When people are afraid, no one will dare to make an advance. However, a little nudge of encouraging words is enough to provoke their spirit.
It was what Belen had aimed. A little speech he had given after his battle with Basil had been intended to provoke a certain 'idea' in their minds. Surely, Belen wasn't just encouraging the other participants. He wasn't such a person.
The idea he had subtly conveyed to their mind was simple. He had basically told the other participants to gang up on Basil. With the rule stating the fight should be one on one, this should be impossible. However, everyone had two chances.
It was one of the time where they had to work together for the greater good. They could use one of the chances to have an unrestrained match right off the bat, and forfeited as quick as they could just to annoy Basil, like what Belen had done to Basil.
If every one of them did that to Basil, by the time all of their first chances were used up, Basil would be so tired to face another opponent. At that time, he would be an easy prey for them to feast upon.
Surely, that was the expected outcome. However, reality often disappoints people.
[Basil Pacifer, will you accept the challenge?]
"I refuse."
Belen was so bewildered that his smile froze instantly. He hadn't expected this outcome in the slightest. He had thought Basil would merrily dance on his palm!
Surely, he wasn't the only one who got bewildered by Basil's choice.
"Huh? Are my ears starting to fail me?"
"You are too stupid to suffer from that disease, Calhoun."
"Should I consider myself crazy?"
"THAT Basil forfeit? Are we even still living in the same plane?"
The people who had bet on Basil were so shocked they preferred to believe themselves were crazy. Their eyes were opened and all of them leaned their bodies forward to do a reality check.
When they found it was indeed a reality, all of them, with no exception, laughed humorlessly.
"What in the bloody hell is he doing?!!"
The situation was so bewildering that Calhoun, the least bright person of the group, could represent the people's thought this time.
In the arena, the referee also stared at Basil in faint surprise.
"Are you sure you want to refuse?"
"Yes."
"It means you are going to forfeit your current position, just so you know."
"I am aware of that. So, what?"
The referee shut his mouth tight. There was no fault in Basil's decision. Basil had every right to refuse the challenge. However, the referee couldn't just wrap his mind around it. Someone as ferocious as Basil was willing to forfeit his seat? It was as unbelievable as it was ridiculous!
He believed Basil was up to something. However, he couldn't guess what Basil was on. Therefore, he opted to observe rather assuming.
"Very well," The referee nodded his head faintly. He looked at the dumbfounded Basil's challenger and shook his head faintly. Readying his voice, the referee decided to do his job, "Victor, Colby Dormer!"
The exact same thing that had happened in Basil's first match was repeated. The audiences were so bewildered that they couldn't think of cheerinh. They were doubting their eyes as seeing Basil had just forfeited his seat was that unbelievable.
Throwing their gaze at Basil, they wondered whether they were seeing the same person. The Basil in their mind wasn't such a person.
Surely, Basil who had once again attracted everyone's eyes — but for a different reason — was nonchalant. He merely walked toward his new seat, the tenth seat. Everyone's eyes followed his every movement, however he wasn't bothered in the slightest.
He was aware what Belen had been trying to do. With that being said, he had no intention to follow the plan. Even if he could take the crap thrown at him, if he had the choice to avoid it, he would obviously take it!
Basil had pride, however he wasn't overly prideful. He would never bow his head to anyone, however he wasn't shy to avoid trouble. Therefore, he would never do something as dying in pride. That was plainly stupid.
Position, power, and titles are bound to be lost someday. They are all temporarily in our hands. Thus, having it taken away from us doesn't mean we lose it. It never eternally belongs to us in the beginning.
Everyone had thought Basil would be unwilling to forfeit his seat, however he wasn't such a person. Basil didn't care about momentary lost. He had had may of it in the past.
"Brother Basil.. why did you...?" Xiu Li who was three seats away from Basil, asked him in confusion. Basil merely glanced Xiu Li from the corner of his eyes and said, "To enjoy the show." He even ended it with a faint smirk.
[The next challenge is ready to be proceeded.]
"I challenge the First Rank!"
[Rank 13 is challenging Rank 1. Colby Dormer, will you accept the challenge?]
The person in question was still spacing out as he still couldn't believe he had become the first place without doing anything. He didn't register the challenge thrown at him, until a few seconds had past.
"Huuh... I accept!"
Colby Dormer finally accepted the challenge. When opportunity is presented before you, it is your choice to take it or not. Colby had been the first one to take the opportunity, unlike the others who were slow on the uptake. Therefore, he would defend his seat to his very best.
He was missing something and he was aware of it. However, the voice in his mind told him his to focus on the thought of defending his seat instead of minding it. Readying himself, Colby looked at his challenger coldly.
The referee raised his hand, and brought it down while saying the sacred word. The brutal match began not long after.
The highest place is highly sought by people. Being on top is always everyone's goal. Therefore, when they have finally achieved it, they will do everything they can to keep it in their hands.
On the participant's seat, Basil smirked faintly to himself. "Greed makes people blind. Therefore, many not realize their limits because of it. They will do anything because of their greed." Basil paused and took out a sweet potato for something to chew, "Still, in the end, they are bound to lose everything."
Munch.
Basil could finally enjoy the tournament.
...
While Basil was finally enjoying the tournament he had never enjoyed since the beginning of it, Nicholas was hosting a a guest at his manor. He was conversing with the guest with an amicable smile on his face.
"Hahaha! Yes, I remember that too! It was such a long time ago."
"Yes, at that time, we are nothing more than two clueless bastards."
Both of Nicholas and his guest laughed in nostalgia. They were recounting the day where they were still young and naive.
"Well... in the end, out of the two of us, you have achieved the most, Nicholas."
"No, not really. You are wealthier than me, and I believe I cannot beat you in the aspect in the meantime."
"You know I was born as a son of a Viscount, unlike you who was born in a Baronet's family."
"You are exaggerating my achievement, Justin."
The host and the guest laughed together. Surprisingly enough, Nicholas' guest was Justin Escher.
Justin was sincere in his compliment on Nicholas. He was nothing more than just inheriting his father's assets, however Nicholas was different. He had worked his way through the top. From a Baronet's son to a Viscount. That was an amazing achievement.
"You are underrating yourself too much, in my opinion."
"Well, then I guess I will take the compliment instead?"
Suddenly, a woman's voice interrupted the two people from the side. Throwing their heads at the direction, they found a beautiful woman who was none other than Catherine.
"Hahaha! Well, I guess you can take that instead, Catherine. The husband's achievement also belongs to the wife's after all."
"Fufufu. You heard him, Dear."
Nicholas merely smiled faintly at Catherine's teasing. Looking at the interaction between his wife and his friend, he should be feeling warm as they could accept each other. However, his heart was filled with nothing other than a cold rage instead.
His empty eyes were neatly covered by the amiable smile on his face. No one could tell what he was thinking. Not even Catherine who was already together with her husband for 17 years. Therefore, she was worried.
Nicholas' invitation over Justin to come over had been out of the blue. She wasn't even notified that he would invite Justin. Therefore, when she had found Justin was talking with Nicholas in the living room she had been stunned to silence.
Luckily, she was quick to adapt. Regaining her composure back, she had immediately resumed her play as the good wife. Thus, she was delivering them delicacies to complement their amiable talk.
"Justin's visit is so sudden that I can't prepare anything."
"Why did you bother to? You have maids for that."
"That is..." Catherine was hesitating while looking at Nicholas. In response the latter merely shook his head faintly, "We have lost our best maid months ago." Perplexed, Justin asked, "She died?" Nicholas merely answered nonchalantly, "My son took her."
Justin could only give an understanding "Oh" to that. At this point, every close aides of Nicholas were aware of his feud with his son, Basil. Although Justin wasn't considered one of Nicholas' close aides, he had Catherine to notify him.
"He is at that phase, huh? My son, Daniel, is like that too. He is getting brattier each day."
"Well, our son is different, though," Catherine chimed in. Justin looked at her and smiled almost too warmly, "I can see that. He is a prodigy, because has a great gene." Justin knew Basil wasn't Catherine's biological son, however he just wanted to flirt. Thus, he didn't care.
At that, Catherine smiled rather forcefully. She had played two men at once, and all of them were stupid. Justin was too obvious in his intimacy and Nicholas was too oblivious to realize it! She was constantly on edge. She was afraid at some point, she would be exposed.
At that moment, Nicholas who was merely smiling opened his mouth, "Although my son was prodigious, that isn't the one that makes him different. When Catherine said he was different, she meant that he was REALLY different."
"Are you referring to his exceptional intelligence?"
"That is one of them, but no."
"So, what is it?"
"He is so exceptionally different, because he has always managed to eradicate every Assassins I sent him."
"Oh, Assassin! Wait.. did you say you sent them...?"
Silence descended upon the room. Justin was looking at Nicholas in utter bewilderment. Unconsciously, his entire body tensed. By the request of Catherine, he had also been doing the same. He was afraid that it was a jab thrown at him as he had been discovered.
"Yes, I did that. My wife, Catherine, did that too. Right, Honey?"
Nicholas put his eyes on Catherine, and she quivered under his scrutinizing gaze. A chilling coldness could be felt from Nicholas' eyes. Catherine's eyes widened in fright. She was afraid she had been entirely exposed.
However, there was no guarantee Nicholas found out her betrayal over him. Therefore, she dared to ask, "Dear, what do you mean by that? You know I will never do that." Nicholas smiled softly, and it eased Catherine's heart to a certain extent.
Well, not for long.
"Yes, Honey. It is unbelievable of you to do that. But, it happened nonetheless. Just look at these for example!" Nicholas took out a Photograph Talisman and put it on the table. "I also didn't believe it at first."
Catherine tensely asked Nicholas, "What do you mean...?" However, Nicholas' merely infused his Mana to the Photograph Talisman and projected the photographs inside. Instantly, Catherine and Justin froze.
Looking at the projected photographs in horror, they stood from their seats in shock. What they saw were the photographs of them having an intense session with each other.
They had been perfectly discovered!
Slowly turning their heads at Nicholas, they were met with his demonic grin.
"Isn't that beautiful? I have never even seen 'that' face on my wife before."
A chilling aura instantly descended upon the room.. Then, the cold rage that Nicholas had long suppressed was finally let loose.