Chapter 231: Rebuking Lieutenant Mike
Jenny shouted in her high-pitched, childish voice, "I dare you to say that again!"
Matthew and the others stopped in their tracks. Jenny's outburst threatened to expose them before they even got started.
"You little brat, how dare you..." The guard turned toward her, visibly enraged. He wasn't about to let a little girl provoke him.
John clenched his fists, preparing to knock out both guards to keep them quiet. Fortunately, the guard's partner burst out laughing. "No way, man! Are you actually getting mad at a little girl? Hahaha!"
"Hmph! As if I'd waste my breath on a kid." Hearing the laughter, the guard backed off, though he gave Jenny a final, vicious glare.
Jenny didn't back down and glared right back.
"Wha—! Impossible!" The guard suddenly screamed in terror.
In his eyes, the little girl had transformed into a towering, grotesque monster. The world around him shifted into a vast, crimson void. It felt as though he had been dropped straight into hell. Drip. Drip. Drip. Urine began to soak through his trousers and hit the floor.
"Ahahaha! You actually pissed yourself!" his partner mocked mercilessly, completely unaware of the mental horror his friend was experiencing.
Matthew, sensing what had happened, said irritably, "Alright, Jenny, stop playing. We can't have Kezli noticing us."
"He's the one who said I'd be the one peeing my pants," Jenny said haughtily. As a Shadow General, she felt she had to maintain her regal authority.
Mike shook his head and whispered, "Kids will be kids."
"Say that again and see what happens." Jenny's acute hearing caught Mike's mumble instantly.
"I didn't say a thing," Mike caved. He knew that as a Shadow General, this girl could dispose of him quite easily.
"You'd better watch it." Jenny flashed her little canine teeth at Mike, trying to look ferocious.
To Mike, however, she just looked like a tiny kitten baring its teeth to be cute. He almost burst out laughing.
"Ahem." Mike struggled to keep a straight face while Jenny stared him down intensely. He didn't dare make another sound.
Soon, after paying several more fees, the group arrived at the entrance to Arena One.
"Sigh... my wallet is empty." Mike pulled out his shriveled wallet. Just a moment ago, it had been bulging, but now...
To appease Jenny, Mike had paid the entry fees for the last four arenas himself, even though they had initially agreed to pay their own way.
"Kezli is incredibly arrogant; he doesn't even check for weapons," Matthew said, trying to distract Mike from his financial loss by focusing on the target.
John nodded. In any other boxing arena or similar venue, the first rule would be a frisk and a weapons check. These places were melting pots of dangerous people; letting them in armed was an invitation to a riot. Kezli clearly didn't care. Any troublemakers were simply suppressed and killed by him personally.
"He'll pay for that arrogance," Mike muttered, touching his concealed weapon. Once they caught Kezli, he was determined to make the man pay him back.
"Kezli's style is the correct one for a Shadow General," Jenny remarked. With the Shadow Corps at your back, what was there to fear from ordinary people? Especially Kezli's Heteromorphic Ninjas, who possessed the ability to phase through objects, making physical attacks useless against them.
"So, where is he?" John looked around but couldn't spot Kezli.
"It's only 9:40 PM. Kezli won't come out to accept challenges until exactly ten o'clock," Mike replied.
"Was there a rules board for that too?" Matthew asked, lamenting his inability to read signs.
Mike shook his head. "No—this time, it's intelligence I gathered beforehand."
"Well, it seems our Lieutenant Mike is finally of some use," Jenny said lazily, leaning against Matthew's shoulder.
"Good work, Captain," John praised.
Knowing Kezli wouldn't appear until ten, they found a place to sit and watch the current match. On the ring, a woman was fighting a massive man. The woman looked to be about 50kg, while the man looked at least 100kg. It was a complete mismatch.
"Quick, John! Go place a bet for me. Everything on 'Hungry Bear'." Mike's eyes lit up as he handed John the last of his cash from his shriveled wallet.
John frowned as he took the money. "But Captain, aren't we here to arrest Kezli? Why are we betting?"
"Sigh, John, you don't understand. If we're going to go undercover, we have to look the part. Who comes here and doesn't bet?" Mike said, acting like he was teaching John a lesson.
In reality, he just wanted his money back—and maybe a little profit. John immediately caught the "meaning" and, admiring his senior's expertise, ran to the counter to place the bet.
"Lieutenant Mike really is a 'great' mentor..." Jenny said slowly, having seen right through Mike's bluff.
Matthew added, "Lieutenant Mike, John has a very strong sense of justice. I hope you don't lead him astray."
"Lead him astray?! I just paid for everyone! I'm just trying to break even," Mike argued. He felt he had made a huge sacrifice for the team; surely he was allowed to make a little money back?
"My apologies, Lieutenant Mike." Matthew pulled out his own wallet and handed Mike a stack of bills. "This is for my share and hers."
"I don't need it." Even though Mike's heart skipped a beat at the sight of the cash, he kept up his tough front. He was convinced he'd win his bet anyway, and he wanted to maintain some dignity in front of Daredevil.
"Alright then." Matthew didn't insist and put the money back.
Mike's heart ached as the money disappeared, but he forced himself to look indifferent.
"Tch," Jenny muttered. She thought Mike was alright, but far too vain—classic case of "slapping one's own face to make it look fat."
Jenny found the ring interesting. As a Shadow General, her ability to learn was incredible. Just by watching the fight, she was picking up combat techniques.
"All done, Captain," John said, returning to Mike's side.
"Did you do exactly what I said? All on Hungry Bear?"
"Don't worry, Captain. Everything went according to your instructions." John gave him a reassuring look. Mike breathed a sigh of relief. His money was coming back.
On the Ring:
Hungry Bear easily grabbed the woman, "Black Spider," lifting her over his head before slamming her violently to the floor.
"Woo-hoo! Yeah! Strip her, Hungry Bear!"
"Hungry Bear! Hungry Bear!"
"Great job!" Mike cheered from the stands. The money was practically in his pocket.
Just when everyone was certain of Hungry Bear's victory, someone from below the ring surreptitiously handed Black Spider a dagger. She grabbed it instantly, spun around, and buried the blade deep into Hungry Bear's stomach.
Thud! Hungry Bear collapsed. Black Spider pounced on him, sitting on his chest and rain-dancing punches onto his head.
"What the hell?!" Mike yelled.
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