Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's gaze swept downwards. Indeed, Kamishita Nagi did not have a livestock tag on his chest; he was not "livestock."
"Since you're not challenging me through a Formal Match, I don't have to accept your challenge, do I?"
Ayanokoji waved his hand and said lazily, "Kamishita Nagi, you can leave."
Kamishita Nagi quickly explained, "Wait! Actually, I can act as an agent for other livestock and accept challenges on their behalf."
"Is that allowed?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at Togakushi Yukimi.
Togakushi Yukimi knew more about Formal Match matters. She pushed up her glasses and nodded, "That's right. In a Formal Match, you can ask someone else to be your agent, but this also requires the consent of the challenged party. If they don't agree, the Formal Match won't be established."
Ayanokoji looked at Kamishita Nagi again, and before Ayanokoji could speak, he quickly said, "If you can't accept this method, I can also become livestock myself and then compete with you. I haven't used my Formal Match opportunity yet!"
"Then wait until you become livestock." Ayanokoji Kiyotaka issued the eviction order again.
"Hey, what's wrong with Ayanokoji? If you're a hero, don't run away from a fight!" Kamishita Nagi frowned and clicked his tongue.
He thought Ayanokoji Kiyotaka would readily accept his "gambling duel" invitation, but he didn't expect this guy to be so evasive.
"I'm not running away from a fight. It's just that you haven't given me a reason to 'fight'." Ayanokoji shook his head and said unhurriedly.
"I put up 20 million yen as a stake. Isn't that enough to make you fight?"
Saying that, Kamishita Nagi pulled out a bank card from his pocket and waved it at them, "This bank card has 20 million yen. As long as you win, Ayanokoji, this money is yours."
"It's really 20 million..."
Although she saw such a large sum of money, Meari didn't feel happy; her mood was still a bit heavy.
It seemed that Mibusakaomi Aoi was determined to oppose Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and wanted to take the patent rights from him.
She looked at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka worriedly, wondering what he would choose to do.
She was very worried that Ayanokoji would lose his mind at the sight of such a large sum of money and choose to continue gambling with Kamishita Nagi.
But as the amount of money grew larger and larger, Meari felt that she no longer had the right to offer an opinion, and the final choice still had to be left to Ayanokoji himself.
"So what if it's 20 million? No matter how much your stake is, you have to follow my rules."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka had a guaranteed chance to win no matter what he played, so agreeing to Kamishita Nagi wouldn't be a problem. However, to maintain control of the conversation, Ayanokoji was not prepared to give in.
If he gave in once, Mibusakaomi Aoi would take an inch for every mile.
If he gave in this time, then the next time Mibusakaomi Aoi sent someone, he could use it to demand further concessions from him.
Although he had to show the other party his unyielding attitude, Ayanokoji Kiyotaka didn't mind changing the game.
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth curled upwards, "Kamishita Nagi, you don't like playing dice?"
"I still like playing dice, but I don't like leaving my victory or defeat to luck." Kamishita Nagi's eyes lit up, and he quickly pressed, "Ayanokoji, are you willing to change the game?"
"I've thought of a game that relies on pure skill. It just depends on whether you dare to play it."
Ayanokoji Kiyotaka spread his left hand flat on the table. While Kamishita Nagi was bewildered, he made a loose fist with his right hand and performed a motion of repeatedly stabbing between his fingers, smiling faintly, "Have you heard of Quick Knife Finger Jab? Do you dare to play this game?"
Kamishita Nagi's expression became subtle, "You're not talking about that game where you cycle a dagger through your fingers, dancing on the tip of the blade, are you...?"
"That's right." Ayanokoji smiled and nodded, deliberately provoking, "This is a chance to prove your pure skill. You should accept it, after all... a hero wouldn't run away from a fight, would they?"
He didn't expect the words he used to provoke Ayanokoji to be used back against him.
Kamishita Nagi's face was extremely grim. If he accepted, he knew he hadn't practiced and would definitely lose, perhaps even cutting off his fingers.
If he didn't accept, it would be too embarrassing, especially since he had just used that phrase to deliberately provoke Ayanokoji...
Just as Kamishita Nagi was awkwardly cornered, the person waiting at the door felt that if he didn't step in to save the situation, Kamishita Nagi might actually accept this "life-gambling" duel.
A tall, black-haired man walked in from the doorway. He said with a grave expression, "Ayanokoji-kun, there's no deep-seated animosity between us. There's no need to gamble in such a bloody way, is there?"
"Mibuomi-sama instructed us when we came that he hoped to maintain a friendly relationship with Ayanokoji-kun and that the gamble must be conducted in a way that doesn't harm our friendship."
"Great, you're just in time..." Kamishita Nagi breathed a sigh of relief and nodded repeatedly in agreement, "That's right, Renshochen-sama instructed us this way. He doesn't want to harm our relationship."
Before they came, Mibusakaomi Aoi had indeed instructed them this way. He even said it was fine to lose, but they absolutely must not cause Ayanokoji Kiyotaka to dislike Zenshoukai.
Kamishita Nagi had initially scoffed at Mibusakaomi Aoi's words, but now they were helping him out.
"You are...?" Ayanokoji Kiyotaka looked at the other person.
"Excuse me, I am Ibuki Jotaro." The boy straightened his back and nodded calmly, "Like Kamishita Nagi, I am also a Zenshoukai councilor, and I am also here to challenge you."
"What do you want to play with me?"
"As long as I can gamble with you, any game is fine."
As soon as Ibuki Jotaro finished speaking, Kamishita Nagi quickly tugged at his clothes and whispered to him.
"Hey, if we're still just throwing dice, we can't even use our abilities! What's the difference between us and anyone else then!"
Ibuki Jotaro said in a deep voice, "Even if I lose, it can only mean I'm not as skilled."
"You're such a stubborn guy..."
Kamishita Nagi sighed and scratched his head in frustration. He looked up at Ayanokoji Kiyotaka and said, "Ayanokoji, this makes it difficult for us. How about this, I'll add a stake."
"If I win this round, I'll only take half of the stake from you, which is 10 million yen. If I lose, I'll give all the money to you."
This was Kamishita Nagi's last attempt. If Ayanokoji didn't accept, he would have no choice but to return.
It was because he didn't challenge Ayanokoji through a Formal Match. Now the initiative was with Ayanokoji, and there was nothing Kamishita Nagi could do if Ayanokoji refused him; he could only swallow his anger.
Ayanokoji still shook his head, but what he said made Kamishita Nagi's heart stir.
"I don't lack this half of the betting money, and I don't believe I'll lose. By the way... do you have a belt?"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"