My Joker System: From Low Mana Trash to the Mightiest Wizard!
Chapter 122: Hopeless Gambler

Chapter 122: Hopeless Gambler

"C-Competitor Felix Dargon remains unshaken!" declared Akari as the last match to decide the top sixteen concluded. "He joins the ranks of those who didn’t even sweat to secure their spot!"

Everyone found it hard to move on from Liora’s match and only managed to do so after Felix destroyed his opponent in mere seconds.

Despite the tournament having reached this stage, the young man still faced no struggles, dismantling his opponents with ease using his rare void magic.

Only those seeded in the top four like him—such as Donner, the disciple of the former Thunder Magna; Pierro, the other Magna Prospect; and Aurora, the Third Young Miss of the Grand Aristocratic Wizardry Clan of Ignis—were able to defeat their opponents in a similar manner.

Still, one could argue that the fifth seed, Vyse Vandralis of the Grand Magic Academy, also didn’t struggle, based on his calm expression and graceful movements during his battle against Gnox.

After a few seconds, Akari was still struggling to control her emotions, so Jhow decided to take over and proceed with the tournament:

"W-With Competitor Felix’s victory, the top sixteen has been decided. We shall give the competitors a short thirty-minute break to prepare for their next opponents. Meanwhile, please watch this video containing the highlights of all the remaining competitors, compiled by our respected sponsor, BetYourLife, making lives infinitely better or infinitely worse; you just have to choose correctly."

The rising pop star then cleared her throat after regaining her composure and added:

"BetYourLife betting stalls are now open just beside the exit. You can now place your bets for the top eight, the top four, the finalists, or the champion. Rest assured, the rates for winning are satisfactory, depending on the level of risk you’re willing to take. There are fifty stalls in total, so there’s no need to rush. Everyone will be able to place their bets before the break is over..."

There were sixteen small tents set up around the main stage, where the top sixteen could rest and plan their next battles.

Representatives of their factions or their masters could also visit to offer advice if they wished.

However, Hal had a different idea in mind—one that could make his life infinitely better or infinitely worse. He just had to choose correctly...

Passing Akari as he headed toward his tent, Hal called out to her:

"Hey, Miss Akari, correct?" he asked, raising his hand to get her attention.

The rising pop star suspected that Hal might ask a question unrelated to the tournament, so she turned off her Manatech Microphone for a short, private conversation.

"Yes, what is it, Competitor Hal?" Akari responded professionally, making sure to sound distant in case Hal’s intention was to try and woo her.

"Can participants place bets?"

’Tch...I was hoping no one would ask...’ Akari inwardly clicked her tongue while keeping her smiling exterior.

She was fond of battles and bets, but not of competitors betting at the betting stations, as it was always grounds for potential match-fixing.

Unfortunately, it was allowed by the organizers.

She could only do her job.

"Ah! Right, silly me..." Akari said, lightly knocking on her own head. "Please wait, Competitor Hal. I shall make an announcement."

The rising pop star then turned to the leaving crowd, switched her Manatech Microphone back on, and spoke:

"I apologize for forgetting to mention that the remaining contenders can also place bets at the BetYourLife desk over there. However, please note that a participant may only place bets on themselves as a show of confidence. They are not allowed to bet on other active participants to prevent instances of match-fixing. That’s all, thank you."

With a bow to the crowd and to Hal, Akari descended the stage and headed over to the commentators’ tent to take a short break.

The montage of each remaining participant then began to play on the huge holographic screen above the center stage, though fewer than half stayed to watch it, as the majority scrambled to place their bets.

Hal was quite lucky that the competitors had a designated station, allowing them to place bets more quickly.

He headed over and checked the rates, with two others—Pierro and Donner—right behind him.

It seemed the rest weren’t too interested in placing bets, while a certain red-haired midget wanted to join in on the fun, but her master strictly reprimanded her not to even try, or else face the Flame Hag’s wrath.

The desk was quite wide, so the three young men didn’t have to stand too close to each other.

Nonetheless, the aggressive Donner stared daggers at Pierro, seemingly wanting to decide things between them right here right now.

The other Magna Prospect simply ignored the not-so-bright-looking second seed, though he slightly frowned at the rates before leaving in masked disappointment.

Magna Prospects usually had all the training resources in the world, but they were also often broke due to their masters strictly regulating their finances.

Pierro decided that the measly reward he would obtain was nothing compared to the risk of losing his money.

After all, the darned old man training him was nowhere near the word generous.

Only Donner and Hal remained at the betting desk once the third seed left.

Unlike Pierro, Hal’s heart was racing after looking at the rates.

His money would double if he bet on himself securing a top-eight finish, triple for a top four, five times the original amount as a finalist, and a whopping eight times if he bet on himself becoming the champion and actually pulled it off.

’No, no, calm down, Hal... You shouldn’t place all your eggs in one basket like a hopeless gambler... Yes, doubling my bet should be enough... Let’s not be too greedy here...’ Hal pondered, not realizing that he had become the target of the wild, blue-haired, hawk-eyed second seed’s gaze.

’B-but where will I get the opportunity to earn this much money in one go again?’

He currently had one gold and twenty silvers on him after selling a good portion of his loot from the Runeforest.

It shouldn’t hurt to bet on himself securing a top-four finish and tripling his money, right?

’Yes... If I bet one whole gold on myself becoming a finalist and earning five gold in return...’

Hal made up his mind.

He looked at the betting operator, placed one gold on the desk, and said with a rather mad look on his face,

"One gold on myself becoming the champion, please."