Chapter 237: The Bout Begins

As the clock nudged past seven, Dina and Robert, along with a few others, made their entrance. Among them were a few masters of the martial arts, who had been invited to grace the dojo with their presence. Given Felix's reliance on these experts for the event, their arrival was met with considerable respect and reverence. On the flip side, Henry, along with Theodore, Patrick, and a few others, was also making his way to the dojo. When it came to true mastery, aside from Henry himself, only Patrick and Theodore could claim such a title. The rest, frankly, didn't hold a candle to them. Even Kenneth Moore from the Karate School and Brian Lopez, the martial arts instructor invited by Felix, were considered minor leagues in Henry's book. But, as Henry would say, seeing is believing. Upon Henry's arrival at the dojo, Felix and his crew were already there to welcome them. "Have all these so-called masters arrived?" Henry inquired, his tone cool and measured, giving Felix a glance. "Ah, yes, everyone except Kenneth and Brian has made it," Felix replied hastily. "Good, I've also brought a few folks to enjoy the spectacle," Henry stated. Noticing Patrick and Theodore behind Henry, Felix quickly greeted them, to which both responded with a courteous fist salute. Shortly after, the group made their way inside the dojo and settled down in a quiet corner, ready for the events to unfold. "You guys go and mingle with those masters. We'll just sit back and watch from here," Henry told Felix and his group. Felix, catching the drift, quickly left with Robert. "Mr. Carson, those folks sitting over there must be the so-called masters they've hired, right?" Patrick glanced across to the opposite side where eight individuals were seated, all exuding an air of superiority. "Seems like it," Henry nodded, then asked, "What about them?" "They look like all show and no go to me," Patrick remarked. He wasn't just anybody. Unless they were ancient martial artists, he could tell at a glance whether someone was truly skilled, even among the national martial arts experts. "Mr. Trelawney is spot on. They're all bark and no bite," Theodore chimed in from the side. Henry chuckled, "Let me tell you both, these guys were brought in with a hefty price tag, all to take on Patrick and Silas." "Silas?!" Theodore's expression changed instantly at the mention of the name. Henry understood Theodore's reaction all too well. His years of living in hiding, his time spent as a cripple, were all thanks to Silas. The primary reason Theodore agreed to come to King City with Henry was to seek vengeance against Silas. "Mr. Cavendish, no need to get worked up. These folks are no match for Silas. I'll make sure we stick to the plan, and in the end, you'll have your chance to settle scores," Henry said calmly. "Thank you, Mr. Carson. If I can't take down that scum with my own hands, I'd never rest in peace," Theodore replied, visibly moved. "I understand," Henry nodded. "Mr. Cooper, what's this all about? You doubt my skills, Brian? Why hire me and then bring in these nobodies, and what's with this ridiculous bout?" A cold voice suddenly interrupted from outside. Turning towards the source, they saw a burly man with a full beard, walking in with a step that acknowledged no kin. "Ah... Mr. Lopez, that's not what we meant at all. You're misunderstanding. It's just a friendly exchange among us. Besides, Silas is no ordinary opponent. It's better to be well-prepared," Felix hastily explained, greeting Brian with a fist salute. "Hmph, what a waste of time. Clearly, you have no sincerity!" Brian expressed his displeasure. "So arrogant, thinking he's the best there is," murmured someone in the crowd. "Exactly, never seen anyone so full of themselves." "Can't wait to see him knocked down a peg." At that moment, the other invited masters couldn't help but throw sarcastic remarks towards Brian, anticipating the upcoming showdown. "What did you just say? Believe me, I'll throw you out right now!" Brian's face turned sour as he barked at the others. "Go ahead and try!" was the bold reply. As the words were exchanged, the others stood up, and the atmosphere became charged with tension. Meanwhile, Henry and his group remained cool, unfazed by the brewing storm. Patrick, on the other hand, furrowed his brows, seemingly deep in thought. "Gentlemen, now's not the time for fists. There'll be plenty of time to showcase your skills in the ring. Just remember to keep it clean," Felix quickly intervened, trying to defuse the situation. With a huff, Brian stormed back to his seat, and the rest followed suit, taking their places once again. "Practitioners of martial arts should uphold martial virtue. It's not about being the best but about strengthening the body and spirit. You all seem a bit hot-headed, don't you think?" At that moment, another voice joined the fray. An old man in his fifties, dressed in a pristine white coat with a healthy complexion, made his way into the dojo. Felix and Robert rushed to greet him. "Mr. Moore, welcome! It's an honor to have you." This was Kenneth from the Karate School, a man who claimed the true transmission of Tai Chi and had established his own school, boasting thousands of disciples. "Old man, you should be enjoying your retirement, not showing off here. Be careful, or you might just leave more than just your pride behind," Brian scoffed disdainfully. "Ha, you're quite the spirited one, sir. Seems like I'll have to teach you a lesson in humility later," Kenneth retorted with a laugh. "Teach me? Aren't you here for the same billion-dollar bounty as the rest of us?" Brian shot back. "I'm here to help eradicate a menace to Borealia," Kenneth replied with a smile. "And if there wasn't a billion-dollar reward, would you still have come?" Brian pressed, his tone icy. Kenneth's face tightened. It was a rhetorical question. Who would face Martial Sovereign Silas, a formidable opponent, without the incentive of a billion dollars? Meanwhile, Felix had sneaked over to Henry and whispered, "Mr. Carson, everyone's here. Shall we start?" "Go ahead. I'm just here for the show," Henry replied nonchalantly. "Understood." With that, Felix hurried to the ring. "Mr. Trelawney, did you notice something?" Henry asked, noticing Patrick's concerned expression. "That Brian guy seems familiar, but I can't quite place him. Reminds me of someone who used to work under me," Patrick mused. "An acquaintance?" "Yes, but he was let go for misconduct and vanished. His name was Nicholas Lopez, if I recall correctly." "Hmm, we'll see what he's made of soon enough," Henry nodded. "Now that everyone's here, let's officially start the bout. The last one standing will help us take on Silas. Regardless of the outcome, each participant will receive a billion dollars," Felix announced to the crowd. "Enough talk, let's get on with it!" Brian was the first to grow impatient. Felix, slightly embarrassed, declared, "Very well, let the bout begin!"