Chapter 822: Legendary Objects

In just fifteen short minutes, the unprecedented wheel battle came to a close.

The underground gladiatorial arena of Scarlet Manor, known as the "crystal cage" or "beast cage," regularly hosts brutal death matches where only one participant, human or beast, can survive.

But today, with lives as sacrifices and flesh as the stage, an exceptional warrior drove all spectators into a frenzy.

Seventeen top human black market fighters, two adult Siberian tigers weighing over 250 kilograms each, a robust African lion, a starving American tiger, three ferocious Japanese Tosa dogs, and even a chemically enhanced chimpanzee lay scattered in various incomplete forms throughout the "crystal cage."

Through intentionally punctured peepholes, the crystal cage emanated a strong metallic smell of blood, further inflaming the madness of the social elites who had cast aside their hypocritical masks.

Each person carried a devil within them, whether they were gladiators or those outside the cage.

The crystal cage’s transparent walls could almost withstand grenades and various light weapons, now smeared with blood and filth. The cleaning system automatically sprayed cleaning fluid, quickly allowing those outside an unobstructed view inside.

A super hard alloy key hung like a pendant around the neck of the Dragon Knight, who, wearing a silver and black patterned mask, scanned the room. No one dared to meet his gaze, their hearts racing with fear and excitement; they had come seeking thrills, and they were indeed experiencing an unprecedented rush.

"Wow, this is amazing! If I could harness this guy, he’d be the number one fighter in the world. With him on my side, who could I fear? It’s time for the old geezers at the Igarashi Group to be replaced."

Zeger trembled with excitement as he stared at the "crystal cage" outside the private box, totally captivated.

He initially believed that Morin was strong, but he never expected him to be this powerful; neither human nor beast ever lasted beyond the first round. Every fight was over in mere seconds.

Moreover, Morin displayed no discernible technique, defeating his opponents solely through overwhelming strength. With a single blow, he delivered devastating hits, and a second blow was often fatal.

If Zeger’s intelligence network knew of Lin Mo’s identity as a pilot, he would not have entertained thoughts of capturing him as a top fighter.

If it weren’t for this, he would have long ago eliminated everyone here, keeping those useless hostages only to restrain the unreasonable mercy of others.

An exceptionally intelligent Zeger, who often tasted success, had lost himself in his victories, believing he needed only to exploit his cunning and a few tactics, thinking nothing could stop him in this world.

Stimulated by blood and the life-and-death struggle, a baseless ambition rapidly consumed his heart like a virus.

“Mr. Zeger, no matter how strong the guy is, he’s still just human. In front of my laboratory’s number five product, he remains utterly weak.”

Jack Martin, a senior engineer from a secret military biology lab, smirked dismissively. He had seen enough bloody scenes in the "crystal cage" to be unfazed.

No matter how strong a person is, can they fight an elephant barehanded? A mere flick of the trunk or a stomp of the foot would turn them into mush, while the number five product could easily take down an elephant, rendering humans almost as weak as ants in comparison.

“Jack, how will we know this guy’s limits without trying? There are no fighters or beasts left in the manor, right? Let’s release one number five first and see.”

Zeger grinned eagerly, receiving a new glass of red wine from a woman beside him, the crystal goblet sparkling with a bright red liquid that smelled fragrant and rich.

“Alright! I’ll arrange it right away!”

Jack Martin nodded indifferently, thinking Zeger’s request to bring out four number fives was unnecessary.

Connecting with the U.S. military’s secret laboratory, ignoring the CIA agents’ threats, possessing SWORD combat mechanical soldiers, and having a large number of armed personnel, Zeger’s background was likely more complex than merely being the president of Tiger Energy. Perhaps the Igarashi Group had a deeper and more secretive partnership with the U.S. military.

In a heavily guarded area of the underground vault of Scarlet Manor, where Lin Mo and Zeger had previously stored their bets, a transaction was nearing its conclusion.

“Mr. Ross, I deeply appreciate your generosity. This Spear of Longinus and the time-space key from humanity’s silver age will indeed become two true treasures in my collection. I will remember this favor. Here are the relevant documents from the mining area, along with my trade item, the Luo Book. Haha, today’s transaction truly satisfies me.”

A middle-aged white man, round and balding, radiated joy as he gestured to his accompanying staff.

Next to him, a tall, thin, slightly aged white man stood with an alloy box in hand. Immediately a person emerged from the opposite side to take the box containing documents worth billions, subsequently opening it to verify its authenticity.

Staying alongside the balding white man was another tall, thin middle-aged white man, also sporting a satisfied expression as he examined the three large tables beside them, nodding and saying, “Mr. DuPont, I am also very satisfied with your items. I always thought the Luo Book was merely a Chinese myth, but the radioactive isotope testing confirms that it’s not just a legend. The wisdom of ancient Chinese people is truly remarkable. However, you may lose out a bit in this swap; while the time-space key representing humanity’s previous silver age is a genuine antique, this Spear of Longinus is not the legendary spear mentioned in the Bible, but rather an object obtained from the Aden Gulf star gate.”

Three unusual items lay on the three tables: two were extremely large, while one was merely the size of a palm.

The vault beneath Scarlet Manor is not merely a storage place for this elite family’s wealth and treasures; it sometimes serves as a venue for exchanging or trading rare collectibles with other rich individuals.

As long as safety and secrecy can be assured, only items of significant value qualify for storage and trade here. Many artifacts in this vault are even beyond what top auction houses can manage, as most transactions occur privately between wealthy individuals.

Just like the current deal, any single item here would likely provoke a global uproar if revealed.

The world’s top billionaires and the common people exist in entirely different realms; many treasures thought to be mere legends are traded as freely as cabbages in this pinnacle of society.

"I understand! I heard that from the Aden Gulf star gate, the military of various countries only obtained thirteen Spear of Longinus weapons, though their materials are unknown. Even though they are cold weapons, their power is astonishing, and I never expected one of them to end up in your hands."

Mr. DuPont, one of the traders, obsessively caressed the magical weapon from another dimension. The spear, four meters long and as thick as a forearm, featured intricate engravings and a metallic sheen. It was incredibly hard yet surprisingly light; even an ordinary teenager could easily wield it. Its sharp tip, crafted with advanced technology, had exceptional armor-piercing capabilities. No human armor could withstand a mere thrust, as it could effortlessly pierce through like paper.

When the Aden Gulf star gate mysteriously opened, the navies of various countries urgently mobilized, willing to set aside their preconceived notions meant to deceive the public. United as one, they suffered great casualties and costs to finally capture thirteen exotic weapons.

The numerous reports by major world media about minor earthquakes were actually caused by the irresponsible use of super bombs, resulting in tremors of the Earth’s crust, a truth that countries worldwide worked together to suppress.

On a nearby table, a disc, wrapped partly in pure white silk and about the size of a compact disc, accompanied the Spear of Longinus. Although its origin was Earth, it belonged to the second era of human civilization—the "time-space key." The disc’s surface was engraved with various cryptic, intricate patterns surrounding an equilateral triangle, symbolizing the past, present, and future.

Made from a complex alloy, its thin patina and nearly invisible oxidation showed no signs of deformation despite the passage of time, as if it shared the same essence as eternity, undying and timeless.

The pyramid’s hovering tip depicted on the back of a one-dollar bill borrowed this meaning, representing the boundless wealth of the United States across three temporal states.

However, the name "time-space key" is merely a legend. Wealthy traders and scientists have yet to find any truly magical properties, as its age and complex composition—almost including every metal found on Earth—make it a prized emblem of human civilization, treasured by the upper echelons of society for occasional admiration.

Its value in cultural heritage pales in comparison to the giant tortoise shell, suspected of being a relic from the third generation of human heroes, known as the Luo Book, displayed on the third table.

The River Map, synonymous with the Luo Book, has long vanished from human history; if not for radioactive isotope dating, no one would believe that this slab, the size of a door, contained high-level astronomical wisdom created by ancient humans eight thousand years ago.

The white-haired old man’s fascination grew as he stroked the Luo Book for a long time, even lifting it to weigh in his hands, easily puncturing a small hole in the ground before placing it back on the table, satisfied. He gestured and said in a deep voice, "Clark, pack these items. I want to ensure their safe return!"

As societal elites reduce their perception of wealth to mere numbers, they focus more on the enjoyment of spiritual culture, particularly for items imbued with significance or mystical powers, often chasing them earnestly and driving tremendous consumer demand.

“Yes, Mr. DuPont! Major Swark and his team are ready.”

The middle-aged man who delivered the alloy box nodded, waving his hand to supervise several subordinates as they began packaging the items swiftly.

The massive tortoise shell Luo Book was moved deeper into the vault for safekeeping.

"Mr. Ross, I look forward to our next transaction."

Mr. DuPont and Mr. Ross shook hands firmly, both smiling knowingly.

Mr. Ross, still smiling, suggested, "It seems you got what you wanted, and I got what I wanted. How about we celebrate with a drink? I heard that the Igarashi Group’s Zeger is here with four fierce puppies. Let’s go enjoy and enhance the festivities."

"That’s a good idea! I haven’t seen your underground gladiatorial arena in a long time, and my old bones haven’t had a proper relaxation opportunity. Let’s see what that little guy brought that’s new and interesting."

Mr. DuPont nodded and turned to look at his capable assistant, Clark.

His gaze conveyed a clear message: everything is entrusted to you. The middle-aged man instantly nodded, returning a look of assurance.

The exchanged Spear of Longinus and time-space key were placed in extraordinarily sturdy boxes and removed through another passage. Mr. DuPont was unconcerned about any potential betrayal from Ross, as in their world, where external influences hardly swayed them, trust was often more crucial than life itself.

As they exited the vault area and entered the passage leading to the underground gladiatorial arena known as the "crystal cage," a long, terrifying roar echoed from afar, causing the entire corridor to quiver slightly.

Both Mr. DuPont and Mr. Ross instinctively stopped and exchanged surprised glances, sensing the astonishment mirrored in each other’s eyes.

Meanwhile, their bodyguards instantly tensed, prepared for battle. The unknown beast’s roar seemed to carry a terrifying power, instilling a primordial fear deep within them.