Chapter 85

“Heh, Mr. Yates, your money might be able to move mountains, but Aspen’s threat is right here and now!” Tiana said with a cold smirk, clearly annoyed. “Once they deal with the Madblade Martial Academy fighters, Aspen will turn his sights on Andrew.”

She continued, “Even if you throw a fortune around right now, by the time your reinforcements show up, your prized pawn will already be on his knees, begging for mercy!”

Cedric frowned. “If Gordon gets too out of hand, aren’t you going to step in?”

Tiana gave a playful but sharp smile. “Why would I? The Bridgefields’ Stevens family has done me no harm. Why should I get involved in their business?”

Cedric’s voice became more serious. “You’re still from Jayredale, Mrs. Rhodes. Are you really going to stand by and watch Gordon run wild in your own city? And what about Dr. Lloyd? He and Lauren are close. Surely, for their sake, you’d lend a hand?”

Tiana gave an icy snort. “Mr. Yates is right here. He’s the boss around here, and he hasn’t made a move. Why would I? Besides, hasn’t Mr. Yates always been a big supporter of Andrew? I’m sure a genius like Andrew, a real man of honor, can handle a little setback, right?”

Cedric let out a bitter chuckle. “Mrs. Rhodes, that’s not fair. Dr. Lloyd may be a genius, but he still needs time to grow. Gordon’s already a seasoned veteran with a notorious reputation. It’s understandable if Dr. Lloyd struggles against someone like that.”

Tiana sneered. “So what if he struggles? I’ve been out of the martial arts scene for years. I’m not going to make an exception now.”

Marvin laughed confidently. “Relax, Mrs. Rhodes. You don’t need to lift a finger—just sit back and enjoy the show. If Gordon actually wins, I’ll be at his beck and call!”

Tiana and Cedric stared at him, dumbfounded. They were stunned by Marvin’s bold declaration.

Tiana’s face darkened. “Mr. Yates, you’re making some bold claims. I hope you won’t end up eating your words and embarrassing yourself.”

The VIP platform was large, but only a few people were seated on it, leaving much of it empty.

At that moment, Aspen turned to Gordon, who had been standing quietly behind Christina and her family, blending into the background. She said respectfully, “Mr. Woods, I’ll leave this to you.”

Gordon let out a raspy chuckle and slowly made his way up to the platform, his hands behind his back and his hunched figure moving leisurely.

“Who’s that old guy? He looks like he’s on death’s doorstep. Is he seriously the Stevens family’s trump card?”

“Come on, that frail old man wouldn’t last a second against someone from Madblade Martial Academy! His bones would snap like twigs!”

“Don’t be fooled by appearances. In martial arts stories, it’s always the crippled, elderly guys who turn out to be hidden masters.”

A wave of chatter spread through the spectators, their eyes fixed on Gordon’s unimpressive figure. Aspen sneered at the crowd’s ignorance, thinking that these fools had no idea how terrifying Gordon truly was.

Whether in Bridgefields or Jayredale, Gordon was a man who commanded absolute respect.

Aspen chuckled coldly. “Step aside, girl. Mr. Woods hasn’t had a proper warm-up in a long time, and today’s the perfect chance.”

Gordon chuckled softly as he rolled his shoulders, causing a series of loud cracks to echo from his bones. The sound sent chills down the spines of those watching.

On the Madblade Martial Academy side, Ivan’s face turned serious as he called out, “Mr. Sanford, don’t underestimate him!”

However, Rodney did not seem fazed. He scoffed and barked, “Get out of here, old man. If you know what’s good for you, step aside. You’re one foot in the grave already. Why would you risk your life sticking your neck out for Aspen?”