056 "Mystery Guest,"

The official Heavens Arena even opened a channel for online betting.

It is said that just after the online betting channel was launched, two huge bets came in.

One is from the Republic of Padokea.

The other is from the local Heavens Arena.

"..."

What's interesting is that both bets are incredibly large, and all are placed on the new contender—"Mystery Guest" Ronnel.

To attract more attention, Heavens Arena gives each contender a memorable, slightly eccentric but not too embarrassing nickname.

Ronnel's nickname is "Mystery Guest."

At first, Ronnel refused when he heard it, but after learning that the alternative was "Throat Ripper," he immediately changed his mind.

No way around it—Ronnel always finishes his battles in one move, often crushing his opponents' throats in the process.

There are no wrong names, only wrong nicknames.

Apart from Ronnel getting his own unique nickname, the other Floor Masters were also promoting themselves, participating in pre-match interviews with reporters.

Increased exposure at this time is highly beneficial for their reputation, personal interests, and the influence of those backing them.

However, each of the Floor Masters interviewed was asked the same question by reporters:

"Excuse me, what do you think of the new contender on the 220th floor, Ronnel? Do you see him as the biggest threat to your championship hopes?"

The Floor Masters, prepared for this line of questioning, responded tactfully:

"'Mystery Guest' Ronnel? I've seen his videos, but I haven't fought him, so I can't speak to his true strength."

These ambiguous replies were meant to sidestep the question. When reporters pushed for more details, those who had been bribed quickly changed the topic, keeping the conversation light until the interviews ended.

This didn't stop the journalists, hungry for headlines, from piecing together sensational reports filled with all sorts of embellishments. How much truth or exaggeration was mixed in? Only they knew.

Ronnel glanced at the fanciful "life story" written about him in one article and couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief.

"These reporters are so good with their pens," he thought. "It's a wonder they aren't writing fiction instead."

Of course, anyone who believes this nonsense is a fool.

With the Battle Olympia approaching, it's clear that both humans and ghosts are coming out of the woodwork. Besides the Floor Masters, the reporters are also vying for attention.

Speaking of the Floor Masters, one can't help but mention their outlandish appearances and flashy outfits.

The audience was dazzled by the strange-looking contenders with impressive records, dramatic video footage, and larger-than-life personas.

To an outsider, it might look more like a cosplay event than a martial arts tournament.

Produced by Heavens Arena, the promotional booklets with Ronnel's photo, clad in a simple black windbreaker, stood out as unusually normal among the cast of colorful contenders.

In a sea of the abnormal, appearing normal can be awkward.

So, many gamblers, flipping through the information, saw Ronnel's youthful face and skipped over him in favor of more flamboyant contenders.

However, Bisky slapped Ronnel on the shoulder with a grin and said, "Ronnel, I've bet all my money on you. Don't let me down, okay?"

Each word was emphasized with a strong pat on his shoulder, making Ronnel wince.

Shizuku nodded in agreement. "I put all my savings on you too."

Wing, standing nearby, coughed awkwardly.

He had bet everything as well.

Even though gambling isn't exactly encouraged, sometimes it pays to know the outcome ahead of time.

After all, Wing now had a disciple to care for, and extra income was necessary.

Training Zushi wasn't cheap, and half-grown kids tend to eat a lot. Zushi, at his age, had an enormous appetite.

Wing glanced at Zushi, who was cheering excitedly for Ronnel, and sighed softly before returning to his usual expression.

As the tournament drew nearer, the audience's excitement was completely fueled by the reporters' sensational stories and Heavens Arena's relentless promotions.

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