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Russell wasn't surprised when the ball landed in his court. It always did.
He let the silence hang in the air for a beat, enjoying the tension, then gave a slight, almost imperceptible nod. "Okay," he said, his voice calm. "I agree."
He honestly didn't give a damn about the Wu family's money. He had enough materials and cash to get by, and whatever they offered was just a bonus. What he really wanted was another shot at Wade. He wanted to see him try, really try, to break his defenses. He wanted to watch him fail.
As for what might happen after he publicly humiliated the son of a powerful family? Come at me, he thought, a cold smile touching his lips. See what happens. He was an orphan, a ghost with no ties. Who could they possibly go after? Hazel? Good luck with that. And as for underhanded tricks, the only real players in the city's underworld were the Spirit Begging Society. The problem for the Wu family was, he was one of them. If they came asking for a hit on him, he'd love to see the look on their faces.
Wade, for his part, was ecstatic. He almost couldn't believe his luck. His father hadn't expected Russell to agree, and Wade himself was practically vibrating with anticipation. He was convinced his last loss was a fluke. All his best cards had been on cooldown. This time, he'd make Russell regret ever crossing him. As for their first duel in the secret realm? Wade chalked that up to being unfamiliar with Russell's bizarre, gender-flipped King Arthur card. He'd been caught off guard. It wouldn't happen again.
He saw the dim, unreadable look in Director Blake's eyes and quickly schooled his features, plastering on a humble expression. He gave Russell a slight bow. "Thank you, Russell, for giving me this opportunity," he whispered, just loud enough for the Masters to hear. "Don't worry. Even if I win, I'll make sure you get the compensation you deserve."
He was thinking of the old proverb: Only those who can bend and stretch can become great men. Right now, his heart was a toxic cocktail of anger, jealousy, and humiliation. But the thought of finally, publicly, trampling Russell under his feet filled him with a joy so pure it was almost euphoric.
William, the Master from the court's faction, watched this display in silence, a wave of sadness washing over him. The Wu family had escaped again. He didn't think Russell could win. The boy was Blake's disciple, sure, but he was a fresh Silver-rank. Wade, for all his flaws, was a seasoned fighter. Russell's defeat felt like a foregone conclusion. I don't know why Blake agreed to such nonsense, William thought, curling his lip. It didn't matter to him who won, but the whole affair felt distasteful.
Blake, however, was simply amused. He had tested Russell before they arrived. He knew what his disciple was capable of. The arrogant posturing of the Wu father and son was nothing short of hilarious.
"That's settled, then," Blake said, his voice carrying a note of finality that cut through the tension. "I'll let you know the time and place."
Three days passed in a flash. Russell, escorted by his silent Shadowkhan, made his way to the Northgate Cardmaker Showdown Center. The place was already packed.
"Father, do you think Blake Whitmore is getting old? That maybe his brain isn't working so well anymore?" Wade whispered to his father as they stood next to the battlefield. They were both shocked by the scale of the event Blake had orchestrated. Nearly every important figure in Northgate was here. Worse, the match was being broadcast live across the entire province.
"If that kid loses, he won't go back on his word, will he?" Wade asked, a flicker of worry in his eyes.
Patriarch Wu leaned on his crutch, his voice a low growl. "He thinks he has us cornered, that's all. Are you sure you're ready?"
A bloodthirsty smile spread across Wade's face. "He'll never beat me." This was perfect. He would humiliate Russell in front of the whole province. He would show Blake Whitmore what a terrible mistake he'd made. He, Wade, was the strongest. As for Russell winning? The thought was so absurd it made him want to laugh.
In the VIP stands, Blake and William sat in the front row, flanked by the presidents of the Northgate Association and Northgate University.
"Old Blake," the university president asked, "what possessed you to arrange all this?"
"You'll see after the fight," Blake replied with a cryptic smile.
The president of Southeastern University, who was sitting nearby, suddenly chimed in. "I know about Master Blake's disciple. When our Battle Club had a practice match with Northgate, he destroyed our venue."
"Is that so?" the Northgate president said, surprised. Coach Carter had never mentioned it. Despite the story, however, he still didn't think Russell could win.
William, sitting quietly, thought he understood. Blake is trying to save face for his disciple. If Russell lost—which seemed likely—Blake could just pass it off as a friendly competition. It was normal for a new Silver to lose to an established one. Tsk, I didn't think Blake had such a devious mind, he thought with disdain.
In the Battle Club's section of the stands, Sonny leaned over to Lucian. "So, who do you think will win?" he asked, a subtle hint of malice in his eyes as he glanced at Wade warming up on the sidelines.
Lucian, who knew Wade personally but had also seen Russell's power firsthand, hesitated. "It should be Wade, right?" He was uncertain. Russell's light cannon was a game-changer, but if it missed, he'd have no chance.
Sonny's mood instantly improved. "Yeah, it would be great if Russell could win," he said with fake regret. "But it doesn't matter if he loses. After all, even you can't beat Wade, Lucian."
Far away in New Metro, Nancy was staring blankly at the live broadcast, her father sitting beside her. "Dad," she asked hesitantly, "are you sure this Russell is the same Russell I know?"
"It's your former classmate," Jonathan Whitemore confirmed, his own expression grim.
Nancy gasped. "No way. How is he already at the silver level? Dad, you're only at the gold level."
"The new waves of the river push the old," he said after a moment's silence. "Though his progress is a little beyond my expectations, it is a good thing."
"Then who do you think will win?" she pressed.
He thought for a moment. "According to the timeline, Russell probably entered the silver level during the winter vacation. It hasn't been long. The other boy, from what the commentators are saying, has been at the silver level for a long time. My reason tells me that his opponent will win."
Nancy puffed up her cheeks. "I don't care! I just think Russell will win!"
Jonathan pushed his glasses up helplessly and chose to placate his daughter. "Okay, okay. Russell will win." But in his own heart, he, too, held a glimmer of hope that the boy could pull it off.
In the Northgate Cardmaker Showdown Center, bathed in the glare of the spotlights, Russell arrived at the venue.
(End of this chapter)
PLz throw Powerstones.