Sam and Raunak went back to the arena and this time he went to sit beside Raunak in the first row.

He was really fascinated by this type of broadcasting set up and he has even seen this before in the Starwood academy on the desolate planet. But there it was done by the illusion expert in the thunder god temple.

He just modified some illusion formations to create that.

But here the formation is definitely not as simple. With the quality and the span, it covered it certainly is not something one can easily come up with.

While Sam is observing the whole formation while many more are observing him. Many elves of his age group and cultivation level are looking at him curiously and some people from faction 1 who has already seen his face are giving out some evil smiles.

Among them, Ramana is looking at Sam as if he wants to eat him up.

Apart from them, some people from this invisible third faction and Rajan from faction 1 are also looking at him, but these people are relatively calm.

Sam didn't care much about all these stares, he just focused on the formation first and then the battle.

Currently, from what is visible in the video, there are not many challenges for the trio. Particularly when they are working together.

They are setting quick traps, separating the pursuers and dealing with them, and catching them off-guard.

Sneaking up on them, luring them to some of the beasts that are left here as threats for the participants, and so on.

They didn't even have to use the hoverboards for now.

They are dealing with it with the proper approach.

Sam is looking forward to how they will fare against the true elites that are going to join in on this competition and he doesn't have to wait for long.

At first, the city guard wanted to join the stage by the afternoon, but after Sam came someone passed the message to them to join earlier and they didn't disagree.

The city guard is still wearing their uniform and they entered the arena together.

But it would still take some time for the city guard to engage with the trio directly. After all, there are two dozen people that are in the active pursuit of the trio and if the city guard just wants to take over from there, they wouldn't agree. At least, not without some 'persuasion'.

Sam watched as the battle went on and on until evening and finally the city guard came near them from another direction. Right before they engaged though, the sunset, and the battle was halted.

Sam was confused and looked at Raunak.

"They are not allowed to battle at night or even move from that place. Even if they want to recover, they have to recover there.

This is a rule to increase the anticipation in the viewers and increase the bet money through it."

Sam was intrigued, as he was about to ask something, Raunak spoke again.

"There is no question of them moving from that place. There are some Consummate level cultivators guarding or watching them.

Usually, they are kept for watching the barracks of the contestants in a normal battle tournament so that they wouldn't fight at night, but now they are guarding them like this.

They are directly under elders and nobody knows what they are looked like.

From what I heard from the stories, they don't even speak. There is no need to worry."

Sam nodded his head and started walking out along with Raunak.

They went to a meal. It has been a while since Sam ate something delicious.

"You mentioned betting. Is there a limit to the amount of money one can bet?"

"You want to bet? As far as I know, there is no limit. The betting system hasn't changed from the previous time as this was an impromptu modification. How much do you want to bet?"

"What are the odds against them staying in the top three by the end of the tournament?"

"If they can really reach that, you can win five times the money over."

"Two billion."

*PFffftttt*

Raunak spat out the liquor he is having and looked at Sam in surprise or rather a shock.

"Two billion?"

"Yes, two billion. Each."

"Are you out of your mind? There are just too many variables out there in the battle. That money didn't come to you for free. What if you lost it?"

"It is just money. I have plenty of it. Anyway, they will be buying something else in the future. You just don't have to worry too much.

Tomorrow helps me with the betting. Same bet on the three of them. They will stay in top three. Two billion each."

"That is a large amount."

"The amount will be larger after I won."

"But…"

"Don't worry about it. I have a new business idea waiting for me. So, don't worry too much. It would be alright."

They went on their own ways after the meal. Sam wanted to take a nap after a long time. Even though there might be a plot going on against him. It is not something that is worrying him too much.

But as soon as he laid on his bed and closed his eyes, he abruptly opened them and looked at the window.

A small scroll was thrown into the room through the open window.

Sam picked the scroll and looked through the contents. It is from some unknown person. The gist of the matter is simple.

It is a threat that his friends would die tomorrow in the arena and to stop that, Sam has to meet them outside now and discuss a deal to leave his friends alone.

Sam burned the scroll and went back to nap.

The next day, he went to the arena where he met with Raunak and gave the spirit stones.

Raunak sent his assistant to place the bet and they went to watch the battle.

It is just a little after sunrise and the arena was already packed. Almost everyone in the arena placed a bet, smaller or larger and most of the bets that are placed are related to the trio.

Some people bet that the trio would be eliminated today, some people bet they would be killed today, some people bet that they would be defeated by a certain person, there are even bets on the approximate time frame of elimination.

Even though the audience is getting riled up after the trio's performance that impressed them at first, they are not exactly on their side at this moment. They are sure that the trio would lose soon.

The battle started soon and the trio that is in the middle of a dozen pursuers and the city guard started the day aggressively.

They didn't even bother to consider too much as they made their way towards the city guard and tore through them like a hot knife through the butter.

They didn't engage them too much and added them to the group of their pursuers.

They are still sticking to the kiting measure they took from the start.

They don't care if they are city guards or individual pursuers.

By the end of the day, they once again cut their pursuers in half and are in high spirits. But right before that day's battle ended a group of soldiers entered the forest. They are all cloaked with green color and Sam felt that they are familiar.

They are definitely related to the cloaked forces of faction 1.

Sam looked at Ramana who is sitting beside his father. That guy had a crooked smile and he is looking at Raunak as if he is a cat looking at the mouse. The sadistic expression is reflecting his desire to toy and torture Raunak before killing him.

Sam went back to the residence without caring much. He is still confident that they deal with them in a chase. If it is a cornered battle with all these people surrounding them, he would be a little pressure on their performance.

But as long as they are not surrounded and not cornered without any recovery time, they will be fine.

As Sam entered his residence there is someone waiting for him.

It is none other than the arrogant builder, Braman.

"It has been a long while since we last met. How are you doing?"

Sam greeted casually as he entered the house.

"Maybe I should be asking that question. As you are not doing so well."

"I am perfectly fine actually. There is no problem whatsoever."

"Really, your friends are about to die and you are not worried?"

"That's a strong and conclusion. Not to mention baseless."

"Baseless? I don't know if your officer friend told you. The escape tokens that are given to your friends are rigged, they wouldn't activate the space gate inside the formation and they wouldn't be able to escape. This was all pre-planned to take revenge on you.

Green cloaks are too good in forests. They are made for this, your friends might have managed to keep their upper hand until now. But tomorrow, they would be true prey."

"So?"

"Tomorrow, one-star unit is also entering. So if you want to save your friends, they are the only way out for you."

"Then?"

"I heard that there is a new product from your research base."

"Oh, now you want that for a cheaper price." Braman didn't say anything in response and just smiled.

Sam shook his head with a smile and said.

"Get out of here."

With that, he slammed the door shut and went in.

Braman is just standing there like an idiot as he didn't expect this kind of response at all.