Full-Time Magician: Demon Mage

Chapter 285 Unprecedented Grandeur

The highly anticipated Venice World University Tournament is progressing rapidly, with various teams showcasing a wide array of magical spectacle as the magic competition deepens.

The hype has been amplified even further. If the opening match was a taste of the game, then the game is now getting stronger.

Especially for those who win money, all sorts of stories of getting rich overnight unfold here.

This attracted a large influx of people with dreams of getting rich.

Even though Venice had implemented personnel control measures long ago, it couldn't stop the crowds from all directions from converging on it. Where there is demand, a specific market will naturally emerge.

There are always various unknown channels that allow those who want to get in to find a way.

"There are just too many people! It's only been a few days and it's already gotten this big. If it's the finals, it'll be even more packed!"

As Zhao Manyan walked toward the arena, his gaze swept over the incredibly crowded streets and waterways, his eyes gleaming with the symbol of money.

He felt that if he were to become the Doge of Venice, he would have to cut a deep slice off this dense mass of leeks, at least cutting down to the Achilles tendon to justify the hype.

"Fortunately, our match today was scheduled as the second game of the morning."

"Otherwise, squeezing through like this will affect your performance!" Nan Jue couldn't help but wipe the fine sweat from her forehead.

The first magic competition doesn't start until nine in the morning, and since it's not their first match, they naturally won't rush over too early.

Even though it was only a quarter past eight o'clock, the streets were already packed with people, which shows that there are quite a few people who share the same idea.

The sun had already risen at seven in the morning, and by eight, the heat was already palpable. With the crowds, the perceived temperature continued to rise.

"Come closer, let me feel some of your coolness~"

Wang Teng chuckled and leaned shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Shaoxu, gesturing with his eyes for her to come over and cool off.

It's not that he's afraid of high temperatures; he feels no heat at all.

"Stay away from me!"

Jiang Shaoxu, with faint dark circles under her eyes, glared at him fiercely. It had taken her quite a while to touch up her makeup that morning to cover up those slightly dark circles.

If she plays today and it affects the team's performance, I'll definitely have to give her a good talking to when we get back.

Fortunately, the hotel where the team was staying was not too far from the arena. After walking for half an hour, they were guided by the staff through the players' passage to their private box.

Mentors Feng Li and Song He accompanied the team, standing in the center of the room, looking at the team members sitting in a circle.

Feng Li took a step forward and said, "Today our opponent is the Italian team, and they are playing at home."

"Even if the opponent isn't very strong, they might still have an exceptional performance on the day. With that in mind, I've made some adjustments to the lineup for today's match."

"List of participants: Ai Jiangtu, Jiang Yu, Mu Ningxue, Jiang Shaoxu, and Zhao Manyan. The five of you will participate in the battle."

This decision was made after careful consideration. Ai Jiangtu was there to ensure that the other party would not reveal their hand.

Mu Ningxue has strong sustained combat ability. Ai Jiangtu is there to buy her time, Jiang Shaoxu is there to prevent the enemy from interfering, and Zhao Manyan is responsible for defense. They are very stable in positional warfare.

Jiang Yu's appearance is meant to counter the opponent's summoner, and he can also coordinate with Ai Jiangtu, thus balancing the team's offensive and defensive capabilities.

Song He stood behind Feng Li, sighing slightly in his heart. He looked at Zu Jiming with some regret, as he was quite looking forward to the appearance of the poison-type characters.

It seems difficult now.

Feng Li's arrangements were as prudent as ever, ensuring both combat effectiveness and defense. This kind of positional warfare is all about open strategy.

Unless the pitch is in a very unfavorable position, given the Italian team's fighting strength, it is unlikely that they can beat them.

Of course, it also depends on how well the players perform on the field!

After Feng Li finished speaking, the room fell silent.

Wang Teng leaned back on the sofa nonchalantly, glancing around and noticing the group of people sitting dejectedly on the sofa.

Zu Jiming was even more exhausted. He stared at Feng Li with wide eyes, but didn't say a word, as if to express a silent protest.

But Feng Li wasn't buying it at all and didn't even glance at him.

"Alright! Since there are no objections, it's settled then. Instructor Songhe, please report to the competition rules team later."

"Next, you guys get into a good state and prepare for the match. The rest of you can sit here and watch the game."

Mentor Songhe nodded silently, indicating that he had noted down the arrangements.

Of course, there's no need to report it now; the team's lineup will be reported after the first match ends.

"What are you doing now?"

Jiang Shaoxu leaned closer, her eyes fixed on Wang Teng's phone. The chat log showed someone she was now very familiar with: Tang Yue!

"To make money!"

"This match is between Egypt and Australia, a true clash of titans, and the odds for betting on it are quite high," Wang Teng replied to Tang Yue.

"Wait a minute—Egypt has a 50/50 record, while Australia has won two games. Why are you betting on them?"

Jiang Shaoxu looked at the chat and suddenly became anxious. This guy actually bet 30 billion, and the odds for the Egyptian team had reached an outrageous 4.0. Obviously, most people did not have high hopes for the Egyptian team.

Does a high odds mean you're giving away money for free?

"You're underestimating them, aren't you? I think they definitely have some hidden trump cards."

"It's precisely because they've already lost a game that they can't afford to lose again, otherwise they'll face the possibility of elimination."

"Teams that suffer three or more losses are highly likely to be eliminated. Who do you think would willingly push themselves to the brink of elimination and await judgment for no reason?"

"Even if they want to hide their strength, they still need to maintain a safe ranking, so I bet they will win."

After sending the message to Tang Yue, Wang Teng turned off the screen and put away his phone. He had asked Staff Officer Fenner whether there were any more Pharaoh's Springs left.

The other party clearly stated that they had it, but it was not for sale to the public. It was a great treasure of the necromancer, and he was given a copy during that transaction.

If Egypt loses this match, what if they face a team that plays unconventional tactics in the next game? Aren't they afraid of being sent home empty-handed?

Therefore, he dared to bet that even if the opponent needed to hide their strength, they would still maintain their winning streak. The Australian team was not particularly strong, but they were not weak either.

Compared to the teams from the major European magical powers, they are still somewhat weaker, and can be considered second-tier.

This also meant that not many people were optimistic about the Egyptian team, resulting in such an exaggerated winning rate in the betting. Even though Tang Yue invested 30 billion, the odds remained high at 4.0.

If it weren't for the 30 billion yuan tied up, the odds might have already soared to over 5, or even over 6, which wouldn't be surprising at all.

However, this is also his opportunity.

If the Egyptian team really disregards winning and pushes themselves further back, then he has nothing to say.

To be honest, the tournament schedule is quite confusing. As long as you win, it's an all-winner's internal battle. Add to that some subjective evaluations, and the battle schedule really comes down to luck.

Moreover, they will follow the unspoken rules to avoid strong national teams meeting in the knockout stage, leaving the suspense for the final.

(End of this chapter)