Chapter 44: A Handsome Profit

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Morning broke, the sky as clear as ever. Amid the usual bustle of the camp, a strange undercurrent pulsed through the air. Groups of people, faces marked by varying emotions, hurried in twos and threes toward the camp's largest square.

In the administrative building of the Independent Company, everyone had arrived early for once, preparing for the day’s events. After a careful disguise and donning an ordinary set of camouflage fatigues, Cui Dazhou slipped quietly into Wang Ji’s office.

“Commander, there are at least fifty betting rings inside the camp at the moment. I estimate that the wagers for today’s fight exceed ten thousand crystal cores,” Cui Dazhou reported in a low voice, focusing especially on the covert gambling rings set up by various factions.

“We can bet on this match? What are the odds for us now?” Wang Ji asked, visibly intrigued.

Cui Dazhou managed a wry smile, his cheeks coloring. “If we win, it pays five to one. For Cao Muhua, it’s one and a half to one. Commander... It seems Cao Muhua is confident. He set up a betting ring himself. Because of the rumors from his side, our odds have…”

Wang Ji’s eyes gleamed with interest. He lowered his voice, “Dazhou, since that’s the case, let’s help him out. Go find He Guangsheng…”

After a brief exchange of whispers, Cui Dazhou, carrying Wang Ji’s trust and instructions, quietly slipped out of the administrative building.

Soon after, two more betting rings appeared in the camp. One belonged to Cui Dazhou; his odds were unremarkable, but he discreetly sent agents in batches to wager a total of a thousand crystal cores at Cao Muhua’s ring, betting on Wang Ji’s victory at five to one.

The minor boss working for Cao Muhua, following his instructions, accepted the crystal cores without hesitation and gleefully reported to Cao Muhua that they would make a fortune.

Meanwhile, He Guangsheng’s betting ring opened as well, but with the odds reversed. The camp’s various factions responded differently. Some, having heard that He Guangsheng had already pledged loyalty to Wang Ji, understood his odds, though they pitied his unwavering devotion.

Nearly everyone in the camp believed Wang Ji was doomed this time.

“He Guangsheng really is a fool. If he doesn’t use this chance to cut ties with Wang Ji, he’s an idiot.” Several gang leaders shook their heads, even sending their men with crystal cores to bet at He Guangsheng’s ring.

An hour before the match, crystal cores began to flow through the camp in unprecedented volumes.

“Xiao Yan, are you really not going to place a bet?”

On the way to the arena, Yan Fenqi’s companions teased him. Like him, they spent their days risking their lives for various gangs, cleaning up after field missions to collect spoils for logistics.

A month’s hard work earned them a single level-one crystal core. All his companions had bet on Cao Muhua’s victory, but Yan Fenqi disagreed, quietly harboring a secret.

Not long ago, during a field operation, he’d ducked away to relieve himself only to find that his gang had abandoned him, leaving him to face a pack of mutant dogs alone. On the brink of death, cursing his comrades, he shut his eyes in despair—yet the end never came.

When he opened his eyes, he saw corpses strewn about and a young man with a dagger standing amid them, smiling.

“Who are you?” he managed to ask.

The young man sheathed his dagger and turned to leave, but not before saying words Yan Fenqi would never forget.

“My name is Wang Ji. It’s dangerous here; hurry back to the camp.”

Only when Wang Ji and Cao Muhua faced off at the west gate did Yan Fenqi finally realize that his savior that day was the commander of the Independent Company.

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So, even as his companions placed bets on Cao Muhua, and the air was thick with rumors of Cao’s impending victory, Yan Fenqi held fast. He clutched the betting slip he’d just received from He Guangsheng’s ring, took a deep breath, and whispered to himself,

“I believe you can win!”

…

Meanwhile, at the main square, Chen Yukai had his men finish preparations early. A one-meter-high platform nearly forty square meters in size stood at the center, its perimeter fenced off for the crowd. Armed soldiers guarded the area, maintaining order.

After the bloody murder by Lisa, emotions in the camp had grown more volatile, and Chen Yukai used this opportunity to give people an outlet. He had purposely left the betting markets unregulated, hoping to ease the tension.

The combatants had yet to arrive, but the crowd was already packed, most of them having staked wagers and full of excitement.

As ten o’clock approached, Chen Yukai led Liu Tao and Sun Guoyao, senior leaders of the camp, to the judging area by the arena and took their seats to await the match.

“Commander, as far as I know, Wang Ji’s troops have been with him for less than three months. Why would he agree to this match against Commander Cao?” Liu Tao asked Chen Yukai in a low voice.

Chen Yukai pondered, then turned the question back, “Commander Liu, you don’t have faith in Commander Wang?”

“It’s not that. I just try to judge by the facts as they are. I’m not saying Commander Wang is incapable,” Liu Tao replied, shaking his head.

Chen Yukai glanced at Sun Guoyao, then said, “If I told you that none of us here can match Wang Ji in terms of potential, military acumen, and overall ability, would you believe me?”

Lin Hanya, who stood beside Chen Yukai, protested, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Impossible! That kid’s even younger than I am—how could he be that formidable?”

Sun Guoyao’s face flushed. “Commander! Sure, Wang Ji is impressive, but does he really compare to you?”

Liu Tao said nothing, falling silent as he considered Chen Yukai’s words.

“Sun, if you don’t change your temperament, you’ll never advance,” Chen Yukai sighed. Sun Guoyao ducked his head with an awkward chuckle. “Commander, as long as I can follow you, I don’t care about advancement—there’s nowhere else to go anyway.”

Thinking of the current chaos of the catastrophe, a shadow passed over Chen Yukai’s eyes. “And Hanya, never judge by appearances. Let’s not gossip. Time will tell who is right.”

“Yes, Commander!”

The group fell silent, awaiting the arrival of the main participants.

Soon enough, Cao Muhua and Wang Ji each led their respective teams through the crowd, shoulder to shoulder.

Throughout the walk, Houzi kept his sharp gaze locked on Cao Muhua’s lead fighter—a towering brute of a man, nearly two meters tall, muscles bulging, radiating raw explosive power.

“Right on time, Commander Wang. You’re not thinking of surrendering, are you? You brought these scrawny chicks to fight me?” Cao Muhua sneered, his laughter ringing out.

Wang Ji’s face darkened before he managed a smile. “All those muscle-bound oafs of yours—without their weapons, they’re all show and no substance. If you lose, how will you pay off all those wagers?”

Cao Muhua laughed heartily, undaunted. “Did you bet on your own victory at my ring, Commander Wang? You’re welcome to it. If you’re so eager to admit defeat and hand me your money, I’ll even tell my guys to go easy on yours and spare a few lives.”

His expression twisted with barely contained madness, and Wang Ji, seeing it, felt a chill.

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“There’s something wrong with Cao Muhua,” Wang Ji thought to himself. He kept his face neutral and led his team away, refusing to be drawn into Cao’s provocations.

Cao Muhua laughed after them, feeling triumphant.

Behind him, Houzi flipped the brute the middle finger and mouthed, “Idiot, eat shit!”

The brute caught on, grinned with savage relish, and drew his hand across his throat in a slashing gesture.

The two teams glared at each other, sparks flying in the air between their locked gazes.

Seeing everyone in position, Chen Yukai rose to announce, “Now that everyone’s here, I’ll repeat the rules before the match begins.

“Each bout lasts thirty minutes. Whoever falls from the platform first loses.

“If a fighter is unable to continue, it counts as a forfeit.

“If a representative concedes, the other side must stop attacking immediately.

“No weapons or protective gear are allowed.

“Do you all understand?”

He looked pointedly at Cao Muhua and Wang Ji, his authority brooking no challenge.

Wang Ji nodded, acknowledging the rules.

Cao Muhua scoffed, annoyed that the rules made it harder for him to slaughter his opponents as planned. “Commander Chen, you and your rules. Fine, I’m in a good mood today, so I’ll agree to them.”

Chen Yukai, unimpressed with Cao Muhua’s attitude, snorted. “Fate will decide. Let the first match begin!”

Cao Muhua ignored Chen Yukai’s displeasure, signaling to his massive subordinate before sitting down with a cup of fragrant tea, as if settling in for a show.

The brute cast a vicious smile at Houzi’s team, his voice booming. “Old Wolf! You’re up first!”

From behind him stepped a powerfully built man, a deep scar running from his eye to his ear, his predatory gaze fixed on his prey.

Wang Ji patted Houzi on the shoulder. “You take command. Don’t worry—I’m here.”

Houzi nodded gravely and, surveying his eager teammates, decided to play it safe after seeing the malice on Old Wolf’s face.

“Lao Yan, you’re up for the first round!”

Yan Song smiled in satisfaction, saluted Wang Ji and Houzi, and declared, “Yan Song will not let you down!”

With that, he strode confidently onto the platform.