Chapter 971: Chapter 340: Arena Intrigue (Part 2)

At the Beast Fighting Arena, victory was determined as the gorilla let out a fierce roar, the wild boar was brutally torn in half, with a large amount of foul-smelling organs and blood scattered on the ground.

"Sir, please follow me!"

Both of them arrived backstage at the Gladiatorial Arena, where the equipment was very advanced, and numerous staff were constantly rushing around. The wounded fierce beasts let out painful and violent roars, while cultivators in white robes sweated profusely as they treated the beasts.

"Who are these people?"

Andrew whispered an explanation: "These are the service staff of No.1 Arena, mainly responsible for contacting external hunting teams that sell fierce beasts, as well as treating the injured beasts."

"Adjust the odds for each beast fight, and handle the bets placed by the maids, along with some simple explanations and such."

"Please wait, sir!"

Andrew clapped his hands, quickly straightening the hunched back he previously showed to Chen Jiuge, and his somewhat sleazy face now bore a slight air of authority.

"Everyone come here, this gentleman is the new Vajra master. From now on, No.1 Arena will be managed by this gentleman, understand?"

"Understood!"

The response was somewhat sparse. As the lowest-level employees, they weren’t even part of the Dark Hand. They had heard of the Vajra title but didn’t know exactly what it represented.

After all, Yun Yan and others wouldn’t interact with the lowest-level employees. If there were issues, the most they’d do was contact someone like Manager Andrew, who would solve it or else be eliminated.

"Didn’t you have lunch? Louder!" Andrew was eager to make a good impression on Chen Jiuge and couldn’t help shouting anxiously.

Due to last month’s profit plummeting, Andrew’s situation was very precarious. If it weren’t for Chen Jiuge taking over as Vajra, Andrew would have been removed.

As it happened with Chen Jiuge’s appointment, Yun Yan didn’t want to offend him either, so Andrew was spared.

"Understood!"

This time, the voice was much louder, and a hint of tension appeared on their faces.

Seeing this, Chen Jiuge raised his hand, signaling for silence, "Don’t be nervous, just do your jobs well."

He intended to have Andrew take him to see the tributor beast masters of the arena, but after a few steps, Chen Jiuge suddenly turned and said, "For a first meeting, a gift is appropriate. Andrew, raise everyone’s salary by ten percent, no problem, right?"

"Ah, no problem, no problem!"

Internally cursing, Andrew thought there was definitely a problem—No. 1 Arena wasn’t like before, an additional ten percent in wages means at least tens of thousands more in Life Money expenses per month, not a trivial sum!

But for Andrew to solve it, he couldn’t refuse. Now his own survival was in jeopardy, and he daren’t offend Chen Jiuge. Plus, with an extra layer of salary, he could earn a bit more himself, so he considered it a good thing!

"Thank you, sir!"

Amidst the gratitude of the crowd, Chen Jiuge and Andrew slowly walked away.

"Seems this new Vajra isn’t such a bad person after all!" A doctor in a white robe pushed up his glasses, pondering aloud.

Unlike others, the doctor’s clothes were particularly clean, evoking the idea of purity emerging from mud.

"Zhuo Lin, are you planning to rely on this Vajra? First Level Cultivation, he’s probably just a scapegoat, a sacrificial lamb!"

Another man, covered in grease and filth, scoffed aloud.

"Han Kui, would you rather spend your life doing menial tasks? Moreover, precisely because this Vajra’s strength is weak we have a chance!" Zhuo Lin said calmly.

Han Kui didn’t respond, but his eyes flashed with Spirit Light. As a Third Level Gladiator, Han Kui was naturally unwilling to remain doing menial work, but having offended another Vajra, things were different for him. This new one likely wouldn’t dare to use him.

........

The important areas of the arena are all underground. The backstage we were at before was just the first underground level. The most important Beast Master tributors are located on the third underground level, with the second level primarily holding newly acquired fierce beasts.

These beasts haven’t completed training and thus aren’t kept on the first underground level, nor will they participate in battles anytime soon.

The fierce beasts on the second underground level are managed by a tall, thin youth named Chen An. He isn’t a Beast Master but a Fourth Level Frost Warrior with extremely powerful combat capabilities.

"Greetings, sir!" Chen An greeted with a smile.

"Hmm, no need to be polite!"

Chen Jiuge was somewhat at a loss, unsure of what to say.

"Roar!"

A Third Level Angry Bull happened to break free from its spherical cage, its eyes bloodshot as it charged directly at Chen Jiuge.

This was a Third Level Angry Bull in a frenzy, its unstoppable charge terrifying, causing Andrew beside him to tremble.

As a Third Level Mage long having neglected his cultivation, Andrew could only briefly erect a barrier against the Angry Bull’s rapid charge, but it dissipated after a single breath.

Chen Jiuge looked at Chen An, unconcerned about the Angry Bull charging at him.

"Roar!"

As the Angry Bull approached, the Turtle Dragon on Chen Jiuge’s shoulder let out a dragon roar—forcing the previously irrational bull to screech to a halt and kneel behind Chen Jiuge.

"Seems like you have a bone to pick with me!" Chen Jiuge squinted.

Chen An kept his mild smile, "I wouldn’t dare; I merely wanted to test the master’s abilities. After all, the arena is Mountain City Dark Star’s main source of income. If the master lacks sufficient capabilities, it won’t be good for us!"

"However, it appears my worries were unfounded; the master’s Turtle Dragon is truly intimidating!"

Though Chen An didn’t say more, he regretted his impulsive provocation of Chen Jiuge, intimidated by the dragon roar earlier.

Considering his anger at the Vajra title being taken by a First Level Beast Master, Chen An felt thwarted. Had he broken through to Fifth Level using his Frost Warrior status, he could have competed for the last Vajra position—but all hopes shattered with Chen Jiuge’s arrival.

"I hope there won’t be a next time!"

"Certainly!"

The commotion caused by the Angry Bull attracted other Dark Beasts from the second level to gather.

"Seems there are quite a few guards on the second level!" Chen Jiuge said, surprised, as countless members of the Dark Hand assembled.

In short order, about thirty Dark Hand members gathered. All were Second Level Cultivation, with three leaders among them at Third Level Cultivation, looking robust and likely martial artists.

"Chen An, how dare you offend the Vajra master? Do you have a death wish?"

Terrified by the Angry Bull, Andrew yelled angrily at Chen An. His fierce expression seemed as if Chen An was his arch nemesis, clearly he was deeply frightened earlier!

Upon hearing Andrew’s words, the Dark Hand members were startled and immediately kneeled on one knee before Chen Jiuge.

"Greetings, sir!"

"Rise!"

"Chen An, compile a list of the beasts and Dark Hand members on the second level and give it to Andrew!"

"Yes!"

Chen An didn’t refuse. Without a Vajra, he was the ruler of the second level, but now things had changed. Most of the Dark Hand members were orphans raised and trained by Dark Star, and while Chen An held a high position among them, he couldn’t be sure how many would still follow his orders with a Vajra present.

Moreover, the difference in status meant Chen An wasn’t capable of directly confronting Chen Jiuge.

"Let’s go, Andrew. Take me to meet our tributors!"

"Yes, sir!"

Andrew shot a resentful glance at Chen An.

The silver elevator slowly descended, as Chen Jiuge casually commented, "That Chen An seems quite nice!"

"Master, you mustn’t be fooled by Chen An’s facade!"

Andrew vented furiously, "The guy looks amiable, always smiling, but he’s really a cunning fox, and before, without a master, he was always gathering followers!"

"Across ten arenas, at least half of the Dark Hand troops have been swayed by him!"

"Oh? Seems he’s quite skilled!"

"But how many Dark Hand members are there?" Chen Jiuge asked.

"Each arena houses a hundred Dark Hand members; for every ten there’s a captain, with Third Level Cultivation. The chief captain possesses Fourth Level Cultivation!"

"Chen An’s a Frost Warrior; his strength is significant and considered the strongest. He always aimed to break through to Fifth Level and vie for the Vajra title!"

"With your arrival, Master, you directly shattered his dream. It’s likely Chen An bears ill will towards you!"