The commander of the warriors looked at the two of them intently and said in a mechanical voice, "Hand over your weapons!"
Jason and Valkyrie exchanged a glance.
"I know the rules," She said. "The weapons are all on the ship."
The commander didn't question her. Valkyrie was a favorite of the Grandmaster; she wouldn't do something so stupid. Besides, the demand for disarmament was essentially a power move to show who was boss, not because the Grandmaster was actually afraid of enemies.
The commander turned to Jason. "Everyone must learn etiquette before an audience with the Grandmaster!"
Valkyrie chimed in, "He's already learned it!" That was a point included in the data she had sent, and Jason had indeed practiced it seriously.
At this point, the commander became rigorous and said suspiciously, "I need to test him!"
Heh, do I look like some country bumpkin? Jason thought. He kept a smile on his face but was completely dismissive internally. He performed several poses for the audience with the Grandmaster right then and there; his movements were so standard that not a single flaw could be found.
Only then did the commander believe him. He turned and said, "Follow me!"
The two followed him out of the docking area. Two rows of soldiers followed behind them with perfectly synchronized steps, their eyes fixed on Jason and Valkyrie. One didn't need to guess—their laser rifles were definitely off-safe.
Truly a man who maxed out his survival skills, Jason thought, noting the strict security.
They ascended three flights of stairs and passed through layers of guards before finally arriving at an electric iron gate. After the commander announced their arrival, the gate opened, and the group walked in.
This was the Grandmaster's palace. The entire room was brightly lit, and the surrounding transparent floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the City of Gambling. At the end of the red carpet stretching straight from the gate was a row of circular red sofas.
Aliens dressed in bizarre costumes sat on the sofas, holding wine glasses and eyeing the newcomers curiously. Surrounded by these women was a man who looked to be in his fifties, with silver-grey hair and an outfit similar to Jason's.
From the moment Jason entered his line of sight, the man kept a smile on his face while observing him intently. He recognized Valkyrie, of course, but the blonde guy next to her was a new face.
So this is the Grandmaster? Looking at him alone, he seemed like nothing more than an ordinary, lecherous old man. Jason wondered if he might just be a relative. Jason was observing him too, though much more subtly, as no powerful figure liked being stared at.
"Grandmaster!" Valkyrie walked quickly ahead of Jason and assumed the highest etiquette posture of Sakaar.
It really was him! Jason kept his face steady and also assumed the etiquette for the audience.
"Hehehe..." The Grandmaster laughed softly as he walked forward. Both his gait and his laughter had a bit of an effeminate touch. "Scavenger 142, I am satisfied with the gifts you bring every time. And who might this be...?"
Valkyrie quickly said, "Grandmaster! He is my friend, I mentioned before."
"Oh, I remember now." The Grandmaster stepped closer for a careful look.
Good god. This guy's eyes felt like he was checking merchandise for damage, making Jason feel extremely uncomfortable. He immediately spoke up, "Grandmaster! I am Jason Walter!"
The Grandmaster didn't respond but observed him silently for a long time. Then he smiled and said, "Similar! So similar! Seeing you in these clothes reminds me of myself when I was younger."
Fuck you, Jason thought, feeling insulted, but he put on a surprised expression. "Is that really so?"
The Grandmaster nodded in affirmation. Jason's face flushed with excitement. "To have even a slight resemblance to the Grandmaster is my supreme honor."
This flattery hit the spot. The Grandmaster immediately signaled them to stand. Sitting back leisurely in his main seat, he asked, "Scavenger 142 tells me you're a fighter. A very strong fighter."
Finally, the questions were coming. Jason stood straight, his mind racing. According to the data, the Grandmaster had many warriors. Including Valkyrie, they were all incredibly arrogant, because the Grandmaster specifically appreciated that type of person. In his eyes, humility was a vice. As long as you could show the strength to match, the more arrogant you were, the more he liked it.
In a flash of inspiration, Jason answered loudly with a haughty expression, "I am the premier fighter of our race. I have had no rivals for a thousand years—including my friend standing here."
Upon hearing this, a spark of pleasant surprise appeared in the Grandmaster's eyes. He knew Valkyrie's strength well; even in Sakaar, where experts were as common as clouds, she was considered a powerhouse.
"Scavenger 142, is what your friend says true?"
Valkyrie furrowed her brows as if wanting to argue, but after a moment of thought, she let out a helpless, long sigh. "A thousand years ago, I sparred with him often. Sadly, in over three hundred battles, I never won a single one."
The Grandmaster looked Jason over again, his expectations rising. "There is a match in the Arena tonight. Do you dare to participate?"
Jason frowned slightly, a hint of hesitation appearing between his brows. The Grandmaster, misunderstanding, tried to entice him: "Tonight's opponent isn't weak. But if you win, you can become a warrior under me, just like her."
Jason laughed, a look of contempt on his face. "Grandmaster! I have no problem participating in an Arena match, but I want to choose my own opponent."
The Grandmaster asked, "Oh? Who do you want to challenge?"
Jason replied, "I have heard that anyone who achieves a hundred-win streak in the Arena earns the title of Champion Warrior. And among your subordinates, Grandmaster, there are ten such masters!"
Hearing this, the Grandmaster and the beauties around him were all startled. Even Valkyrie looked somewhat surprised.
Grandmaster: "That is indeed true. You want to challenge them?"
Jason: "Exactly! If it's convenient, please call them here now. I want to pick my opponent from among them!"
The Grandmaster narrowed his eyes as if seeing him in a new light. "Ambitious! Call all the Champion Warriors here."
"As you command!" The commander who had brought them in headed to the other floors to fetch the men.
Called by the Grandmaster, the ten Champion Warriors didn't dare delay. They arrived within five minutes. The warriors were tall, short, fat, thin, handsome, or ugly—but they all shared a fierce, murderous aura. It was clear their hands were stained with a great deal of blood.
The Grandmaster pointed to Jason and introduced him: "This is Scavenger 142's friend. I invited him to join tonight's match, but he thinks the opponents are too weak and wants to challenge you Champions instead. I wonder if you are willing to accept?"
The Grandmaster's words were intentionally inflammatory. He had lived for too long and was too bored; to pass the time, he had to create some excitement. Just like this... a man with no reputation claiming he could challenge Champions. If I light a fire in the middle, heh heh, there will be a good show tonight.
The moment the Grandmaster finished speaking, the looks the ten warriors gave Jason changed. They strode up to him with expressions of scorn, disdain, and contempt.
"Hmph! A weakling like you dares challenge us? Is there something wrong with your head!" The first to speak was a giant over three meters tall, with arms thicker than Jason's waist.
"Trash like him is only fit to be food for the plebeians," Said a monster whose body was covered in rock.
The warriors insulted Jason one after another, but he didn't get angry; he just squinted his eyes and scanned them one by one.
A relatively handsome guy wearing a formal suit and a top hat grew impatient. He waved his hand to interrupt. "Stop the noise! The Grandmaster says you want to challenge us. Just pick one." To him, killing Jason was as easy as eating or drinking; it wasn't worth wasting time talking about.
The Grandmaster was getting impatient too. He asked quickly, "Have you made your choice?"
Jason took a step forward and said, "Grandmaster, I've chosen! I want to fight all ten!"
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You can read advance chapters and view R-18 images of the characters on pat reon page.
pat reon.com/GreenBlue17
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