Just as a brawl was about to break out, the tavern patrons showed no fear—instead, they were thrilled, craning their necks eagerly, waiting to enjoy the spectacle.
Fortunately, Mr. Raul stepped in just in time and managed to bring things under control. Only Morduk, who had taken a punch, refused to let it go. "That damn brat actually sucker-punched me! I'll kill him! Kid, if you've got the guts, let's settle this in the ring right now. Otherwise, this isn't over…"
"Fine by me! I'll beat you up in the ring too." Jason Luo, young and hot-blooded, couldn't hold back anymore. In his head, he scoffed, "You're just living off a woman, what are you acting tough for?"
Raul immediately sensed things going the wrong way and quickly stepped in. "Calm down, Jason Luo! After signing your contract, your matches and training are arranged by me alone—that's the rule! Besides, you just fought a match. In this state, do you really think you can fight again? Enough, let me handle this."
He then turned to Rebella. "Ma'am, how do you propose to resolve this?"
Rebella was in a foul mood. She had originally planned to recruit Jason Luo, but instead, things had spiraled completely out of control.
Now that Morduk had taken a punch out of nowhere, there was no way she could just let it slide. Looking at Morduk, still raging, she said irritably, "What else is there to do? My man got punched. Unless that kid apologizes and pays up, we'll settle this in the ring."
"Why should I? He pushed me first!" Jason Luo shot back. He wasn't afraid of a fight in the ring, but apologizing and paying compensation? No way.
Tony Huo and Kamman stepped forward to testify that it was indeed Morduk who pushed first.
Things were getting messy. Morduk stomped angrily. "Brat, I don't want your damn compensation. You're fighting me today—if not in the ring, then I'll beat you to death right here!"
At that moment, Mr. Miao and his companion approached. "Hold it right there, sir. Watch your words. Based on what you just said, I have every right to sue you for threatening my friend."
The speaker was Mr. Miao's companion. Morduk froze, then snapped, "Don't try that trick on me—I don't scare easy."
"Oh, is that so?" The middle-aged man calmly pulled out a business card. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Richard Cao, a practicing attorney here in the States. If you don't mind, why don't you give me your lawyer's contact information? We can settle this through legal channels."
"Uh…" Morduk glanced at the card and instantly backed down.
Realizing who Richard Cao was, Morduk felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over him. He instantly sobered up. "Ah… sir, you've misunderstood. I was only joking earlier. No need to take legal action over something this small."
Richard Cao frowned. "Are you sure? You should trust in the fairness of the law. I suggest you reconsider. It doesn't matter who files the lawsuit—if this assault case is won, the compensation will be considerable."
There was an intimidating aura about him. Though his words were polite, Morduk felt as if a venomous snake had its fangs fixed on him, sending a chill down his spine.
Seeing outsiders now involved, Rebella didn't want things to escalate further. She stepped in. "Alright, gentlemen, no need to make a fuss over a slip of the tongue. We're simply asking the kid to accept the challenge. That doesn't violate any laws, and it's the best way to resolve this."
But Mr. Raul shook his head firmly. "Definitely not today. He just stepped out of the ring—it would be completely unfair! As for whether we'll accept the challenge, I can't decide yet. I need to review both fighters' records and consult with his coach before giving an answer."
"Pfft!"
Morduk sneered. "Just admit you're too scared to fight! Stop making excuses. The match can be postponed—just say yes or no!"
His aggressive taunting fired up the tavern crowd, who began shouting along.
"Fight! You're both boxers—what's the point of arguing? Settle it in the ring, that's the real way!"
"Exactly! A fight that started with fists should be ended with fists…"
…
Just then, Coach Pedro, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly spoke. "We accept your challenge. The match will be three days from now. The winner will be decided in the ring, and after that, neither side may pursue the matter further."
Rebella looked to Raul, who could only nod. "Since the coach has spoken, it's settled. Here's my contact information—we'll discuss the match details tomorrow."
"Good! That's the best outcome. Regardless of the result, I expect this to be a fair fight." Rebella then turned to Jason Luo and gave him a sharp look. "Don't say I didn't warn you—Morduk's last opponent still hasn't been discharged from the hospital…"
With that, she left with a satisfied smile. Morduk followed, sneering coldly as he mimed slitting his throat.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser