"1 to 15? Are they that dismissive of me?" Shirley frowned.
After all, assassins were the most troublesome existence for survivors in the apocalypse, especially with her dual talents. Yet, in such a weak world, she was being looked down upon.
"Haha, isn't that good, my silly sister!"
"If your master knew you made so much money for him, he'd surely be delighted!"
Qian Xinxin said, producing a pre-made poster. Upon seeing it, Shirley couldn't help but feel both amused and annoyed. The poster featured her photo, and she had no idea when Qian Xinxin had arranged for someone to sneakily take it. However, for a competition like the King of Abilities Tournament, shouldn't they at least use a more impressive photo, perhaps with some ability-related special effects? Instead, she looked like a debutante idol, ready to dance to music. An obvious filter had been used to make her skin appear exceptionally delicate. Where was the fierceness of an ability powerhouse?
Coupled with the fact that her spot in the top sixteen was bought with money, it was easy for people to make assumptions: this girl must be kept by some rich tycoon, entering the competition just to gain fame and then transition into acting in movies and endorsing products. For such an opponent, odds of 1 to 15 were considered rather conservative.
"Alright... for master... none of this matters!" Shirley set the poster aside, pouting.
"That's the spirit! Also... according to my calculations... your first match will likely be against that guy who controls plants!" Qian Xinxin pressed a few buttons on the remote.
Soon, the television screen switched to a battle between two ability users. On the left was a burly man, a physique-type ability user. On the right was a woman, surrounded by various thorny vines. This woman was the one Qian Xinxin mentioned as Shirley's potential opponent.
"Isn't this the top 64 round? How could you possibly know who will advance to the end and fight me?" Shirley asked, surprised. Before Qian Xinxin could answer, she immediately realized, "Oh, I get it. Is it your money power again?"
Qian Xinxin took a sip of red wine, smiling without a word.
"So that's how it is. It seems everything is within your calculations!"
"Looks like you'll be able to do some serious profit-taking this time!" Shirley said with admiration.
"Not at all, what I earn is pocket change, nowhere comparable to you, the 'Nation-Snatcher.'"
"But speaking of which, while holding a knife to a head of state's neck to negotiate does earn a lot..."
"I always feel it's too uninteresting. It's only when people willingly open their wallets that earning becomes fun!"
"Right, when you fight this woman, you need to be careful. You must show a slight disadvantage in the early stages."
"Never go for a quick kill. You must drag it out slowly until I tell you you can win. After all, if you perform too strongly in the first match, we'll only profit from one match. It will be hard to make money in subsequent rounds." Qian Xinxin cautioned earnestly.
"Got it. I'll act a bit clumsily. I used to do that often when I wanted to hide my real strength in the Soul Organization."
"Rest assured, but I do need to study this 'Thorn Woman's' abilities, otherwise, my act won't be convincing..." Shirley compromised with a nod. Only then did she understand Qian Xinxin's true intention in asking her to study the abilities of the contestants.
"Take your time studying. I have new entertainment to watch!" Qian Xinxin gently patted Shirley's shoulder and slowly walked to the vast floor-to-ceiling window of the VIP box. Her gaze fixed on an inconspicuous combat arena at the edge of the venue. Standing there was a burly man over two meters tall, covered in rocks. Opposite him stood a small boy wearing a samurai outfit, a cape, and a mask. The stark contrast in their builds was striking.
"Oh dear, you disobedient little one, should I help you or stop you!?"
"Your father probably wouldn't agree to you participating in a competition in this fragile world. What should I do? It's truly a headache!" Qian Xinxin said, lightly touching her forehead with her left hand, appearing distressed.
Meanwhile, outside the top 64 competition arena.
A referee placed a waiver agreement in front of Katerina and said with a hint of guilt, "This is a liability waiver. Accidents can happen during matches. If any unfortunate incidents occur, the competition organizers will not be held responsible."
"Please sign after careful consideration. This is the top 64 round, and your opponents won't be as lenient as in the preliminaries. They'll be fighting for their lives."
"So I advise you to think carefully. Once you sign this agreement, there's no turning back!"
Katerina quickly glanced at the liability waiver and signed at the designated spot. Seeing her sign so readily, the referee couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. This woman was surely crazy, letting such a young child compete. While it was true that some gifted children awakened their abilities at a very young age and displayed considerable strength, the power of an ability release was directly proportional to a person's maturity and physical strength. The more mature and stronger they were, the more powerful and sustained their abilities would be. Conversely, a young child, even if capable of releasing decent abilities, would suffer from poor physical strength, likely leading to nosebleeds or even fainting after a short period.
This child's mother, for the sake of money, disregarded her child's health. What kind of person was she?!
Just as the referee was about to step onto the stage to announce the official start of the match, Katerina called out from below, "Wait!"
The referee's eyes lit up, thinking Katerina had a change of heart. Indeed, even a tiger wouldn't harm its cubs; this woman still had some humanity. He quickly asked, "What is it? It's not too late to regret it now!"
Katerina shook her head and said, "It's not regret. I'm just curious, did that big brute also sign a liability waiver?"
The referee's face darkened, thinking, "At a time like this, she still cares about others' lives?!" He said irritably, "Yes, he did. Please don't disturb me if there's nothing else!"
"That's good. Then I'm relieved. But... Mo Mo, try to be gentle when you strike, okay?" Katerina instructed, her voice full of concern.
"Understood, Mom. I'm not a child anymore. Don't always nag me. It makes me feel embarrassed in front of my opponent!" Zhang Mo said with a small frown.
"Alright, alright, Mom understands!" Katerina smiled faintly and then made a zipping motion across her lips.