Chapter 925 (2/2)

Randidly looked down at the hand. And then Randidly grinned. Even if Eli Iron was over here just as a ruse to make Randidly seem more approachable and friendly to the watching public, Randidly didn’t mind that sort of manipulation. Even if the introduction was completely a cover, the aura that Randidly threw off was not so weak that someone with a half-assed motivation could approach easily.

This man had strength. Which meant that Randidly would give him the respect he deserved.

So Randidly reached out and took Eli’s hand. “Even regular members have a role. And the fact that you grew to this position makes me doubt you were regular-”

Blinking, Randidly’s first response was confusion. For a split second, he was so shocked by what he was seeing that he didn’t react. He felt Acri tighten its grip on his neck, but still, Randidly didn’t move.

It seemed to him that what he was seeing was incorrect. Like a warped, surreal monster that appeared and made one realize that they were within a dream. The dull talk of the arena spectators stretched into rumbling drums. Finally, Randidly gave Acri his assent.

Randidly blinked again as Acri slashed forward and cut off Eli’s hand. The appendage and the clutched dagger soared past Randidly’s arm and hit the arena ground with a clatter. Tilting his head to the side, Randidly tightened his grip on Eli’s right hand. Flecks of blood hit Randidly’s cheek.

For a full second, no one moved. Blood spurted out of the stump of Eli’s wrist, dripping onto Randidly’s White-Steel greaves.

To Eli’s credit, he didn’t flinch and had the decency to flush with embarrassment. The arena, which had steadily increased its volume to a murmur since Randidly had triumphed over the Cortez siblings, instantly froze.

Randidly’s eyes narrowed. What the hell was that…?

When Eli spoke, his voice echoed throughout the whole arena. “I suppose a sneak attack was a bad idea. But still, I hope you understand I bear you no ill will.”

The bone’s of Eli’s right hand began to groan as Yyrwood Body of Yggdrasil instinctively activated. Randidly’s grip tightened like a vice. “Did you really expect that to work? No, you must have known it wouldn’t. So why…?”

“Someone had to change the focus,” Eli sighed. Even though the pain of his hand being crushed must have been immense, his face remained entirely focused on their conversation. “You are coming at Donnyton with intent to destroy everything that Donnyton has worked to accomplish over the past few years. And yet we still revere you as a hero. Isn’t it strange to respect you when you are threatening our livelihood with this challenge?”

Almost disgusted, Randidly looked at Eli Iron. He was also hyper-aware that there were thousands of people listening in to their conversation. The possibilities buzzed in Randidly’s temples. “You are one of the most powerful people in Donnyton. You lead the Tenth Squad. Setting aside the competition… breaking the rules like this and trying to attack a guest has consequences.”

“Maybe. But I think I have a good read on you,” Still Eli seemed to be obvious to his twitching hand on the ground. The respectable seeming old man looked earnestly at Randidly, as though he were urging a student to put in just a little more work to pass the course. “This is still within the zone you can accept. Besides, you want to shatter the image of power that Donnyton has, right? Certainly, my actions helped in that regard. With this… isn’t Donnyton shattered?”

Fury coursed through Randidly veins. Because Eli Iron was certainly right.

But this isn’t fucking about our challenge or my goal of getting Donnyton to embrace a new image… Randidly fumed inwardly as he felt a bone in Eli’s hand shatter. This has political ramifications. That Donnyton was willing to strike at me to try and win a challenge that they were clearly losing before. Even if it had no effect on the challenge, the effect on Donnyton’s pride…

Randidly’s gaze swept sideways to the VIP box. This was a politically idiotic mood. It was basically suicide for Donnyton’s global aspirations. This single event, if the viewers correctly grasped what was going on, would result in the other Zones always having a bullet to the head of Donnyton’s political credibility.

The modern world couldn’t function without trust in the institution. Donnyton was the same; the threat of violence could only carry you so far. It was possible to be feared and revered, but to change the world...

It was true that Randidly was here to erase the “mission statement” of the current institution. But he didn’t want to destroy the whole establishment. Images were his focus. Yet this made the consequences of the challenge much more far-reaching.

If he had been able to figure out what was happening a bit more quickly- but no, how could he have been ready for such a poor executed sneak attack?

Even now, Randidly quaked with wrath as he considered it. Mrs. Hamilton would not have gambled so brazenly with Donnyton’s credibility. No, this-

Randidly gaze alighted on a certain individual. A coward who could not even face his own truth. Randidly’s expression turned grim.

The moment continued to stretch. Only a few seconds had passed since Randidly had severed the hand. For most people, the violence had happened more quickly than they could follow. The words were not vague, but the casual tone likely confused anyone who could listen. Even now, the spectators were struggling to catch up and understand what had just occurred.

The referee stood on the side, his face blank. There was still a few minutes until the rung was scheduled to start. It was clear from his expression that his Perception was high enough to understand what had just occurred. Right now, he was simply trying to rationalize why the attack had occurred.

Finally, Randidly’s gaze went back to Eli Iron. An old man, strong too. Level 57. Certainly capable, likely well respected based upon his status. Yet he now faced Randidly without the hint of remorse. Eli only displayed embarrassment that he had failed so spectacularly. That he had taken the chance to attempt to tear down the Ghosthound and instead brought a calamity to Donnyton.

Randidly squeezed, and Eli’s remaining hand shattered. Powerful and confident. Someone who could influence the future of Donnyton. Decisive and self-righteous… very suited to an image. If you weren’t… I might think about killing you. No, you would already be dead.

His gaze slid to the referee, whose face twisted into a frown; the man had come to a decision. Randidly’s thought flitted back and forth. Then his gaze darkened.

...was this a trap?

He gazed for a very long second at Stan, unleashing his bloodlust. Even though they were fifty meters apart, and there was the wall of the VIP section separating them, the man flinched and stumbled backward.

Because Randidly came to one conclusion; no matter what his thoughts were on his image, allowing Donnyton to be known as a traitorous group would be disastrous for Donnyton. Not only that, but Randidly’s plan involved Donnyton influencing the rest of the world to pick up an image as well. But this small incident had enough weight to completely shatter his plan.

Which left only a single option.

Randidly would need to take the fall for this transgression.

An ashen blade cut Eli Iron’s legs at the knees even as the referee was opening his mouth to say something. Once more, the spray of blood froze the man.

Randidly gestured sharply at Helen. Although she was confused. She nodded and rushed forward toward the arranged Squads. As though they had prepared for just this eventuality, they fell into formation and lowered their weapons.

Randidly smiled like a hungry shark. Fine then, Stan. I’ll walk into your trap. Let’s see if you’ve developed any bite while I’ve been away.