System's POV

Chapter 702: Are We Monarchs A Joke To You? [Part 1]

 n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Chaos erupted in the Colosseum as people were left not knowing what was going to happen next.

Everyone had evacuated, and both the Ashford Clan and the Central Government helped the citizens to evacuate in an orderly fashion.

No one was injured, thanks to the officers at the site who took command, and everyone soon calmed down.

Claude had also stormed off outside the venue and glared at Zion, who was being healed by a worried Shana.

Naturally, her father, Tristan, was there to make sure that the teenage boy wouldn't suffer any

more.

The standoff between the Central Government and the Ashford Clan had become the highlight, and the different media companies didn't hesitate to spin the story into a dramatic tale, with some of them bordering the lines of exaggeration, painting Aaron Ashford and Claude Ashford the villains of the story.

Naturally, they risked having their companies lose their license and cease operation if ever the Ashford Clan decided to retaliate.

However, they still went for it.

All of them had already decided to transfer their companies to Justice City and make sure that the hands of the Monarch Clans wouldn't reach them.

"You brat, how come every time we meet, we end up in this kind of situation?" Claude asked with a smile that was not a smile. "Did I offend you in your past life or something?"

"No, you didn't," Thirteen replied. 'It was actually your father who offended me in my past life.'

Of course, the teenage boy didn't say that out loud.

However, he was feeling a bit drowsy because Shana's healing power made him feel very comfortable.

For a brief moment, he felt like resting his head on her bosom because it looked so soft and comfortable to sleep on in his eyes.

But this thought only lasted for a second or two before Thirteen forced it to the side.

'I'll just ask Erica later,' Thirteen thought, ignoring Claude's nonstop nagging from the distance.

Seeing that the teenage boy was not paying attention to him, Claude felt as if he was about to pop a vein due to how angry he was.

Whenever Zion was around, he always suffered bad luck.

If not for the fact that the teenage boy was currently under the protection of Elite Soldiers from the Central Government, he would have already risked his life to kill the bad-luck brat, chop his body into pieces, and feed him to the fishes!

If only looks could kill, Thirteen would have already died over a thousand times already due to Claude's hate-filled glare.

The candidates of the tournament temporarily vacated the parking lot exclusively for the use of the Ashford Clan.

Since this parking lot was meant for big transport vehicles, there was more than enough space to fit over a thousand Wanderers.

The participants were the most confused out of everyone else. They didn't know whether they should continue with the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament or join the League of Myths and Legends.

Frankly, they were leaning to join Zion Leventis' impromptu tournament because of what they had seen on the giant LCD Screen earlier.

The fact that the Ashford Clan had rigged the venue with traps to eliminate those whom they wanted to eliminate made them feel disgusted.

Their strong denial to let anyone check the place where the Elimination Rounds would be held also made the Wanderers' suspicions stronger.

How could they possibly compete in good faith if the sponsor of the tournament wasn't doing the same?

Lastly, the words Aaron spoke on the LCD Screen made them feel cold inside.

"Claude, remember this, I will only accept our people becoming the Champion of this tournament."

Those were very straightforward words.

It meant that no matter what anyone did, the conclusion was already decided even before the tournament started.

Michael, Shasha, and Vincent, who were also in the parking lot, stood at the corner, discussing their next course of action.

"I'm sure the two of you will follow whatever Zion decided, right?" Vincent asked.

"Of course," Mikhail replied. "Although we would like to test our mettle against other Wanderers, I trust my brother the most."

Shasha didn't say anything and simply nodded her head.

Just like Mikhail, she had absolute trust in her little brother.

If Zion told them to not participate in the tournament, they would obey without batting an

eye.

Seeing that the two teenagers had already made their decision, Vincent felt a lot better. Just like them, he decided to join Zion's bandwagon and see where it would take him.

An hour later, an officer from the Central Government and a representative from the Ashford Clan arrived at the parking area.

These two people informed them that negotiation between the Monarch Clans, and the

Central Government was being held at the moment.

They would then be informed of the outcome before the day was over, so all of them could return to their temporary lodges to rest for the time being.

****

Inside the Colosseum.

Seated at a table, Aaron and Claude glared at the teenage boy sitting between the Grand Marshal and the Field Marshal of the Central Government.

The projections of the four other Monarchs were also present in the scene, and looking at

them with amusement.

Norman Stallard, Wendell Elrod, Trevord Remington, and Douglas Griffin.

The four of them, Aaron, and Lawrence were the six Monarchs of Pangea.

It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they stood at the apex of the world, with the Prestigious Families a level below them.

Since the representatives of the Prestigious Families were also present at the scene, they would also help in smoothing out the talks that were about to start.

"Did everyone suddenly become mute, or did I accidentally press the mute button on my remote?" Thirteen asked since no one had been talking since five minutes ago. "Hello? Are you guys statues or what?"

The teenage boy's randomness was the icebreaker that everyone was waiting for.

"I want you to stop your nonsense, brat," Aaron stated. "Do you know how much time, resources, and manpower is being wasted as we speak right now? Because of you, this tournament that is held once every few years is in shambles.

"You have single-handedly turned this event into a fiasco. A joke in the eyes of the people. Tell me, are we Monarchs a joke to you?"

"Yes," Thirteen replied without hesitation. "I am now looking at the biggest joke among the Monarchs right now. I'm just waiting for the cue card to tell me that this is the time that I

should laugh."

The other Monarchs looked at this exchange and couldn't help but sneer internally.

It was very clear to them that Zion had some kind of beef with the Ashford Clan. So, they decided to just watch this exchange for a while and pray that Aaron got a stroke or something

similar.

Although they were once comrades, and unfortunately still comrades, it didn't change the

fact that much love had been lost between them over the passing of hundreds of years.

This was especially true for Wendell Elrod, who could only watch as his comrades retreated when the Rigel Continent needed them the most.

For him, Zion was his greatest benefactor.

So, if he was given a choice as to which side he would stand on, he would choose to side with

the teenage boy anytime.

Douglas Griffin was in the same boat.

Now that the Cygni Continent was in danger, he was hoping that Zion would help him protect

his domain.

Until the calamity had passed, he would do everything in his power to protect the boy, even if

he had to offend Aaron Ashford.