Chapter 788 - Exceed the quota
GDK 788: Exceed the quota
Ralph left in a dark face. After his figure had completely disappeared from the party, Aobashi put on a big smile and said, “Well done, Bryan!”
Aobashi and Erebus did not get along well with Ralph. It was easy to see why they would be supportive of Han Shuo’s actions. As soon as Ralph left, they started praising Han Shuo.
“Bryan, this Ralph has always been an arrogant one. Don’t take the matter too seriously.” consoled Erebus. He then let out a light groan and said, “His Second Corps have gotten on top of me for too long. I will make sure that it won’t happen again!”
“Save it. Your Third Corps is no match against him. The Second Corps is formidable in team combat strength. If my First Corps have no confidence in defeating them, what hope would your Third Corps have?” said Aobashi in a sweet smile. She clearly did not feel that Erebus’ divine guards could defeat Ralph’s.
The Divine Guard Chiefs of the City of Shadows knew each other’s strengths well. Their divine guards had fought against each other in the centennial competition many times and they knew their level of strength. It was clear to Aobashi that Erebus’ divine guards were hopeless against those of Ralph’s.
“Bryan, that Ralph is not easy to handle. But as we are all Divine Guard Chiefs, he wouldn’t dare give you any trouble in private. Don’t take what happened just now too seriously. His main goal in coming here is to diminish our morale while trying to learn about our situation. When it’s time to fight, I will make sure to give him a beating!” Aobashi said to Han Shuo.
Han Shuo nodded smilingly. He knew that both Aobashi and Erebus had taken his claims as nothing more than conceited, nonsensical words just to infuriate Ralph. The two did not feel that Han Shuo’s Fifth Corps had any chance of defeating Ralph’s Second Corps.
Soon after that, Han Shuo decided he had enough chit-chat for the day and left the party.
Carmelita followed him out cheerfully. As soon as they have left Aobashi and Erebus, she remarked, “Bryan, you really are discreet about revealing your strength!”
“In every competition, every team is bound by a quota – a maximum number of casualties they can cause. Kiffan, when you are up against the Fifth Corps later in the competition, you may exceed the quota. I will handle all the repercussions!”
Kiffan was startled. He immediately knew that Ralph must truly be angered by that pharmacist from Celestial Pearl. Otherwise, Ralph would never have disobeyed Wallace’s command and asked him to kill more divine guards of the Fifth Guards than the rules allowed.
Kiffan was a blind follower of Ralph’s. His loyalty lied with Ralph and not with Wallace. Therefore, Kiffan did not object to Ralph’s instruction. He quickly recovered from the shock, nodded, and answered, “Understood, my Lord. Once the Fifth Corps ran into our path, I will make them pay the price for offending Your Lordship!”
“Excellent!” replied Ralph as his mood suddenly turned better. It was as though he could already smell the scent of blood of the Fifth Corps divine guards as they were being annihilated.
At the same time, over on the other side of the mountain range, Han Shuo put on a grim smile and said to himself, “So there is such a thing as a quota for casualties. Hehe, Ralph, O Ralph, let’s see who will have a higher number of casualties!”
Right away, Han Shuo gathered Sanguis, Gilbert, Bollands, and Barnard to give them a few secret instructions.
Three days later, the Seven Divine Guard Chiefs and their men assembled at the center region of the mountain range. Wallace and the patriarchs of all major family clans were present. At their center, on one of the viewing platforms, an enormous oval sand table was placed. The terrain of Soaring Cloud Mountain Range was reflected on the sand table. It was also filled with numerous markers and many red and blue lines.
Ralph had been gazing at Han Shuo with cold eyes ever since the moment Han Shuo showed up. The hostility in his eyes was not concealed at all. Wallace, Andre, and others noticed it and took note of it.
Han Shuo, meanwhile, completely ignored Ralph’s unfriendly gazes. He chatted with Aobashi and Erebus in low voices. They would laugh loudly or exclaim from time to time. Clearly, Han Shuo was not in the least affected by Ralph’s hostile gaze.
Andre gazes at Han Shuo and then at Ralph from his platform distance away. His brows creased slightly.
Wallace had been talking with the other three patriarchs of large family clans. Finally, he went onto the stage and raised one hand to gather the crowd’s attention. When everyone looked at him in silence, Wallace began by giving a motivational speech before leading the crowd to kowtow and pray to the Overgod of Darkness.
Every century, right before the competition begins, a simple ceremony to worship the Overgod of Darkness will be held. Everyone was used to it and they followed Wallace’s lead in kowtowing. Han Shuo, however, wasn’t too willing to do so. The Overgod of Darkness wasn’t the god Han Shuo worshipped and he felt that he had no reason to be so humble. Seeing that no one was looking at him, he did not kneel on the ground but merely bowed his body slightly.
Han Shuo thought that no one would notice his sinful act of disrespecting the Darkness Overgod. But when the ceremony was near its end and he was ready to stand straight, he suddenly noticed that Ralph distance away was watching him coldly. He was sneering as though he had caught Han Shuo red-handed.