The Ultimate Evolution
Chapter 972: Some Breathing Space

The headgear man looked like a WWE wrestler. The most impressive thing about him were his bulging muscles, which shined as if they had been smeared with olive oil. The bumblebee pattern on his headgear looked very life-like.

The black flag he planted was called the duel flag, the kind that needed a rather high level of authority to exchange for - at least a rank of Reserve-duty Major General. The guy was not that simple-minded after all. Besides threatening them with force, he also displayed his strength so as to avoid unnecessary fighting.

(TL: Major < lieutenant="" colonel="">< colonel="">< colonel="" commandant="">< major="" general="">< lieutenant="" general="">< general="" )="" but="" brother="" black="" was="" totally="" unperturbed.="" he="" very="" arrogantly="" strode="" over="" to="" headgear="" man="" with="" a="" cigar="" in="" his="" mouth="" and="" jabbed="" the="" muzzle="" of="" his="" gun="" on="" headgear="" man's="" head="" as="" he="" said,="" "hello,="" anyone="" there?="" do="" you="" have="" muscles="" for="" a="" brain?="" are="" you="" retarded?="" sanzi="" is="" already="" our="" man.="" why="" are="" you="" betting="" with="" us="" with="" our="" man="" as="" the="" bargaining="" chip?"="" after="" jabbing="" headgear="" man's="" head="" with="" his="" gun="" muzzle,="" the="" next="" step="" was="" probably="" to="" jab="" his="" cigar="" on="" the="" guy's="" forehead.="" it="" was="" obvious="" that="" mogensha="" wanted="" to="" humiliate="" headgear="" man.="" everyone's="" patience="" had="" a="" limit.="" in="" the="" party="" called="" poison="" stinger="" which="" headgear="" man="" belonged="" to,="" all="" the="" core="" members="" knew="" that="" sanzi="" was="" a="" member="" which="" they="" could="" never="" let="" go="" of.="" while="" it="" was="" necessary="" to="" exercise="" appropriate="" caution,="" too="" withdrawn="" an="" approach="" would="" simply="" be="" labelled="" as="" cowardice.="" headgear="" man="" roared="" furiously.="" he="" looked="" so="" angry="" his="" eyes="" almost="" popped="" out="" of="" the="" sockets.="" he="" got="" in="" mogensha's="" face="" and="" spat="" out="" these="" words:="" "do="" you="" have="" a="" death="" wish?="" then="" pull="" up="" the="" flag.="" i'll="" beat="" you="" up="" so="" good="" you="" won't="" be="" able="" to="" eat="" shit="" afterwards="" even="" if="" you="" want="" to."="" mogensha="" simply="" puffed="" some="" cigar="" smoke="" on="" headgear="" man's="" face,="" and="" with="" a="" flick="" of="" ash,="" said="" with="" scorn,="" "and="" what's="" in="" it="" for="" me?="" if="" you="" want="" to="" fight,="" no="" problem,="" but="" only="" if="" we="" bet="" 20,000="" per="" round.="" do="" you="" dare?="" at="" this="" time,="" headgear="" man="" naturally="" wouldn't="" back="" off.="" he="" flashed="" a="" sinister="" grin="" at="" mogensha="" and="" said,="" "deal.="" since="" you="" insist="" on="" giving="" me="" money,="" of="" course="" i'll="" take="" it."="" mogensha="" immediately="" signed="" a="" realm="" contract="" with="" him="" so="" that="" he="" would="" not="" be="" able="" to="" go="" back="" on="" his="" words.="" after="" the="" bets="" were="" placed,="" mogensha="" grabbed="" the="" flag.="" the="" sound="" of="" rumbling="" drums="" could="" instantly="" be="" heard="" within="" the="" realm.="" a="" smoke-like="" darkness="" spread="" from="" the="" flag="" and="" wrapped="" them="" inside="" it,="" before="" they="" disappeared="" in="" place.="" the="" settings="" of="" betting="" matches="" were="" a="" bit="" unique.="" it="" was="" clear="" that="" the="" realm="" did="" not="" wish="" others="" to="" view="" the="" battle="" process.="" that's="" because="" every="" person's="" abilities="" were="" the="" secrets="" which="" they="" relied="" on="" to="" survive.="" of="" course="" they="" could="" not="" be="" displayed="" so="" easily.="" time="" was="" probably="" sped="" up="" in="" the="" duel="" arena,="" because="" not="" long="" after="" the="" battle="" began,="" the="" two="" men="" came="" back="" out.="" headgear="" man's="" face="" was="" livid="" with="" rage.="" he="" instantly="" threw="" out="" another="" 20,000="" utility="" points="" and="" said="" through="" gritted="" teeth,="" "do="" you="" have="" the="" balls="" for="" a="" rematch?="" you="" won't="" be="" so="" lucky="" this="" time!"="" mogensha="" laughed="" and="" shamelessly="" said,="" "once="" is="" enough="" to="" teach="" idiots="" like="" you="" a="" lesson.="" if="" i="" teach="" you="" more,="" won't="" i="" just="" help="" you="" get="" smarter?"="" headgear="" man's="" eyes="" bulged="" so="" hard="" they="" looked="" like="" they="" would="" burst.="" he="" rushed="" forward="" and="" blocked="" mogensha's="" path="" to="" stop="" mogensha="" from="" walking="" away.="" mogensha's="" response="" was="" to="" raise="" the="" bet.="" 40,000="" per="" round,="" no="" bargaining!="" if="" headgear="" man="" was="" short="" on="" utility="" points,="" he="" could="" use="" his="" equipments="" as="" collateral.="" sheyan,="" who="" was="" watching="" the="" battle="" from="" the="" side,="" could="" see="" mogensha's="" careful="" planning="" in="" setting="" up="" the="" trap.="" as="" long="" as="" headgear="" man="" put="" one="" foot="" into="" the="" trap,="" he="" would="" sink="" deeper="" and="" deeper!="" after="" the="" second="" battle="" concluded,="" headgear="" man="" came="" out="" with="" a="" twisted="" look="" on="" his="" face.="" by="" now,="" he="" had="" been="" cheated="" of="" 60,000="" utility="" points="" by="" mogensha!="" even="" for="" the="" backbone="" member="" of="" an="" ordinary="" party,="" this="" was="" a="" huge="" sum.="" as="" a="" result,="" headgear="" man="" didn't="" dare="" to="" let="" mogensha="" go,="" or="" he="" wouldn't="" be="" able="" to="" explain="" himself="" to="" his="" party!="" the="" party="" called="" poison="" stinger="" had="" received="" the="" news="" and="" had="" rushed="" over="" to="" the="" scene.="" when="" they="" saw="" sanzi="" there,="" they="" immediately="" understood="" the="" situation.="" it="" was="" clear="" that="" sanzi="" had="" found="" a="" stronger="" team="" and="" was="" here="" to="" exact="" revenge.="" but="" the="" poison="" stinger="" party="" also="" realised="" that="" sheyan's="" side="" had="" only="" five="" people="" including="" sanzi.="" they="" were="" thus="" extremely="" unwilling="" to="" give="" up="" on="" 60,000="" utility="" points="" and="" sanzi="" without="" even="" putting="" up="" a="" fight!="" since="" mogensha="" held="" the="" initiative,="" he="" set="" the="" high="" price="" of="" 30,000="" utility="" points="" per="" battle.="" he="" also="" clearly="" stated="" that="" as="" long="" as="" the="" other="" side="" could="" win="" three="" battles="" in="" a="" row,="" they="" would="" get="" sanzi="" together="" with="" 200,000="" utility="" points!="" under="" the="" temptation="" of="" such="" enormous="" profit,="" poison="" stinger="" members="" lined="" up="" to="" take="" on="" mogensha.="" they="" finally="" formed="" a="" thorough="" understanding="" of="" mogensha's="" ability="" after="" three="" battles="" and="" defeated="" him="" in="" the="" fourth.="" and="" then....="" and="" then,="" it="" was="" zi's="" turn....="" and="" that="" was="" the="" end="" for="" them.="" zi="" had="" mastered="" the="" 'titanium="" mesh="" magic="" barrier'="" by="" now.="" coupled="" with="" the="" insane="" properties="" of="" the="" ndipaya="" set,="" her="" frontal="" defence="" was="" even="" higher="" than="" reef="" with="" a="" shield!="" zi="" did="" not="" need="" any="" strategy="" at="" all.="" she="" just="" stood="" there="" and="" exchanged="" blows="" with="" her="" opponent.="" the="" opposing="" side="" simply="" gave="" up="" after="" two="" tries.="" the="" reason="" was="" simple.="" zi,="" who="" was="" obviously="" a="" mage="" contestant,="" was="" even="" hardier="" than="" poison="" stinger's="" mt!="" the="" two="" people="" who="" challenged="" her="" were="" the="" ones="" with="" the="" strongest="" attack="" in="" the="" party.="" when="" they="" came="" back="" out="" after="" their="" defeat,="" they="" likened="" the="" experience="" to="" biting="" hard="" on="" a="" steel="" plate="" and="" had="" the="" force="" rebounded="" back="" on="" them.="" not="" only="" were="" they="" stunned,="" their="" teeth="" fell="" off="" too!="" the="" reason="" for="" this="" was="" simple:="" the="" equipment="" gap="" between="" the="" two="" sides="" was="" simply="" too="" wide.="" under="" such="" an="" unfair="" condition,="" it="" was="" a="" basic="" requirement="" to="" be="" one="" rank="" higher="" than="" zi="" in="" order="" to="" stand="" a="" chance="" against="" her="" (for="" example,="" an="" awakener="" is="" one="" rank="" higher="" than="" a="" growth="" hunter).="" to="" defeat="" her,="" her="" opponent="" probably="" needed="" to="" be="" two="" ranks="" higher.="" would="" the="" poison="" stinger="" party="" have="" anyone="" that's="" 2="" ranks="" higher="" than="" zi?="" one="" could="" not="" entirely="" eliminate="" the="" possibility,="" but="" the="" chances="" were="" so="" low="" that="" they="" were="" negligible.="" at="" this="" point,="" the="" party="" leader="" of="" the="" poison="" stinger="" party="" stepped="" out.="" she="" was="" called="" queen="" bee,="" a="" pretty="" unique="" name.="" true="" to="" her="" name,="" she="" had="" a="" queen="" bee's="" plump="" hips="" and="" a="" queen-like="" demeanor.="" the="" woman="" stared="" at="" zi="" for="" a="" while,="" then="" turned="" towards="" sanzi.="" "if="" i="" promise="" to="" treat="" you="" well="" from="" now="" on,="" will="" you="" give="" me="" another="" chance?"="" sanzi="" heart="" was="" slightly="" moved="" looking="" at="" the="" woman="" whom="" he="" used="" to="" be="" very="" infatuated="" with.="" but="" before="" any="" idea="" could="" form="" in="" his="" mind,="" sanzi="" immediately="" saw="" sheyan="" from="" the="" corner="" of="" his="" eyes.="" sheyan,="" who="" was="" smiling="" peacefully.="" in="" the="" face="" of="" more="" than="" ten="" years="" of="" interdependent="" brotherhood,="" queen="" bee's="" charm="" was="" nothing!="" so="" sanzi="" gave="" her="" a="" resounding="" "no."="" queen="" bee="" was="" very="" decisive.="" although="" her="" party="" had="" lost="" almost="" everything="" and="" was="" on="" the="" verge="" of="" bankruptcy,="" she="" chose="" to="" leave="" without="" a="" word.="" she="" knew="" that="" if="" they="" kept="" going,="" the="" party="" she="" had="" put="" so="" much="" effort="" into="" building="" may="" very="" well="" disintegrate!="" queen="" bee="" had="" a="" special="" ability.="" she="" saw="" with="" her="" own="" eyes,="" a="" dark="" golden="" glow="" on="" sanzi's="" body.="" a="" party="" that="" could="" easily="" fork="" out="" a="" piece="" of="" dark="" gold="" equipment="" to="" bribe="" people="" was="" definitely="" not="" someone="" her="" poison="" stinger="" party="" could="" go="" up="" against="" at="" the="" moment.="" with="" the="" extra="" 150,000="" utility="" points="" scooped="" from="" the="" poison="" stinger="" party,="" party="" ace="" finally="" had="" some="" room="" to="" breathe.="" after="" enough="" preparation,="" sheyan="" tried="" to="" complete="" the="" main="" mission="" of="" the="" bloody="" world.="" because="" he="" did="" leave="" the="" bloody="" world="" with="" enough="" invitation="" letters,="" the="" mission="" was="" judged="" to="" have="" been="" completed,="" while="" at="" the="" same="" time,="" he="" had="" to="" submit="" the="" invitation="" letters="" to="" complete="" the="" mission,="" but="" sheyan="" could="" not="" do="" so.="" this="" led="" to="" a="" so-called="" bug,="" but,="" of="" course,="" it="" was="" not="" enough="" to="" cause="" a="" blue="" screen="" crash="" restart.="" however,="" sheyan="" was="" still="" directly="" affected="" by="" the="" bug,="" in="" the="" way="" that="" the="" system="" also="" gave="" him="" a="" bug-like="" response.="" sheyan="" was="" judged="" to="" have="" completed="" the="" relevant="" main="" mission,="" but="" he="" would="" not="" receive="" any="" reward.="" it="" was="" a="" better="" result="" than="" previously="" expected.="" a="" quick="" calculation="" showed="" that="" party="" ace="" possessed="" 350,000="" utility="" points="" and="" 30="" potential="" points.="" as="" always,="" money="" comes="" and="" goes="" quickly.="" brother="" black="" wished="" to="" complete="" his="" blueprint,="" which="" cost="" the="" most="" among="" the="" various="" projects,="" so="" he="" was="" allocated="" 150,000="" utility="" points.="" the="" upgrade="" of="" zi's="" 'magic="" barrier'="" to="" lvl="" 7="" had="" consumed="" 10,000="" utility="" points="" and="" 25="" potential="" points.="" and="" reef="" was="" a="" servant="" to="" his="" servant.="" he="" needed="" at="" least="" 80,000="" utility="" points.="" since="" sheyan="" had="" ample="" funds="" on="" hand,="" he="" couldn't="" deny="" reef's="" request.="" so="" that's="" another="" 100,000="" utility="" points="" gone.="" in="" the="" end,="" sheyan="" was="" left="" with="" less="" than="" 100,000="" utility="" points.="" fortunately,="" sanzi="" was="" used="" to="" living="" in="" poverty.="" 1,000="" utility="" points="" would="" have="" made="" him="" happy.="" so,="" sheyan="" didn't="" need="" to="" consider="" sanzi's="" needs="" for="" the="" time="" being.="" are="" 90,000="" utility="" points="" a="" large="" sum?="" a="" single="" recharge="" of="" his="" gloves="" would="" already="" consume="" almost="" half="" of="" his="" remaining="" fund.="" in="" addition,="" he="" needed="" to="" set="" aside="" utility="" points="" for="" the="" ukiyo-e="" to="" summon="" melody,="" and="" also="" for="" the="" cost="" of="" using="" the="" 'metal="" nut'="" mission="" item="" to="" enter="" the="" terminator's="" world.="" therefore,="" sheyan="" could="" be="" regarded="" to="" be="" in="" a="" state="" of="" poverty.="" battle="" power="" was="" piled="" up="" with="" money.="" this="" sentence="" rang="" true.="" they="" split="" up="" to="" perform="" their="" own="" tasks.="" sheyan="" once="" again="" went="" to="" the="" hall="" of="" merit="" in="" the="" upper="" level.="" after="" becoming="" a="" lieutenant="" colonel,="" he="" had="" a="" personal="" office="" of="" sorts="" there,="" so="" he="" never="" had="" to="" queue="" up="" again.="" he="" sat="" down="" in="" his="" designated="" place,="" turned="" his="" wrist,="" and="" in="" the="" palm="" of="" his="" hand="" sat="" an="" extremely="" ordinary="" metal="">