Chapter 33: Fight Me!!

Chapter 33: Chapter 33: Fight Me!!

Colin Whitmore and the other executives stared at Nathaniel Beaumont, momentarily caught off guard by his words.

Nathaniel slowly rose from the sofa.

"Since you all believe I’m unqualified to control the Beaumont Trading Consortium, let’s settle this in the simplest way possible."

His gaze swept across the visitors.

"Five days from now, I’ll go to the consortium’s headquarters."

He paused briefly.

"All of you, along with everyone else in the consortium who refuses to acknowledge my authority, will gather there."

His voice remained calm.

"And fight me."

Silence descended upon the reception room.

Uncle George’s expression changed drastically.

"Young master!"

Nathaniel didn’t turn around.

"If I lose, I’ll never interfere with the consortium’s affairs again. You can manage it however you want."

He continued in the same unhurried tone.

"But if I win, everyone in the Beaumont Trading Consortium, from the highest executive to the lowest-ranking employee, will follow my decisions."

Colin and the others stood frozen.

For a moment, they genuinely wondered whether they had heard him correctly.

An eighteen-year-old student who had awakened his class only days ago wanted to challenge every person in the consortium who refused to submit to him.

Not just the executives sitting in this room.

Everyone.

This was no longer ordinary arrogance.

It was outright madness.

Victoria Shaw frowned deeply.

"Young master, do you understand what you’re saying?"

Nathaniel looked at her.

"Five days from now. Beaumont Trading Consortium headquarters."

His eyes moved across the group.

"Everyone who refuses to submit can come and challenge me together."

He paused.

"I won’t repeat myself a third time."

This time, there was no possibility of misunderstanding.

For a brief moment, nobody spoke.

Then Colin’s eyes lit up with unconcealed delight.

He nearly burst out laughing.

They had originally expected to spend considerable effort stripping Nathaniel of his practical authority. They might have needed to exploit legal procedures, win over department heads, disrupt operations, and gradually pressure him into accepting their arrangements.

But now?

Nathaniel had offered them a shortcut straight to victory.

One confrontation.

Five days.

One decisive outcome.

Colin could hardly believe his luck.

What was Nathaniel thinking?

The consortium’s security division wasn’t staffed entirely by Level 10 or Level 20 professionals. Its senior combat personnel included veterans who had completed multiple class advancements.

Some had already reached Level 200.

Even if Nathaniel had genuinely killed a Level 100 professional, challenging people at that level was a completely different matter.

He had just handed them the opportunity to prove it.

Colin suppressed his excitement and adopted a solemn expression.

"Very well."

He nodded slowly.

"Since the young master insists, we’ll respect your decision."

Victoria immediately followed his lead.

"Then we should put the terms in writing. That way, neither side can dispute the agreement later."

Nathaniel answered without hesitation.

"Fine."

A temporary agreement was drafted on the spot.

Uncle George tried several times to intervene, but Nathaniel stopped him with a glance.

He understood the old butler’s concerns.

Nevertheless, his decision had already been made.

Both sides signed the document.

The agreement was established.

Colin took the signed copy and carefully placed it inside his briefcase. The corners of his mouth kept threatening to rise despite his efforts to maintain a serious expression.

"Young master, we’ll be waiting for you at the consortium’s headquarters in five days."

Nathaniel didn’t bother looking at him again.

"Uncle George, see them out."

Uncle George’s expression remained grim, but he stepped forward.

"Everyone, this way, please."

Colin and the other executives left Cedar Heights Estate.

Their footsteps were noticeably lighter than when they had arrived.

They had come hoping to pressure a young heir into surrendering control.

Instead, they believed they had secured a victory far more decisive than anything they could have achieved through ordinary business negotiations.

Five days from now, Nathaniel Beaumont would learn what it meant to challenge the consortium’s strongest professionals.

At least, that was what they believed.

...

After the Visitors Left

The reception room gradually returned to silence.

Uncle George could no longer contain his anxiety.

"Young master, that was far too reckless!"

His voice carried an urgency rarely heard from him.

"The consortium’s security division employs many powerful professionals. Some have already reached Level 200!"

He looked directly at Nathaniel.

"No matter how extraordinary your talent is, you awakened your class only a few days ago. Agreeing to challenge all of them simultaneously is an enormous risk."

Daniel Mercer was equally unsettled.

He glanced toward his father, then toward Nathaniel.

"Dad, Nathan can defeat Level 100 professionals, can’t he?"

He hesitated before adding, "Then maybe he has a chance against someone at Level 200, right?"

Uncle George shook his head gravely.

"Daniel, you don’t understand the difference."

He took a deep breath.

"The young master’s ability to defeat a Level 100 professional immediately after awakening is extraordinary. Nobody can deny that."

He paused.

"But Level 100 and Level 200 are separated by far more than a hundred levels."

Uncle George had already made inquiries with the Westmere City Guard Command after the incident at the academy.

He had learned that the three Lion Syndicate leaders had deliberately avoided the city’s energy-monitoring systems. Although they had crossed the Level 100 threshold, they hadn’t been exceptionally advanced professionals.

They were dangerous opponents, but their strength shouldn’t be confused with that of seasoned professionals who had completed further advancements.

"Every hundred levels, a professional encounters a major bottleneck," Uncle George explained. "To continue progressing, they must complete a class advancement quest."

He looked at Daniel.

"Each advancement transforms the professional’s level of existence. Their class core develops, their skills improve, and their ability to harness their power changes."

Daniel swallowed.

"How big is the difference?"

Uncle George answered carefully.

"The most obvious difference is their attributes."

He continued, "For many ordinary classes, the attribute gains before the first advancement are relatively modest. After completing the advancement, the points gained per level can increase several times over."

He paused to make sure Daniel understood.

"Under a growth pattern of fifty points per primary attribute per level before advancement, a fivefold increase would mean two hundred and fifty points per attribute with each subsequent level."

Daniel’s expression changed.

Five times the growth per level?

That was an enormous difference.

He had initially assumed that if Nathaniel could kill a Level 100 opponent, he might also have a chance against a Level 200 professional.

Now, he understood how simplistic that assumption had been.

The difference wasn’t merely the number displayed beside someone’s name.

It was the result of an entire advancement.

And the gap could become even larger for rare classes, hidden classes, and powerful legacy classes.

Uncle George continued.

"A Level 200 professional isn’t simply someone who has accumulated a hundred additional levels. They’ve completed a fundamental transformation that Nathaniel hasn’t undergone yet."

He looked toward the doorway through which the executives had departed.

"Their attributes, skills, class cores, and combat experience can all be vastly superior. That’s why I’m worried about the young master’s decision."

The old butler sighed.

"He’s taking a considerable risk."

Daniel fell silent.

He wanted to believe Nathaniel could win.

But after hearing the explanation, he could no longer dismiss the danger.

Then both of them turned toward Nathaniel.

He had listened to the entire discussion without showing any particular reaction.

It wasn’t because he was unaware of the difference between ordinary professionals and those who had completed a class advancement.

He understood the system perfectly well.

The problem was that Uncle George’s calculations didn’t apply to him.

Other professionals might gain fifty points per primary attribute with each level before their first advancement.

Nathaniel’s class was different.

The God of Shadows granted him an extraordinary increase of four hundred points to each primary attribute with every level gained.

His growth rate already exceeded the post-advancement growth pattern Uncle George had just described.

And Nathaniel was currently Level 58.

His attributes had grown far beyond what someone at his level should possess.

Five more days would give him considerably more time to level up.

At his current pace, reaching Level 100 and completing his first class advancement was a genuine possibility.

If he succeeded, his attributes would rise further, and he would gain access to additional class skills.

More importantly, his strength wasn’t limited to his personal attributes.

He commanded an army of Shadow Soldiers.

Unlike a conventional fighter, Nathaniel could bring multiple summons into battle, overwhelm opponents through coordinated attacks, and adapt the size of his force to the situation.

The executives were counting on their numerical strength and the experience of their veteran professionals.

They had no idea how difficult it would be to deal with an opponent who could field an entire army.

Nathaniel looked at Uncle George and Daniel.

"I understand what you’re worried about."

His voice was steady.

"But I don’t fight battles without preparing first."

He stood and adjusted his jacket.

"Five days will be enough."

Uncle George opened his mouth.

"Young master..."

Nathaniel picked up his belongings.

"I’m going to the Westmere Professional Center."

He walked toward the door.

"I have levels to gain."

With that, he left the reception room.

Uncle George watched his departing figure and let out a heavy sigh.

"This is far too risky."

Daniel remained quiet for a while.

Then he suddenly spoke.

"Dad, I think Nathan might actually win."

Uncle George turned toward him.

Daniel scratched his head, his expression uncertain but sincere.

"Think about it. Nathan has always been steady, even when we were children. He doesn’t usually make decisions on impulse."

He paused.

"And he’s always been the most outstanding person among our peers."

Daniel looked toward the doorway.

"If he dared to challenge all those people, he must have a reason."

Uncle George studied his son.

He understood Daniel’s trust in Nathaniel.

Since childhood, Nathaniel had consistently distinguished himself through intelligence, composure, and ability. Daniel had grown up watching his friend accomplish things that others could only admire.

That history had given him tremendous confidence in Nathaniel.

But Uncle George had lived longer and had seen what happened when confidence collided with overwhelming power.

He slowly shook his head.

"Perhaps the young master has grown accustomed to overcoming every challenge."

His expression turned thoughtful.

"Perhaps he underestimates how frightening truly advanced professionals can be."

He looked toward the window.

"Still, if he loses in five days, it might not be entirely a bad thing."

Daniel stared at him.

"Dad?"

Uncle George spoke quietly.

"Young people sometimes need to experience a genuine setback before they understand how unforgiving this world can be."

He paused.

"Those executives aren’t likely to risk killing the legal heir of the Beaumont Trading Consortium in a public confrontation. If Nathaniel loses, he might still walk away with his life and learn an important lesson."

Daniel opened his mouth to argue.

But the explanation of the advancement gap still lingered in his mind.

His confidence wavered.

In the end, he could only stare toward the doorway and clench his fists.

"Nathan..."

His voice was barely audible.

"You have to win."

_______________________________

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