Chapter 297: Only the Survivor Wins

Damian’s expression slowly changed as Brakk’s final words echoed across the festival grounds.

The entire VIP section had become unnaturally quiet.

He glanced toward Cassian Valeria, then at Aldren Valehart. Both of their faces looked terrifyingly calm.

Damian already knew that beneath that calm was a raging ocean on the verge of erupting.

He looked back at Brakk and cursed him viciously in his mind.

"You fucking protagonist... Why are you always looking for trouble whenever I’m around? Goddammit."

Damian suddenly turned toward Esmeralda, grabbed her hand, and hurriedly said, "Let’s go."

Esmeralda blinked at him in confusion. "Hm? Go? Why? Isn’t this exactly the kind of show you wanted to watch?"

Damian stared at her. "A good show?"

He quietly pointed toward the two patriarchs. "Just look at their fucking faces for a minute."

Esmeralda followed his gaze.

Damian lowered his voice. "Brakk just publicly accused both families of destroying Cassandra’s life, controlling their juniors, and possibly framing her as a demonic cultivator. And the worst part..."

His expression grew more serious. "What he said probably isn’t entirely wrong."

Esmeralda’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Damian continued, "It doesn’t matter if everyone here thinks Brakk is talking bullshit. He mixed enough truth into what he said that some people might actually start believing him."

His lips tightened as he glanced toward the two patriarchs. "So if the Valerias and Valeharts decide they need to shut this whole thing down before it gets any worse, things could turn very fucking ugly."

Esmeralda raised an eyebrow, frowning slightly. "But we’re in the VIP area. They wouldn’t dare do anything to us."

Damian frowned and lowered his voice. "I know. But that doesn’t mean we can’t get caught in whatever happens next."

He pointed at her. "You’re part of a major family, sure, but you’re still only one member of the younger generation, and not even the most important one."

He pointed at the battlefield. "If you died here, your family would be furious, but in the end, these two families could probably settle it with enough compensation, resources, and concessions."

His expression hardened. "That’s the difference. Being important doesn’t mean you’re untouchable."

Damian tightened his grip on her hand. "So if you already understand that, then stop arguing and let’s get the fuck out of here before this turns into a disaster."

Esmeralda stared at Damian for a moment before sighing. "Damian, I know what you mean, but... are you always this cowardly?"

Damian pointed at himself, looking genuinely offended. "Cowardly? Are you fucking kidding me, Esmeralda?"

He leaned forward and looked her directly in the eyes. "Woman, there’s a very important difference between cowardice and having a functioning fucking brain."

Esmeralda blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected Damian, the shameless pervert, to suddenly become this serious, much less call her "woman" so bluntly.

Damian continued, his voice firm. "Coward or not, only the one who stays alive until the very end gets the chance to become the final winner."

He leaned slightly closer, a grin tugging at his lips. "But, if you really want to keep watching the show... thankfully, you’re beautiful enough to come with me. Just follow my lead."

Esmeralda raised an eyebrow. "You have another place in mind? How do you even know one?"

Damian’s eyes gleamed. "Of course I do. And thanks to my lovely harem, I’ve already mapped out this entire place."

He took Esmeralda by the hand and pulled her along. "Just follow me and keep quiet. I’ll take you to the best seat around here, and, more importantly, the safest one."

Esmeralda studied him for a moment before finally allowing him to pull her along.

She wanted to keep watching, but more than that, she was curious about what Damian planned to do next. After all, she had never seen this side of him before.

---

From the opposite side of the VIP area, Cynthia and the others had also watched Brakk’s entire performance.

Linsey stared down at the arena. "Okay..."

She slowly rubbed her chin. "This Brakk guy is a little fucking stupid, isn’t he?"

Helena snorted. "A little?"

Evelyn remained silent, though even she seemed impressed by how casually Brakk had antagonized two major families at once.

Cynthia sighed. "He’s either extremely brave or extremely stupid, or he has something backing him."

Linsey suddenly stopped listening as her eyes suddenly narrowed. "Wait."

The other three looked toward her.

Linsey pointed toward the arena. "Master Damian said there was a treasure here."

Cynthia nodded slowly. "Yes."

Linsey continued, "And he also said it was something only he could handle."

Cynthia’s expression immediately changed.

Linsey’s grin widened. "Come on. Isn’t it obvious?"

Helena frowned. "What?"

Linsey looked toward her like she was stupid. "Cassandra."

Silence.

Evelyn’s eyes sharpened.

Linsey continued, "Think about it. Whenever Damian sees a talented woman, what does he call her?"

Cynthia’s eye twitched.

Linsey answered herself. "A treasure chest."

Helena slowly rubbed her forehead. "Oh, fuck."

Linsey pointed toward the Valeria section. "So if there’s some super-talented fallen genius woman connected to this festival, and Damian refuses to tell us what the ’treasure’ is..."

Her grin became shameless. "What else could it fucking be?"

Cynthia remained silent for several breaths and slowly nodded. "What you said... actually isn’t wrong."

Helena sighed heavily. "Of course it’s a woman."

Evelyn quietly spoke. "Expected."

Linsey laughed.

Cynthia folded her arms. "Still, we already agreed on the new rule."

The others looked toward her.

She continued calmly, "If Master Damian wants Cassandra to officially join the [Forbidden Immortal Harem], she needs our approval too."

Helena nodded. "Exactly."

Evelyn’s gaze returned to the arena. "Then we watch."

Linsey grinned. "See whether this Cassandra woman is actually as impressive as everyone keeps saying."

Cynthia gave a small nod. "And whether she’s good enough to stand beside Master Damian."

Her eyes slowly shifted toward the distant entrance. "If she really appears today..."

A faint smile formed beneath her mask. "Then I suppose we’ll finally get to inspect our Young Master’s newest treasure chest ourselves."