Chapter 391: A Childish Duel
"Boss, that's Alex from the Chester family. Despite being only seventeen, he has the strength of an advanced swordsman and specializes in light-based combat techniques. By the time he's twenty, he might reach king-level."
Li Meng observed Alex from across the gathered crowd.
Indeed, he resembled a golden lion.
His striking blonde hair shone under the light, and at just seventeen, he already stood at 1.8 meters tall.
"Even with bare fists, I can knock you all down tonight. Who dares challenge me?!"
Like all members of the Golden Lion family, he exuded a sense of pride and dominance, akin to a mighty lion.
"Alex, don't be so cocky! Tonight's victor has yet to be decided."
A burly young man stepped forward from the Barton family, his expression hostile.
He was even taller, nearly 1.9 meters, with bulging muscles that made him look like a walking fortress.
"Avinsa, who's that?"
Li Meng curiously studied the imposing figure.
His physical attributes were clearly superior to those of the Chester family.
"That's Riken, the Barton family's prodigy. He practices earth-attribute combat techniques and is also an advanced swordsman. Given his raw strength, he holds a clear advantage in a fistfight."
"Boss, who do you think will win?"
Li Meng glanced between Riken and Alex.
Physically, Riken had the edge.
However, victory wasn't determined by strength alone.
Physical attributes were merely a foundation.
The key lay in how well one utilized their body's potential.
Having strength didn't mean knowing how to use it.
Combat techniques and battle experience were crucial in harnessing true power.
"Riken."
At that moment, both fighters lunged at each other.
The instant they moved, Li Meng sensed the difference between them.
Riken's presence was solid, exuding the aura of someone seasoned in battle.
In contrast, Alex's presence was weak—his confidence was mostly a facade.
In a blink, they closed the distance.
Alex struck first.
His fist was wrapped in a faint white glow—a sign of battle aura infusion.
"Riken, take this punch!"
Alex roared and swung his fist towards Riken's face.
"So what if I take it?"
Riken was unfazed, responding with his own punch.
A yellow aura enveloped his fist as he retaliated.
"Boom!"
A loud impact echoed through the hall.
Their fists collided, creating a shockwave that rippled through the surrounding air.
Yellow and white auras clashed violently.
The force sent both combatants stumbling backward.
Riken took three steps back, while Alex was pushed back by five.
"Is that all you've got? Try again!"
Riken grinned savagely and charged forward.
"Hmph! You think I'm scared?!"
Despite being at a disadvantage in the first exchange, Alex showed no fear.
The two clashed again, their fists meeting in a brutal contest of strength.
"Holy Fist: Radiance!"
This time, Alex unleashed a battle technique.
A glowing fist materialized, hurtling toward Riken.
Riken smirked and bellowed, "Break!"
He threw a punch, smashing into the approaching radiant fist.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion erupted.
Waves of energy blasted outward, causing bystanders to brace themselves.
The glowing fist shattered under the impact of Riken's attack.
Dispersed aura flickered briefly before vanishing into the air.
"You can't win against me."
The moment the radiant fist broke apart, Riken wasted no time.
He lunged forward, taking only a few strides to close the distance.
Lifting his left knee, he drove it hard into Alex's abdomen.
The forceful blow made Alex wail in agony.
His face turned pale as he staggered backward, finally collapsing onto the ground.
"What a dull fight. Avinsa, let's go."
Avinsa clung tightly to Li Meng's arm.
Together, they exited the ballroom.
As they strolled through the outer corridor, side by side, Avinsa looked up at him.
"Boss, how did you know I failed?"
If she had succeeded, he wouldn't have left the ball so soon.
"That man is interested in you, but he's not a fool blinded by lust. He likely has secrets in his household that he can't afford to expose to outsiders. Since the approach failed, there's no reason to stay at the ball any longer."
Avinsa smirked, her eyes flashing with killing intent.
That night, Obenlo City was alive with activity, lights illuminating the streets.
On a central boulevard, a beast-drawn carriage sped through the night.
"Boss, should I kill her?"
Inside the carriage, Avinsa looked down at Li Meng, who rested with his head on her lap.
Originally, they had planned to assassinate Baron Priss after the ball.
Now, it seemed an ambush was the only option.
"I don't like her scent. Kill them all."
That woman reeked of blood.
Not only her own but that of others.
Li Meng didn't dislike ruthless women—in fact, he found them quite appealing.
Women like Avinsa, for instance.
But having too many of them around wasn't ideal.
Avinsa grinned, placing her hand gently on his chest.
"Understood, boss."
"Do you need my help?"
"No need, boss. Luke and I can handle it."
"If you know where he lives, why attack on the road instead of going directly to his estate?"
That was the only thing Li Meng found puzzling.
If they intended to kill, it made sense to eliminate every trace.
"Baron Priss has a private dungeon beneath his estate, with many guards stationed there. Silently wiping them out wouldn't be easy. Our target is only Baron Priss. There's no need for a full massacre."
Li Meng glanced out the carriage window at the night sky.
Tonight's moon was full.
A perfect night for killing.
Meanwhile, back at the royal palace, the ball continued for hours, finally ending deep into the night.
On the streets of the central district, a luxurious noble carriage sped through the city.
The clatter of wheels echoed through the darkened streets.
"Reese, when's the next shipment arriving?"
Inside the carriage, Baron Priss sat across from his wife.
Reese shook her head.
"Kaor went missing two weeks ago. I sent people to find him, but there's been no trace."
Priss frowned.
"That fool wouldn't just run off with the goods, would he?"
Reese shook her head again.
"That shipment is valuable, but not enough to risk our long-term business. Kaor is a smart man—he wouldn't be so reckless. Let's wait a few more days."