The Blood Fist arena was no mere gladiatorial pit.
It stood in the busiest, most decadent district of Knowhere, a towering den of vice that combined gambling, entertainment, black-market trading, and displays of brute force. Its owner was a mysterious organization that, rumor had it, even the former ruler, the Collector, Taneleer Tivan, had treated with a measure of deference.
Link followed the Sakaaran manager through the noisy casino and down a corridor lined with iron cages holding all manner of interstellar beasts, finally arriving at a lavishly furnished office at the top of the tower.
A bloated Hutt, draped in glittering jewels and smoking a cigar, sat in an enormous floating chair, studying Link with keen interest through his tiny eyes.
"Not bad, not bad." The Hutt blew a smoke ring and spoke in an oily voice. "Anyone who can cripple a Kree squad leader with one move in a place like the Drunken Fairy certainly has some skill. Sit."
Link did not sit. He simply looked at him calmly. "I need money."
"Hahaha, who doesn't need money in Knowhere?" The Hutt laughed, his corpulent body quivering. "My name is Jabba. I own this place. I like young men like you—direct and capable. You say you want money. Good. I have plenty of it. The question is whether you'll live to collect it."
Jabba waved a hand, and the office's holographic projector lit up, displaying a bloody gladiatorial match. A monster more than four meters tall, its body covered in rocky armor, was tearing its opponent apart with its bare hands.
"This is our arena's reigning champion, Grok the Starbreaker," Jabba explained. "Next week, we're holding a special challenge match. Anyone who beats him takes home a prize of one million Universal Credits."
One million.
Link did a quick