9: Chapter 009 Match Lock Card! The Silent Sniper!

The match was won, and just as Shen Mo was about to leave the arena, two cold voices suddenly appeared!

[Attention! Sakura Country has used a "match locking card," locking onto the target: Shen Mo!]

[Attention! Stick Country has used a "match locking card," locking onto the target: Shen Mo!]

The voices echoed, and above the Gods Arena, a phantom figure appeared—it was none other than Furukawa Koichi from Sakura Country!

Furukawa's wrinkled, aged face stiffened: "Kamigawa-kun, you may withdraw. Settle your individual points; you don't need to participate in what comes next. Yotsuki Kami will clear the obstacles for us..."

Yotsuki Kami!

The fourth contestant from Sakura Country!

"Hai!"

Kamigawa replied respectfully, his 46 individual points instantly settled!

[Ranking Change!]

[99th Place: Sakura Country, Points: 102!]

Once Kamigawa's figure vanished, Furukawa looked at Shen Mo and said indifferently: "Shen Mo-kun, I truly admire your intelligence. To think of using 'dual Flame Swords' to counter Kamigawa-kun's 'dual Ice Men'... Impressive."

Flame Sword was the name this guy had given to the "Guinsoo's Rageblade."

Shen Mo glanced at him: "So what? You want to kowtow to me?"

Furukawa smiled faintly, the gloom on his old face flashing and vanishing, as he continued calmly: "Dragon Country has an old saying: 'One does not strike a smiling face.' Is this the 'character' of Shen Mo-kun?"

Shen Mo shook his head regretfully: "Look at you, learning only half of the lesson. This saying has a prerequisite..."

"Oh? I'd like to hear the details."

"You see, 'One does not strike a smiling face'... the key point of this saying is the word 'person.' The other party must at least be a human being. Don't you think what I'm saying makes sense?"

This was cursing him for not being human!

Furukawa's face twitched; he finally felt it now.

This Shen Mo had great hostility toward Sakura Country!

He was truly a master at infuriating people to death!

Sigh, it must have been difficult for Kamigawa-kun, having to fight such an opponent for an entire match!

"Hahaha, youthful arrogance, simida!"

Another figure descended. A slightly plump body with a silly, tiger-like grin, and parted hair that looked foolish—the newcomer was none other than the strategic commander-in-chief of the Stick Country, Park Bushun!

Although both figures were phantom-like, their gazes were fixed intently on Shen Mo.

They were both smiling, but Shen Mo seemed to be able to see that behind these two guys, there was a man-eating beast waiting to strike!

Two against one!

The atmosphere at the scene suddenly became heavy!

"You two shameless old things, what is this? Bullying our Dragon Country's junior?"

"Do you really think all of us old fogies are dead?!"

A loud roar rang out!

Old Man Li, full of vigor, made a brilliant entrance!

Although his figure was a bit short, looking exactly like the old grandpa playing chess downstairs in the neighborhood, his aura felt like he was six feet tall!

Old Man Li shielded Shen Mo, not afraid in the slightest when facing the leaders of the two countries: "Don't be afraid, kid. Old Li is here to protect you. You couldn't win in the match, so now you're resorting to intimidation tactics, huh? What's this? Trying to play mind games?"

Park Bushun said with a chuckle: "Li Zheng... We are just having a friendly exchange with the junior, don't make the atmosphere so tense. You've grown old, but I am still young."

Old Man Li spat unceremoniously, his eyes full of disdain: "You're only seven or eight years younger than me, and you call that young? You're already Park Bushun, and you're still trying to save face?"

Park Bushun's expression stiffened.

Damn it!

So many years, and this old guy is still the same, not a single bit changed!

Truly completely lacking in class!

Park Bushun was enraged.

"You old immortal, who are you talking about!"

"Which dog is barking, asking who I'm talking about!"

"Waaahhh!! You're infuriating me!!!"

The three old guys of similar age went back and forth...

Behind them, Shen Mo was dumbfounded!

Is this the legendary "magnanimity of a great power"?

I love it, I love it!

...

"Old ruffian, I have decided to target Shen Mo today! If you have the ability, go protest at the Gods Arena!"

"I...!"

"Hehe, nothing to say, right? Your Dragon Country is doomed, I said it!"

Park Bushun and Furukawa laughed triumphantly.

Although they lost the war of words, the facts were right in front of them.

The two "match locking cards" had already been used; it was useless for Shen Mo to try to escape.

The next battle would be the end of Shen Mo!

Old Man Li was furious, his chest heaving violently, and his face flushed red.

But just as the other party said, the Gods Arena was inviolable!

The rules were set there; saying anything was useless.

Shen Mo saw that the situation on the field was not right and asked suspiciously: "Um... Leader, what does that 'match locking card' you mentioned earlier mean? Is it a special mechanism?"

"Don't call me Leader, just call me Old Li."

Shen Mo was embarrassed.

"...Okay, Uncle Li."

Old Man Li nodded reluctantly and sighed: "Kid, it's Dragon Country that has failed you, putting too much pressure on you! That 'match locking card' is actually a sniping card!"

"As the name implies, the next time you engage in an 8-player matchmaking battle, there will definitely be contestants from Stick Country and Sakura Country participating. They have studied your lineup thoroughly, and their goal is to keep you out of the top four!"

As he spoke, Old Man Li was full of regret: "You too, it would have been so much better if you had kept those 12 points. With those 12 individual points, you wouldn't have to fear this sniping. Even if you placed last, you wouldn't be eliminated!"

"The country already owes too many points; 12 points is just a drop in the bucket. You should have looked out for yourself."

Shen Mo listened, his eyes full of "innocence."

Old Man Li was so angry he wanted to punch the guy in front of him: "Kid, are you even listening to me!"

Shen Mo looked blank: "I'm listening. And then?"

And then?

What do you mean, and then?

Old Man Li was a bit dumbfounded: "That's it! Isn't this serious enough! They want to snipe you! They've studied your lineup thoroughly! Do you even understand the severity of this!"

Shen Mo: "..."

That's it?

He thought the sky was falling; after all that, it was just this?

It just means playing another match, right?

And they studied my lineup... hilarious.

What lineup?

6 Faeries?

That's just some cabbage-tier trash!

Forget about 6 Faeries, even with 9 Faeries, he could beat the crap out of them!

Shen Mo took a deep breath: "Uncle Li, I know about this. You don't need to worry, I have a way to deal with it. I only have one question: that 'match locking card' thing, do we have any? Can we use it?"

This thing is a good item!

Forcing a match with the opponent—if he could match with them every single game, this would be a great opportunity to snipe them!

As long as I'm here, you won't be able to win! Doesn't that make you uncomfortable?

Furthermore!

Shen Mo was confident he could pull off some tricks!

For example, when playing against Sakura Country, he could go all out, and when playing against other small countries, he could go easy.

By then, let alone getting points, the opponent might not even be able to make it into the top four!

"...Little Shen, about that, we really don't have any."

Shen Mo frowned, why not?

Old Man Li coughed: "The 'match locking card' is exchanged using National Destiny Points..."

"..."

Shen Mo retracted an expression.

Understood.

Just pretend I didn't say anything.