The arena remained completely silent.
Tens of thousands of eyes watched as Theo stood back up.
Victor shook his head in disdain.
But he didn’t move.
Theo grabbed hold of the microphone and cleared his throat.
’’As I was saying...’’
His voice ca out rough at first, but it didn’t waver.
’’My father was given a choice.’’
He paused for a fraction of a second.
’’Work sixteen hours a day... doing dog’s work... until his nineties.’’
His eyes locked onto Victor.
’’Or continue living in a car... while Victor Whitmore makes sure no one else hires him.’’
Complete silence fell in the arena.
The weight of such words lingered in the air.
It might seem insignificant at first.
But if they could do sothing like that so easily...
What was stopping them from doing it to others?
Many shifted uncomfortably in their seats, imagining it.
Theo didn’t give them ti to process it.
His gaze remained locked on Victor.
’’And the worst part is... you don’t even try to hide it.’’
He fell silent for a mont.
Then pointed straight at him,
’’You sit up here now...’’
’’After abusing your power for years...’’
’’And you act like so kind of gods?’’
The flas behind Victor riled up, growing fiercer every second.
He took a step forward, fury written across his face.
Yet Theo didn’t back down.
’’You’re nothing more than a family of slave-drivers...’’
He gritted his teeth.
’’And spineless cowards.’’
Victor stopped walking.
He just narrowed his eyes.
’’Finished?’’ he asked coldly.
The flas behind him surged again.
An imnse heat washed over the VIP section in an instant.
’’Are you done spinning your stories?’’ Victor asked again, his voice louder.
Several guests flinched, so shielding their faces as the temperature spiked unnaturally fast.
A few weaker spectators were forced back into their seats, their expressions turning pale.
Alia’s smile faltered for a mont.
Her eyes narrowed as she glanced around.
’He’s not holding back...’ she thought. ’I need to step in no—’
CRACK!
Ice spread in an instant.
The raging purple flas froze in place as if it was nothing.
A thin layer of ice crept across the floor, the temperature dropping just as fast as it had risen.
Finally—
The frozen flas shattered into tiny ice particles, which vanished in the wind.
A familiar figure quietly stepped out of the corridor.
The mont he did, everyone went silent.
’Leoric?!’ Theo thought, eyes widening. ’Did Iris call her dad?’
Leoric’s gaze swept past Alia and Theo... before settling on Victor.
’’This is a public event,’’ the man said. ’’Control yourself.’’
Victor’s expression faltered.
The purple flas didn’t appear again.
His gaze fell on Theo one more ti.
’’Enjoy this mont, boy,’’ he said. ’’You’ll pay for every word.’’
With that, he turned.
And without another word, Victor Whitmore walked back to his seat.
Theo’s eyes widened for a mont.
’Not yet,’ he thought. ’I just need to complete one final step.’
He took a step forward.
’’Wait.’’
Victor’s steps slowed.
The entire arena seed to notice it at the sa ti.
The whispers died down again.
Theo stood firm, his grip tightening slightly around the microphone.
"Wait," he repeated, his voice steadier now.
Victor finally stopped.
For a brief mont, he simply stood there with his back to Theo.
Then, slowly, he turned his head.
"Do you have sothing else to add?" Victor asked, his tone cold, but quieter this ti.
Theo didn’t hesitate.
"Yes."
He took another step forward, his posture straightening.
’’I’m not done,’’ he continued.
He lifted the microphone slightly.
"You think you’re better than everyone here, don’t you?"
Victor’s eyes narrowed slightly.
’’You’re going to provoke again, boy?’’
Theo shook his head.
’’I just want you to prove it,’’ he said. ’’By adding so stakes to my duel with your son.’’
Whispers spread through the arena.
Even Alia couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow for a mont.
Then her eyes widened.
’’So that’s what you were after,’’ she muttered quietly.
Victor seed to have realized it too.
The dark expression on his face cleared up slightly.
’’What do you propose?’’ he said.
Theo’s voice remained steady.
’’You release my father from all contracts if I win,’’ he said. ’’And if I lose...’’
’’I’ll take everything I said back, right here. And I’ll work under you, following the sa contract.’’
Victor didn’t respond imdiately.
He simply stood there, observing Theo closely.
The entire arena was silent, watching the spectacle happen.
Then—
A faint smile appeared on Victor’s face.
"You’ve got quite the mouth on you," he said calmly.
The people in the crowd flinched at the shift in his tone.
The anger hadn’t completely disappeared.
Instead, an overwhelming confidence had replaced the majority of it.
He turned fully now, facing Theo once more.
"And quite the nerve," he continued.
His gaze flickered towards Leoric for a second, then back to Theo.
"But if you’re so eager to throw your life away..."
He paused, a pleased smile growing on his face.
"...then I won’t stop you."
The crowd whispered amongst themselves imdiately.
People glanced at each other left and right, their eyes wide in disbelief.
Victor’s smile only widened.
He raised his arms beside him, turning to the crowd.
"I accept this request."
The arena erupted.
Shouting rose from every direction, shock and excitent mixing into a deafening noise.
Theo didn’t react.
He slowly lowered the microphone, his eyes never leaving Victor.
’It’s done,’ he thought, forcing himself to remain calm. ’It’s finally done.’
Victor had already turned away again, completely unconcerned, as if the outco had already been decided.
Theo remained where he stood for a mont, the weight of everything settling in.
He exhaled quietly, as Alia stepped closer behind him.
She watched him, one brow slightly raised, a faint smile playing on her lips.
’’So it all went to plan, huh,’’ she said quietly.
Theo turned to her and nodded, unable to hold back the smile on his face.
’’Then you must be pretty confident,’’ she continued, chuckling quietly.
’’I am,’’ he responded.
Her smile widened just slightly.
"Good," she said. "Then let’s get you down there."
Theo exhaled quietly.
"Thank you... for everything."
Alia didn’t respond imdiately.
She simply gave a small nod before turning.
The roars of the crowd grew louder with each step he took.
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