The sight that greeted them was enough to make anyone pause.
Hundreds of spectators packed the underground venue, their roars and chants shaking the very air. Most of them carried the unmistakable aura of people who lived in the shadows like gangsters, rcenaries, smugglers, and all sorts of dubious characters who would never be welcod in society.
Cigarette smoke hung heavily in the air, while money and betting slips exchanged hands at an alarming pace.
Stationed throughout the arena were nurous bouncers whose sharp eyes constantly scanned the crowd for trouble. The mont several of them noticed Gideon, Ashley, and the rest of their group, their expressions subtly changed.
Unlike the majority of the patrons, Gideon and Ashley were dressed far too well to be ordinary ruffians or low-level gamblers. Their bearing, attire, and calm confidence imdiately marked them as individuals of status and influence.
Recognizing this, several bouncers quickly approached and respectfully offered to guide them.
Without delay, they escorted Gideon’s group through the bustling crowd toward the elevated seating area reserved for the arena’s most important guests. From there, the view of the fighting ring was unobstructed, allowing them to observe the underground matches in comfort alongside the other major players, influential figures, and wealthy patrons who had co to watch the bloodsport unfold.
Ashley, Gideon, Gage, and Gideon’s assistant exchanged brief glances but said nothing. There was no need for words. Quietly, they followed the bouncer as he guided them through the crowded underground arena.
The venue was packed to the brim, forcing them to weave through narrow passageways between rows of spectators. The deafening cheers from the audience, the roar of gamblers placing bets, and the occasional curses from frustrated losers blended into a chaotic symphony that filled the cavernous space.
After several minutes, they arrived at a cordoned-off section near the front of the arena. The atmosphere there was noticeably different from the rest of the venue.
This was the VIP area.
The n and won seated there were clearly people of status, influence, or wealth. Dressed in tailored suits, expensive dresses, and luxury accessories, they looked far removed from the rough crowd occupying the lower sections. Most had companions draped around them, acting as though they owned the place and cared little for the opinions of others.
Compared to the won in the VIP section, Ashley appeared almost innocent.
So won lounged against their partners with practiced familiarity, casually tracing their fingers across broad chests or whispering intimately into their ears. Others sat comfortably on their companions’ laps while openly displaying affection, completely unconcerned about the dozens of eyes around them.
In contrast, Ashley’s mannerisms, clothing, and occasional displays of affection toward Gideon could easily be considered cute and restrained.
Despite the relaxed atmosphere among the VIPs, nobody was truly careless.
Ashley quickly noticed several imposing figures stationed nearby. Although they blended into the background, their alert gazes constantly swept across the arena. It was obvious that many of the VIP guests had brought their own bodyguards. In a place frequented by criminals, gang mbers, and other unsavory individuals, caution was never a bad thing.
After all, underground arenas were notorious for attracting trouble. A disputed bet, a grudge between rival groups, or an unexpected upset in the ring could turn the entire venue into chaos within monts. The VIPs understood this better than anyone, which was why they ca prepared, ensuring they had enough protection should a riot suddenly erupt.
"New faces, huh?"
The speaker was a handso man with the appearance of a carefree dandy. Reclining comfortably in his seat within the VIP section, he casually wrapped an arm around the woman perched on his lap as though he owned the entire venue. A lazy smile played on his lips as he studied the newcors.
His gaze swept over Gideon from head to toe, assessing him with the practiced eye of soone accustod to sizing people up. A mont later, his attention shifted to Ashley.
For the briefest instant, appreciation flickered across his eyes.
Ashley was undoubtedly beautiful, the sort of woman who would draw attention no matter where she went. However, the dandy did not allow his gaze to linger for long. As his eyes t Gideon’s, he imdiately caught the unmistakable warning hidden beneath the man’s calm expression.
The air around Gideon remained composed and controlled, yet the subtle pressure he exuded was enough to make seasoned individuals think twice before crossing him.
The dandy’s smile widened slightly.
He wasn’t foolish enough to create trouble for himself over a woman.
Withdrawing his gaze without the slightest hint of impropriety, he leaned back in his seat and continued idly stroking the woman’s waist, as though he had rely been satisfying a passing curiosity.
A few seats away, a gaunt-looking man who had been quietly observing the exchange let out a knowing chuckle.
It was clear that he, too, had noticed the brief confrontation.
"Looks like we’ve got so interesting guests today," he remarked with amusent, his small eyes narrowing as he took another look at Gideon and his group.
"Looks like it. We’ll have a few more companions to play with from now on." The pot-bellied man chuckled as he leaned back in his seat. Taking a leisurely puff from his cigar, he exhaled a cloud of smoke before continuing, "Since you’re new faces, why don’t you place a bet first? The first match just ended, and they’re cleaning up the arena. The second match will start in about thirty minutes."
As he spoke, his hands moved animatedly through the air. Nearly every finger was adorned with a thick gold ring, the gleaming tal catching the arena lights from every angle.
Combined with the heavy gold chain draped around his neck, the man looked as though he had gone out of his way to ensure everyone within sight knew exactly how wealthy he was.
The excessive display was almost gaudy, giving him the appearance of a prosperous rchant from a bygone era rather than a sophisticated VIP.
"Why don’t you try your luck?" he added with a broad grin.
Draped against his side was a beautiful woman whose body was pressed against nearly half of his body. While she appeared attentive to her companion, her eyes occasionally wandered toward Gideon.
Unlike the dandy from earlier, she made little effort to hide her interest. Her gaze lingered for a mont longer than necessary, openly admiring his handso features and imposing presence before she reluctantly looked away.
The pot-bellied man seed completely unconcerned by her wandering attention. Whether he failed to notice or simply didn’t care was anyone’s guess, but his focus remained fixed on Gideon and his group, clearly interested in seeing what these mysterious newcors would do next.
"Alright, we’ll place our bet," Gideon said with a simple nod. Though the exchange had been brief, his sharp eyes had already swept across the entire VIP section, silently taking note of every face and movent.
Ashley had done the sa. Her gaze casually wandered through the luxurious seating area before settling on a lone figure seated in the very front row. A black mask concealed the man’s face, making him stand out even more among the distinguished guests.
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