An Understated Dominance by Marina Vittori

Abigail explained, "The more the merrier, right? I'm just here to amp up the excitement for everyone.

"After all, betting adds sthrill to the mix. Let's have fun with a few rounds while we watch the tournament matches. Doesn't that sound like a blast?" She was busy counting the treasures handed over by the surrounding martial artists. Despite her pleasant words, she couldn't hide her greedy expression.

After all, she was a bookie, not running a charity. There had to be sperks involved, or else why would she be so eager? "I'm just watching your back, kid. | don't want you to lose all those celestial stones you brought along in a bet," Dustin reminded him.

In a casino, the odds were always stacked in favor of the house against the players. Even with a slight edge, the house always won as long as there were plenty of betting rounds.

So, the casino wasn't sweating bullets about players pocketing scash, but its biggest concern was an empty house.

But with Abigail's betting pool, the house had no upper hand. If someone had eagle-eyed observation skills and luck, they could rack up wins back-to-back.

With everyone else jumping on the betting bandwagon, just a few wins could clean out Abigail's stash of celestial stones.

After all, this was a risky move. She could either hit the jackpot or go bust.

Abigail winked and leaned close to Dustin, whispering, "Don't sweat it. I've got a trick up my sleeve. | won't be walking away empty-handed tonight." If she was going to run this betting pool, she damn wellpgd confidence in winning. After all, she knew taking a risk without that certainty was just plain foolish.

He smiled and said nothing. Soon, he began rallying the martial artists to place their bets.

The battle rings were cleared ten minutes later, and the second round began.

As eight battle rings hosted different match-ups, the martial artists began betting on their favored contestants.

"Hey, listen up. Number 10 is a beast. Put all your chips on him!" "Don't fall for it. Number 10 is just a scrub. Trust me, Number 14 is where it's at!" "Stop squabbling. Bet on Number 36. He's my senior and a fully developed divine-level martial artist.

Among his peers, he's undefeated. | guarantee he'll cout on top!" As the chatter continued, the crowd buzzed with differing opinions.

Sfully backed Number 10, while others had their bet on Number 14. A select few were adamant that Number 36 was the powerhouse of the bunch.

In short, everyone had their take, and nobody was budging. Ultimately, most people stuck to their initial choice, while a few remained on the fence.

They weren't rushing to place their bets. Instead, they preferred to sit back and see how things unfolded before making their bet.

Miles said, "Hey Ruby, listen up. Truston this one. Bet on Number 68. I've got a gut feeling he's going to win." He gestured toward a man on the eighth battle ring. The man was built like a tank and wielded a massive battle ax. He looked intimidating.

"Are you sure about this?" Ruby narrowed her eyes as she observed the man, feeling unsure.

After all, she didn't have much left to bet. Another loss would be tough to handle.

Miles said, "No doubt about it. That Number 68 fighter? He's got a big nin the martial world. They call him the Ironclad Titan!" He went on, "He got raw strength and mastered body forging technique. He's like a human tank, practically invincible against swords and spears.

"Even | might struggle against him. Betting on him is like picking up free cash!" "Really? Is he that good?" Ruby's eyes sparkled.

Today was the Group C showdown, while Miles was in Group B, a notch above in skill. If Miles gave Number 68 such high praise, that contestant had to be special.

"Absolutely! Trust me, this bet's a lock!" Miles thumped his chest confidently.

"Alright! I'm betting on Number 68!" Ruby made her decision as she pulled out her sword and placed her bet.

"I'm betting my life on this!" "Now, that's sreal guts! Ruby, you're one brave friend." Miles gave her a thumbs-up. He then confidently placed his darksteel sword on the table as his wager.

He and Ruby had exceptional darksteel swords, each valued at five celestial stones. If they won this bet, they could recoup all their previous losses. However, another wrong guess would result in a total loss.

Seeing their confident demeanor, Crystal shook her head helplessly. But she refrained from discouraging them.

She believed that firsthand experiences often imparted lessons more effectively than any advice.

Surprisingly, she opted out of placing a bet this time. The bustling crowd made her uncomfortable, and she preferred to avoid the commotion.

On the other hand, Dalen went all in. He placed all the celestial stones he had just acquired on Number 36.

"Sir, care to join the bet?" Abigail turned to Dustin.

"Why? Are you trying to fleece me?" he teased.

"Con, do | seem like that kind of person? I'm just watching your back." She blinked innocently and feigned sincerity.

"Alright, I'll place my bet. Let's see what you've got up your sleeve." Dustin chuckled. Then, he put all his celestial stones on Number 36.

Contestant number 36 commanded attention with his imposing presence clad in green. He was tall and lean with sharp features, projecting an air of unwavering resolve.

He brandished a long spear crafted entirely from darksteel, its lethal spearhead concealed by a leather sheath.

Dustin's decision to wager on Number 36 stemmed from the man's undeniable strength.

As a fully developed divine-level martial artist, the man in green stood as one of the top contenders in Group C.

With his skills, he could effortlessly advance to Group B.

His presence in Group C posed a significant challenge for most martial artists.

After all, Group C primarily comprised martial artists at the entry or mid-level of divine martial arts. Only a sparse few possessed the advanced or fully developed divine-level skills.

"Alright, everyone! The tournament's about to begin! Place your bets now, and once they're locked in, there's no turning back!" Abigail's voice echoed as the contestants were called up to the battle rings. After a few more announcements, she decisively closed the betting.

To maintain fairness, no further bets were allowed once the matches started.

Predicting the winner all boiled down to sharp observation and a sprinkle of luck.

In the world of betting, it was a given that the house held the upper hand and rarely relinquished any advantages.

Nevertheless, Dustin couldn't shake off his curiosity about how Abigail ensured a consistent profit without risking losses.