The Silver Lizard Club's Youth Staff Master Competition attracted 32 eligible members.
Due to the high level of competition and the age and annual membership restrictions, there are actually not many young people who meet the requirements.
More importantly, one wouldn't choose to participate without a certain level of confidence. After all, losing badly under the watchful eyes of so many high-society figures would be quite embarrassing.
Young people who are still at an age where they care about their image don't want to become the laughing stock on the front page of the newspaper the next day, or the topic of conversation among young ladies and wealthy women.
Because of the small number of participants, a five-round elimination system was adopted.
Advance one-on-one until the champion is crowned.
The club scheduled all the major competitions to end in one day, which was a test for the young participants.
To advance all the way, you need to have extremely high physical strength.
After Dilnancy and her group entered the club, Prince, Joan, and Cordell went to the dressing room to prepare for their turn. The rest of the group went upstairs and took their seats in the VIP boxes.
9:50.
The familiar middle-aged host took the stage and made polite remarks, attracting the attention of the audience on both the first and second floors.
Because it was an annual competition, there were even more gentlemen and ladies watching, and the venue was almost full.
The club also specially built three venues, distributed in a "pin" shape. As for not building more, it is to avoid distracting the audience's attention, which will lead to a decline in the quality of the event.
Three venues are the best.
It won't be too drawn out, and it will effectively capture the audience's attention.
10:00 AM.
The bell rang.
In the first round, six young people each took to the stage carrying their own walking sticks.
Among them was Gilan.
After leaving the venue, he removed his black top hat and black overcoat, handing them over to staff for safekeeping. He is now dressed only in a white shirt and black casual trousers, carrying Cane of Justice.
Even when undeformed, the Cane of Justice retains its exquisite appearance, rivaling the custom-made signs of various cane shops.
It was the bronze color that was somewhat unique and eye-catching.
Inside a private room on the second floor, Milinda clapped her hands and giggled, then pointed to the first venue and said:
" Joann ran into Gilan in the very first round! That's so interesting!"
Beside her, five young people—three women and two men—also kept their eyes fixed on the glass wall.
Joann, who was standing on the field, still looked astonished.
He looked at the blond youth in front of him and couldn't help but force a smile.
"Brother Gilan..."
Unlike Prince, Joann had no intention of offending this older man after their first meeting.
Firstly, it was the opponent's terrifying strength; secondly, it was the opponent's extremely uncontrollable behavior that instilled fear in Joann.
"How about we spar a few rounds first, and then I'll concede?"
Despite her nervousness, Joann made the suggestion.
He gripped the steel-core hardwood cane tightly, yet felt no sense of security. Even knowing that the other person had no experience in cane fighting, the memory of how the other person had single-handedly defeated his father's two bodyguards at the dinner table that day still made his heart tremble.
Gilan looked at her younger brother and said calmly:
"Then why not just admit defeat?"
"Ahem." Joann gave an awkward laugh, but offered no explanation.
Admitting defeat outright is fine, but that would be just too embarrassing!
So many people are watching!
Furthermore, if he surrenders before the match even begins, the club will deem it as deliberately disrupting the game, and he will be barred from participating in any future matches.
Just then.
The Judge blew his whistle.
Beep!
Joann was about to say something when her expression changed drastically.
The blond youth, who was originally five or six meters away, strode over in just two steps, his face cold, and brought his cane down!
The bronze-colored, intricately carved cane emitted a terrifying whistling sound!
Ugh!!
Terrified, Joann could only raise her cane, attempting to deflect the terrifying blow using the " Deflection Form her teacher had taught her.
However, he was instantly stunned.
Because his cane missed its mark...
What was touched was merely a bronze-colored afterimage.
A muffled thud.
Joann felt as if she had lost sensation in the right half of her body. Her cane had somehow slipped from her hand and clattered onto the hard platform.
He struggled to maintain his balance, but couldn't feel his right leg or right hand at all. He stumbled and fell to the ground with a blank expression.
thump!
Joann lay on the ground, but his mind was perfectly clear; he didn't even feel any pain.
Looking up, he saw that the blond youth hadn't even glanced at him, and had already turned and left the arena, carrying his bronze staff.
"Round 1, number 1, Mr. Gilan wins!"
The Judge raised his right hand and announced the news loudly.
Wow!
A lively discussion immediately broke out in the audience.
The first round of the competition has only just begun, and the young players on the other two courts are still fiercely competing. How come Court 1 is already over?!
Ten seconds, no, less than five seconds!
Gone in a single glance!
Inside a private room on the second floor.
Milinda stood in front of the glass wall, exclaiming in surprise and waving her little fists.
" Joann is so lame! He was knocked down in one move!"
But her expression was very excited. Looking at the blond youth walking away, she said again:
" Gilan so handsome! I didn't even see how he won!"
"Sister Nancy, did you see clearly?"
Upon hearing her sister's question, Nancy looked confused and lost in thought, but she silently shook her head.
She was equally surprised by the staff-wielding contest.
The younger brother, Joann, is no weakling; he could easily make the top three, if not win the championship. But against his older brother, Gilan, he was defeated in an instant.
Judging from Joann's appearance, she wasn't injured, but it seemed like she was throwing the fight. She dropped her weapon and fell to the ground as soon as her brother touched her with his cane.
"Did you see it clearly?"
Milinda, unable to get an answer from her sister, turned to look at Dadeier and the others.
However, they shook their heads as well.
"Could it be that Joann has conspired with your brother...?"
"It's a little chubby," said the slightly overweight young man Zigui, in a low voice.
Milinda rolled her eyes at him.
"No way!" she said, hands on her hips. "Even though Joann is timid, he still cares about his image, okay?"
"Besides, we, the sons of the Fahan Family, would never engage in such tricks!"
"I also believe they didn't fake it."
Miss Dadeier looked away and smiled.
"We just didn't expect Mr. Gilan to be so unassuming. It seems his staff skills are even higher than we imagined."
Everyone could not hide their surprise, yet they were also somewhat looking forward to the upcoming match.
The blonde woman on one side frowned slightly; the more she looked at the young man, the more she felt something was amiss.
The opponent's strength was far too mismatched with his age.
At the same time.
In another private room on the second floor.
Standing by the glass wall were seven or eight gentlemen and ladies, some middle-aged and some young, all dressed in luxurious and expensive clothes.
The middle-aged man at the head of the group, dressed in a dark red suit and vest, sporting an anchor-shaped mustache, was smoking a cigar and squinting at the people below.
"Mr. Loben, who is that young man?"
A sexy woman with short, wavy blonde hair asked in surprise.
" Joann Farhan was a seeded player, a strong contender for the championship, so how did she lose in just one match?"
"Never seen it before."
Loben exhaled a puff of smoke and said calmly.
"But according to the registration information and intelligence gathered, his name is Gilan Iros, Ramon Farhan's illegitimate son, who recently arrived in the capital."
"Interesting young people."
"Mr. Loben, don't you favor Prince of the Fahan Family and Renoan of the Lotito Family?"
Behind him, another young man with long curly hair laughed.
Loben's eyes were deep as he said:
"I do favor Renoan, the eldest son of the Propaganda Department, but I'd prefer Prince to win."
"Why?" the woman asked, puzzled. " Renoan is already a ' Emblem ' level staff user; at his age, he's practically unmatched."
"If we can bring this genius into the cult, we might produce another ' Burden Scar One' in the future."
Loben Robben did not answer immediately; he squinted and puffed on his cigar.
After a long pause, he finally said:
"Because Ramon doesn't want his precious son Prince to die..."