Chapter 258: Betting Chapter 258: Betting 5 minutes before Leo and Tavian appeared on the ring— The betting polls were opened. Tavian Gridfall’s odds: 1.60 Leo’s odds: 1.55 Maximum bet by a single person: 200000 AC Betting worked by setting odds based on how likely people thought each side was to win, not on who would actually win. If someone was seen as very strong and trusted by the public, their odds were low—like 1.2 or 1.4—meaning low profit but relatively safe. On the other hand, if someone was uncertain, mysterious, or unpopular, their odds were high—like 2.5 or 3.0—meaning higher risk but much bigger profit. The betting company, or house, constantly adjusted these odds based on where the money flowed. If too many people placed bets on one side, the odds would shift to balance the pool and reduce risk. Example: Two fighters: A and B. Most people trusted A. Odds: A = 1.3 B = 3.0 If you bet 1,000 on A and A won, you would receive 1,300. If you bet 1,000 on B and B won, you would receive 3,000. [Your return= Your stake × odds at the time of betting] If more people suddenly began betting on B, the house would lower B’s odds and increase A’s odds, encouraging bets on A and stabilizing the pool. In simple terms: People’s beliefs decided odds. Money flow changed the odds. Underdogs paid more. Favourites paid less. And the house earned by keeping a small margin from every outcome. Note: If you placed a bet when the odds were 2.4 and you bet 1000— Your return if you won would be 2400. Even if the odds later dropped to 1.9, your return would not decrease to 1900. It would remain 2400, locked in at the odds you bet on. Any new bets placed after the odds changed would follow the new value of 1.9. Here, Leo’s odds were 1.55, which meant the house—the academy—deemed that people believed Leo’s winning chances were: {Not shown to the audience} 1 / 1.55 × 100 = 64.51% As for Tavian: 1 / 1.60 × 100 = 62.5% Total: 127.01% Out of this, 27.01% was the house’s profit buffer. That was the public perception of the match. The betting pool kept rising. Tavian Gridfall: 918,013,560 AC Leo: 777,815,780 AC But after 5 minutes passed, the contestants appeared. The Host said some juicy tea. Leo’s beast doesn’t obey him. A ripple went through the crowd. Ting! The odds changed at the very last moment. The final 1-minute betting window opened. Tavian Gridfall: 1.4 Leo: 2.6 Maximum bet by an individual increased to: 500000 AC Tavian’s winning chances shot up to 71.42%. Leo’s plummeted to 38.46%. The house’s new profit buffer now stood at 9.88%. {Not shown to the audience} This time, Leo’s chances were drastically lowered—all because his beasts supposedly didn’t obey him. Such was the importance of obedient beasts. For a beastmaster, they were nothing less than a lifeline. And rumor had it... Leo’s lifeline was already severed. The betting pool witnessed a violent shift in that final minute. Tavian Gridfall: 918,013,560 AC → 2,611,217,800 AC Leo: 777,815,780 AC → 1,576,835,300 AC As for Miho, she had been waiting precisely for this moment. Leon had specifically instructed her—If Leo or his match would be first, she was to wait until the last betting window. Without hesitation, she pushed in 387,000 AC, deliberately keeping 890 AC aside for snacks or emergencies in case the battle dragged on. As for the three girls, they gritted their teeth and went half in on Tavian’s pool. They didn’t believe—not even for a second—that Leo could have been ranked 1st legitimately. Still, they chose not to go all in. If things truly went south, they didn’t want to be completely broke. High above, inside the VIP staff chambers— "HAHAHAHAHA!" Tarun burst out laughing as he stared at the betting pool. Tarun was the vice principal who had just met the top 10 students. He was an old-looking man with white hair, strikingly similar to Brant—only much older. "Brant," Tarun said, still chuckling, "you really brought in an interesting student this year. I’ll personally ask the principal to reward you once his chest injuries heal." Brant bowed respectfully. "Brother, you are too kind," he said sincerely. "Still, thank you." Then his expression turned serious. "Was the damage from that attack really that severe?" Tarun sighed. "Yeah... not even top-grade healing medicine can fix it. We can only wait for Lord Siegfried’s skill cooldown to finish." "Are the 8th tier really that terrifying?" Brant asked quietly. "It’s not their strength," Tarun replied. "It’s their access divinity. It blocks everything normal." "You really shouldn’t have gone alone. My power was mor—" "No," Tarun cut him off firmly. "I know you were qualified to go, but you have a woman to take care of. Do that." Brant snorted. "Then you should also get a woman and look after her. Are you planning to die a virgin?" Tarun sneered. "Who’s dying a virgin, you fool? I’m not a virgin. I just didn’t find a girl to my liking. And it’s not like the generals were even in danger. The Emperor sent us back to the Imperial Palace the moment the engraved formations were completed." Brant sighed, the tension easing from his shoulders. "So even with so many Kings, the Angels were still that terrifying?" "The Kings were literally fodder," Tarun said with a wave of his hand. "It was all our Emperor that single-handedly ragdolled them. As for the kings, even with the Principal’s superior barrier techniques, they barely lasted a handful of seconds." Brant’s eyes widened. "Really? Those barriers... even my water blades can’t scratch them. And you’re saying they didn’t last a few seconds?" Tarun nodded. As he looked back at the betting pool, his smile deepened. Nearly 70% of the academy’s betting profits would go straight into his pockets. After all, he was the one responsible for arranging the competition, which included the cost for the function. He had practically begged the Principal for this opportunity. Then something clicked in Brant’s mind. "Wait," he said suspiciously. "What girl are you talking about? You’d better pray you even get an old hag with your age and looks." Tarun scoffed. "Fuck off. I look way better than you with your miserable married life." Just then, a sweet voice sounded from behind them. "What were you talking about, marriage, brother Tarun?" Tarun’s eyes widened—but he quickly regained his composure. "K-Katherine," he stammered, forcing a smile. "Good to see you again. I was just saying how well you’ve been taking care of this brat. See how youthful he looks despite his old face—uh, I mean, fair young face." --- A/N: I am a gone case today. Right now, I have been awake for almost 32 hours. Had my exams in a different city. I will see if I can publish a second Chapter today, or else I will do it tomorrow. I am fucking tired and sleepy.