20demayo Chapter 569 JJ's Plan
Chapter 569 JJ's Plan
Ty tilted his head slightly, eyes narrowing with just enough interest to keep Ja-Law talking. "Well, ain't that nice. If we had failed, I'd have a bounty on my head. Whoever took me out would've been fast-tracked to the next round. That's not a normal thing?"
Ja-Law raised a brow, his gaze sharpening with curiosity. "No, it's rare. Only happens when the tournament officials don't like you. A bounty means they're looking to push you out." He scratched his chin, eyes flickering with something close to amusement. "The fact that the puppet user was your target... surprising.
Knowing them, they'd want you chasing after a top contender, force you to exhaust yourself. They figure you'll burn out, and a pebble could knock you over afterward."
Ty's lips twitched into something like a smirk. "Random things happen, right?"
Ja-Law nodded, eyes gleaming with a knowing look. "Exactly."
"Good to know," Ty responded, keeping his voice even, eyes still locked on Ja-Law. "Where's your team?"
Ja-Law's smile slipped back into place, casual as ever. "They're at different choke points, watching for movement. Two teams, actually. Got the woodlines covered, in case anyone decides to get brave." He leaned slightly, crossing his arms, his stance more relaxed. "But it's been quiet. Nothing major so far."
Ty nodded, filing that information away. Ja-Law's nonchalant demeanor didn't quite match the careful precision with which he spoke, as if there were more to it than he was letting on.
Ja-Law glanced between Ty and Rosana. "I know you've had it rough. Get some sleep. We can talk strategy when you're rested. If I'm gonna survive the first stage, being on good terms with the demon over here might just be worth something."
Ty chuckled under his breath, catching the glint in Ja-Law's eye. "Yeah, sure. Sounds fine by me. We'll grab some sleep and figure things out after."
The walls themselves were lined with intricate designs, gold leaf tracing patterns that seemed to shift in the light. It was a world built for the elite, a place where every inch was a display of wealth.
As she approached the Rising Sun's sponsor section, the luxuriousness only deepened. The door she walked toward was massive, carved from dark wood that gleamed under the lights. Silver handles shaped like coiling serpents adorned it, their eyes set with tiny sapphires that sparkled in the glow.
Above the door, a crest—a blazing sun, edged in gold—was emblazoned, a testament to the wealth and status of the sponsors behind it.
The voice of the man she had been talking to about the shovel broke through her thoughts. "Hey, what are you doing?"
JJ ignored him, her focus solely on the door ahead. The air seemed heavier here, as if even breathing the same air as the ultra-wealthy sponsors came with a price. The room beyond that door wasn't just a place to watch the battle—it was where decisions were made, where alliances were formed and broken, all under the guise of polite conversation.
She reached out, gripping the handle, the cold silver biting into her skin as she pulled the door open. Inside, the room was bathed in light, even more lavish than the halls leading to it. Plush chairs, upholstered in deep red velvet, were scattered around, facing yet more screens that gave a detailed view of the arena below.
Crystal glasses filled with the finest wines sat on low tables, and the scent of rich, expensive cigars lingered faintly in the air.
The sponsors in the room barely glanced at her as she entered, their attention fixed on the screens, watching the battle unfold. Conversations were hushed, but the tension was palpable.
"Did you hear?" someone murmured, their voice laced with disbelief. "Lt. Daemon's dead."
The news was spreading, rippling through the room like wildfire. JJ didn't react, keeping her expression neutral, but inside, she felt a shift.@@@@