The match was about to begin.
Expressionlessly, Ray lowered the firearm Carlotta had condensed with her Resonance ability and whispered to her.
"Second Young Miss, this is a match."
The smile remained on Carlotta's face, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes. "Oh, right. I almost forgot, this is just a match."
Before her words faded, the firearm in her hand quietly disassembled and reformed under the guidance of her Resonance ability, transforming into crystalline, translucent gloves that fit snugly over the young lady's fists.
"Then," she flexed her wrists gently, the crystal refracting a cold light, "I'll play by their rules for now."
"You know martial arts too, Second Young Miss?" Ray was somewhat surprised.
Carlotta shot him a sidelong glance, as if hearing a redundant question.
"What, did you really think I was a clueless young lady? I choose to use a gun because it's efficient and clean. But that certainly doesn't mean, I only know how to use a gun."
From the day she stepped into the family, as an Executor, Carlotta received the most rigorous elite education.
Etiquette, scholarship, combat whether it was Huanglong's traditional martial arts or modern free fighting, she excelled at all, having long internalized combat as instinct.
"Contestants, are you ready?" The referee's voice rang out across the arena.
"Ready." Carlotta's reply was light as a feather.
"May the hunt be pleasant for you." The referee raised his right hand and announced loudly, "The match begins, Team Brilliant versus Team Gulon!"
In an instant, cheers erupted in the arena.
Carlotta leisurely took out her terminal, summoned the Montelli family's signature Vitreum Dancer, and then walked alone towards Team Gulon.
And Ray on the other side?
He was gently shaking Anby awake from its nap.
"My turn to fight?" Anby instantly perked up, hands on hips, chest puffed out. "Hmph, watch closely! Now's the moment for me to shine!"
Before its words even finished, a few muffled grunts of pain and sounds of falling bodies came from ahead.
Before Anby could even figure out what was happening, the referee's whistle sounded, the match was over.
After a moment of stunned silence, the entire arena erupted into even more enthusiastic cheers.
Anby turned around dumbly, staring wide-eyed at the opponents and their Echoes on the other side, who were now peacefully asleep. "Huh? Th-that's it? We won? But I didn't even do anything!"
Ray, who had anticipated this, simply shrugged, offering a helpless yet knowing smile.
"What can I say, Anby? This match... I think we just need to stand here quietly. The Second Young Miss will handle everything."
Afterwards, events unfolded exactly as Ray said.
Carlotta practically swept through every opponent single-handedly. He and Anby only needed to act as the most loyal spectators on the sidelines with the bonus job of cheering.
"Second Young Miss, forever unbeatable!"
"Second Young Miss, not bad at all!"
"Wow, Second Young Miss is awesome!"
Even though this was just an exhibition match, with Carlotta's string of absolute victories, the atmosphere was completely ignited.
Discussions buzzed in the spectator stands. Everyone's conversation revolved around this Second Young Miss whose strength utterly dominated the arena.
"The other teams are just no match for Team Brilliant, I'm telling you."
"Holy moly, Opal's dominance."
"Wait, why are Cat's Eye and his Echo just AFK? Everyone else is going all out. How come you guys are just dragging the team down?"
"Cat's Eye is trash!"
"Trust in Opal. Opal is the pride of us Ragunnans. History is being made by you right now!"
Ray paid no mind to the chatter from the surrounding audience.
What could he do?
None of these opponents could last a single round against the Second Young Miss.
As the last team was decisively defeated by Carlotta, the exhibition match drew to a close.
Amidst the tidal wave of cheers and applause, Carlotta and Ray stepped onto the award podium together, receiving the champion's glory from the organizers, presented personally by the star gladiator, Lupa.
"You two fought really well."
"Here, this is proof of your championship!"
"This trophy though cast in bronze, the meaning you've imbued it with has already surpassed its material value."
"And besides that, this prize, a ten-day pass for the top suite at the Leonidas Hotel!"
Carlotta's breathing hitched almost imperceptibly for a moment. She had entered this match precisely for this piece of paper.
'Mm, next up, a ten-day journey with Cat's Eye!
For my efforts in multiple battles, I deserve this reward!'
Despite the inner turmoil, the young lady maintained her composed demeanor, elegantly accepting the long-awaited prize from Lupa's hands. She gave a light cough. "Ahem—in that case, I won't hold back."
Standing to the side, Ray remained silent, his gaze thoughtfully resting on Carlotta.
Maybe it was his imagination...
But he always felt the Second Young Miss had entered this match specifically for that prize.
Yet that didn't make sense. With her wealth, not only could she easily afford ten days, she could probably lease that suite permanently without a second thought. Why deliberately participate in an amateur match just for this pass?
"Since the match is over, want to head into the city to celebrate?" Lupa stepped closer, lowering her voice with a suggestion. "But I'd advise you to leave quickly, the reporters definitely won't let this headline go: 'Two Visitors from Ragunna Win Septimont Gladiator Championship.' Even if it's an amateur event, that's enough for them to stir up some controversy. If you don't leave soon, it'll be hard to slip away later."
"Miss Carlotta, you wouldn't want your identity exposed, right?"
Only after Lupa's reminder did the two of them snap to attention.
Carlotta nodded. "Mm, that's fine. It just so happens I need to meet with the family's assigned representative in Septimont today. No time to waste. Let's set off now."
"Shh—follow me," Lupa made a gesture and turned to lead the way. "We'll take the back door."
As they passed through the rest area again, the Team Gulon member who had initially faced them and once called Carlotta "little" had regained consciousness.
He sat slumped alone on a bench, looking dazed and unfocused, as if he still hadn't recovered from the earlier impact.
With his head in his hands, he muttered in a nearly delirious, dreamlike whisper.
"I took the match seriously, only to get taken down in a single kick. Who could have predicted it'd end like this..."
"It feels like becoming a gladiator or not doesn't even matter anymore..."