The trap was set, and all that remained was to wait.
To stave off boredom, Lilith started a campfire and roasted her own stash of beef for a snack while waiting patiently.
The meat had been frozen for so long because Lilith had grown tired of eating it. If she could catch a rabbit in this place, she wouldn’t have been forced to dip into her reserve food.
Erica, on the other hand, relished the meal. “Delicious! I’ve never tasted anything meat before. And this barbecue sauce, where did you find it? It smells amazing!”
Erica eagerly devoured the skewered meat, eating as if she were a hungry ghost who just found food, unconcerned about manners. Her lips and cheeks glistened with grease.
“Eat as much as you want,” Lilith offered as she tossed more wood onto the fire.
“Can I really have such high-quality meat to my heart’s content?” Erica was almost moved to tears. “You won’t ask me to pay up after I’m done, right?” she asked cautiously.
“Eat up. This meat isn’t worth much. Ten gold coins could buy a whole cow.” Lilith waved dismissively. Read full story at novel(ꜰ)ire.net
“Ten gold coins…?!” Erica nearly choked. It was her family’s living expenses for a year.
“Oh, I adore you, you big spender! I’m sticking with you from now on,” Erica declared, skewers in each hand, willing to do anything for this delicious meal.
Lilith shook her head as she adjusted the branches. She regretted not knowing sooner how easily Erica could be won over with good food. It would have saved a lot of unnecessary talk.
“Someone’s approaching,” Lilith suddenly said, scanning the sky. “Quick, get ready and put on the mask,” she instructed.
“Huuuh? But I haven’t finished eating…” Erica protested, unsure what to do with her half-eaten skewered meat. Her cheeks were stuffed like a squirrel’s.
“Ugh.” Lilith sighed, snatching the skewers and tossing them into the fire. “Stop eating. You can eat as much as you want later.”
Erica looked at the burning skewers tearfully. “Oh… my meat… expensive meat…”
“Put on your mask. Hurry up now, they’re here,” Lilith insisted sharply.
“Eh? Oh no, I haven’t wiped my mouth. Never mind, I’ll just put it on now.” Erica hurriedly donned the eerie mask Lilith had prepared, settling cross-legged by the campfire as rehearsed, facing away without a word.
The three figures approached in quick succession—Ballmer, Ness, and Brady.
Ignoring the others, Lilith fixed her gaze on Brady, who seemed slightly intimidated, and sneered coldly.
“Brady… You’ve betrayed Lady Erica so quickly…”
Brady remained silent.
Ballmer smirked and remarked, “I believe that’s the illustrious Lady Erica, right?”
He studied the figure sitting cross-legged by the bonfire, noting a calm and resolute demeanor, unmoved and dignified.
Even upon their arrival, this person didn’t acknowledge them. Her masked face revealed nothing, but Ballmer assumed her expression was as composed as her demeanor.
She seemed like someone who truly had the audacity to make such bold statements.
“Hmph, you have no right to question Lady Erica. If you wish to speak to her, you’ll have to get through me first,” Lilith interjected, positioning herself defiantly in front of the three men, playing the role of a loyal servant to a villain perfectly.
“Hehe, you talk big for a lowly lackey. Aren’t you afraid of being flagged for teaming up with that Lady Erica?” Ness taunted.
“Hmph, teaming up is indeed prohibited in this tournament, but there’s no rule against pledging loyalty to someone. Subjugation is earned through strength, and strength is the essence of the Martial God Tournament. Where’s the contradiction?” Lilith countered.
Ness and Ballmer exchanged a glance, recognizing that this was indeed another loophole in the rules.
After a moment’s consideration, they both shook their heads simultaneously. Such a strategy wouldn’t work among participants as proud as they were. No one would willingly submit to another.
Furthermore, even if someone did submit, it was those whose spirits were so shattered that they posed little threat.
Rather than a loophole, it seemed more like a deliberate design by the organizers to encourage competition among participants.
“Hmph, and yet here you three are together,” Lilith retorted, crossing her arms. “Seems like illegal teaming to me.”
“We didn’t come together,” Ballmer countered with a smirk. “We merely ran into each other along the way.”
With that, Ballmer delivered a weak palm strike to Ness, and Ness returned the gesture. Their exchange was devoid of any real hostility.
Lilith’s mouth twitched in disbelief. She prided herself on being shameless, but compared to these three, she was a novice.
“Well, it’s getting late. Let’s get down to business.” Ballmer looked past Lilith and addressed Erica, who was sitting silently by the campfire.
“Lady Erica, since you’re a woman, I’ll overlook your arrogance. However, our ally… I mean, our opponent, Mr. Brady, has accused you of stealing ten Holy Dragon’s Hearts from him. As honorable rivals, we can’t ignore this. Will you return them?”
“Hehe, we took only three, and you’re demanding ten now? You’ve got quite the appetite,” Lilith retorted with a sneer. “If you want them, come and take them,” she taunted.
“Are those Lady Erica’s words?” Ness turned to Erica and saw her head slightly bowed in what seemed like a nod.
“I see. I’m not one to bully girls, but I guess you leave me with no choice,” Ballmer said with a soft chuckle.
He looked at Lilith and advised, “You could surrender peacefully. We won’t mock you for it.”
Lilith tilted her head, amusement flickering in her eyes. “You think you can make me surrender? Where did you find that confidence?”
Brady leaned in to whisper to Ballmer, “Be cautious. This one’s strong.”
“Heh, interesting,” Ballmer replied nonchalantly.
Look at her slender arms and legs, I don’t believe she can beat me to death.
Brady’s caution was no different than an opinion of a piece of trash by another piece of trash.
“You fighting alone? Why don’t all of you come at me together? That’ll save us all some time.” Lilith taunted, beckoning with her fingers.
“Arrogant, but I like it.” Ballmer laughed. “I’m not trying to brag, but I could take you down even with one hand tied behind my back.”
“Is that so?” Lilith’s smile widened.