Chapter 167 - 166: How About a Meetup?

After finishing breakfast, Yvonne Lowell patted Leogryph’s head and stood up. "Go on and play. That way, you can’t say I’m restricting your freedom. I’m going to check out the fighting arena."

With that, she headed out of the main building, but Leogryph trailed closely behind her, step for step.

The moment she stepped into the bird’s nest-shaped building next to the training ground, Yvonne Lowell heard a clamor of voices.

People were sparring in pairs on every fighting ring. As for the others, instead of sitting in the stands, they insisted on crowding around the rings to heckle.

"Beat him! Beat him up!"

"Throw a punch! Faster!"

"Can you even do it? If not, let me take over!"

"Sis, go for his lower body! Monkey Steals the Peach! Grab his family jewels!"

"What the hell! Who teaches someone to fight dirty like that? Bro, pull her hair! Scratch up her face!"

"..."

Yvonne Lowell stood on the steps at the entrance, listening to the motley assortment of advice as lines of exasperation formed on her forehead.

’Did I really teach them to fight like this?!’

Her subordinates: But Master, you’re the one who told us! It’s not like we’re trying to get into the UFC. In our line of work, winning is all that matters. Nothing else is important. (⁎⁍̴̛ᴗ⁍̴̛⁎)

Seeing Yvonne Lowell standing still, Leogryph’s mischievous side emerged. It ran forward and nudged the thigh of a person on the outer edge of the crowd.

The man, still focused on the match, flinched his leg away. "Hey, don’t shove. I can barely see as it is, and there’s plenty of space over there."

Leogryph then lifted a paw and tapped him on the hip.

The man shuffled aside, irritated. "Seriously? Are you happy now? Stop shoving me."

Leogryph once again rammed him hard with its head, sending the man sprawling to the ground. The person next to him nearly lost their balance as well.

"Damn it! I said, are you ever going to—" His voice died in his throat.

The man was stunned for a moment after he fell. He looked up, ready to unleash a torrent of curses, only to see Leogryph standing over him, looking down.

’Was it just his imagination, or did he see a cunning glint in Leogryph’s eyes, as if its prank had succeeded???’

’He’d heard from the other guys that Leogryph liked to play pranks and mess with them sometimes, but he’d never believed it.’

’So now... what goes around, comes around? It’s true what they say—you don’t know how much it hurts until you’re the one getting stabbed.’

"Leo... Leogryph. It’s you, heh heh. What a coincidence. Here to watch the sparring matches too, huh?"

’Even though he knew it didn’t bite, he didn’t dare get up with it just standing there like that.’

The people standing around him had their attention drawn as well. They looked down at the "heartwarming" scene of the man and the beast getting along so "lovingly." No one had the heart to interrupt.

"Come here."

Hearing the voice, Leogryph shook its head and bolted toward Yvonne Lowell.

The crowd turned to look as well, only to see their master walking toward them, silhouetted against the light.

To the man on the ground, those two short words were like music from the heavens, as refreshing as a spring breeze.

Yvonne Lowell: Thanks for asking. If you don’t know how to use idioms properly, just don’t.

"Maaaasssteeeer~~~"

The man on the ground’s eyes lit up, his voice ringing out with a dramatic cadence.

The others around them also greeted Yvonne Lowell one after another.

Yvonne Lowell walked up to them and looked down at the man on the floor, a teasing smile in her eyes. "Not getting up yet? Do you need me to give you a hand?"

"ROAR!" ’No way! If anyone’s pulling him up, it’s me!’

With that, Leogryph raised a paw, about to haul him up.

The man shot to his feet with a "WHOOSH" and chuckled sheepishly. "N-No need, heh heh."

Yvonne Lowell gave him a wry, knowing glance, then turned to watch the matches with Leogryph.

Hearing the rising and falling cheers, the corners of Yvonne Lowell’s mouth turned up slightly.

On the ring right in front of her stood a man with bulging muscles, his fist currently being held high in victory by the referee.

Glancing at the electronic leaderboard on the wall, Yvonne Lowell raised an eyebrow. "You’re kidding. Has no one managed to beat Colin yet?"

Hearing this, the crowd lowered their heads, looking a little embarrassed.

’Aside from the seven of you, who could possibly beat him?!’ they thought collectively. ’The guy’s a monster made of pure muscle!’

The man on the stage, Colin, had noticed Yvonne Lowell’s arrival long ago.

Once the winner was declared, he jumped right off the stage and ran up to Yvonne Lowell.

He flashed a goofy grin, showing off his pearly whites. "Master, you’re here."

"Not bad. Still at the top of the board with a 100% win rate after two years."

A hint of admiration crossed Yvonne Lowell’s eyes. Colin was indeed a rare talent.

Colin scratched his head, a humble look on his face. "Heh heh, it’s mainly because you and the Master of the Carefree Hall are great teachers."

"Alright, you all carry on. I was just passing through." Yvonne Lowell patted Leogryph’s head. "Let’s go."

Watching her leave, Colin couldn’t help but call out, "Master, you once said that if I beat the Master of the Carefree Hall, I could spar with you. Is that offer still valid?"

Yvonne Lowell stopped in her tracks. She glanced back at the crowd, who were all watching her in unison, and smiled.

"It’s a permanent offer. For everyone."

Having dangled the carrot, she left with Leogryph without a backward glance.

’If I don’t get out of here now, they’re going to rope me into being a sparring partner.’

The crowd was silent for a moment, then erupted into even more thunderous cheers.

Tina, who was second on the leaderboard, was so excited she punched Colin twice on the arm.

"Does this mean I don’t have to beat you to move up the ranks? I can just challenge the Master of the Carefree Hall directly, right?"

Colin winced, clutching his arm. A corner of his mouth twitched. "Good luck getting the Master of the Carefree Hall to even give you the time of day."

’Damn,’ he thought. ’This woman’s technique might not be as good as mine, but she has the strength of an ox.’

...

「Kingsland, a private airstrip.」

Leo Grant and Nolan Crawford strode inside, followed by Ian Lynch.

Warren Lynch stood beside a private jet, bowing slightly to the newcomers.

"Master, we can take off at any time."

After they boarded the plane, Nolan Crawford asked, a little confused, "Bro, why aren’t we taking a helicopter?"

"We’re conducting this business trip under our public identities."

Leo Grant sipped his coffee as he picked up a nearby file and began flipping through it casually.

The penny dropped for Nolan Crawford, and he continued with renewed excitement,

"Didn’t we establish contact with Moonshadow because of the X Alliance? Should we arrange a meet-up? Oh, right, Bro! Isn’t there an auction at the underground auction house on Continent N? Why don’t we check it out? Do you think Falcon will be there?"

"You seem awfully eager to jump ship," Leo Grant said, giving him a sideways glance. "How about we forget the business deal, skip the auction, and I’ll just send you straight to Moonshadow HQ to apply for a job?"

Nolan Crawford laughed sheepishly. "Of course not. My heart and soul belong to The Shadow Pavilion."

After a pause, Nolan Crawford continued, "Wait, Bro, you actually know where Moonshadow HQ is?"

Seeing the vein throbbing on Leo Grant’s temple, Ian Lynch silently stepped forward, clamped a hand over Nolan’s mouth, and dragged him away to a nearby seat.

"Young Master Crawford, I have a file here that I don’t quite understand. Could you explain it to me?"

’If he let him keep talking, everyone on this plane was going to go down with him.’