Chapter 406: 382, Underground Boxing Gym_2
Apart from the first level, there was also a second level of spaces – private rooms set up around the ring.
On the ring, two burly men covered in blood, shirtless, were entangled in a fight.
Beneath the ring, cheers and yells accompanied the match.
Loudly encouraging and rooting for the contestants they’d placed bets on.
Fang Hao and Anjia, observing this spectacle for the first time, halted at the stairwell.
As they paused, a curvaceous lady approached them.
She smiled and said, “Sir, madam, could you please show your number plates?”
Fang Hao casually handed over the number 72 plate to the lady.
She looked at the number before saying, “Sir, your seating area is this way.”
With these words, she led Fang Hao and Anjia towards the public viewing area.
Seems like the numbers on the plates corresponded to the designated seating areas.
Apart from the public seats surrounding the central ring, there were also private rooms on a higher level.
“Are these private rooms open to the public?” Fang Hao inquired.
“Yes sir, the private rooms cost 5 gold coins per hour, and they offer a better view of the matches,” the lady replied while turning around, her face lit up with a smile.
Seems like she would receive a decent commission by selling a private room.
“Book one, do I pay now?” Fang Hao asked.
The lady’s cheeks blossomed into an even brighter smile. Her voice was sweet and soft, “No need for immediate payment, sir. I’ll note it down and you can settle the bill when you leave.”
“Alright, lead us there.”
“Certainly, sir and madam, follow me!” The lady took to leading the way.
…
Along the way, Fang Hao learned about some of the rules of the underground fighting arena from the lady.
There were two rules in the ring: bare-knuckle fighting and weapon combat.
Once someone stepped into the ring, they essentially signed a life-or-death contract, absolving the arena of any responsibility should there be any fatalities.
And the spectators below the ring were sometimes more keen on brutal, violent spectacles.
The victory rules included knocking out and killing the opponent; there were no restrictions on rounds or scores.
It was all about who could last longer in the ring.
And this brutal way of competition did inspire the fighters’ zeal to some extent.
Near-death comebacks were not uncommon and brought high entertainment value to the matches.
They reached the second floor of the underground arena.
The lady opened a private room and continued, “Sir, we offer free drinks and cakes here. The items listed on the menu come at an additional cost. You can place bets on the fighters in the ring, not just on who wins, but also on how long a competitor lasts and the number of times he defeats his opponent…”
“Alright, I’ll bet on the red corner winning, 100 gold.”
Fang Hao didn’t believe that Lei Li hadn’t arranged someone to keep an eye on him.
If he was in an underground boxing match, he had to act like a gambler. Not playing at all would arouse Lei Li’s suspicion.
The lady’s smile deepened as she took the money from Fang Hao. As she did so, her finger lightly brushed against the back of his hand, “I hope you guess right, sir.”
“If I win, remember to come back for your tip.”
“Oh, thank you, sir!” The lady didn’t forget to remind Fang Hao, as she was leaving, “Sir, if you need anything, don’t forget to call me.”
Fang Hao understood the implication behind the lady’s flirtatious behaviors.
Down here, a hostess seeking to please a wealthy client would not mind providing some special services.
Help the client to relax a bit.
Finding men in here was a way quicker route to making more money compared to soliciting on the streets.
…
After the lady had left, only Fang Hao and Anjia remained in the room.
Anjia began to snack on the complimentary cakes.
Fang Hao moved to the window of the private room, looking down at the bloody, brutal fight taking place in the ring below.
The crowd in the stands was bristling with excitement, cheering loudly.
They were all chanting, ‘kill him, tear him apart’.
The private suite offered not only separation from the crowd but also a good degree of privacy.
Fang Hao could see the entire audience and the ring, while the crowd below was unable to see him.
The lights were out in the other suites across from him; evidently, they hadn’t been sold that day.
“Anjia, eat less. You wouldn’t want a toilet break later. If anyone comes in, wake me up immediately,” Fang Hao told her.
Fang Hao had already explained the purpose of their visit on their way here.
Anjia nodded, “Alright, I got it.”
Fang Hao lay on the long couch, his head resting on Anjia’s thighs.
Even if anyone was observing from the outside, they would only think that they were engaged in some intimate activities.
After getting ready, Fang Hao summoned his supernatural ability, God’s Presence.
In the blink of an eye, the Soul Fire ignited in the eyes of Skeleton, who was left back at the residence, now glowing with a spectral blue hue.
With a flap of its wings, it disappeared into the night.
…
Outside Lyss City, in a dimly lit cave,
Demitrija, leading her team, was concealed within the cave, everyone silently eating the food in their hands.
Awaiting the next series of action orders.
Just then, a skeleton swift entered the cave.
It spoke out, “Demitrija, is everyone ready?”
Hearing the voice, everyone present turned serious in an instant.
Demitrija promptly replied, “Sir, everyone is ready. There are 72 of us here, ready to move out at a moment’s notice.”
For this operation, during the day Demitrija had quietly left the city on her own.