?


    After a brief silence, Ivo ultimately sighed and bowed to Frank, as well as to every other martial artist present. "I''m sorry, everyone. I''m afraid Thousand Isles Guild has made a mistake"


    "What are you talking about?!" Sanne snapped at him right then. "Mistake?! Me?! It''s that man and that brat who made a mistake! They—"


    "Silence!"


    Tijil, who stood behind Ivo, shot Sanne a vicious re, silencing her.


    He then muttered under his breath and shook his head. "What an idiot..."


    Namik was his close friend and a shrewd man. How on earth did he end up with such a foolish daughter?


    Talent had really skipped a generation there she was a total disgrace to her father''s name!


    "Ahem..."


    Ivo cleared his throat as if he had never heard Sanne and continued, "Since everyone is here to take part in the Martial Tournament anyway, why don''t we stick to that format to settle our dispute?"


    Frank was actually interested. "Stick to the format, you say?"


    "Exactly."


    Seeing that Frank was taking the bait, Ivo quickly exined, "We will each send our best participant for this test of strength. And if we win, you''ll apologize to Ms. Dali, and we''ll let this slide."


    "And what if I win?" Frank smiled in turn.Exclusive content ? by N?(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.


    "If you win...?" Ivo did a double take, since he had never considered that possibility.


    Tijil, his godfather, was one of the strongest Ascendant-ranked elites in Thousand Isles Guild.


    With him here, they were never going to lose this test of strength.


    In fact, Ivo''s purpose in setting this wager is topel Frank to apologize to Sanne because she was not to be insulted.


    Winning would also make Sanne-and by extension, Thousand Isles Guild-look good, while everyone would look past her transgression.


    In fact, one might say that Ivo was just trying to afford Frank some dignity.


    And yet, while Frank epted his suggestion, his question still left Ivo stumped.


    It was true what would they do if


    Frank actually won? Surely they could not get Sanne to apologize to Frank instead? Her pride would not be able to take it!


    "Hmph!"


    Sanne snorted just as Frank epted the wager and nced at Tijil. She, too, was convinced that Tijil would not lose to Frank.


    As such, she strode up and spoke very slowly with immeasurable confidence, "If you win, I''ll kowtow to you!"


    While every other martial artist was stunned by Sanne''s wager, Frank held up a hand, stopping her.


    "That''s unnecessary," he said,


    looking at her solemnly. "But you''


    kowtow and apologize to the martial artist you murdered and


    compensate his family ordingly. How about that?" Content belongs


    "Hmph! Trying to make yourself look good? Fine!" Sanne agreed to it before Ivo could speak, convinced that Frank was not going to win.


    Even Tijil, seeing how recklessly


    Sanne was in agreeing to Frank''set


    wager, was not all that upset about it. Instead, he was just shaking his head exasperatedly.


    Either way, no one in their group-or even the other martial artists taking part in the qualifier-believed that Frank stood a chance.


    All of them were convinced that the wager Frank had suggested was just to curry their favor and that he actually stood no chance.