By the time the audience reacted, Argenti had already raised his hand in front of his face. Between his fingers was a bullet, deformed by the immense force of being caught.
["Ohhhh! What just happened?!" Owlbert shouted excitedly. "Contestant Argenti actually caught the bullet fired by Contestant Skott with his bare hand! That speed! That power! That precision! It's so cool!"]
Catching a bullet with bare hands?
Skott's heart pounded wildly. He swallowed hard. Was this guy even human?
What kind of monstrous opponents had he been matched against? Last time it was that petite white-haired girl who could snap solid steel pipes with her bare hands, and now he was facing an "old man" who could catch bullets mid-air… If they wanted him to lose, they should have just said so! He would've thrown the match willingly!
They didn't have to make him go on stage and lose money like this!
"Tranquilizer bullet?" Argenti glanced at the deformed bullet and shook his head regretfully. "This kind of thing can't kill anyone."
"I came to the Martial Exhibition for only one purpose: to find a peerless expert. Either I beat him to death, or he beats me to death."
With that, he exerted a slight force and crushed the bullet into powder. He clapped his hands clean and said calmly, "You are not my opponent."
Skott: ???
Were any of his opponents normal people?
Setting aside their ridiculous strength, who the hell crushes a tranquilizer bullet like it's nothing?
"Ugh!"
Argenti suddenly froze. Then, without warning, he collapsed to the ground. One finger stretched weakly toward Skott as he gasped, "W-Why…? What technique did you use…?"
Skott: ...
"I-I actually misjudged you," Argenti continued dramatically. "You are the true peerless expert. Just wait… After I win the revival match, I'll be waiting for you in the finals… Ugh!"
With a miserable wail, Argenti fainted completely.
["Ohhhh! What just happened?! I didn't even see what Contestant Skott did, and Contestant Argenti is already down! This match is full of ups and downs! Now starting the countdown. Ten, nine, eight, seven…"]
["…Three, two, one! Time's up. Contestant Argenti did not stand up within the allotted time. I hereby declare that Contestant Skott wins this match!"]
["What an exhilarating match!"]
...
"He can even win like this? This has to be a paid actor, right?" Stelle couldn't help but comment from the stands.
March 7th looked at Argenti thoughtfully. "This guy is genuinely strong. He doesn't seem like the type who would act as a paid actor for Skott. But with Skott's intelligence, he couldn't have pulled off any special tricks either. Tsk tsk, how strange."
"Probably he can still win the revival match later. Let's just wait and see."
["Dear audience, please don't leave yet! The next match features a heavyweight participant!"]
["Let us warmly welcome the shining debut of Lady Herta (puppet version) from Herta Space Station!"]
The moment Owlbert finished speaking, thunderous cheers erupted from every viewing platform. The waves of sound nearly shook the entire Skysplitter.
"Herta! Herta! Herta!"
"Best! Best! Best!"
"Victory! Victory! Victory!"
"..."
"Aaaah! Isn't Herta a super socially anxious person? Where did she get so many fans?!" Stelle covered her ears and complained loudly.
"I don't know. Maybe geniuses are just famous by default?" March 7th also covered her ears and shouted back.
["And her opponent is an Xianzhou swordmaster named Jingliu. Who will emerge victorious? Let's wait and see!"]
["Dear viewers watching the live broadcast, this program is proudly sponsored by the anonymous user 'Herta Space Station Permanent Stationmaster.' Thank you for your support."]
Stelle & March 7th: ...
So they're all paid actors!
The following is Stelle's imagined scene:
Asta lounged lazily on a golden throne, one hand supporting her cheek while her long, slender legs were crossed elegantly.
Before her, the boss of the actor company knelt on the ground, using his own spine as Asta's footrest.
"My lady, what are your orders?"
Asta casually tossed down a black card. "Go. Today Mr. Screwllum will pilot the 'Herta' to battle. Make sure the outside support is fully arranged."
"There are twenty… in this card."
"Twenty billion?" The boss swallowed hard. As expected of Lady Asta—she's truly rich.
Asta sneered. "It's twenty digits. On the day of the match, fill every seat ticket, standing ticket, and squatting ticket. I'll pay the remaining balance afterward."
"Yes! Lady Asta!"
Imagination ended.
Thinking of this, Stelle turned to a random spectator beside her. "Hello sir, may I ask if you're a paid actor?"
The passerby nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Our company is really generous. They gave us free tickets to the Martial Exhibition. All we have to do is cheer for Lady Herta (puppet version)."
Stelle: ...666, top-tier outsourcing!
"By the way, Stelle, doesn't Lady Herta dislike socializing? Why would she participate in the Martial Exhibition?" March 7th asked curiously.
Stelle recounted what happened yesterday — how the actual pilot inside the "Herta" puppet was Screwllum.
"Won't Lady Herta explode when she finds out about this?" March 7th asked.
Stelle shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe she's busy with something else lately and hasn't noticed? I'll go ask later."
During the break before the next match, Stelle suddenly felt like she had overlooked something. She frowned and asked, "What did the host say Jingliu's opponent was earlier?"
March 7th thought for a moment. "I don't remember clearly… I think it was someone named Jingliu?"
Stelle: ???
She had been so focused on Asta hiring paid actors that she completely missed that name!
Why would Jingliu appear at the Martial Exhibition? Wasn't she a wanted criminal of the Xianzhou? That's impossible. She hadn't even heard Jing Yuan mention her before!
How did the plot derail again?
After thinking for a few seconds, Stelle suddenly froze. She remembered that a few days ago, when she was captured by Hoolay and brought onto the Skysplitter, Jingliu had appeared then.
Why hadn't she noticed it at the time?
Stelle fell into deep contemplation: When had she become this slow?
She felt that ever since she was hit by Professor Ratio's "Failing Grade Chalk" in Penacony, her intelligence had never fully recovered. Was that the reason?
Maybe I should find some time later to get the professor to check me…