Chapter 444: Can't Afford to Lose, Can Forfeit
At that moment, Raven also sneered and said, "Instead of thinking about how to fix the competition rules, you should think about why the so-called elites of the seven great families can only get beaten up once they step into the ring."
"Since your skills are inferior, naturally, you can only be humiliated. It's true in the ring, and it will be the same in real combat outside the ring."
Raven stood there with his hands behind his back, looking arrogant. His eyes were full of disdain as he looked at Gwyneth. "If the head of the Powell family doesn't even have this basic awareness, and only thinks about fixing the rules when facing opponents, wanting to solve problems more gently, how is that any different from running away? Someone like you dares to call yourself the strongest in Novaria?"
Raven's words mocked Gwyneth.
Isabella frowned slightly and looked at Raven. "My mother has never called herself the strongest in Novaria. Why are you being so rude? Is it because everyone knows Gwyneth of the Powell family, but few people know you're Raven of The Whispering Sect, so are you jealous?"
Isabella's words actually made Raven's face darken.
He really didn't expect a young girl could hit his sore spot so directly, making him feel exposed, his dark thoughts laid bare.
Indeed, Novaria's respect for the Powell family had been ingrained for thousands of years. From the Powell family's castle to the Powell family totems visible everywhere, everything represented how the people of Novaria revered the Powell family.
But no one knew about The Whispering Sect.
Why?
Was he not capable?
He could defeat the so-called head of the Powell family with one hand. Before, and now too.
He had Robbie organize this ancient martial arts competition to let all of Novaria know about The Whispering Sect's existence, so that they would know The Whispering Sect was Novaria's strongest power.
The Powell family's glory should come to an end.
Raven looked at Isabella with displeasure. "When adults are talking, children shouldn't interrupt!"
At that moment, Gwyneth spoke, but she wasn't looking at Raven. She was looking at Robbie. "Robbie, I still suggest you fix the competition rules. Not to avoid winning or losing, and not because we can't accept defeat, but to prevent the competition from becoming a way to vent anger."
She paused, then looked meaningfully at Raven. "Besides, when it comes to winning and losing, it will be The Whispering Sect that loses next."
Hearing this, Raven sneered. "Gwyneth, you talk big!"
"No matter what you say, it's already a fact that the Guest family and the Bautista Family from the seven great families have lost to us!"
He said coldly, "No matter which family steps into the ring next, we at The Whispering Sect will show no mercy!"
Hearing this, Gwyneth looked at Robbie again. "Robbie, you heard what Raven said. He doesn't plan to let this go, which means his people will continue to brutally humiliate their opponents in the arena. Even so, you still don't plan to fix the competition rules?"
Robbie fell silent.
Everyone looked at him, waiting for his answer.
After what seemed like a long time, Robbie spoke. "The competition rules have never included a surrender option. If you're worried that the upcoming matches will be too brutal and you can't handle losing, youalways choose to withdraw before the match."
As soon as he said this, the heads of the other families looked at each other. Their faces all looked somewhat grim.
Just now, the results from rings 2 and 3 had come out.
Ring 2: the Fife family versus the Banks family, the Fife family won.
The Banks family, one of the top three families, was eliminated just like that. This result was quite surprising.
However, Rocco had said early on that the Banks family was no match for the Fife family. It turned out Phaedra's generation really had the skills.
Ring 3 featured the Jordan family, one of the top three families, against the Bishop family, one of the thirty-six noble families. Naturally, the Jordan family won.
So after this second round, only the Powell family, the Jordan family, the Fife family, and the Whispering Sect remained.
Now, Raven was declaring here that no matter which of these three families the Whispering Sect faced next, they would show no mercy!
And Robbie was allowing The Whispering Sect to act so arrogantly, refusing to fix the loophole in the rules, only suggesting they withdraw if they can't handle losing!
The people from the seven great families were all furious!
"I really didn't expect Robbie to be such a stubborn and inflexible person."
"Although the arena rules indeed don't include surrender, it's rare for people to brutally humiliate opponents in the arena. Besides, arenas are professionally managed and wouldn't allow such things to happen, unless it's a death match."
"Can't you see? In my opinion, this Ancient Martial Arts Alliance isn't any good . They're probably in cahoots with The Whispering Sect."
"They deliberately set a trap for us to to be embarrassed!"
"This Raven, his ambition is written all over his face."
People discussed among themselves, but even so, it couldn't change the fact that Robbie was unwilling to fix the competition rules.
"In that case, we won't force you anymore," Gwyneth spoke, her voice cold, her eyes sweeping toward Robbie like sharp swords. "Robbie, I don't know what benefits The Whispering Sect promised you to make you conspire with tigers, but the more you do this, the more I won't let your scheme succeed."
"The Powell family will not withdraw. If Powell family members face Whispering Sect members in later matches, they won't hold back either!"
After Gwyneth spoke, Manuel also spoke in a deep voice. "We, the Jordan family, stand with the Powell family. Naturally, we won't withdraw either. If the Jordan family faces The Whispering Sect in the next match, we'll return everything The Whispering Sect did to the Bautista Family twice over. The Whispering Sect better watch out!"
Rocco naturally wasn't afraid either. He wasn't even afraid of the Powell family, so why would he fear a mere Whispering Sect?
Rocco put his hands behind his back, looked up at Raven with disdain, and said, "A bunch of trash. The Fife family will teach you a lesson soon!"
Although the seven great families usually schemed against each other and didn't get along, when something really happened, they actually seemed quite united on the surface.
Isabella suddenly found Rocco a bit more agreeable.
Hearing the family heads' statements, Raven threw his head back and laughed, his eyes full of arrogance.
"You sure can talk. Let's see if you have the ability to back it up!"
The family heads all looked at him with burning eyes, wishing Raven would disappear from this world immediately.
At that moment, the host officially announced the final results of the second round:
"The families advancing from the first round are the Powell family, the Jordan family, the Fife family, and the Whispering Sect. Please rest for half an hour before participating in the final competition!"