Aili's Advice, Gambling Agreement

"So... can we tamper with your Soul Fight based on your strength later on?" The Soul Arena manager's words were hesitant, as if he found the question difficult to bring up.

Even for someone with his thick skin, he blushed a little after saying it so directly.

Lang Lei was taken aback. He secretly marveled at how direct the Soul Arena manager was!

Normally, such behind-the-scenes operations were conducted in secret. Who would bring it up face-to-face like this? Did he just assume Lang Lei had a good temper and wouldn't fly off the handle?

"What do you mean? What kind of tampering?" Lang Lei decided to hear the other party out first. Since they had already laid their cards on the table, there was no need for him to put on airs.

Seeing Lang Lei's reaction, the Soul Arena manager breathed a sigh of relief and explained, "Your strength is evident to everyone, very powerful. So, I plan to continuously arrange opponents that seem unbeatable for you, but in reality, you'll be able to defeat them. This will pique the audience's interest and draw more attention to your matches."

Lang Lei nodded in understanding. Such tactics were not uncommon in Soul Arenas; creating suspense and excitement to attract viewers was indeed a common method.

However, what the Soul Arena manager said next caused Lang Lei's expression to shift slightly.

"But, we also want to arrange some 'genius contestants' for you, whose levels won't be too far off from yours. We hope you can pretend to lose in your matches against them, which would also..." The Soul Arena manager intended to say that this would add drama and watchability to the matches, but before he could finish, Lang Lei cut him off unceremoniously.

"I refuse." Lang Lei's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth, sending a shiver down one's spine. His words were brief and firm, leaving no room for negotiation.

Up until the earlier part, Lang Lei's face had remained calm, and the suggestion even aligned with his own goals. However, upon hearing the latter part, his expression changed instantly, as if struck by an invisible force. His brows furrowed deeply, and his eyes held an unspeakable resolve.

"I don't have a habit of being anyone's tool." Lang Lei's tone remained indifferent, but it carried an unshakeable determination. He knew his principles and bottom line and would never compromise easily.

For Lang Lei, combat was not just a skill but a form of self-respect and challenge. He never held back in a fight, regardless of the opponent; he always gave his all. This attitude was not only a demand he placed on himself but also the key to maintaining his undefeated record.

Lang Lei never viewed the power from his [Previous Life] as something special, but rather as a part of his own strength. As long as this power had no negative impact on him, he would use it without hesitation, without any reservations.

He had seen too many comrades lose their lives due to a moment's carelessness, especially when holding back. Their vigilance would unconsciously drop to its lowest, making it difficult to react to sudden dangers. Lang Lei absolutely did not want to repeat the mistakes of those comrades; he wanted to maintain a high level of alertness to deal with any potential threats.

More importantly, the other party's proposal treated him purely as a tool for making money, which was something Lang Lei absolutely could not accept. He had his own dignity and values and was unwilling to be exploited in such a manner.

"This..." The Soul Arena manager looked at the booklet in his hand with a troubled expression, secretly contemplating the importance of this proposal. Its priority was actually higher than Lang Lei's previous agreement to withdraw from being the banker, which made the manager feel conflicted.

After all, if Lang Lei could agree to this condition, even if he continued to be the banker, the Soul Arena could still generate substantial profits by cleverly controlling the match outcomes. This was undoubtedly a very attractive option.

"Lang Lei, can we talk about this a bit more~?" Just then, Elysia's voice echoed in Lang Lei's mind.

Lang Lei seemed hesitant. Elysia's suggestion was indeed a weighty factor, so he began to consider the feasibility of the proposal.

"Try to get them to agree to the first part of the conditions first. As for the latter part, it's up to you to play it by ear, Lang Lei~?"

Lang Lei hesitated slightly, then finally nodded and said, "Is that so... Alright, I'll try."

"I think we can talk further. I can agree to the earlier conditions, but as for the latter, like I said, no."

Upon receiving Lang Lei's reply, a hint of joy appeared on the manager's face. He knew that as long as there was room for discussion, there was still a chance to reach an agreement.

Lang Lei continued, "There's no room for negotiation on throwing matches, but the first part is negotiable. Of course, you can arrange as many opponents as you want for me; I don't mind."

Hearing Lang Lei's words, the Soul Arena manager's mood became even more cheerful. He thought that as long as Lang Lei was willing to talk, there would be ways to gradually get him to accept more conditions.

He was afraid of Lang Lei being someone who was so resolute that he wouldn't listen to anything; that would be truly difficult for him.

"But if we proceed as you say, wouldn't that be... forgive my bluntness, but we are in business, and you..."

"Don't tell me this has no benefit for you at all. If it didn't, you wouldn't have proposed this method in the first place," Lang Lei said with a poker face. "My patience is limited, and like I said, I won't become what you want me to be. You don't have the right to command me."

Lang Lei's words were not pleasant to hear, but the Soul Arena manager didn't mind and began to think seriously.

Lang Lei didn't rush him either. He picked up the juice in front of him and drank it quietly, suddenly remembering that he might not have paid attention to his tone and behavior earlier...

But fortunately, the other party didn't seem to mind.

"How about this, young man, how about signing a Gambling Agreement with us?"

"Gambling Agreement? Tell me more."

"We will continuously arrange opponents for you, young man. If you can win the match, then we will proceed with the first part of my proposal." The Soul Arena manager paused before continuing, "But if you lose, then we ask you to agree to our request for the latter part."

"It seems they're treating Lang Lei like a hot-headed young kid~?" Elysia's voice rang in Lang Lei's mind. "How interesting~?"

[People don't get to be young again, do they? Since I've finally become young again, let me be arrogant just once.]

[But I can always be a beautiful girl~?]

[Yes, yes, yes... So...]

"Okay, I agree!"

Lang Lei and the Soul Arena manager both broke into smiles. This was a win-win situation!