Chapter 36: A Prince Who Refuses to Kneel
7th Octopus House...
Weapons Hall...
At the center of the weapons hall, Tony Clark stood relaxed as ever, his hands loosely in his pockets, his expression carrying that sa faint, infuriating smile that made people feel as though they were being watched... judged... dissected.
Across from him, Edward Smith stood with an ugly look. He is thinking hard on how to reply.
"Tony Clark," Edward cried out with suppressed rage, "I only want to prove my feelings for Lady Frost. Or are you too afraid to fight ?"
His words carried provocation, but beneath that was sothing deeper... desperation.
Until now, Edward had only intended to humiliate Tony, to step on him in front of the crowd and secure his own dominance in public. But the humiliation he himself had just endured had twisted his intent. This was no longer about display.
This was personal...!
Tony tilted his head slightly with a mocking-look.
"Afraid?" Tony repeated softly, then let out a quiet laugh. "You misunderstand sothing, Ninth Prince."
He took a step forward, slow, deliberate. "I simply don’t see the value."
The words landed harder than any insult.
A ripple passed through the crowd as murmurs began to spread. Even those who had expected Tony to retreat now found themselves caught off guard. There was no hesitation in his voice, no attempt to save face... Just pure dismissal.
"If you want to prove sothing... then go fight yourself. Why involve
in your personal struggles?" Tony replied lazily like he was bored.
The hall fell silent again.
Even Lily Frost’s gaze shifted slightly, a faint flicker of surprise passing through her usually calm expression. Julie, standing beside her, narrowed her eyes, clearly trying to understand what Tony was doing.
Edward’s fists clenched. "You think you can avoid this? Or is it that you already know the outco?" He said coldly.
Tony didn’t answer imdiately. Instead, he looked around the hall, his gaze sweeping across the crowd, as if inviting them to think.
Then he spoke again "And what exactly do I gain from this?" he asked.
Edward frowned.
Tony smiled faintly. "If I lose... I give up my engagent with Lily Frost. If I win... I keep it."
He looked back at Edward, amusent now visible in his eyes. "Tell , does that sound like a fair deal to you?"
The realization hit the crowd almost instantly.
Whispers erupted.
"He’s right..."
"That’s not a duel, that’s a trap..."
"There’s nothing for him to gain..."
The montum shifted.
For the first ti since the confrontation began, the crowd was no longer passively watching... they were thinking and murmuring loudly.
And they were siding with Tony.
Edward’s face flushed... He had overlooked it.
He had assud Tony would act like everyone else, driven by pride, eager to prove himself. But Tony wasn’t reacting the way a "normal" rich bastard would.
Tony wasn’t playing the ga Edward wanted.
"You’re smarter than you look," Edward muttered to himself.
Edward’s mind moved quickly. Backing down now would be worse than losing. His reputation... his position... his standing within the imperial family would all take a hit.
He needed to regain control.
"Fine," Edward said suddenly, his voice rising as he addressed the entire hall. "If that’s your concern, then I’ll give you sothing worth your ti."
Tony didn’t interrupt... He simply watched.
"If you win," Edward declared, "I will give you an SSS-grade Imperial war jet. Fully customized. No restrictions. Whatever it costs—I’ll pay for it."
Gasps spread instantly.
Even the elders in the distance shifted slightly.
An SSS-grade imperial-war jet was no ordinary asset. It wasn’t just wealth... It was status, influence, and survival combined into one. Owning one ant you were no longer just a participant in the world... you were a player.
For a mont, everyone expected Tony to accept.
It was too valuable... Too tempting... Too rare.
But Tony... Laughed.
"A war jet?" he said slowly, his voice dripping with disbelief. "Edward... Do you take
as your servant?"
The hall went completely still... No one had expected that... Not even Edward.
Tony stepped forward again, his gaze locking onto him.
"You ca all this way," Tony continued, "to challenge ... to prove your love... and the best you can offer is a machine?"
His smile sharpened. "I didn’t realize the imperial family had fallen this low."
The insult landed like a blade... Edward’s face flushed instantly.
"Watch your words..." Edward cried out angrily.
"No," Tony cut him off calmly. "You should watch yours."
Tony leaned slightly closer, his voice lowering just enough.
"Let
ask you sothing," he said. "Is your war jet... equal to Lily Frost?"
The question struck like lightning... Edward froze.
The crowd fell into stunned silence.
Tony straightened, letting the mont linger. "Because from where I’m standing," he continued, "you’re trying to exchange a woman of her level... for a toy. That’s an insult."
No one spoke... No one dared.
Edward’s lips parted, but no words ca out. For the first ti since the confrontation began, he looked... cornered.
Tony wasn’t attacking him directly... He was dismantling him... Piece by piece.
"You claim to value her," Tony went on, his tone returning to casual, "yet this is what you bring to the table? Disappointing."
The crowd’s perception shifted again.
Now, it wasn’t just about verbal war. Edward can’t back away now.
And Tony— Was winning the argunt without even fighting.
Edward’s breathing grew heavier. His pride scread at him to respond, to retaliate, to crush the man standing before him.
But logic— Held him back. Because he knew... If he stepped forward now- He might not recover.
Tony watched him silently, then smiled faintly.
"If that’s all you have," he said, turning slightly as if preparing to leave, "then this conversation is over. Co back when you’re ready to speak at my level."
The words echoed.
Edward stood there, unmoving... His fists clenched as his pride took a hit.
And for the first ti Edward understood sothing clearly... Tony is not a pushover.
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