*Bang*

The door burst open as a blonde boy with a short structure barged in out of nowhere.

Benton frowned as he turned around. Certainly, he didn't like the presence of others as he was in the process of 'praying'. They didn't understand his sentiment and they had no right to judge him either.

For better or worse such an act was only met with scoff among their generation.

But thankfully Colt Ackerman had figured out nothing. Colt's eyes scanned the room in curiosity as he tried to figure out what kind of schemes Benton was plotting all alone in such a place.

"What do you want, Colt?

"

A forceful voice ringed through the room making Colt flinch. There was a clear difference in power between the two. But alas, there was no difference in their standings.

Colt's eyes scanned through the room as he spoke with a nonchalant expression. His earlier astonishment had disappeared into thin air.

"Was just checking out this place. And also got to remind you, since you have to be present during the showdown of the two sides.

"

Benton sneered as he turned away. He was being bothered with something that was worthless in his eyes. An event that had no value.

"There is no need for that this year. I won't be attending.

"

Benton had already done what needed to be done. The so-called 'showdown' was no longer needed.

His little show that he had shown everyone as soon as he came clearly portrayed two basic things -

Firstly, it told the newbies that they were of lower standing than them.

Secondly, it reprimanded them that if they wanted to survive they had to win the rat race.

Benton had used quite the cruel methods to portray the same. At least it was considered cruel to the earth borns.

But that didn't mean that every year someone like Benton was there to do something so ravenous. Instead, there was a rather peaceful method employed to show the newbies the difference in strength and to remind them that they needed to behave in front of these distinguished guests.

The hells folk couldn't leave the matter to fate, could they? Crowd control was a must.

The very solution to this method was what was known as the showdown. One participant from both sides participated in a friendly match to show the difference in strength.

'Friendly' was just propaganda as the event was just a warning to remind the newbies where their loyalties should lie.

But, Colt shook his head with a shrug.

"It's a tradition that has been carried out for 8 years now. We cannot forsake it, just because of you.

"

Colt spoke as he stared directly into Benton's eyes.

"I am not telling anyone to stop. All I said is that I won't be participating. There is nothing for me in it. Just a single person needs to participate and any one of us can do it.

"

"Well then, suit yourself.

"

Colt's lips arched into a smile.

"If you are not coming then it means that it's my stage.

"

The strongest from both sides appear for the match every year. Benton being the strongest of the generation was supposed to participate. But since he refused it himself then only Colt could take his place.

Colt left the room with a brimming smile on his face as Benton let out a sigh. He walked up to the windowpane and slightly shifted the black curtain for the sunlight to seep through as he gazed at the crowd waiting outside. The stage for the day was set. But in the end, the results were already known.

An event that was predictable to such a degree brought no thrill to the boy. And no matter what he did he couldn't stop it either, just like the event that had transpired 8 years ago.

Indeed, he was confident in his prediction. Even 8 years ago, when he had predicted his master's death, it was nothing but an absolute fate.

***

"Klautz, what are you doing here? Let's go,

" Veroon barged in to call out to Klautz.

"The other two have already left.

"

Klautz nodded.

"I see.

"

"But I won't be attending it. It's just a waste of time.

"

Klautz shrugged. It was quite a dilemma on his part. Neither could he leave the premises due to the increased number of mercenaries at the outskirts guarding the place at all times, nor was there any gains in attending such an event. Not to mention that the ninjas who might be hiding here and there would only find him suspicious if he were to force out of the camp. He could fool the guards but he wasn't so sure about the ninjas.

His line of thought went in the same way as Benton's did. But while Benton could only spend his time with his deceased master, Klautz had better options.

Klautz patted to his side with a devilish smirk on his face. Indeed compared to Benton he had long moved on.

"Come here to me…

"

Verona's eyes shifted from his patting hand to his smirking face as her eyes shot out wide upon a hard realization of his plans.

"You…!

"

But what could she do? The doors were shut and the room was empty with just the two of them.

*Sigh*

She sighed. Klautz hadn't yet made his intentions clear and he couldn't refuse him with such a simple request either.

'Come to think of it. I did promise back at that cold place for this kind of development, didn't I? I can only reap what I sowed.'

She tried to find reasons for her own actions to ease her heart that was scared of being a little too submissive to her man.

She had lost the deal even before it began. With her being trapped she found no other way to escape.

'I give up.'

***

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