Hidden within the crowd, a familiar father-son pair were looking on at these events with amused expressions. However, after hearing Fidroha's words, the father suddenly snapped.
"That stinking brat, how many trees is he trying to hold on to?"
The sloppily dressed drunkard of a son laughed at these words.
"Father, you actually travelled all the way from the Inner Ring to the Core Region just to catch a glimpse of him, now you're just jealous."
His words received a smack to the back of the head.
"What do you know? This boy is a Throne of that Awoken Moon Sect the Apostles still don't dare to casually check, he's a Core Disciple of the Mercenary Guild, and now he's being invited by the Apostles themselves. When is it going to be my Armament Guild's turn?"
"Who asked you to lurk in the dark instead of approaching him? Considering the fact your sulking around on a mere Pedestal Plane, why do you care so much about that old face of yours? Plus, his status as a Throne and Mercenary Guild Core Disciple don't interfere with joining other parties, both have a great degree of freedom."
"That's where the problem lies, boy. He obviously doesn't want to tie himself too firmly to any one organization. Plus, he dared to try to tease me out of hiding that day a year ago. I'll make it so that he begs this old man to enter beneath my wing."
The son took a swig of his flask, ignoring his senile old man to watch the proceeding events with curiosity.
"No matter what, I doubt he'll join the Apostles. It seems he has a grudge with them."
The old man's gaze narrowed. "It does seem that way…"
Down below, Ryu also felt amused by Fidroha's words.
"To be honest with you…" He started. "… I have little interest in joining your Apostles."
The atmosphere suddenly plummeted, a cold breeze whipping through the arena. The only one who seemed to take this lightly was the old man who lost himself in laughter. If it wasn't for the fact any noise he made would be too obvious amid this silence, he'd likely be rolling on the floor, clutching his stomach.
"But if you'd like to make a bet, I'm more than willing to oblige."
Fidroha's eyes narrowed. "What kind of bet?"
"It's simple really. If I am to join your Apostles, I prefer to do so as a Throne --."
"You stinking brat!" Edwin roared. "You think that because you've risen to the top here that you can casually do so anywhere? Thrones beneath the Nine Order aren't even considered to be true Thrones! Yet you're speaking of conquering a second Throne with your pitiful strength?!"
Wanting to claim the Throne of an Eleventh Order organization was already an impossible mountain to climb, yet Ryu actually wanted it to be his second Throne?!
It was no wonder Edwin who had been holding himself back finally exploded.
"I don't believe I was speaking to you." Ryu said coldly.
His biting words were simply too much for many to handle. Those in the crowd didn't even dare to breathe.
Just as Edwin was about to truly lose himself to rage, he felt a piercing gaze to his side coming from his Commander. He felt as though he had suddenly been dropped into an ice-cold ocean…
"Continue." Fidroha said plainly.
Instead of speaking, Ryu began to directly bring out several things. Fidroha instantly froze when she realized that Ryu was actually bringing out several Crown Grade Herbs!
"I have five Crown Earth Grade herbs here. I will use them as a stake. If I lose, I will give you all five of these Spiritual Herbs. However, if I win, I want you to take me to your headquarters so that I can challenge your Throne. In addition to that, I want however many Qi Stones you have on your person right now."
Fidroha's heart skipped a beat.
Crown Earth Grade herbs were already meaningless to her. After all, she could directly consume Heaven Grade herbs, there was no need to pay from Crown Earth Grade herbs that were more expensive than even many Heaven Grade herbs while also having a slightly lower efficacy.
However, there were countless young masters of massive Clans who would bend over backwards for a chance like this. Edwin himself had already lost his composure. If he had just one of the herbs, breaking into the Immortal Ring Realm would be a matter of just a few moments. It had taken every ounce of will power he had to not pounce forward when he saw Ryu feeding one to Guiot.
But who knew that Ryu would actually have so many more?
"And what bet did you have in mind?" Fidroha asked after steadying her breath.
Simply taking Ryu to the Apostles headquarters wasn't a big deal. Even one Crown Grade herb was enough to cover the cost. It wasn't as though they were a secret organization, they were more akin to a governmental body. Their location wasn't hidden.
The reason Ryu would rather ask for Fidroha's assistance was to lessen his troubles. As for things from Fidroha's perspective, the only requirement that left her a bit apprehensive was Ryu's ask for all of the Qi Stones in her possession. But, if she were to be honest with herself, her current net worth would barely be able to buy even just one Crown Earth Grade herb.
Betting the price of one for the price of five… How could she reject it?
"Simple." Ryu's gaze turned cold. "I want to kill him."
At this point, even the old man stopped laughing completely. His son, by his side, stopped chugging his hard liquor, looking toward Ryu with a flickering expression. Fidroha herself was finally unable to control her changes in expression as her face visibly stiffened.
In a corner of the arena, Fuoco clenched his fists. 'When he dies, I must find a way to take his corpse. His Heavenly Pupils must be mine!'