, but making fun of Alicia and Adrian was another matter altogether. Nobody insulted the people important to me.

”One question before we begin,” I asked, dropping all pretense of modesty. ”Are you able to withstand an attack with the power equivalent to two atomic bombs?”

Franklin made a face. ”What kind of stupid question is that?” he spat.

I grinned evilly. ”I'm deciding whether to go easy on you or not.”

His response nearly took me by surprise. An enormous amount of killing intent radiated from his body, causing me to break out in cold sweat.

This guy is as strong as Yuan Dao said, I thought, impressed. No wonder he was able to defeat ten mages in a row, and even Cecilia.

Still, after the debacle with Yuan Dao Yue Guang earlier, I wasn't going to collapse to a killing intent that was over a hundred times smaller than the security chief's. I merely smiled and pulled my finger across my throat in reply. Franklin looked as if he was going to explode for a moment, but he remembered where he was and reined his temper in.

I snickered. This guy was really easy to provoke.

”Shall we decide a date and venue for the duel?” Franklin grated out, trying to remain civil. If you could call his sneering, haughty tone civil. ”Make sure you don't run away.”

”There is no need for that,” Stuart cut in as he looked up from his smartphone. He smiled ominously. ”The two of you will be having the duel right here, right now.”