Chapter 52: Everyone Passing the Buck

You couldn't possibly all think we're sure to lose the eighth match, could you?

Don't forget, so far the summoned beasts we've sent out have been at most SS Rank,

and the SSS-Rank ones haven't even appeared yet!

Is this listless attitude really meant to let Dragon Nation pass through unchallenged!!!

He was emotionally charged, and his words made several representatives present feel their blood boil.

Exactly! We can't just let Dragon Nation breeze through.

It's just the eighth match! What's there to dare not go up? Are we destined to lose?

Charlie suddenly stood up,

I think the Xiao Han Republic representative is right; the challenge hasn't even started, we can't first throw ourselves into chaos.

So I propose that the eighth match be fought by the Xiao Han Republic!

Steve and the others immediately echoed,

Yes, let Xiao Han Republic go up! I believe Xiao Han Republic can definitely defeat Dragon Nation!

Come on, Xiao Han Republic, I'm optimistic about you!

Actually I've always been a fan of Xiao Han Republic; you guys definitely need to cheer on.

The representatives quickly took sides.

Pu Linyuan beside them looked bewildered; how thick-skinned can you people be?

No, our Xiao Han Republic already lost three SS-grade Summoned Creatures in the previous match,

this match, we're not going up no matter what!

Charlie let out a cold snort,

What were you yelling about just now? I thought you were going to go up!

A simple sentence left Pu Linyuan speechless.

The Windmill Nation representative, who always plays the peacemaker, said:

If it really won't work, let's just decide by random draw; countries without SS Rank or higher summoned beasts don't need to participate.

Everyone agreed to this suggestion.

In fact, after Pu Linyuan's remarks just now, the representatives of Beautiful Nation and other countries have regained their confidence,

It's just a challenge match, after all?

Who says we're definitely going to lose to Dragon Nation?

Come on, let's draw lots; our Triumphal Empire has always been favored by the Goddess of Luck in this regard!

Steve said this full of confidence.

Everyone began to adopt the most primitive, most effective, anti-cheating best method—drawing lots.

The result.

"Holy crap!" Steve completely broke down.

The eighth fierce battle, begin!

"Friendly reminder: the losing side in this battle,

will domestically suffer a terrifying SSS-Rank descent upon the homeland,

please be sure to prepare earnestly."

The Mysterious Judge's gaze swept over the Triumphal Empire, as if present and absent,

as if issuing them a silent warning.

Steve's brows were tightly knit, his face gloomy to the extreme. Especially upon seeing the likes of Beautiful Nation,

the Xiao Han Republic's gloating representatives, he truly wanted to vent all the anger in his fists.

"Holy crap!"

"Really, jinxed!"

"Could the Goddess of Luck have gone to sleep?"

Steve blamed all his misfortune on bad luck, using it as an excuse.

Suddenly, he turned to his assistant and urgently asked:

"Where's the Griffis person? The match starts in three minutes; what is she dawdling about?"

"To get her to take the field, I've already splurged three billion Triumphal coins!

If she dares make the slightest mistake, I'll immediately strip her of her nationality!"

The assistant was startled by his ruthlessness and hurriedly replied:

"Almost there, almost there; she says she's applying lipstick."

Steve looked bewildered.

"Applying lipstick?! Does she think this is a concert?!"

The anger in his heart blazed fiercely, and he angrily said:

"Putting on makeup at the Shen Gui Sha Li Tai; soon your little life will be gone!"

"What on earth is in that crazy woman's head? Not a shred of propriety!"

Clang—clang—

At that moment, a sound of high heels striking the floor came.

"Oh dear, Mr. Steve, who are you criticizing for lacking propriety?"

A voluptuous woman had somehow arrived beside Steve.

She wore a black dress, her legs covered in sheer stockings, and her head adorned with a gorgeous beret,

She wore lace gloves on her hands, and her entire attire exuded the bearing of a noblewoman.

However, time had etched marks on her face,

making even the most delicate makeup unable to conceal her true age, roughly fifty plus.

Facing Gelfis, Steve's fiery temper instantly reined in, becoming gentle and refined.

"Ahem, Lady Gelfis, you understand, I am not blaming you, but rather reproaching my assistant for being too clumsy."

"He always acts without consideration and lacks judgment," Steve said with a smile.

Summoners of the Triumphal Empire hold a prestigious status, yet the notion of serving the nation is faint in their hearts.

Therefore, to enlist them, Steve usually has to bleed heavily,

and sometimes even money cannot persuade them.

Gelfis is the prime example.

The Summoned Creature she called forth is the exceedingly formidable Countess Barotri.

This lady, born of an ancient noble line, is cruel in her methods, taking pleasure in torturing young women,

and is a fanatic with a taste for horror.

Perhaps many have never heard of Countess Barotri's name.

But her other identity is known to all—Vampire Countess!

The powerful Countess Barotri was once the daughter of a feudal kingdom's nobility, whose family power could rival the royal house.

It is said that the young Countess Barotri was once hailed as the kingdom's foremost beauty.

However, for the sake of family interests, she was forced to marry a man she did not love and bore eight children.

When her husband fell in battle, she alone guarded the massive castle,

and the loneliness within gradually eroded her sanity, making her age rapidly and her visage terrifying.

One day, a reckless servant angered Countess Barotri,

and in fury she cracked a harsh whip across the servant's face, splattering blood onto her own face.

At that moment, Countess Barotri realized that killing and torturing gave her pleasure,

and that the blood oddly rejuvenated her skin.

Since then, young girls have become her prime subjects for torture and blood extraction.

To satisfy her lust, Countess Barotri slaughtered all the young female servants in the castle,

yet this did not satisfy her.

Thus, she posted a high‑paying recruitment notice for young maidservants,

using the promise of learning noble etiquette as bait, she lured girls from other families— the outcome is obvious.

Countess Barotri grew increasingly obsessed with blood and slaughter, even inventing the grotesque Iron Virgin torture device.

In the end, Countess Barotri's crimes were exposed, but the kingdom, due to family ties, gave her a lenient pass,

only placing her under lifelong house arrest within the castle until she died of old age.

Theoretically, Countess Barotri's strength was originally inferior to that of a Vampire Count, but as later rumors evolved,

many people confused her with Bloody Mary, which also caused, after the Divine Ghost Killing Arena arrived,

Countess Barotri unexpectedly gained a portion of Bloody Mary's power!

One should know that Bloody Mary is an SSS‑Rank terror.

Even a sliver of that power transforms Countess Barotri, evolving her into an SS Rank terror monster!

Some even claim that when Countess Barotri immerses herself in the thrill of killing, her power far exceeds SS Rank!

A terror beyond SS Rank! This is precisely why Steve set aside his pride and earnestly begged Gelfis.

"Esteemed Lady Gelfis, this battle concerns the future of the Triumphal Empire."

"Please give it your all; failure is not an option."

Steve added,

"If we win, your reward will rise to 3.5 billion!"

For victory, reputation and money are meaningless!

Winning this battle will compensate all losses!

Unexpectedly, Gelfis wasn't buying any of it.

"Mr. Steve, you think five hundred million is enough to order me around?"

"Who do you think I am?"

Gelfis widened her eyes, her wrinkles seeming to converge.

"As a noble, I have my own opinions; you need not speak for me."

"Those Dragon Nation brats are not even worth my notice!"