Chapter 210: DO YOU WANT TO BET?
New Balton City.
Ranon had never visited New Balton City ever since choosing to be part of the Leightons, as he was prohibited from doing so due to the city’s connection to his past.
Denzel had splurged a large sum of money to make sure Ranon’s past wouldn’t come to the surface, since it was not good for the image of the family.
He always saw Ranon’s past as something to be embarrassed about. This is something that should be buried and kept as a secret.
However, Ranon began to walk away from him. He had paid his debt by saving his company, and now, he didn’t owe him anything anymore. With Denzel, it would always be about business.
"You are here? Take you so long."
"I am sorry," Ranon said.
This place was exactly as he remembered it. There was a rickety bookshelf next to the door where he used to put trophies from tournaments this place had won. A round table in the middle, where he and the other three used to eat together with Desgar, with chairs that squeaked whenever you moved. The wall was supposed to be white, but now it was rather yellowish.
Not much had changed in this room. It was as if Ranon had never left this place, and years hadn’t passed in between before he set foot here again.
"What brings you here?"
However, of course, after so many years, some things were bound to change.
The man spun in his chair to face Ranon. The squeaking sound was familiar, but the man whom Ranon used to see as a father and a formidable teacher looked rather old and weak.
He was sick. Ranon had heard about it two months before, but he could only come to visit him now that he had settled a few issues.
"Why? I can’t come?" Ranon sat down on one of the chairs at the round table. They used it as a dining table. "You should get some rest. You don’t look well, Desgar."
The man named Desgar scoffed. "I still can beat you in the ring."
Hearing that, Ranon smiled. "I doubt that."
Desgar was the man, who had taken Ranon under his care when he saw him in one of his matches. Ranon used to be a street fighter and made a living from it.
He discovered Ranon’s talent and recruited him to join the club. But unfortunately, Ranon backed down just before his first tournament because he had agreed to be part of the Leightons.
His decision at that time disappointed Desgar. Their time together was not long, but Ranon respected this man.
"I came here to make a business proposal with you."
"There is no point in making a business proposal with a dying man."
Ranon paused for a while. "Don’t say that. I have prepared a treatment for you. You will live long enough to see this business prosper."
Desgar laughed. "What is the point of living? I have done and seen enough. I have no regret about leaving." He gave Ranon a self-deprecating smile. "Can’t you see this place? This place is going to meet its end soon as well."
He stood up from his squeaking chair and approached Ranon. "I heard you got married to a lovely lady, and she has just given birth recently. Where is she? I am more interested in seeing her and your baby."
This was a lot better than Ranon expected, because knowing how they ended their conversation in the past, it was not pleasant at all.
There were so many negative feelings at that time: anger and disappointment. Hurtful words were thrown recklessly.
But now, after years they didn’t meet, all their disagreements in the past didn’t seem to be important anymore.
"I’ll bring my baby with me next time, but for now, I’ll introduce you to Hazel."
Desgar nodded. He looked satisfied. He knew about Ema, and he hoped this woman he chose to be his wife would be nothing like her.
But then, this woman had successfully convinced Ranon to have a family with her. She must be someone extraordinary.
Desgar knew Ranon well, including how ridiculously stubborn he could be.
***
Hazel watched the two men sparring in the ring, and felt excited to be exposed to something that she was familiar with.
Hearing the punches land was so satisfying. She enjoyed the way they grunted and the menacing looks on their faces as they desperately tried to take down their opponent.
This sparring was something that she used to witness in the training ground of the Lozens. She grew up in this kind of environment.
Though it lacked killing intent, it satisfied her longing a little bit.
"I think you shouldn’t watch this. This is too violent for you," Elric said, worried that this delicate woman would have a fright after she returned from here.
"I am fine. I... have never seen something like this. I am curious." Hazel almost said that she was familiar with this kind of scene, but thankfully, she changed her narration right in time.
When she met Olivia, Hazel was wearing a beautiful floral dress and did her makeup and hair delicately because she thought Ranon would take her on a date.
But now, what she was wearing looked out of place.
They had to have a serious talk after this. That man was good at argumentation, but he had a problem with communication.
"So, is it true that Ranon Leighton used to train in this place?"
The red-haired woman that Hazel saw in the shooting range, came to approach Alen to inquire about this, but her eyes lingered on Hazel a few seconds longer. Hazel could feel it even though she didn’t see her directly.
"You can say so," Alen replied dismissively.
"It is hard to believe that you know someone like Ranon Leighton." She then moved to Hazel’s side and introduced herself. "I am Linda; are you Hazel Rose?"
"I am Hazel Leighton now," Hazel corrected her politely. She had no intention of becoming friendly with any of the women who were interested in her husband.
This was a problem with having a charming husband like Ranon. He was unnecessarily attractive.
"Mrs. Leighton," Linda addressed the name deliberately slowly. "Do you enjoy the show?"
Hazel was very familiar with that kind of smirk on this woman’s lips. As River, she had encountered such women countless times; many of them were even more subtle and delicate with their resentment.
You wouldn’t notice that their compliment was actually mockery until the conversation ended. River learned all of that at an early age, and having a sister like Aubrey helped her.
"Yes, I enjoy it." Hazel kept her conversation brief, but she found a way to lengthen it.
They were sitting on a bench at the side of the ring while the two men were still fighting against each other, and blood was spilled.
"But you don’t look like someone who will enjoy it." Linda tilted her head and then giggled. Hazel hated the sound. "You are too... delicate to watch such violence."
This time, Hazel spared her a glance. See? She was trying so hard to sound nice with her backhanded compliment.
"You can’t judge a book by its cover," Hazel replied lightly. "Actually, I quite like a little bit of violence." She tilted her head and flashed this woman a harmless smile. "The sound of breaking bones is satisfying."
The smile dropped from Linda’s face for a second, but she regained her composure pretty fast. "No way. You don’t look like someone who likes those things." She patted Hazel’s shoulder, as if they were good friends.
"You will be surprised to find out that I am so different from what people perceive me to be." Hazel glanced at her hand on her shoulder. "I can break those delicate fingers, too." She sounded like she was joking around.
Linda’s action almost made Hazel break her fingers to prove her words. Thankfully, she retracted her hand quickly upon seeing the look on Hazel’s face.
"I have been training in this place for three years now, and I know when I see a fighter." Linda eyed Hazel and then chuckled, as if she had her own internal joke, which was annoying. "I am sorry, but I think you are trying so hard to impress Ranon Leighton that you force yourself to like what he likes."
"Linda," Elric called her name in a warning tone. He knew what this woman was up to, and she was treading a dangerous line.
However, Hazel saw it differently. "No, actually, between the two of us, I am the one who is more violent," she chuckled at the end of her words.
"You know how to joke, Mrs. Leighton." Linda grinned.
"I am not joking; I am serious." However, Hazel’s tone was not serious at all, so no one believed her.
You could wrap lies with a little bit of truth, but it worked the other way around, too.
"You don’t believe me? I can even beat your ass if we go up there to fight."
The smile on Linda’s face faltered a bit. She was annoyed with this lady’s joke, but she couldn’t show it openly. "If you are willing to go up to fight me, I will go easy on you, Mrs. Leighton."
"Stop it, Linda," Elric warned her again, because he didn’t think these two women were being friendly. But both of them ignored him.
"Good. Do you want to bet?" Hazel was more than happy to have a round or two.