Chapter 64


    "ce your bets! A little gamble for a little fun, just for entertainment''s sake, ha!"


    "Bets on Galos to win are even. Bets on vinsting till the end are ten to one."


    "I''ll hold the stakes, so bet with confidence, my friends."


    Balder swaggered through the crowd, calling out boisterously. His rotund body, adorned in avish


    robe, made him look like a skewer of meatballs garnished with herbs, an amusing sight that drew


    much good-natured ribbing. Following him were several male and female Protégés he had


    recruited, holding signs, clutching ledgers, and carrying bags, enthusiastically exining the rules to


    the other Protégés, clearly experienced in such matters.


    Many Protégés casually wagered a few gold coins or some Elixir Herbs, considering most present


    were Senior Protégés with some means to spare. They were quite willing to partake in this


    seemingly surefire small gamble.


    After making his rounds, Balder found not a single person betting on vin to win; it was all on


    Galos. Though vin had brute strength and had begun training in Goliath Force, it was simply


    impossible to master it within a mere month without being overwhelmed by its bacsh.


    Who was Galos? An elite of the upper circles! And who was vin? A madcap from the lower


    circles.


    Who would win? One need only think with their toes to know.


    "I bet on vin!" A pretty young maiden approached Balder.


    "Miss Carlys? You''vee on your own," Balder''s plump face immediately beamed like a well-


    stuffed dumpling, finding no room for frowns.


    "Lady Carlys." The Protégés behind him promptly smiled and bowed respectfully.


    Carlys flipped through their signs, clearly dissatisfied. "Why is the bet for our vin at ten to one?"


    "Well... it''s the voice of the crowd, mydy. The odds are based on the feedback from the scene, not


    intended to belittle vin," Balder said with a harmless grin that nearly forced augh out of you,


    even if you wanted to be angry.


    "I bet three Pearlworts that vin willst till the end. You''ll really pay me thirty if he does?"


    "Of course, of course," Balder signaled to his assistant to take note.


    "We shall see," Carlys huffed, turning to leave.


    "Ah, Miss Carlys, the Pearlworts?" The Protégé, ready to collect the bet, hesitated. You have to


    provide coteral for a wager.


    "Our vin will surelyst till the end. I''m certain to win, so just prepare thirty Pearlworts for me


    when the timees. I need not ce any now."


    Balder''s face soured. "A wager without stakes?"


    "I''m sparing you the trouble. Hey, make sure it''s noted; I''lle to collect the Pearlworts," Carlys


    called to herpanions, leaving with a giggle.


    "Sir, what do you think..." The Protégé behind Balder was unsure what to make of it.


    "Take note then. It''s not a big deal," Balder responded cautiously, doing his best not to upset the


    youngdy, viewing it as a means to keep her content.


    In a whisper, a female Protégé said behind him, "Sir, did you notice? Carlys kept referring to him as


    ''our vin.''"


    "She''s always called him that."


    "Sounds rather sweet, doesn''t it?"


    "No gossip! Continue taking bets." Balder chuckled, moving about, asionally praising passing


    Protégés.


    Suddenly, amotion surged through the 10th Arena, and countless Protégés turned toward the


    eastern entrance. Celesse made her way to the arena, ascending the stage from the east.


    With her breathtaking beauty, serene demeanor, and statuesque figure, she was wless. Not only


    was she the object of many male Protégés'' affections within Cobalt Strike, but she was also


    everyone’s pride. It was Celesse''s astonishing talent that had allowed the new generation of Cobalt


    Strike to hold their heads high.


    They were excited; most were not there for the spectacle but for Celesse herself. It was truly rare to


    see her, and many people wereying eyes on her for the first time.


    Carlys and her friends gathered around Celesse, waiting for the match to begin.


    Then someone eximed, "Look, Cedrick has arrived! They say he went to seek out vin on the


    day he visited the Sanctum of Mystical Scrolls. I wonder what for."


    Cedrick, dressed in ck, stood out from the crowd. His piercing eyes and stern face were without


    a hint of a smile. He was like an unsheathed sword, exuding a presence that discouraged others


    from drawing near. His appearances in public were scarce, making his presence there all the more


    surprising.


    But this was just the beginning. The 10th Arena continued to stir as renowned Elite Protégés and


    special senior Protégés started to appear one after another.


    "Look there, Myke hase too, what a strong aura. It is said his Illusory de has reached


    mastery."


    "Is that Niks? What brings him here? It''s been a long time since he''s been seen."


    "What''s going on today? So many prominent figures have turned up."


    The crowd was abuzz with surprise, not expecting a mere challenge to draw such a crowd. Was it


    just because of Celesse?


    Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Mari? Mari from Botanic Haven hase! Am I seeing right?"


    "She''s so beautiful! It''s truly Mari!"


    Gasps of astonishment echoed from the western entrance, as Mari, d in a flowing white robe


    and exuding an air of cold, aloof beauty, made her way into the Arena. A faint chill seemed to


    spread through the air around her, causing many nearby to shiver.


    This must’ve been the first time Mari had set foot in the Arena and, indeed, the first time she had


    come to witness the contests between the Protégés.