"So that's how it is. This is what a 'duel' is..."
Lin Yu nodded after hearing Mans's explanation.
Then he raised another question.
"Giving prisoners the 'right' to duel—wouldn't that allow some prisoners to evade punishment this way? If they just kept dueling, wouldn't they be able to go to the Ground of No Return for some fresh air?"
"Besides... if someone deliberately lost a duel and died in it, wouldn't that also be a quick way to free themselves?"
As Lin Yu asked this, Mans smiled and shook his head. "Your concern has naturally already been taken into consideration by my lord, so... the punishment for losing a 'duel' isn't death. In duels initiated by prisoners, neither side can die."
"In fact, their 'duels' don't necessarily even take the form of 'combat'... The form of a duel is decided by my lord on the spot, so it's highly random."
Hearing this, Lin Yu immediately remembered the Eating Contest... Although the eventual winner of that contest had died, the contest itself had indeed not taken the form of combat.
Mans continued, "Although 'losing a duel' doesn't mean death, there is indeed a punishment beyond losing the wager. This punishment, set by my lord, is the best solution to the problem you raised."
"If the challenger loses the duel, he will lose the right to initiate duels."
"If the one who accepts a duel loses two of the duels he accepted, he will lose the right to initiate duels."
"Anyone who loses the right to initiate duels will remain unable to initiate one unless he wins a duel."
"Of course, there are a small number of cases in which a Guardian grants 'pardon.' However, there aren't many Guardians qualified to grant prisoners the 'right to initiate duels.' At least, I don't