“It’s quite simple,” Frostblade smiled again. “With over ten thousand participants this time, even if we use the elimination mechanism throughout, it will still take at least six or seven rounds to determine the top 100. Before encountering real prodigies, Boss going up would just be going through the motions. These people couldn’t possibly be his match.”
“For the organizing committee, instead of bothering Boss, it’s better to let the opponents make their own choice. If they’re willing to forfeit, it saves Boss from going up.”
“Tsk tsk, the organizing committee is really good at flattery!” Stout finally understood the situation roughly.
Frostblade chuckled, “Stout, I think you’re feeling itchy.”
“Hey, I’m just speaking the truth.” Stout grinned at Billy, “Boss, with this arrangement, I don’t think you need to take action before the top 100 qualifying matches!”
“Let’s go, and check on Ivy and Casey.” Billy said and stood up, heading towards other platforms.
According to the competition schedule, considering the large number of participants in the Dragon and Phoenix Ranking selection this time, the matches would continue until midnight before concluding.
After nightfall, the thousands of lights around the arena illuminated the place as bright as day.
Ivy, Casey, and others, half of them completed the first round of selection around nine in the evening. There was no suspense, and everyone entered the second round. The remaining half, who drew later numbers, wouldn’t participate until the next afternoon, so they left the arena early.
At ten o’clock in the evening, Billy’s group returned to SHADOW Headquarters.
Shortly after they sat down in the conference hall, urgent footsteps echoed, and Alban entered with an unsightly expression.
“Alban, what’s going on?” Billy asked.
“Commander!” Alban Carroll bowed and saluted. “Inspector Hammond has been injured, quite serious!”
“Hmm?!” A chill emanated from Billy. “What happened?”
“Half an hour ago, Inspector Hammond and a dozen brothers were ambushed by several masked individuals on their way back from the arena to the city. The opponents were skilled, and Inspector Hammond and his men couldn’t match them.” Alban responded in a deep voice.
“When Brigham and I arrived after receiving the news, Inspector Hammond was already injured. Seeing us, the opponents didn’t linger and fled.” Alban explained.
“Boss, is this because of Black Roffe’s matter?” Frostblade furrowed her brows and asked.
“It’s possible!” Billy nodded slightly and then looked at Alban. “Where is Hammond now?”
“In the medical room!” Alban replied.
“Is someone keeping an eye on the attackers?” Billy asked again.
“We’ve had our people follow them. They’re heading out of the city now.” Alban replied once more.
“Ivy, you and Stout go check on Wally Hammond’s injuries. I’ll go see who’s behind this.” Billy turned to Ivy after giving the order.
“Understood!” Ivy nodded slightly.
“Boss, maybe it’s just some small bandits. You don’t need to go. We can go with Azure Fang and his men.” Judge suggested to Billy.
“I’ll go see.” Billy said thoughtfully. He had a faint feeling that this matter might not be that simple.
“We’ll go with you!” Bob and Ian spoke up at the same time.
“No need for so many people.” Billy stood up and waved. “Casey and Azure Dragon will come with me. The rest of you stay at the base.”
“Got it!” Casey and Azure Dragon nodded simultaneously.
“Alban, have the brothers tailing them send me the approximate location on my phone.” Billy ordered before walking towards the door.
“Sure!” Alban replied loudly.
Half an hour later, Billy and the others appeared by a small lake in the south suburbs of the Ancient City.
“Commander!”
After getting out of the car, four SHADOW guards hurried over.
“Where are they?” Billy nodded slightly and asked.
“In that mansion ahead!” One of the brothers pointed to a mansion about two or three kilometers away.
Billy nodded again. “The four of you go back!”
“Commander, shall we go with you?” Another brother suggested.
“No need!” Billy waved his hand. “Go!”
“Yes, Commander!” The four brothers didn’t insist and quickly retreated.
“Boss, could this be a trap?” Azure Dragon asked as he looked around.
“SHADOW transports 50, 000 troops to the Ancient City this time, including boss, Azure Fang and several others, who have shown up. The other party should be aware that what will happen if they hurt Wally Hammond. In theory, they should have fled from the Ancient City once they made a move.”
“Unless they thought they could be a match of you, boss, or else…”
“Or else they harmed Wally Hammond to lure boss out into the open?” Casey, who was standing aside, blurted.
“It’s possible!” Azure Dragon nodded in agreement. He looked at Billy and asked, “Boss, are the super sects preparing to do things to you to prevent you from taking apart in this competition?”
“You got it right!” replied Billy with a thoughtful expression. As soon as he heard Alban Carroll’s report earlier, he had had that speculation–the other party chose Wally Hammond as their target possibly to construct for him an illusion that Wally’s accident was due to Black Roffe.
That was why Billy only let Casey and Azure Dragon accompany him. If there was a powerful enemy waiting for him, the more people he brought, the more passive he became. Just now, when they arrived here, Billy used his spiritual power to probe the surroundings, and he confirmed his suspicion.
“Boss, I’ll make a call to Grand Elder and others right away!” Azure Dragon’s face showed a touch of seriousness. He was well aware that if, as speculated, there were formidable individuals waiting here.
“It’s too late!” Billy spoke up.
Almost simultaneously with their words, the figures of three old men strolled over from a few hundred meters ahead. Their actual ages were indiscernible, but the wrinkled skin suggested that each of them was likely a monstrous being who had lived for two or three centuries. As the three appeared, everything around them was immediately enveloped in a dense aura of pressure, causing even Azure Dragon, a Tier-one War God-Emperor, to feel a subtle difficulty in breathing.
“Darn it! Just as I expected!” Azure Dragon cursed after taking a deep breath.
“Boss, you go first. Azure Dragon and I should be able to hold them off for a minute or two!” Casey’s face also showed a touch of seriousness. He couldn’t detect any martial aura from any of the opponents. Clearly, the cultivation of all three individuals was at least at the perfect stage of War God-Emperor or higher!
“The person on the far left just broke through to the God-Emperor perfection realm not long ago, and his cultivation is not yet stable. You two hold him back when the time comes!” Billy didn’t respond directly to Casey’s words but issued a solemn command.
“Boss, what about the other two geezers? What’s their cultivation?” Azure Dragon asked instinctively.
“The one on the far right is a half-step Sovereign, and the one in the middle has already broken through to the Sovereign realm!” Billy replied in a low voice.
Azure Dragon couldn’t help but let out another curse.