Chapter 165: Chapter 118: Shock! The Winner Is... L

The silence lasted only a moment. Like a stone thrown into a pond, it sent out endless ripples as cheers and wails rose and fell, one after another.

After a brief moment of stunned confusion, the announcer declared the winner of the match to be "Allen."

The cheers and curses grew louder, like a surging tide from all directions, threatening to drown the two men on the stage.

In the stands, spectators were either clutching their heads in anguish or screaming at the top of their lungs.

Allen’s parents were also among those clutching their heads and weeping, but not because they’d won or lost money. They were simply upset they hadn’t placed a bet and felt like they’d missed out.

’My allowance for the month is gone...’ At the side, Miss Triss’s face lost all color. "How... how could he have lost..."

’Even Zhan Jiale lost? He actually defeated Zhan Jiale, a Faith Knight?’

Although she’d recently grown tired of Zhan Jiale’s angsty monologues, she was still well aware of her childhood friend’s true strength.

Even her own father, Lewis, had commented that with Zhan Jiale’s talent, he was certain to become a Silver Knight before forty.

But he had lost...

Beneath her veil, Remedios’s lips parted slightly, and above it, her sapphire-blue eyes trembled in shock.

Down by the stage, goosebumps broke out across the skin of Maguire and the other Demon Hunters.

He excitedly looked for Zod to celebrate but couldn’t find him anywhere.

’Where’s Zod?’

The thought had barely formed when a hand slapped his shoulder. His fellow Demon Hunters who had bet on Baron were overjoyed, coming up to Maguire one after another.

"It’s all thanks to L! I’m set for Enhancing Potions for the whole year!"

Silver Demon Hunters had to drink a Magic Potion every month to stabilize their Alchemy Circuits and prevent their minds from being corrupted by Beasts and Demons.

"Thanks, L! Now I can finally give my Alchemy Swords some proper maintenance!"

As the Law class most reliant on their weapons, Silver Demon Hunters had extremely high standards for the quality of their Alchemy Swords.

Naturally, their maintenance costs were also quite high.

"Thank goodness for L! I’ve made back all my losses and then some. Now I can finally get my Alchemy Long Saber re-forged and get an Enchantment."

Any weapon could receive an Enchantment, which could grant temporary effects like increased swing speed or a frost-coated blade.

"You can always count on L! Now I’ve even got enough money for the brothels on the road to Steel City with Lady Yalilan!" someone laughed.

Demon Hunters spent their years fighting Demons and Demon Beasts, their nerves constantly on edge. Brothels, taverns, and churches were their usual haunts after a mission was over.

At the edge of the arena, Victor’s brow had been twitching since the match began, and it didn’t stop even after it was over.

Lewis watched Baron standing tall and proud on the stage, his expression silent.

’I have to get L into the First Hunter Association!’

Stephen was still replaying the move Baron had used to defeat Zhan Jiale in his mind.

At the critical moment, Baron had feigned an opening. Just as Zhan Jiale seized the opportunity to press his attack, Baron exchanged defense for offense, his Long Saber striking out with dozens of unshakable blows.

He shut down the Knight’s offensive, the blade simultaneously streaking across three fatal points on the Knight’s body.

A brilliant move.

The four of them watching from the side all recognized the move: it was Lost Claw, the same technique once used by the Barbarian Bear Knight, Gray.

Only a few short days had passed since the Demon Hunter’s fight against the Barbarian Bear Knight, yet he had already learned the move and applied it in battle!!!

’What kind of talent does it take to accomplish something like that?’

Searching his heart, Stephen admitted that at the same age, he could never have performed better than this "self-taught" Demon Hunter Yalilan had mentioned.

"Lady Yalilan, I must ask you to let me have L. I will explain the situation to Chairman Liuxia myself."

Stephen sighed wistfully. "That L... he has the potential to become Silver."

At these words, Lewis and Victor exchanged a look. Mr. Stephen’s desire to cultivate talent was perfectly clear.

’I didn’t expect Stephen to think so highly of L.’

The City Lord stroked his chin with his metal right hand. ’For the sake of Fude City’s economy,’ he thought, ’I should probably find an opportunity to win him over at the banquet tonight.’

Yalilan snapped out of her daze and smiled faintly. "Mr. Stephen, the choice in this matter lies with L himself, not with me."

"But I doubt any Demon Hunter would refuse an offer from the First Hunter Association," Yalilan added.

---

It was all over.

Zhan Jiale lay on the ground, his eyes vacant.

’The roar of the crowd is so quiet.’ In the end, he had still lost.

His pride shattered like glass.

He couldn’t even bring himself to utter one of his usual sorrowful lines.

Then he heard footsteps. The Demon Hunter appeared before him, silhouetted against the light. "Need a hand?"

Baron extended his hand. Zhan Jiale accepted it and was pulled to his feet.

Zhan Jiale said, "I will defeat you someday."

Baron just smiled, saying nothing.

But he was already roasting them in his head. ’Is the Glorious Knight Order full of guys like Grey Wolf? From Gray to that poser Gawain, from that flat-chested Galahad to this "Brother Sorrowful" Zhan Jiale... It really feels like the Glorious Knight Order is a magnet for weirdos.’

"I am a failure. Please, let me depart in disgrace, like a defeated tiger walking alone."

With that, Brother Sorrowful departed the stage with the dejected air of a defeated man, leaving Baron alone to bask in the crowd’s cheers.

He stood like a true victor. Even when the announcer stood before him holding the prize of 1,000 Silver Coins, he remained perfectly still, unmoved by gain or loss.

The crowd below sighed in admiration. Now this was a true champion—utterly undisturbed by the praise of the world, a seeker with an unshakeable heart.