Chapter 435: Where Does Isabella Get the Courage?
In everyone's eyes, Walter was the Powell family's trump card for this competition.
Without Walter, how could the Powell family possibly win?
For the past two months, almost everyone had been pessimistic about Isabella, gossiping and criticizing her in private. After all, Walter's withdrawal from the competition was Isabella's fault!
Isabella listened to everyone's chatter, but her expression didn't turn sour. Instead, she spoke up: "I'm the team leader. If we can't win the championship for the Powell family this time, I'll voluntarily accept punishment—one month in solitary confinement."
Hearing this, those who had just been expressing their dissatisfaction immediately fell silent, all looking at Isabella with disbelief.
Patrick stroked his chin as he looked at Isabella, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes. "Ms. Isabella Powell, are you serious about what you just said?"
The Powell family's confinement room had extremely harsh conditions. Due to its special location, affected by mountain springs, the interior temperature was very hot, averaging around 95°F, and it was a sealed environment, making it very uncomfortable to stay inside.
Even a strong, healthy man would come out after a month looking thin and barely human, let alone a delicate girl like Isabella.
Isabella naturally knew what her words meant.
But she answered without changing her expression, "Of course I'm serious."
Hearing this, Patrick curled his lips into a smile.
Because of the Kismet incident, Patrick had been dissatisfied with Isabella for a long time.
Now that there was this opportunity to make Isabella suffer, he naturally wouldn't let it pass.
Patrick snorted coldly, "Since Ms. Isabella Powell has made such a bold claim, we'll watch carefully to see if Ms. Isabella Powell can actually win the championship for our Powell family!"
Since Isabella had said this much, those people naturally couldn't say anything more. They just looked at Isabella with probing eyes, probably wondering where Isabella got the courage to endure such punishment.
Was she tired of living comfortably?
——
Coming out of the council hall, Isabella heard someone calling her from behind.
It was Walter.
Walter stopped Isabella, came up to her, and looked at her with a mocking expression. "Isabella, you dare make such a promise—don't tell me you actually think you can win?"
Isabella looked at Walter and said in a deep voice, "From what you're saying, you really don't want the Powell family to win?"
Walter was caught off guard.
He naturally couldn't say he didn't want the Powell family to win. If the elders heard that, what would they think of him?
"Walter, the Powell family doesn't stop functioning without you." Isabella stared at him and sneered. "You're so arrogant, thinking you're so important. So through this competition, I'll show you that you're nothing. Without you, our Powell family can still win."
Isabella dropped these words, too lazy to deal with him anymore, and turned to leave.
Walter stood there, stunned, his expression dark.
After a long while, he finally reacted, shouting angrily at Isabella's retreating figure: "You'll regret this!"
——
The ancient martial arts competition was being held in Elyndra.
Because Elyndra had poor transportation access and no public transit, the only way in and out was by car.
Driving from the Powell family's castle to Elyndra took a full day.
With three days left until the ancient martial arts competition, major media outlets from the Northern Ice Empire, along with various competing families, began flooding into Elyndra.
For a time, Elyndra was packed with people.
Fortunately, Elyndra wasn't small in area. The Northern Ice Empire was already sparsely populated with scattered buildings, so Elyndra could barely accommodate the influx of people brought by the ancient martial arts competition.
When the Powell family's convoy drove into Elyndra, Robbie, the Grand Master of the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance, personally came out to greet them.
"Ms. Powell, sorry for not meeting you sooner. We're very happy that you could come to Elyndra."
All of Elyndra was managed by the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance, and Robbie, as the Grand Master of the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance, was the person with the most authority here.
Isabella got out of the car and looked at the buildings before her, suddenly feeling like she had traveled back in time.
Almost all the buildings here, except for improved materials, completely followed the architectural style of the last century.
Robbie was still talking with Gwyneth. "Ms. Powell, we've already prepared a hotel for you to rest. Follow me, it's just past here, turn left."
"You're too kind."
"It's only right. Ms. Powell has come from so far away; we should take good care of you. If Ms. Powell has any other needs, just ask."
The group followed Robbie to a hotel.
Gwyneth and Isabella looked around the hotel—the style was very simple and plain.
Robbie spoke: "The conditions here aren't as good as Central Promenade. We don't deal with commercial matters, so conditions in all aspects are somewhat basic. Please don't mind..."
"We can tell that the people here are truly dedicated to martial arts practice without distractions. That's quite good." Gwyneth smiled. "I imagine Elyndra is full of hidden talents and experts."
Robbie smiled humbly. "Not at all, those are just rumors from outside. The people here are all ordinary folks."
As Gwyneth was talking with Robbie, suddenly another group of people came in from outside.
The person leading them was Rocco.
As soon as Rocco entered and saw Gwyneth, he broke into a smile. "If it isn't Ms. Powell, what a coincidence."
Gwyneth glanced at him. "Rocco, you're looking well."
Rocco smiled. "Of course."
After this ancient martial arts competition, the Fife family would rise again. How could Rocco not look good?
He couldn't wait!
So Rocco also joined in the pleasantries between Gwyneth and Robbie.
Meanwhile, outside the hotel.
Before Phaedra had even entered the hotel, she spotted Elowen Bautista.
The Bautista Family was one of the lower four families, very close to the Fife family. The head of the Bautista Family was Winford, and Elowen was Winford's youngest daughter, the same age as Phaedra.
Elowen and Phaedra had a very good relationship, like best friends.
As soon as Elowen saw Phaedra, she came forward and affectionately grabbed her hand. "You got here so early! I thought I wouldn't see you until the day before the competition!"
"My father said he was worried I wouldn't adapt to the environment here in Elyndra, so he had me come early."
Phaedra and Elowen usually lived extravagant lives, so coming to Elyndra was indeed somewhat hard to adjust to.
Elowen complained to her, "You have no idea how terrible the food is here, and even the beds are hard. It's so uncomfortable!"
Phaedra's eyes also showed a somewhat disgusted expression. "What a poor, shabby place."
If it weren't for the Ancient Martial Arts Alliance being here, probably no one would want to live in a place like this!
Compared to the modern Central Promenade, this place was really far behind!