Chapter 575 Thanks for the heads-up
The three old men sitting with the young ones shook their heads at the title that came out from Sinon's mouth as the man told Kyle that he needs to write a title for himself on the nameplate to register for the Gladiator Arena. No one really noticed the strangeness in Kyle's behavior because he was almost behaving the same as before, except for the occasional pause in his words before answering their questions, except Alec, Carcel, and Nine.
Alec eyed the silver-haired man, and for some reason, he could feel that even if he overlooked his somewhat strange behavior, something had changed within him.
On the other hand, Nine was seriously contemplating using his spiritual gaze on Kyle to get a glimpse of his fate to know if everything was fine with him because his eyes... they had become somewhat similar to the future Kyle he had seen in his vision. Not entirely though, because there was a constant smile on Kyle's face, unlike his future version that looked like he had stopped smiling a long time ago.
He clasped his hands over his chest with a solemn expression, but before he could make a decision, Carcel, who was seated on his other side, shook his shoulder. Nine glanced at the golden-haired man who shook his head at him.
"I am not sure what's on your mind, but I can sense from your expression that it's not something right."
He glanced at Kyle, who was listening to Sinon's explanation about the nameplate.
"I can also see the faint difference in Kyle's temperament. But instead of trying to figure it out on your own, why not approach him privately and ask what is wrong? I believe he would tell you if you asked."
Carcel flinched when Nine's eyes widened at him, disbelief evident on the man's face as he patted his shoulder.
"Wow... you know, since the moment I met you in the Arena, this is the first time you have talked to me so much! I almost forgot what your voice sounded like. And you are correct, I should just ask him what's wrong instead of trying to figure it out on my own."
Nine grinned and joined Sinon, who had finally returned the nameplate to Kyle, unaware that Kyle had already overheard his and Carcel's conversation. It was typical for Kyle to keep his ears open all the time and stay aware of his surroundings.
Regius leaned in towards Kyle from the back row of chairs and eyed his nameplate before suggesting with a smirk.
"Hey, both the Shadow Generals you talked with a while ago without even flinching are looking at you. How about you write your title as the Shadow Generals' favorite?"
Kyle's grip on the nameplate tightened as both he and Bia turned their heads back to stare at the green-haired elven man who had just spoken up, sporting a huge question mark on their faces. Observing their expressions, Regius blinked, and a sudden realization dawned on him.
"Wait, don't tell me you had no idea that the two men sitting before the demon's statue are the Shadow Generals?"
"Huh?"
Kyle's gaze shifted towards the two men seated across from the demon's statue, and a hint of amusement sparkled in his eyes. A chuckle slipped from his lips as he made eye contact with the two men, now known to him as the shadow generals.
"I had no clue... I thought those well-dressed men were one of the people overseeing the Arena. Their harmless appearance definitely threw me off."
He looked back at Regius, who seemed surprised after hearing him chuckle.
"Thanks for the heads-up. I would have regretted it if I had joined the Arena without knowing who was keeping an eye on me. But I'm curious, why do you think they didn't make a move against me and Bia?"
Nine patted his shoulder and gestured towards the figures in robes seated before the mermaid statue.
"It's because of them. They're the ones who opened the Gladiator Arena, and I believe if the Shadow Generals had gone after you in front of them, a clash would have gone down between the two sides."
Jian clicked his tongue as he glanced at the robed figures. He was seated further away from Kyle, but the silver-haired man heard his faint words loud and clear.
"Just a bunch of arrogant bastards. If they can't even handle the two shadow generals, then what's the point of their presence? Just showing off their power to the weaker ones by calling them worthless?"
Kyle's eyes gleamed with a chilling glint as he took in the red-haired man's words. He noticed that Yue and Nox also had a bit of a cold look when they glanced at the people in robes. It seems like the group had a conflict with the robed individuals in his absence. He fiddled with his nameplate as he glanced at the individuals seated in front of the mermaid statue.
'I suppose the shadow generals are not the only ones I need to keep an eye on. I will also ensure to take down at least one from each side before the Gladiator Arena wraps up.'
Bia, who heard his words in her head, blinked, but instead of being shocked, her eyes showed a touch of interest. Having spent the last three months with Kyle and knowing his ways, she wasn't anxious; in fact, the phoenix genuinely wanted to know just how he planned to take down opponents much stronger than him.
-'I wonder how? After all, they are a lot stronger than you and me both.'
Kyle's eyes returned to normal when he caught sight of Alec staring at him with a serious expression.
'You know, strength doesn't always stop someone from kicking the bucket. If they are destined to die, then no one can stop them from dying.'
He smiled, but the blue-haired man had already seen the strange glint in his eyes, so he changed the topic.
"What should I write on my title? No, the shadow general's favorite doesn't suit my taste. So, how about nature's favorite? After all, my luck stat is always active."
Bia couldn't help but laugh at his words because she was the only one who caught when Kyle emphasized the phrase 'my luck stat is always active'. This indicated his confidence in being able to kill the ones he wants and get away without a scratch.
-'Now the Arena is going to be a bit fun... I thought as a beast I would be bored to death just watching everyone fight.'