Returning to their quarters, seeing Henwil's gloomy expression, his teammates were sowhat puzzled.
Mishir was the first to ask: "Qin, what's wrong with you today? Are you feeling unwell? Are you sick?"
The newly substituted Tarantula was an honest youth who greatly admired Henwil.
Since their ti at the Forging Furnace base, he had thought Henwil was incredible.
After Mishir's question, Tarantula also expressed concern: "Yes! Your condition seems off today!
Normally you handle those beasts easily, so why did it seem so difficult? You even got injured!"
Scorpion Tail was a white-haired youth with a cold, stern deanor who didn't like talking to people, but that was only with those he wasn't familiar with.
After nearly two years of living together day and night, the youths had developed decent relationships.
Scorpion Tail thought for a mont: "Did the managent arrange for you to do this?
For better performance effect? Judging by the audience's reaction, it was indeed very effective!"
Flying Ant, who was knitting nearby, said coldly: "Definitely not! It was decided by draw, how could it be arranged in advance!
Besides, Qin wasn't pretending—those beasts seed abnormal!"
Hearing this, the other three looked at Henwil.
Henwil bandaged the bite marks on his arm, praying silently that the beast didn't have rabies.
Seeing his companions looking at him so eagerly, he could only look up and say: "They were indeed abnormal! As you know, the beasts in the gladiatorial arena are always drugged.
This reduces their physical functions considerably, which also protects the gladiators' safety and prevents excessively high casualty rates.
But the several wild wolves I faced today, despite being starved all day, were extrely aggressive—they should have been affected by so drug, they didn't even fear pain!"
Scorpion Tail frowned: "I've heard seniors say that sotis, to make the fights more exciting, they do feed special drugs to the beasts.
To make them more ferocious and aggressive. Such beasts beco very dangerous and often injure gladiators, but this..."
Flying Ant took over the conversation: "But this is targeted at gladiators who are about to be eliminated by the arena, squeezing out their last bit of value.
Using their lives as final ransom—even if they luckily survive, they'll end up disabled."
Mishir exclaid in shock: "How is this possible? Qin is our team captain, the most skilled among all the youth gladiators. Why would the arena choose to abandon him?"
Tarantula stroked his chin: "It definitely wasn't the arena's doing—it must be outsiders! Clearly, soone has set their sights on the arena again and wants to start with us!"
Mishir still didn't understand: "But those beasts couldn't have killed Qin anyway! At most they injured him.
Instead, it added so entertainnt value to the show. If this is the enemy's work, isn't the thod too crude?"
Henwil, having finished bandaging his arm, moved it around: "But what if the opponent's goal was precisely to injure ?"
To make them more ferocious and aggressive. Such beasts beco very dangerous and often injure gladiators, but this...
The group shuddered with alarm, and even Flying Ant put down his knitting.
Flying Ant took over the conversation: "But this is targeted at gladiators who are about to be eliminated by the arena, squeezing out their last bit of value.
Using their lives as final ransom—even if they luckily survive, they'll end up disabled."
This is sothing even Lord Bloodhorn can hardly change, so ultimately we'll have to face the danger ourselves."
"Then at least Lord Bloodhorn could identify the mastermind behind this, so we can prepare and not face an unknown opponent."
Henwil didn't think this would be useful—since the opponent had already made their move, they must have a series of plans.
Their killing blow this ti definitely wouldn't be easily countered.
After several probes, the final decisive confrontation was finally coming.
After being alerted by Team Insect, Bloodhorn was indeed surprised and conducted so investigation, confirming that there were problems with Henwil's match.
But he couldn't go confirm the situation with the noble guest who conducted the draw—he could only strengthen preparations to protect the youths' safety.
Soon, it was ti for the final gladiatorial match of the Midsumr Festival. After determining this season's champion gladiator, it would be Henwil and his team's turn to take the stage.
And their opponents chose this exact mont to strike.
Henwil looked around at the four of them and said ominously: "Don't forget, we still have a finale performance! I think that's when our opponent will reveal their deadly fangs."
Five other gladiatorial arenas jumped in at this mont, stating that to show the two attending Dukes a more spectacular performance, they were prepared to fund the opening of a bloodshed gambling match.
The group shuddered with alarm, and even Flying Ant put down his knitting.
A full two hundred thousand gold coins were put up by the five arenas, yet they didn't provide their own combatants.
Anyone under sixteen years old in the arena could participate in the challenge, and if victorious, the challenger would take all the money.
Bloodhorn's expression changed dramatically—this was ant to sever the roots of his money tree!
With such substantial rewards, experts would inevitably step forward.
So major families carefully cultivated youths to serve as companions, bodyguards, or substitutes for their heirs.
These youths wouldn't be inferior to his own young gladiators.
Moreover, there was an even more insidious purpose behind this.
Back when Bloodhorn had promised that these youths could buy their freedom once they earned enough ransom money.
Their killing blow this ti definitely wouldn't be easily countered.
After several probes, the final decisive confrontation was finally coming.
By the ti he realized, the contracts had already been signed.
Due to certain reasons, Bloodhorn couldn't violate these contracts, nor could he break the rules of the gladiatorial industry.
But he couldn't go confirm the situation with the noble guest who conducted the draw—he could only strengthen deploynt to protect the youths' safety.
The outside world had no idea how much the youths' ransom fees were, and those wanting to poach them didn't know where to start.
Bloodhorn also prevented the youths from contacting outsiders.
Now, the opponent's approach proved they knew the youths' ransom prices.
And the most ruthless aspect was that the opponent had designated the gambling money to be given to their side's victor.
If he continued as before, only giving the youths twenty percent, it would technically comply with arena rules.
But he would lose face before so many spectators and noble guests, inevitably earning a reputation as a miser.
Yet if he followed the opponent's example and distributed the gambling money to Team Insect mbers—even just half—it would be enough for them to ransom their freedom.
As for protection or shelter, just look at the major nobles present in the arena today!
If these youths won and declared themselves free n, they would imdiately be recruited away by these great nobles.
No matter how good the gladiatorial arena was, it remained just an arena—every month carried the possibility of death!
Even the most humble dog of a noble household had access to more resources—at least better than staying in the arena!
Thus, this was the opponent's checkmate move against Bloodhorn.
If they failed and the youth gladiators died, then it would be over and done with.
So major families carefully cultivated youths to serve as companions, bodyguards, or substitutes for their heirs.
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