Chapter 151: The Gossip of the Streets

Chapter 151: The Gossip of the Streets

At the same time, one can imagine the stir that the ongoing troop movements would certainly cause in the city of Lanahl.

And indeed, that was exactly the case.

On the first day, many people might not have been aware or cared much, but by the second day, as the news spread through the city, the entire situation transformed into the hot topic of Lanahl.

Those with nothing better to do were chatting about it everywhere.

However, the match between Arthur and Cain didn’t get overshadowed by the troop movements; it remained a hot topic within the city.

Although the troop movements were significant, the sensitivity of the topic was simply too high.

Regular folks were more focused on entertainment gossip anyway.

Besides, the threat of war felt somewhat distant to them.

With all the excitement, the betting on the two rivals also ballooned.

Such a talked-about match hadn’t happened in a long time.

So, it was hard not to cause a stir!

Moreover, some were daringly linking the two events together.

Even though the Republic was gathering troops, it hadn’t yet unified those assembled, nor was there any news about who would lead the army.

In other words, the currently gathered troops were still a disorganized mess, with each faction minding its own business.

This situation was a big no-no in wartime.

Thus, a unified command was absolutely essential.

So, who would take on this leadership role?

The Machia Republic, having been established for centuries, wasn’t short on excellent generals, but none of those remarkable figures were young.

A country without outstanding young individuals to inherit the mantle simply wouldn’t do!

So, the nation would surely need to cultivate some excellent young talent.

With that, some started linking things to Arthur and Cain.

Since they chose to participate in the Grand Arena match, it indicated they were contemplating entering this circle.

And as exceptionally talented young men, they naturally had a great chance of rising to prominence, making them potential leaders of the army.

However, there could only be one top leader, so naturally, only those who could upgrade to Huawei could sit in that seat.

Once this news broke, it caused a massive uproar in Lanahl.

If it was said that the match might affect the future of the two before, now, with such a wager on the line, it would definitely impact their paths ahead.

Saying “the winner is king, the loser is a bandit” might be a bit extreme, but that’s essentially the truth.

The victor would not only gain a glorious future but also attract more attention and garner higher visibility.

As for these matters, the two parties involved, Arthur and Cain, paid them little mind.

To them, the most important task was to put in their best effort to win the upcoming match; otherwise, all this talk would be for nothing.

In a courtyard of an inn in the city, Cain was going through his usual morning training as expected.

With a longsword in hand, he firmly gripped it, repeating various moves like slashes and thrusts.

These actions were simple, yet they formed the very foundation.

Especially in the hands of someone as powerful as Cain, even the most basic technique exuded significant power.

Once he felt he had practiced enough, Cain stopped.

At that moment, a waitress had already prepared tea and snacks for him to rest with.

As he sat down, Cain glanced at a beautifully charming young woman next to him and said his usual thanks, “Thank you!”

Then he began to enjoy his meal.

If it were like usual, the young woman would quietly watch him and then clean up after he finished.

However, today seemed a bit different; the girl was clearly troubled as she looked at Cain.

Finally, she couldn’t hold back and asked, “Lord Cain, are you really going to compete against that mercenary named Axi?”

Cain paused slightly, his expression one of surprise.

He then looked at the girl and replied, “That’s right! What’s the matter?”

“Nothing, it’s just that I think you really don’t need to do this. I’ve heard that Axi is very strong, and it could be dangerous for you to compete against him!”

“Of course it will be dangerous!”

Upon hearing this, Cain laughed.

He knew she was genuinely concerned for him.

Although her worry seemed somewhat unfounded, he couldn’t just ignore it.

After all, it was a sign of her goodwill.

“But if one can’t face danger bravely, then one can’t call themselves a qualified warrior, let alone achieve great feats. And don’t underestimate me; Axi may be strong, but I’m not a pushover either. I’m dangerous, just as he is!”

Though Cain said this in a joking manner, the fire of ambition in his eyes was unmistakable.

The girl fell silent.

She wasn’t completely clueless.

Since Cain had said that, what more could she say?

Yet, deep down, she still harbored worries for him.

Since arriving in Lanahl, she had witnessed Cain’s rise, from being an unknown to his current fame.

He had transformed from an ordinary guest of the inn into a highly esteemed VIP.

And all of that could potentially be lost due to this match.

Seeing the girl fall silent again, Cain continued to savor the tea and sweets before him.

He appeared so calm, as if he weren’t worried at all about the upcoming match.

On the other side, while Arthur didn’t dwell on such thoughts, Airael was compelled to contemplate.

She believed the rumors circulating in the streets weren’t just baseless chatter.

Moreover, the official sectors hadn’t moved to refute them.

It’s good to remember that this nation openly operates as a republic centered around “elections.”

When most people agree on something, that matter is essentially set in stone.

This indicated that the power elite of the Machia Republic indeed had such plans.

After all, both Arthur and Cain were exceptionally talented individuals.

Furthermore, there might also be others discreetly fanning the flames behind the scenes.

If Andrew hadn’t conversed with Airael earlier, she might not have thought this way, but after that talk concluded, Airael couldn’t help but ponder more seriously.

Having acknowledged Arthur and wanting to assist him, the likelihood of them taking action increased significantly.

To this, Airael had to concede.

Truly worthy of the Tower of the Archmage, a significant move indeed.

If Arthur won, he wouldn’t just gain a great commander but would also seize control of an army.