area51novel Chapter 43 Eligibility
Chapter 43 Eligibility
Chapter 43 Eligibility
"Brother Broly, I've inquired about it. The Western Martial Arts Tournament is a competition jointly organized by the Western Merchant Guild and foreign merchant guilds."
It is held annually and attracts many top players each time. There are no age or gender restrictions; anyone can participate as long as they pay a registration fee of 10,000 Imperial Coins.
The competition starts with preliminary rounds, and anyone who makes it to the top 16 will immediately receive a prize of 100,000 yuan. The prize money will double for each round of advancement, from the top 16 to the top 8, from the top 8 to the top 4, from the top 4 to the top 2, and from the top 2 to the top 1. In other words, if you win the championship, you can receive a prize of 1.6 million yuan.
Besides, there are also gambling dens run by business groups around the event. If we bet the money we have left and win all the way, we're sure to make a fortune.
After Nahash finished speaking, the children in the room cheered. No one doubted Broly's strength; they all believed that as long as their older brother participated, he could easily win the championship.
Ever since they disbanded the caravan, their reputation has been spread by the departing caravan members.
Because of his reputation, fewer and fewer people came to him to act as a good Samaritan.
Broly, being a big eater, had eaten a lot of food, and after sending five people back home (with resettlement allowances), the team's funds became a bit tight.
As they continued towards their next target city, passing through the most prosperous capital city in the western region, [Great Western City], and seeing the Western Martial Arts Tournament promotional posters hanging on the walls throughout the city, the 16-person team temporarily settled down here.
"Then what are we waiting for? Take me to register!"
Broly said excitedly that he couldn't wait to make a lot of money.
Honestly, if it weren't for Fujimura Taiga teaching him not to steal or rob in the previous world, Broly would probably have become a complete thief integrated into the simple and honest environment of the Great Western Territory of this world's empire long ago, and he would never have been short of money.
"Brother, there's no rush. There's still one day left before the registration deadline. We can register tomorrow. I want to gather some information about the gambling dens, but it might be a bit dangerous for me to go alone. So I'd like to ask you to come with me."
"Got it, let's go find some good people while we're at it."
Broly liked to come and rob the good people, so he and Nahashu hurriedly left. The others didn't follow; with more people, the good people wouldn't be as easy to catch.
Unfortunately, after visiting various gambling dens and finding out the betting rules for the upcoming Western Martial Arts Tournament, no one followed.
Broly sighed. It seemed that good people were getting smarter and smarter these days, and today's expenses would have to be squeezed from the already depleted wallets of his own team.
. . . .
"It's alright. Although we don't have much money left, I believe that as long as our eldest brother participates in the competition, we can definitely fill our wallets!"
Back at the hotel, while eating in the hotel cafeteria, Bonnie comforted him.
Broly nodded, channeling his frustration at not meeting any kind people today into his appetite, and quickly finished off the large plate of roasted pork in front of him.
"Hahaha, a bunch of kids who aren't even as tall as me are bragging without thinking. Do you think the Western Martial Arts Tournament is some kind of playground for children like you?"
Upon hearing this, one of the diners nearby burst into laughter. This man was tall and burly, with bandages wrapped around his hands, dressed like a martial artist, and was clearly also there for the Western Martial Arts Tournament.
"Hey, isn't that a competition you can participate in just by paying the registration fee?"
Nahashu, acting as a member of the group's communication team, took the initiative to ask the question.
"Ha, those guys who paid the registration fee are just first-round participants who are just there to experience the atmosphere of the tournament. The real participants should be powerful martial artists like me, who can get the qualification to participate from the organizers just by relying on their strength."
As he spoke, the big man flexed his arms, which were so strong they could practically run a horse, and showed the group of children the bulging muscles on his arms.
"Hey, this person looks familiar."
"I also feel like we look familiar. Wait, if you don't look at the beard, isn't he just like a samba sang?"
"So it was him. He made it to the quarterfinals in his first competition five years ago, and almost won the championship three years ago. But he hasn't competed for two years now, so why is he participating again?"
Those around them, hearing the commotion, began to murmur amongst themselves upon seeing the burly man with the thick beard.
Sambasang listened to the surrounding chatter and revealed a smug expression.
As a martial artist, the praise he received from others greatly satisfied his vanity.
However, some people complained about how he made the other party lose money.
Sambasang's expression turned serious, and he suddenly stood up.
"What are you going to do?"
The complainer was startled by his actions, thinking that this bad-tempered guy was going to beat him up.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't good enough back then."
Unexpectedly, Sambasang apologized first, but then he shouted at the people in the restaurant.
"However, I have been cultivating in the forest of the Gifonola Sea Tree for the past two years. It was my friend, the manager of the Degas Merchant Guild, who approached me and asked me to come out of the mountains and represent their caravan in battle."
The Degas Merchant Guild sells the finest dust-proof cloaks in the western Empire, and this year I will be wearing their caravan's latest cloak on the stage of the martial arts tournament champions.
If you all want to make money, please support Sambassang, support the Degas Chamber of Commerce, and bet on Sambassang's victory!
"So it was the Degas Chamber of Commerce that invited him. No wonder he came back to compete again."
"Hiss, the Gifunora Sea Tree Forest, that's a dangerous place teeming with dangerous species. If Sambasang could train there for two years, wouldn't his strength be countless times greater than before?"
"Alright, this year's martial arts tournament is going to be interesting. Not only are last year's rookie champions participating, but there are also powerful veterans who have made it to the top eight many times in the past..."
"Sambassador, we believe in you! Don't let us down this time!"
"Haha, no problem, leave it all to me, Sambassador!"
The burly man thumped his chest so loudly that it hurt the ears of those nearby. After making a "GG" declaration of victory on behalf of his sponsor in the bustling dining hall, Sambasang sat down again.
He glanced at the children at the next table and grinned, "You kids, if you want to earn some pocket money, remember to bet on me, Master Sambasang, to win."
"If we lose, will you compensate us?"
Kuroko asked out of curiosity.
"Ahem, of course, it's a matter of profit and loss on your own. But do you really think I, Sambasang, will lose?"
A group of kids pursed their lips. They didn't know how powerful this person was, but they knew how strong their own older brother was.
"Uncle Sambasang, may I ask how it works that you get your entry qualification directly from the organizers?"
However, Nahashu was still very polite and asked the burly man, who had participated in many competitions, about some things.
In fact, the martial arts tournament is not only a matter for the participating martial artists, but also for the various business associations that organize it. They sponsor the tournament to attract public attention, and they also privately invite some participants to represent their own business associations in the competition.
If the selected contestants make it into the top 16 and are able to step onto the grand stage, it will greatly boost the reputation of their own chamber of commerce, proving their strength, just like the contestants on the stage.
Therefore, players like Sambasang, who are hired to compete for others, not only do not have to pay to register, but can also be paid to participate.
Of course, ordinary participants are not considered by those chambers of commerce; only those with strong capabilities are eligible.
Moreover, this strength cannot be reflected in weapons, because the Western Martial Arts Tournament does not allow participants to use weapons.
Even protective gear is limited to boxing gloves and bandages; this is a contest between the participants using only their physical strength and unarmed combat skills.
Nahashu wrote down this information and the next day went to inquire if there were any chambers of commerce willing to sponsor the participants to compete.
But after running around for half a day, all the chambers of commerce that were interested in anything said that the contestant was a newcomer and a child, so they let the child play in the mud.
"Damn it, they're all a bunch of blind fools who don't recognize a true leader."
The children who followed along, trying to find connections, were all grumbling and cursing.
"Perhaps we should let Brother Broly show them what he's got to do."
Mine suggested.
"Forget it, it's just a competition qualification. That little bit of money isn't even enough for our daily meals. As for the sponsorship fees for new participants, the quotes from those chambers of commerce are practically nonexistent. We don't need that little bit of money."
Nahashu and his group could only contact small merchant guilds; they had no connections with the large ones. In the fiercely competitive martial arts tournament, the small merchant guilds didn't expect their sponsored contestants to make it to the top sixteen; they only focused on making an appearance in the later stages of the preliminary rounds on small stages, so they couldn't afford to pay them.
It was just a pittance, probably only enough for his older brother's daily meal expenses. They were willing to have his older brother show off his skills for them just for a day's meal expenses.
Even if Broly himself didn't care, Nahash felt somewhat insulted and it would take at least a few more days.
"Hey, are you guys really that confident in your older brother?"
Just as Nahash was about to register Broly, a white-bearded old man in a suit stopped them.
"Of course, our eldest brother is better than anyone else. Hmm, who are you, old man?"
"I am the manager of the Western Region branch of the Rabbit Gathering Merchant Guild. You can call me President Norsen. Our guild happens to be short of a player for a competition. Would you like to accept our guild's sponsorship?"
"Our boss is very powerful, and his prices aren't cheap. If you're only planning to pay a little money, then forget it."
Nahashu offered a reminder.
"Haha, it's good to be confident. Here's what we'll do: as long as your big brother makes it into the finals, our chamber of commerce will provide the corresponding prize money for the competition."
"Top 16: 100,000; Top 8: 200,000; If your eldest brother wins the championship, the reward will be 1.6 million. How about it?"
Upon hearing this, Nahashu's eyes lit up; this price was quite high.
"Okay, but we need to sign a contract."
"That's really meticulous."
Norsen smiled, didn't refuse, and agreed.
(End of this chapter)