The second Academy Ranking Tournament was far more intense than anticipated. There were unexpected "dark horses," while the usual powerhouses performed poorly, being eliminated one after another!
The "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" was undoubtedly one such dark horse, triumphantly fighting its way smoothly to the final championship match!
This grand final was precisely the opportunity Zhong Shenxiu had been waiting for, as the opponent of the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" was the reigning champion for two consecutive years.
Even though the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" was highly favored, the general consensus still leaned toward their defeat. After all, their opponent was a powerhouse with two championship titles under its belt. Furthermore, numerous expert commentators had provided data-driven analyses predicting the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" would lose, leading most people to accept this viewpoint.
Precisely because of this disparity, the odds were heavily stacked against them: one to three!
This time, Zhong Shenxiu finally made his move, placing a staggering five trillion Diamond Coins on the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts."
This was a bold move. Several key leaders of the "Stacy Family" arrived that very day via the teleportation array.
However, they were already somewhat late. Any adjustment now was impossible without severely damaging the reputation of the "Stacy Family."
Yet, if such a colossal sum were lost, the "Stacy Family" would suffer a fundamental blow. Therefore, they desperately needed a remedy, at least to minimize the risk.
Subsequently, they sought private audiences with the competition heads of both academies, hoping to orchestrate a fixed match—ensuring the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" would lose. In return for their cooperation, the "Stacy Family" would generously offer the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" five million Diamond Coins!
However, Zhong Shenxiu refused to meet them, and Elena swiftly rebuffed their unreasonable demands!
With no other recourse, the leaders of the "Stacy Family" turned their attention to the competing team members themselves. They were convinced that money could make the world go round; as long as they offered a sufficiently tempting price, someone would surely be willing to betray their cause!
Events proved that the allure of wealth could indeed sway many wills.
Among the members of the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts," many had signed secret pacts with the "Stacy Family." One couldn't entirely blame them for their greed, forgetting their roots. If a single concession in the match could secure a lifetime of wealth with virtually no risk, many would accept such an advantageous deal!
The "Stacy Family" was generous indeed, paying an initial deposit of five million Diamond Coins to each recipient. Upon the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" losing the match, each student would receive an additional one hundred million Diamond Coins!
Such immense wealth, such powerful temptation, shattered the psychological defenses of many students!
What did students strive for in attending an academy and competing, if not fame, fortune, and a bright future? Now, receiving such vast sums with such ease meant they wouldn't need to struggle even if they never secured employment. Why bother working themselves to the bone?
To put it mildly, five million Diamond Coins alone was no small fortune. How many people could ever earn that much? If such a massive windfall lay right before them and they refused it, they would be fools. At the very least, they could immediately possess five million Diamond Coins!
Moreover, this transaction was conducted in secret; nobody outside the direct parties involved would ever know. Where else could one find an opportunity to profit while simultaneously appearing honorable? Thus, many succumbed to this sugar-coated bombardment!
Of course, not everyone accepted the deal. There were those who did not prioritize money above all else. These individuals included Angelia, Rhys, Leng Xiangxue, Marksin, Solomon, Thomas, Chey, Laurent, Wayne, Daisy, Wade, and Paul!
Apart from those mentioned above, everyone else had fallen. However, all maintained a façade of normalcy, making it impossible to discern who had accepted bribes!
The "Stacy Family" felt reassured. Although they had spent a considerable sum, the money felt well-spent—it was akin to purchasing an insurance policy for the "Stacy Family." While failing to bribe everyone was a slight disappointment, if the bribed members showed even the slightest lapse, it would be enough to influence the outcome of the match!
Coupled with the fact that the opposing academy was inherently stronger than the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" based on overall strength, the result of the match seemed predetermined. The "Stacy Family" faced no risk and would easily collect Zhong Shenxiu's five trillion Diamond Coins!
But was this truly the reality?
While the "Stacy Family" was secretly rejoicing, Zhong Shenxiu had long anticipated this very scenario. If he hadn't, he wouldn't have waited this long to place such a massive bet. His confidence stemmed from knowing precisely which individuals would not be swayed by bribes, and that knowledge alone was sufficient to decide the contest!
Whether cunning could overcome greed, or vice versa, would only be revealed by the final result!
Since the grand final was highly anticipated, the match was scheduled for the afternoon.
At noon, Zhong Shenxiu gathered all the contestants from the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts." He first scanned each person in silence for a full ten minutes. Then, without emotion, he stated, "Raise your hands if you did not accept any bribe from the 'Stacy Family'!"
This sudden declaration startled everyone. Those with a guilty conscience felt their hearts pound, their eyes darting nervously.
Angelfia and Rhys reacted the quickest, immediately raising their hands to declare their innocence. They had already reported the "Stacy Family's" bribery attempt to Zhong Shenxiu, so they were not overly surprised!
Marksin and the others were slightly slower to react but soon followed suit and raised their hands. Those who had accepted bribes hesitated for a moment when they saw others raising their hands, but eventually, they too raised theirs. In the end, every single person had their hand raised!
However, these individuals severely underestimated the man before them. Zhong Shenxiu had already deduced who had truly taken bribes and who was clean purely from their subtle shifts in expression!
Under Zhong Shenxiu's sharp gaze, no lie could remain hidden!
Zhong Shenxiu smiled slightly. He did not scold those who had accepted bribes. Every individual made their own choice. Since they chose money, they had implicitly forfeited the opportunity to continue learning under him!
They had been given a chance, but they failed to seize it!
"Now, I will announce the lineup for the upcoming match!" After a brief silence, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly announced.
Everyone immediately focused their attention on Zhong Shenxiu, their hearts beating even faster.
The lineup Zhong Shenxiu selected was enough to make the leaders of the "Stacy Family" choke on their spit, as none of the chosen competitors were among those they had paid off!
If this was coincidence, it was too extraordinary!
Due to the previous staff member's secrecy, the "Stacy Family" knew nothing about Zhong Shenxiu, nor did they know that every bet he placed resulted in a win, which was far more significant than the match odds suggested. Identifying who had been bribed should have been simple!
"Teacher Zhong!" Just as Zhong Shenxiu and Robin began to walk forward, a voice, cool yet tinged with gentleness, called out.
Turning back, they saw Leng Xiangxue rushing toward them with a hurried expression.
Zhong Shenxiu paused and asked calmly, "What is it?"
Leng Xiangxue looked hesitant for a moment before finally saying, "Teacher Zhong, I truly did not accept any bribe. The people from the 'Stacy Family' did approach me, but I refused their request to throw the match!"
Leng Xiangxue’s cheeks flushed slightly, betraying a hint of agitation.
It was understandable; when Zhong Shenxiu had announced the lineup, she was conspicuously absent. How could she not be agitated?
She glanced at the other people who had not been called, and they all seemed to carry a hidden guilt; any clear observer could see the dishonesty in their faces. They must have accepted the bribes! Yet, Leng Xiangxue felt deeply wronged. She hadn't taken a bribe, so why was she being excluded? The more she thought about it, the more aggrieved she became!
Zhong Shenxiu looked at Leng Xiangxue's agitated expression and smiled. For this final, he was only sending out eight people. This was not an intentional slight against anyone; rather, it was the most strategically sound formation!
"Is this what you came for?" Zhong Shenxiu asked with a smile to the girl who usually favored a cool demeanor, finding her emotional outburst rather endearing!
Leng Xiangxue nodded. She had indeed chased after him only for this matter. She deeply enjoyed the feeling of fighting side-by-side with Angeliya—a sensation that made her blood boil with excitement, as if having Angeliya nearby granted her infinite strength!
"I know you didn't accept the bribe. There will be plenty of opportunities for you to compete after this match!" Zhong Shenxiu finished, then turned and walked away, leaving a stunned Leng Xiangxue pondering his words.
The highly anticipated final battle finally commenced. The venue was packed early, with everyone eager to witness this ultimate confrontation firsthand!
The personnel for the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" included Angeliya, Rhys, Marksin, Solomon, Chey, Wayne, Daisy, and Paul!
In contrast, the opposing academy fielded fifteen students, each an elite among elites, flexing their muscles and radiating absolute confidence in the upcoming match!
Just looking at the number of participants, the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" was down by half. Many wondered why the academy sent so few fighters, considering they had numerous reserves!
Elena, as the person in charge, was also puzzled by Zhong Shenxiu's decision, but since he was the overall director, she could only comply!
The grand final began under the referee's command. The previously noisy arena fell instantly silent.
Angeliya and the others, being intimately familiar with each other and having collaborated multiple times, sprang into action the moment the start signal sounded. The swordsmen carved a path forward, the mages providing impeccable support from the rear, their coordination seamless, as if they were one entity!
Zhong Shenxiu had given these key members specific orders before the match: conceal no strength; achieve a swift victory!
With that, the eight fighters unleashed their full might, transforming the competition instantly into a one-sided exhibition!
The opposing academy had not anticipated the ferocity of Angeliya and the others, nor the terrifying level of their power—it was leagues beyond the intelligence they had gathered. Their formation immediately dissolved into chaos, and they found themselves at a disadvantage!
The spectators were dumbfounded. Each of the eight students from the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts" fought with relentless vigor, as if fueled by stimulants. By the end, even the mages had charged to the front lines to engage in close combat!
And the continuous stream of unique and bizarre techniques opened the eyes of the audience, making them wish they had several more sets of eyes!
Only at this moment did they truly grasp what "overwhelming disparity in strength" meant. The former champion crumbled under the relentless assault of the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts," utterly incapable of defending themselves, making it look as if they were deliberately holding back!
The most miserable group at this point was the leadership of the "Stacy Family." They had paid heavily for the "Hikikomori Academy" members to go easy, yet the outcome was the complete opposite. Their meticulous planning had been undone by destiny!
They could already sense disaster looming, but at this point, they had nothing left to do but pray to heaven!
But even heaven feared a genius like Zhong Shenxiu, so no miracle was granted. The match concluded with a complete and utter victory for the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts"!
In that moment, the tens of thousands in the venue sprang to their feet, erupting in wild cheers.
It was brilliant, utterly spectacular. If they hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have believed this result!
Eight individuals, using overwhelming power to rout opponents who scattered in all directions—this match would forever be remembered as a classic battle where the few defeated the many!
It was precisely because of this single match that everyone present learned the name of the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts"!
Many parents began seriously considering sending their own children to study at the "Hikikomori Academy of Magic and Martial Arts." It was too impressive; an academy capable of nurturing such outstanding students must be extraordinary!
Furthermore, Angeliya and the others gained legions of new fans, with many choosing them as personal idols!
Next came the awards ceremony. Zhong Shenxiu had no interest in such matters, delegating everything to Elena while he and Robin headed off to collect their winnings.
This single match had netted him twelve trillion Diamond Coins; he was undoubtedly the biggest winner!
Meanwhile, the leaders of the "Stacy Family" were frantically slamming their heads against walls. This monumental gambling debt was enough to destroy them!
What were they to do?
Just as these leaders convened an emergency meeting, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin sauntered in. As they entered, Zhong Shenxiu gave the establishment's plaque a meaningful glance.
The relevant leaders of the "Betting Hall" turned pale when they heard Zhong Shenxiu had come to claim his winnings. They hurriedly instructed some waitresses to cater to him excessively while the manager rushed off to report the situation to the meeting room.
A short while later, the leaders of the "Stacy Family" filed in. Upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, two mere children, they assumed the stress had caused them to hallucinate. How could it be just two kids?
Because the "Betting Hall's" rules dictated honoring the ticket, not the person, they only knew of the name Zhong Shenxiu but lacked any specific background information. Moreover, the clerk who had handled Zhong Shenxiu's initial business had already resigned, leaving no one to question about his history!
However, seeing the appearance of Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, their initial panic subsided, as they suddenly conceived a new scheme!
They simply did not realize that these two children before them had already far surpassed the scope of what 'children' could achieve. May the Lord protect them, Amen.