Chapter 46: Professional
"Contestants Kino and Mord, please proceed to Arena A for preparation."
Right at that moment, the broadcast in the waiting room announced the match.
What a coincidence.
Mord glanced at Kino's trio and headed toward the contestant passageway.
...
"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience!"
"The upcoming match is rather special—both competitors demonstrated outstanding performance on the first floor and were directly promoted to the fiftieth floor as powerful fighters!"
"The large screen will now show highlights from their previous matches."
As the beautiful commentator finished speaking,
The arena screen began playing scenes of Mord and Kino defeating their opponents on the first floor.
Unlike Mord's lightning-fast disposal of his opponent, Kino's performance was visually far more impactful—a single heavy punch sent his opponent flying straight into the spectator stands.
"Are you ready to place your bets? Put your fingers on the buttons in your hands—3, 2, 1!"
Official gambling is the most crucial revenue source for Heavens Arena; otherwise, where do you think the prize money for winners comes from?
Time's up.
The betting results for both competitors appeared on the large screen.
Unsurprisingly, Kino won by an almost overwhelming margin. This meant the vast majority of spectators believed Kino would win the upcoming match.
The replay of that punch was simply too shocking. Moreover, whether in terms of attire or personal aura, Kino completely outclassed Mord.
Under such circumstances, anyone would make the same choice.
"This match will consist of three three-minute rounds, using a points and knockout system."
"Begin the match!"
From the contestant passageway to stepping onto the stage, Kino never once looked Mord directly in the eye.
Now, adopting the condescending posture of a boxing champion, he looked down at Mord and said, "Meeting me is your misfortune. If you don't want to get hurt, forfeit now."
Mord didn't respond, merely raising a single finger.
To Kino, this was the ultimate insult and provocation. Veins bulged on his forehead as he snarled viciously, "You're looking for death, kid!"
With that, he advanced rapidly toward Mord using professional footwork.
This advanced footwork technique among professional boxers was, in Mord's eyes, full of openings.
Watching this, Mord suddenly recalled the Ryūsui Geki from the Zoldyck family. He thought he might visit the Zoldycks sometime to learn some techniques.
Compared to Ryūsui Geki, this footwork was simply a joke.
"Hmph, stunned speechless, are you?" Kino smirked triumphantly upon seeing Mord standing frozen in place. "Let me knock you out with one punch!"
A sudden change of direction, a forward dash, and a super heavy punch violently targeted Mord's chest.
With his strength, Kino believed this punch could easily shatter the chest of the guy before him if it landed solidly.
Moreover, he aimed specifically for the left side of the chest.
The arena erupted in cheers; the audience couldn't wait to see the scene of the poor fool too terrified to move having his heart blasted apart.
Unfortunately, that scene never came to pass.
Kino's punch struck only air, hitting nothing but an afterimage.
Mord suddenly appeared beside Kino and extended a single finger, striking precisely at his temple.
After completing this move, Mord immediately turned and left without looking back.
A moment later, Kino's tall body collapsed with a heavy thud.
The arena fell into complete silence.
"Hit!"
The referee on the platform, half a beat too slow, finally shouted with passionate enthusiasm.
"A brilliant attack! Mr. Mord has secured yet another clean victory with a single strike!"
Since only two matches could be scheduled per day at most, Mord collected his prize money and left the Heavens Arena directly, taking the opportunity to investigate rumors about the Murderous Miracle Doctor Pierre Izzie.
Due to the presence of the Heavens Arena, three types of businesses flourished exceptionally in the surrounding area.
The first were bars, the second were brothels—both easily understandable as fighters represented a group with raging hormones who needed places to vent their excess energy after intense daily battles.
The final thriving business was medical clinics.
Large and small, Western medicine, traditional Eastern medicine, public hospitals, private black-market clinics—they spread throughout the entire district.
If Pierre Izzie was truly here, his hiding place was most likely among these establishments.
After all, it aligned perfectly with his profession and made for easy concealment.
Mord decided to begin his investigation from these hospitals.
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