Chapter 139 The King Of The Underworld
While ten million was not an astronomical amount to the people present, neither was it a trivial sum that could be ignored. More importantly, it was the message behind the wager that drew everyone’s attention. The pair had entered the arena, revealed their identities, and immediately staked twenty million on a preliminary match without batting an eye.
The confidence behind such a move was enough to make even seasoned veterans take notice.
Soon, the atmosphere within the VIP section began to shift.
One person increased their wager.
Then another followed.
Before long, several influential guests who had initially planned to sit back and observe found themselves joining the excitement. Like the first stone thrown into a calm lake, Gideon and Ashley’s actions had created ripples that spread throughout the VIP section, stirring the competitive instincts of everyone around them.
In a place where wealth, pride, and influence were constantly being measured against one another, nobody wanted to be the person who appeared timid after such a bold display.
"Well then, since Mr. Walker has already set the baseline for the wager, how about we make things a little more interesting?"
The masked man, who had remained silent throughout the entire evening, suddenly spoke.
The moment his voice echoed through the VIP section, the atmosphere shifted.
If Gideon and Ashley’s appearance had shocked the regular patrons of the underground arena, then the masked man’s decision to speak was even more startling. Many of the frequent visitors knew exactly who he was, or rather, how influential he was. He was not someone who casually involved himself in the affairs of others, nor was he known for participating in conversations with newcomers.
Yet now, he had voluntarily stepped into the spotlight.
"Please, do tell."
A faint smirk tugged at Gideon’s lips as he turned toward the masked man.
Although Ashley was still comfortably seated on his lap, the relaxed air around him vanished almost instantly. His gaze sharpened, and his posture straightened ever so slightly. The playful atmosphere from earlier disappeared, replaced by something far more serious.
To the onlookers, it felt as though the noisy underground arena had suddenly transformed into a negotiation room.
Two powerful figures sat across from one another, testing each other’s intentions.
The masked man leaned back in his seat.
"Since you’ve wagered ten million on Drake, it would be inappropriate for the rest of us to lag behind."
His eyes narrowed beneath the mask.
"I’ll add the title deed to a parcel of land my company recently acquired in the western district."
A ripple spread through the VIP section.
The western district.
Everyone present understood the significance of those words.
The government had recently announced plans to transform the area into the city’s next major commercial hub. Once the proposed infrastructure projects were completed, property values there would skyrocket. Even conservative estimates placed the future value of a prime plot in the district at well over ten billion.
The masked man paused before calmly adding,
"And I’ll throw in another ten million on top of that."
This time, even the seasoned veterans of the VIP section couldn’t hide their reactions.
Several people sucked in sharp breaths.
Others exchanged meaningful glances.
A ten-million wager was one thing.
A title deed worth potentially billions was something else entirely.
Gideon’s eyes flickered with interest.
"Oh?" he said, his smile deepening slightly. "And what prompted such a generous wager all of a sudden?"
His tone was casual, but his mind was already working.
People like the masked man did not make moves without reason.
The larger the wager, the greater the objective behind it.
This was no longer about the fight taking place inside the arena.
The moment that title deed entered the conversation, the real game had already begun.
"I mean no harm. Consider this a small welcome gift from me to the both of you for coming all this way and uncovering this place." The masked man spoke calmly, his tone carrying a deeper meaning beneath the surface.
Though he never stated it outright, his implication was unmistakable. It was as if he knew exactly why Ashley and Gideon had come and what they were truly investigating. The subtle revelation would have unsettled most people, but neither Ashley nor Gideon appeared concerned.
On the contrary, the exchange suited them perfectly. It seemed that the true mastermind behind the underground arena, the biggest fish lurking beneath the murky waters, had finally taken notice of their presence.
Gideon’s eyes narrowed slightly as he studied the masked man. The gift being offered was far too generous to be dismissed as simple hospitality. More importantly, the timing of it spoke volumes.
The masked man was essentially betting on Drake’s victory and was willing to throw this opportunity their way as a gesture of goodwill. It was his way of signaling that he was open to future cooperation.
Of course, expressing interest and actually forming an alliance were two entirely different matters.
The message hidden beneath the man’s words was crystal clear: he had been watching them from the very beginning. Every move they made, every decision they took, had likely fallen under his scrutiny.
This gift was not a reward; it was a test. A token of favor extended to gauge their worth. Whether that favor remained would depend entirely on what they did next. Only if they continued to satisfy his expectations would the mysterious ruler of the underground world truly consider working with them.
The realization made Ashley’s heart pound against her chest, her pulse quickening despite her outward composure. She had achieved the first step of her objective, but nothing was certain yet. All she had truly accomplished was catching the attention of the man she had been searching for.
Unlike most people, Ashley knew the truth about Maple Leaf City.
To outsiders, it appeared that the city’s wealthy businessmen and influential families controlled everything. They stood beneath the spotlight, flaunting their power and wealth for all to see.
However, those who truly understood the city’s inner workings knew that the people on the surface were merely figureheads. Hidden beneath the dazzling facade was a king who ruled the underground world, a man whose influence stretched far beyond illegal businesses and shadowy dealings.
He controlled the flow of information.
He controlled the transportation routes.
And in many ways, he controlled the city’s economy itself.
The masked man sitting before her was very likely that king.
In truth, he had been Ashley’s real target from the very beginning.
One of the reasons she possessed such extensive knowledge about Maple Leaf City was because it had once been included in the long-term expansion plans she had designed for York Corporation.
Years ago, she had conducted thorough research into the city, dissecting its power structure and uncovering secrets that most people would never learn in their lifetime. However, after completing her investigation, she had reached a firm conclusion.
The Yorks were not ready.
At least, not yet.
No matter how wealthy or powerful they appeared elsewhere, entering Maple Leaf City prematurely would be the equivalent of throwing themselves into a den of wolves. Without sufficient influence, they would be swallowed whole by the forces lurking beneath the surface before they could secure a foothold.
Because of that, Ashley had quietly shelved the plan while continuing to gather information whenever possible.
That groundwork was precisely why she recognized the masked man the moment she saw him.
And it was also why she had deliberately led Gideon to the seats beside him.
The move had not been accidental.
She wanted him to notice them.
She wanted to place them directly within his field of vision.
Of course, it was a gamble. There was always the possibility that such a move could be interpreted as disrespectful or intrusive. Yet Ashley was willing to take that risk. Based on everything she had learned about the mysterious ruler of Maple Leaf City’s underground world, he was not the type to become offended by mere proximity.
Not unless someone acted arrogantly, overstepped their boundaries, or presumed a familiarity they had not earned.
As long as they remained respectful, Ashley believed there was a far greater chance that the masked man would become curious rather than irritated.
And judging by the gift he had just offered them, her gamble appeared to be paying off.
Ashley had never been worried that the masked man would act unreasonably. A ruler who had managed to dominate Maple Leaf City’s underground world for so many years could not have reached such a position through impulsiveness or petty emotions alone.
In fact, she was certain that the moment he learned their names, he would already know who they were.
The masked man controlled the flow of information throughout the city. Very few people entered or left his territory without his knowledge. Every major transaction, every influential figure, and every outsider worth paying attention to would inevitably appear on his radar. Since he kept a firm grip on the city’s invisible networks, Ashley had no doubt that he had been aware of their arrival long before they ever stepped foot inside the arena.