Chapter 70: Bet on me! Rose!
One man nudged his colleague.
"Did you hear? Some high school sophomore with a Slime wants to challenge Caelum."
The other snorted.
"Caelum? The number two in holy dragon university year 1 student?"
"Yep."
"That’s suicide."
A woman in a black suit joined them.
"I heard he’s only tenth grade. His beast is E-rank."
Shook her head.
"Does he have no self-awareness? The grade difference alone is massive. Two full grades."
Another official chimed in.
"And the beast rank gap! F-rank versus SS-rank! That’s seven tiers!"
"Eight if you count Caelum’s other ability, his family gave him lots of good stuff for the beast."
"The kid doesn’t understand how power scaling works."
But then someone else spoke up.
Older man.
"Wait. Alex? The one who helped Victor?"
The group turned.
"What?"
"That boy destroyed the cult ritual on the island. Saved Victor’s entire team. He’s got military merit at seventeen."
Murmurs.
Surprised.
The woman frowned.
"Really? That was him?"
"Yes. And his potions. The Vine Potion came from him. He also has some crazy destructive potion, Wilson is trying hard to buy from him."
Another voice joined.
"I heard his Slime has level four Gigantification. Four! That’s insane for an E-rank beast."
"How is that even possible?"
"It’s super tough to even level up 1 skill level! Especially an decent skill like giganfication!"
"Nobody knows. The research department is baffled."
"However, a single level 4 skill isn’t enough to combat Caelum at all.. 8th-grade SS contract beasts usually have 4 skills! And this Caelum! I am pretty sure he has more! "
"Ye.. the rank and grade difference still affect too much!"
Someone leaned in.
Whispered.
"Do you guys remember that rainbow a month ago?"
"I heard that was an X-rank portal! And this Alex is the one who summoned it!"
"OMG!"
"Really?"
"How come he only has a slime?"
"Because The ritual failed for some reason. That’s why he ended up with just a Slime."
Silence.
Heavy.
Everyone knew what that meant.
The portal doesn’t lie.
It responds to talent.
Only X-rank talent summons an X-rank portal.
"X-rank potential..."
Someone whispered.
"And he got a Slime."
The woman’s face twisted.
Sympathy.
Pain.
"That’s... that’s the cruelest thing I’ve ever heard."
The gray-haired man shook his head.
"Historical-level talent. Wasted on the worst possible outcome."
"Which means this boy... he should be standing at the absolute peak. Way above Caelmun, above everyone!"
"Instead he’s stuck with an E-rank beast."
"No wonder he keeps fighting. With that talent, he knows what he’s capable of. What he should have been."
The gray-haired man nodded.
"The boy is a true genius. No question. His tactical mind, his potion crafting, his unconventional methods. All signs of that X-rank potential trying to break through."
Pause.
"He’s just been crippled by fate."
One man turned to Master Feng.
He stood on the platform.
Still chewing Lolipop.
"Master Feng, surely you don’t think the boy has a chance?"
Feng stroked his beard.
Smiled.
"His odds? Almost zero."
Pause.
"But I’m still curious."
"Curious about what? Watching him get destroyed?"
"Curious why he accepted."
Feng’s eyes gleamed.
"Someone who bets everything on almost zero odds... either has a hidden card, or is insane."
Looked at Alex.
"I want to know which."
Rose stood at the edge.
Arms crossed.
Brow furrowed.
Why did he accept this?
It makes no sense.
She’d seen his tricks.
His potions.
His unconventional tactics.
But against an eighth-grade Beast Master?
With an A-rank beast?
What could he possibly do?
A woman waved from the crowd.
"Rose! Over here!"
Rose turned.
Started walking.
Hips swaying.
Natural.
Elegant.
She glanced back.
Caught Alex’s eye.
Winked.
Slow.
Deliberate.
Kept walking.
Alex froze.
That perfume.
Hit him like a wave.
Sweet. Mature. Intoxicating.
His gaze followed her.
The way she moved.
Confident.
Sensual.
OMG.
She’s actually so hot.
I love mature woman.
His brain short-circuited.
Then—
Golden text flashed.
[SYSTEM CHOICE]
Alex blinked.
Wait.
Another task?
But the first one isn’t done yet!
This never happened before.
Interesting.
[Option 1: Run up and hug Rose! Tell her to prepare bandages and healing supplies. This will be a brutal fight. You need Sister Rose’s tender care~]
[Reward: Rose’s Kiss + Affection boost! Your Fertility +10%!]
[Option 2: Do nothing. Conquer everyone with pure strength!]
[Reward: Fertility +5%]
[Option 3: Convince Rose to open a betting pool! Win her a fortune!]
[Reward: Fertility +20%! Rose’s Full-Body Massage Package!]
Alex’s eyes widened.
Oh.
OH.
So these side tasks...
They’re not serious.
They’re running parallel to the main quest.
Different rewards.
Different focus.
And these rewards...
Fertility?!
His mind raced.
What man doesn’t want that?
Especially someone building a harem!
This is perfect!
Option 3.
No hesitation.
20% fertility.
And a full-body massage from Rose.
Hell yes.
He moved.
Fast.
Jogged after Rose.
Caught her wrist.
She stopped.
Turned.
Looked at him.
Alex leaned close.
Right by her ear.
Whispered.
"Rose. Open a betting pool. Bet everything on me."
Rose pulled back.
Eyebrow raised.
"What?"
"Trust me. I’m going to win."
His voice low.
Confident.
"And you’re going to make a fortune."
Rose’s brow furrowed.
She studied his face.
Searching.
"You’re serious?"
"Dead serious."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Alex, the odds would be insane. Everyone here knows Caelum. They know his strength."
"Exactly."
Alex grinned.
"Which means when I win, the payout will be massive."
Rose bit her lip.
Thinking.
Her eyes flicked to Caelum.
Then back to Alex.
"You really have that much confidence?"
Alex squeezed her wrist.
Gently.
"I wouldn’t bet the armor if I didn’t."
Rose stared at him.
Long moment.
Then—
Her lips curved.
Slow smile.
"Alright."
She pulled out her phone.
Started typing.
"But if you lose, you owe me."
"Deal."
"I mean it. You’ll owe me big."
"I know, I will do everything you want me to."
Rose’s smile widened.
"Good."
She turned to the crowd.
Raised her voice.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Impromptu betting pool!"
Everyone turned.
"Odds are 1-to-50 on Alex winning!"
Murmurs.
Surprised.
Interested.
Someone laughed.
"Fifty to one? That’s generous!"
Another official grinned.
"Rose, are you running a charity?"
Rose smiled.
Sweet.
Professional.
"Just offering opportunities."
"Who wants in?"
Hands shot up.
Immediately.
Officials pulling out spirit stone cards.
Laughing.
Excited.
"I’ll put ten spirit stones on Caelum!"
"Twenty here!"
"Fifty spirit stones! This is the easiest money I’ll ever make!"
"My wife’s gonna love this bonus!"
Rose wrote it all down.
Neat handwriting.
Organized.
Master Feng walked over.
Pulled out his card.
"Rose, my dear. Put me down for two hundred spirit stones."
He smiled.
Confident.
"On Caelum, naturally."
Rose raised an eyebrow.
"Two hundred? That’s quite a bit, Master Feng. Two million is no small amount."
"I have absolute confidence in Caelmon. One hundred percent."
He handed over his card for verification.
"Besides, with these odds, I’ll be able to buy so many lollipops. Thank you for this wonderful charity work."
Rose took the card.
Recorded the bet.
Then looked up at him.
Smiled.
Sharp.
"Master Feng. You’re what, sixty? Still eating lollipops?"
She tilted her head.
"Aren’t you worried your teeth will fall out?"
Master Feng stroked his beard.
"My teeth are perfectly healthy, thank you."
"For now."
They stared at each other.
Both smiling.
Neither backing down.
Rose turned away first.
Master Feng chuckled.
Walked back to his spot.
The bets poured in.
"Thirty spirit stones on Caelum!"
"One hundred here!"
"Two hundred! Easy money!"
Rose’s notebook filled fast.
Caelum’s side was heavy.
Over three thousand spirit stones.
Thirty million in value.
Then Rose moved through the crowd.
Whispered to specific people.
A few hesitated.
But trusted her.
Handed over their cards.
Fifty here.
Thirty there.
Building a small pool.
Finally, Rose pulled out her own card.
One hundred spirit stones.
Everything she had.
Wrote her name down.
On Alex’s side.
Closed the notebook.
Total on Alex: Less than three hundred spirit stones.
If he won...
The payout would be massive.
Rose looked at the arena.
At Alex stretching.
Casual.
Confident.
Her lips curved.
This better be worth it, baby.
She walked back to him.
Leaned close.
"I just bet my entire month’s salary on you."
Her breath warm on his ear.
"Don’t disappoint me."
Alex’s heart pounded.
"I won’t."
Rose stepped back.
Smiled.
"Then show me what you’ve got, Alex~"