Chapter 58

The present-day Cloud Summit was vastly different from when he was fourteen. The bloody games of the wealthy spurred various supporting facilities in the surrounding area. Even in a place like the border of Western Sahara, plagued by armed conflicts and impoverished lives, two luxurious hotels stood tall. The amenities one could enjoy here were no less than those in Europe.

The operators of Cloud Summit simultaneously catered to both the Moroccan government and the Western Sahara independence factions, acting as intermediaries for internationally renowned arms companies on their behalf. In exchange, they secured permanent neutrality in this region, ensuring that it would not be disturbed by either side.

The helipad on the rooftop of the hotel was rarely idle, with helicopters taking off and landing around the clock, bringing in wave after wave of wealthy individuals with abnormal hobbies. The guests included political figures, wealthy businessmen, celebrities from the world of arts and sports, and many others. The true backgrounds of these people were often astonishing, and some who wished to remain anonymous would wear masks or be provided with VIP suites by the operators. In this turbulent and chaotic region, the lack of oversight allowed many things that couldn’t exist in a normal orderly society to flourish madly. It had developed into a thriving industry, and the customer base continued to grow steadily.

Nestled between the two towering hotels was a somewhat comical-looking small tavern. This tavern left a deep impression on Shan Ming, as it served as the entrance to the Cloud Summit.

It’s truly unknown who came up with such a romantic yet entirely inappropriate name for this underground, dark, bloody, and clandestine arena.

To maintain the original charm of the Cloud Summit, the operators undertook renovations to meticulously preserve this small, compact tavern in its entirety.

Shan Ming was first placed in the hotel all tied up, indicating that this hotel was also Nessis’s property.

Although Shan Ming didn’t have a deep understanding of this person, through their conversation, he could roughly deduce that he was one of the “owners” at Cloud Summit. They collected skilled fighters through various channels to engage in battles for immense profits. In essence, they were not much different from those who organized c*ckfights or dogfights, although they referred to these activities as “clubs” on the surface.

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Fbyd Ykdt oyp wdyoyal sq bso xydu sodlap zkjl vbkp lmkpvle yv Uzswe Fwxxkv, cwv vbl qynv vbyv Llppkp nswze lpvyczkpb y bsvlz blal kdeknyvle vbyv bl oyp y pktdkqknydv rzyula yxsdt vbl sodlap. Gde Fbyd Ykdt bkxplzq bye nywtbv vbkp sodla’p yvvldvksd yp y qktbvla kd vbkp pyhytl tyxl.

Fbyd Ykdt qlzv vbyv Llppkp’ fwetxldv kp ralvvu tsse, ps bl elnkele vbyv obld bl lhldvwyzzu zlyhlp vbkp rzynl, bl oswze pbssv y cwzzlv pvayktbv kdvs Llppkp’ lulp.

Fbyd Ykdt oyp cswde vs vbl cle, okvb vos cseutwyaep pvydekdt clpkel kv, vblka lulp nsdpvydvzu qkmle sd bkx. Mblu nbydtle pbkqvp lhlau qlo bswap, ekprzyukdt y bktb zlhlz sq hktkzydnl vsoyae bkx. Mbl assx oyp lhld liwkrrle okvb pwahlkzzydnl nyxlayp. Slyzkgkdt vbl qwvkzkvu sq yvvlxrvkdt yd lpnyrl wdela pwnb nkanwxpvydnlp, Fbyd Ykdt elnkele vs pkxrzu zyu cynj yde pzllr.

Mbl dlmv eyu yv dssd, Llppkp yrrlyale.

Llppkp pxkzle yde pyke, “Pke usw pzllr olzz zypv dktbv?”

Fbyd Ykdt zygkzu zssjle yv bkx yde alrzkle, “Uyd ydusdl pzllr olzz obld vblu’al vkle wr?”

Llppkp rwzzle shla y nbyka yde pyv cu vbl clepkel. “R qswde psxl kdvlalpvkdt alnsaep. Rv vwadp swv usw nyxl blal qswavlld ulyap yts, yde usw oyzjle yoyu okvb y pktdkqknydv rakgl.”

“Mbyv’p aktbv, R’hl clld blal clqsal.”

“Well, since that saves me the trouble of explaining this place to you, you should also know how I expect us to cooperate.”

Shan Ming smirked and said, “If I refuse to participate, are you going to force me at gunpoint?”

Nessis smiled but remained silent.

“Making me fight, that’s fine with me, but I’m not taking your drugs.”

Nessis raised an eyebrow and replied, “So you even know about the drugs?”

Shan Ming stared at him coldly and replied, “What? Are you afraid of people finding out?”

Nessis smiled gentlemanly and replied, “Of course not. In fact, we have upgraded that drug. Its effects are much more potent than before. Maybe fourteen years ago, you could have walked out of here alive, but now, it’s not so certain. So, have you really thought it through?”

Shan Ming responded coldly, “I’m not taking drugs.”

Nessis shrugged. “No problem, I just don’t want you to die. You’re an exceptionally skilled fighter, and I believe that your resistance won’t last long. Sooner or later, you’ll willingly want to take it. It’s a remarkable substance that will make your battles incredibly enjoyable.”

Shan Ming glared at him fiercely and said, “Enough with the talk. If you’re going to arrange for me to fight, I’m ready anytime.”

Nessis said with delight, “I admire your courage. The truth is, my fighters have been losing to my competitors lately, and it’s been bothering me. I hope you can turn the tide for me.” Nessis paused for a moment and added, “Mr. Shan, you are an intelligent person. Please refrain from attempting any audacious acts once your hands and feet are free. When you’re in the arena, there will be a sniper and three machine gunners keeping an eye on you. Unless you’re invincible, you won’t be able to leave this place.”

Shan Ming’s hawk-like eyes stared intensely at Nessis. “Take me there.”

Under the escort of the bodyguards, Shan Ming descended from the hotel through an elevator and entered the small tavern.

As he entered, a strong aroma of rum filled the air. The tavern had a vintage decor with wooden tones, and the walls were adorned with photos of American starlets from the ’70s and ’80s. Everything felt so familiar, triggering memories from Shan Ming’s fourteenth year of age.

That year, he, Ayer, and Tiger Shark had ventured into this underground arena with ignorance and fearlessness, all in an effort to raise money and recruit fighters.

They were all still bearing the pain of losing Lin Qiang and so many of their brothers-in-arms, trying to channel their grief and anger through violence. Therefore, without hesitation, they all signed up and recklessly stepped into the arena.

At first, they encountered a couple of easy opponents. However, that day, the person in charge took notice of them and arranged for them to face injected beasts, fighters who had been administered drugs.

Tiger Shark was at the peak of his physical strength during that time, displaying astonishing combat prowess. He came down from the arena with minimal injuries. However, the situation for both Ayer and him was quite dire.

Shan Ming’s opponent underestimated his age. While he was covered in blood from being beaten, he decided to play dead by lying on the ground. Then he seized an opportunity and successfully broke his opponent’s spine. However, Ayer wasn’t as fortunate. He encountered a true beast, someone who seemed to have lost all traces of human emotion and consciousness. He was nothing more than a fighting machine, a tank in the arena, charging and ramming with unlimited strength and a thirst for blood. Everyone knew this beast wanted to kill Ayer, and surrendering was futile.

Shan Ming had just lost his foster father, and he couldn’t bear the thought of losing Ayer as well. He watched Ayer, who could barely stand after the beating, and impulsively wanted to jump into the arena. However, Tiger Shark stopped him. Deep down, they both knew that if they broke the rules here, none of them would be able to walk away.

It was the first time in his life seeing Ayer like that. Ayer had a bright smile and sparkling blue eyes. When strangers see him, they will take him for an elegant young gentleman. But Shan Ming knew that he was a little money slave who always took pleasure in teasing him, his only younger brother. The Ayer right now, however, ended up like a cornered little beast, covered in wounds, his face twisted into a terrifying expression resembling a vengeful spirit. Ignoring everything, he desperately sought to take his opponent down with him. Eventually, in a frenzy, he bit that person to death, one bite at a time.

Shan Ming still shudders when he recalls that brutal battle. As he stepped into this familiar little tavern, he was overwhelmed by the fear and helplessness he felt when he stood just two meters away from the bloody Ayer in the arena. Back then, the stands behind him were filled with excited spectators, none of whom sympathized with an eighteen-year-old life experiencing a challenge in an exceptionally cruel manner. On the contrary, they cheered, they were exhilarated, and they wanted to see Ayer torn into pieces by that beast.

So Shan Ming despises this place, he hates this place, he never dreamed that one day he would be forced to set foot here again!

As the door to the underground arena opened, a deafening roar mixed with a wave of bloodlust rushed toward him. At that moment, Shan Ming swore in his heart that he will make Nessis and Roddy pay the price.