I Want Her

Chapter: A Gamble for Honor and Revenge

The hundred clans of Cloud Province had always acknowledged the human race for their exceptional weaponry. Though Ronald's performance seemed somewhat ridiculous, it still carried the essence of human tradition.

Of course, no one truly believed he would make it past the second round.

Qin Xue's emotions were complicated. As a fellow human, she should have felt happy about Ronald's victory. But the scoundrel had humiliated her earlier—her body still ached from the encounter! Just thinking about it made her furious.

"Hmph! Just dumb luck! He'll definitely lose next time!" she muttered.

Qin Ji and Li Haotian exchanged a glance, both feeling speechless. His victory wasn't necessarily a bad thing. If he lost too soon, they wouldn't even get a chance to capture him.

Ronald wobbled back to his seat and accepted a cup of water, the corners of his lips curving into a barely perceptible smirk beneath his helmet.

This was all an act.

With his Fourth-Level Body Refinement cultivation, defeating a mere First-Level Wolf Bolden had been effortless.

But he needed people to believe he was weak. The higher his odds, the more money he could make.

He listened to the murmurs of the crowd, nodding in satisfaction at his own performance.

"Heh, who said I wasn't an acting genius?"

Round Two Begins

The first round concluded swiftly, with few surprises aside from a handful of unexpected upsets. The Top Ten Young Talents all advanced without issue, and several crowd-favorite fighters were showered with flowers and thunderous applause.

The female audience members were practically drowning the arena in their enthusiasm.

After a short break, Round Two commenced.

This time, matchups were determined through a random draw within each group.

And Ronald's opponent? None other than Duan Fei, the young warrior wielding a colossal sword—one of Qin Ji's subordinates!

Qin Ji led his entourage toward Ronald, only to find him sitting there with his eyes closed, resting as if nothing in the world could disturb him.

With an indifferent expression, Qin Ji said, "Ronald, Duan Fei is an elite of the Empire. I won't lie to you—he has already reached the Second Level of Body Refinement. You stand no chance against him."

Then, narrowing his eyes, he continued, "I'll ask you one last time. Will you swear loyalty to the Empire and serve your country?"

At these words, Ronald slowly opened his eyes, studying Qin Ji for a moment before breaking into a grin.

"Your Highness, how about we make a little bet?"

"A bet?" Qin Ji frowned slightly. "What do you want to bet on?"

"Simple—whether I win or lose."

Ronald pointed at the towering Duan Fei. "If I lose, I will surrender myself and go with you to the Empire, no resistance."

The crowd tensed at the statement.

"But if I win…"

Qin Ji's gaze sharpened. "Then what?"

Ronald calmly raised his hand and pointed—to Mia.

"I want her."

"What?!"

Gasps erupted from the spectators. Mia's face flushed red, while Li Haotian looked ready to tear Ronald apart.

"You pervert! Keep dreaming!" Qin Xue snapped, fuming with rage.

To her, Ronald was nothing but a despicable villain. If Mia fell into his hands, who knew what horrors awaited her?

But then—

Ronald burst into laughter.

"Wait, wait, wait! You all completely misunderstood me!"

The onlookers blinked in confusion.

Ronald smirked. "I don't want her as a person. I want the hairpin on her head."

"A… hairpin?"

Everyone was taken aback.

Even Qin Ji, touching his chin in contemplation, found himself wondering—is this guy a fetishist or something?

Mia, however, suddenly understood.

That hairpin had once belonged to Ronald's mother. On the day of their engagement, he had entrusted it to Mia as a token of their bond.

She sighed softly. "Your Majesty, this hairpin…"

Before she could finish, Ronald waved a hand dismissively. "No need to say anything."

Then, turning to Qin Ji, he asked once more, his tone utterly composed—

"Well, Your Highness? Do you accept my wager?"

To Qin Ji, money was never an issue. That hairpin, valuable as it was, wasn't worth more than ten thousand gold coins—a trivial sum for him.

But what truly intrigued him…

Was the madman standing before him.