Chapter 222

Chapter 222

As William's bold move unfolded, gasps filled the air, and all eyes turned towards him involuntarily.

With masks on, nobody could recognize each other.

William's commanding presence exuded dominance, effectively intimidating the rest.

No one dared to upset the delicate balance while mingling in the market.

Furthermore, when William raised the red card, it halted the bidding and conversations abruptly.

"Alright, congrats to this gentleman for snagging this item. Next, let me present it to you."

He made a hefty profit.

Approaching with a smile, the masked host came forward.

William casually glanced at him, then handed the box and diary to Sophia, saying, "Here, this is my gift to you."

Unlike fine jewelry, this gift held profound significance.

Sophia clutched the box to her chest, tears welling up in her eyes. Lost in her emotions, she completely missed the unfolding scene around her.

Suddenly, a stir erupted in the vicinity.

Sophia looked up, her eyes widening in shock. "What's happening? Where's William?"

William was nowhere to be found.

And the stage had undergone a dramatic transformation.

Numerous cages now occupied the stage.

Within them lurked fierce creatures like snarling dogs, wolves, and tigers.

A large tank even housed venomous snakes.

At the sight of the snakes, Sophia reacted with stress, her body trembling. She turned to Ryan urgently, asking, "Where's William? Tell me something!"

"You'll see soon enough," Ryan replied, his gaze fixed on the stage, betraying his nervousness.

Sophia attempted to speak, but the host's voice cut in.

"Now, let's give a warm welcome to the gentleman who raised the red card. The price tag for the item stands at a cool billion dollars, but to walk away with it, you've got to pass a little test."

Sophia felt bewildered, then watched as William strolled to the opposite end of the stage and stepped into the first cage.

Inside were four fierce dogs.

Their bloody fangs were on display, emanating a strong scent of blood, indicating their lethal history.

Startled, Sophia rose abruptly, ready to dash forward, only to find the stage now barricaded, blocking her path.

"What's happening? Tell me something!" she demanded.

In response to Sophia's queries, Ryan elucidated the auction's rules.

Here, money alone couldn't secure a purchase; one had to prove themselves through a trial.

For those aiming to buy a single item, a simple draw of lots sufficed to pass the test.

However, since William had raised the red card, he needed to undergo a trial to claim the item.

Sophia's heart raced like a drum. "I don't want it anymore, I don't want it," she murmured, her voice trailing off.

The dogs in the cage appeared to be plotting like humans, strategically positioning themselves in all four directions before launching at William simultaneously.

Sophia clenched her lip, her gaze turning icy as she fixed her eyes on the cage.

As the dogs leaped forward, fear gripped her.

Sophia wasn't one to fret easily, but seeing William's injured hand hinder his movements heightened her anxiety.

"Who's the guy with the bandaged hand? This is gonna be quite a spectacle. Watching vicious dogs chow down on someone," remarked one spectator.

"Yeah, get your phones out. This is a rare sight. It's thrilling, really thrilling, too thrilling," added another.

Just as everyone anticipated the dogs tearing into William, a startling turn of events unfolded.

The four dogs pounced.

William deftly rolled to evade one dog's lunge, then seized another dog's leg, swinging it wildly.

One dog soared through the air, dazed and confused, crashing heavily into its companions.

In a matter of moments, all four dogs lay sprawled on the ground, unable to rise.

A swift and decisive triumph.

The spectators were left dumbfounded by the unexpected turn of events.

Before they could react, the battle had concluded.

A thunderous applause erupted throughout the venue.

Sophia's tense heart finally eased, only to leap back into her throat at the sight of blood trickling from William's palm.

This was merely the initial challenge.

The second cage housed a formidable wolf.

To heighten the suspense, the host dimmed the lights.

In the dimness, the wolf's eyes glowed green, a chilling sight.

Clutching the barrier, Sophia shook her head frantically towards the stage. "No, no, come back."

Seemingly unfazed by the pain, William glanced at his bleeding hand, then proceeded towards the second cage.

Upon reaching the entrance, he cast a glance back at Sophia.

Concealed behind his mask, William's lips curled into a smile as he wordlessly conveyed, "Wait for me."

Frantically shaking her head, Sophia cried out, "No, come back."

Her voice echoed with desperation.

Ignoring her pleas, William, sporting a confident grin, boldly entered the cage.

"No."

Sophia urgently clutched Ryan's sleeve. "What can we do? How do we save William?"

Ryan shook his head. "There's nothing we can do. Each place has its own set of rules."

Speaking in a composed manner, Ryan carefully gauged Sophia's expression, his nerves on edge.

It was now time for the second challenge.

As William stepped into the cage, the audience buzzed with anticipation.

"It's been ages since I witnessed someone take down a wolf with their bare hands. Is this guy out of his mind? Why isn't he using any weapons?"

"Yeah, you could use tools to handle a wolf. Is this guy asking for trouble?"

Some caught on to the situation.

Sophia immediately grasped William's intentions, feeling panicked. "Quick, stop William, tell him I don't want the prize anymore. I won't leave either. Just come back soon, whatever you want."

Ryan shook his head. "It's too late. Once you're in the cage, there's no way out. You have to rely on your own skills to make it through."

"But..."

Sophia tried to say more when suddenly a wolf's howl shattered the silence.

The wolf bared its teeth, letting out a menacing growl.

William stood in a corner, lighting a cigarette, and taking a deep drag. The cunning wolf misinterpreted his actions as a challenge and lunged towards him.

The audience gasped in disbelief.

The bold ones widened their eyes, witnessing a momentous event.

The faint-hearted had already shut their eyes tight.

Meanwhile, Sophia stared wide-eyed, drenched in sweat, shouting, "No."

The wolf was on the verge of sinking its teeth into William's neck.

Seeing the imminent danger, Sophia's legs turned to jelly, nearly causing her to collapse.

But then, a dramatic turn of events unfolded.

As the wolf lunged forward, William, in a bold move, delivered a punch.

Yes, a punch.

With all his strength, William struck the wolf, sending it crashing to the ground.

Mounting the wolf, he unleashed a flurry of blows.

The wolf's head was battered, drenched in blood, barely breathing.

Recognizing the severity of the situation, the host swiftly intervened. "Alright, alright, the fight's over, you've emerged victorious. This wolf is worth a fortune; you can't kill it."

The host's words spared the wolf's life.

William retrieved the fallen cigarette, took a drag, and gazed intently at the stage below.