Chapter 23: Disciplinary Patrol

The B-tier arena was bustling with noise, a stark contrast to the deserted C-tier arena. The host, face flushed with excitement, was shouting hoarsely as he introduced the two contestants. Jiang Tang had arrived late and only caught the tail end: "Can the 'Super Mario' who has achieved 97 consecutive victories create a myth of invincibility?"

She sat in a corner in the back row. A flash of golden light flickered in her eyes, and everything in her vision became exceptionally clear. She raised her eyebrows in surprise when she saw the person stepping onto the ring. The person was wearing blue overalls and a red top, a red cap pressing down on her hime-cut hairstyle, while her eyes were covered by a strip of white cloth.

Tanaka Mari.

With the aid of her "fiery eyes," Jiang Tang recognized her immediately and couldn't help but feel curious. Tanaka Mari was definitely not the only top student participating in underground matches. It was common knowledge that participating in such matches would result in disciplinary action; were these people simply fearless, or were they risking their lives for wealth?

The bell rang, and the match officially began. Tanaka Mari’s opponent was a bald man as sturdy as a small mountain. As soon as he entered the ring, he roared, beating his chest like an ape, and snorted at Tanaka Mari to intimidate her. However, almost all the audience members were shouting the name "Super Mario" in a landslide of support.

On the stage, Tanaka Mari bowed to her opponent, her voice clear and crisp: "Please treat me well."

Clearly, her opponent lacked such fighting etiquette; he seized the moment she bowed to clench his petrified fists and charged forward. Tanaka Mari shifted her feet slightly and dodged with ease. The wind from his punch ruffled her hair, and she calmly and slowly drew a naginata from her side, gripping it with both hands as she retreated a step.

With a soft cry, the raised naginata swung down, and blood sprayed high into the air. The audience erupted into overwhelming screams.

Jiang Tang stared at the battle on the ring, completely enthralled. Tanaka Mari’s footwork was agile and versatile, making her opponent look incredibly clumsy. Every swing of her blade was accompanied by the shimmering glow of moonlight, making the entire fight both beautiful and bloody.

"Kaguya, appear!"

Tanaka Mari leaped high, her silhouette crossing with her opponent's for a fleeting moment before she landed gracefully and sheathed her blade. Her opponent clutched his throat and collapsed with a thud.

The battle ended. Jiang Tang was left wanting more. Whether in terms of combat awareness or the use of cards, she was inferior to Tanaka Mari. In a one-on-one fight, without relying on overwhelming, high-powered cards, she could not defeat Tanaka Mari.

Thinking of this, Jiang Tang felt an even more urgent need to strengthen herself—not just in the quantity and quality of her cards, but in her proficiency and her own combat capability.

Tanaka Mari’s opponent was carried away on a stretcher, and the host trotted over, excitedly announcing, "This is Super Mario's 98th victory!"

The tidal wave of cheers had just begun when it was interrupted by the sound of the main doors being smashed open. A short-haired woman in a white uniform with a red armband walked through the dust: "Disciplinary Committee inspection! Everyone, cease resistance!"

"Damn it, the Disciplinary Committee! Run!"

"Use the emergency exits!"

Mixed in the crowd, Jiang Tang’s mouth twitched at the news. An emergency exit in a place that wasn't safe?

"Seal the exits and make arrests!"

The short-haired woman waved her hand, and the inspection team behind her charged into the crowd. To her surprise, the white-clad figures in the crowd began to fall one after another. The short-haired woman narrowed her eyes slightly; she had brought only elites for this raid.

With a sharp, soft grunt, her figure flickered, turning into white lightning as she plunged into the sea of people.

Tanaka Mari knocked out a disciplinary committee member with a strike of her blade while searching for Wang Laicai in the crowded space. Suddenly, her gaze shifted, and she immediately raised her naginata. A hand covered in lightning gripped the blade. The short-haired woman looked at her and smiled: "Oh, so it's a shrine maiden."

Tanaka Mari’s pupils contracted. She hadn't seen the short-haired woman’s movement trajectory at all; it was as if she had appeared right in front of her out of thin air.

"Is this a card?" The short-haired woman’s hand crackled with electric arcs, but they had no effect on Tanaka Mari’s naginata. Tanaka Mari’s hands went numb from the electricity, and she gritted her teeth, shaking the woman off.

This woman was terrifyingly strong; she couldn't win. Just as she was about to flee, she heard Wang Laicai’s terrified plea: "Ahhh, big sister, don't kill me!"

Tanaka Mari turned her head and saw Wang Laicai scurrying in terror under the attack of a disciplinary committee member. Wang Laicai was agile, but she couldn't withstand the siege of several committee members and was completely cut off from escape.

"Oh, that’s your friend."

The short-haired woman was relentless. She snapped her fingers, and a bolt of lightning struck at Wang Laicai’s feet. Wang Laicai jumped in fright, looked toward the source of the attack, and then bolted in the opposite direction of Tanaka Mari.

The short-haired woman smiled and said, "It seems you two are very close. If you surrender now, you can suffer a little less."

Tanaka Mari pursed her lips, and the blade vibrated slightly: "Kaguya, appear!"

Moonlight spilled forth...

On the other side, Wang Laicai had reached the emergency exit. Just one step away from escaping, she chose to turn back, her eyes scanning the crowd. When she spotted someone, her eyes lit up, and she squeezed through the fleeing mob: "Big Boss!"

Hearing the voice, Jiang Tang walked even faster, silently chanting, "It's not me, it's not me, she's definitely not calling me! I'm just a weak C-tier card master."

What good could come from being called by her at a time like this! She even activated the acceleration passive of her Chang'e card.

Just as she was about to step into the emergency exit, her waist tightened, and she was held firmly by someone. Wang Laicai whispered like a demon in her ear: "Big Boss, you wouldn't want the school to find out about your underground matches, would you?"

Jiang Tang’s eyelid twitched. She tried to pull Wang Laicai’s hands off but couldn't, so she stubbornly denied, "You’ve got the wrong person, I don't know you!"

Wang Laicai hugged her tighter: "It’s just a small favor, Big Boss. We're classmates, you wouldn't leave me hanging, right?"

Jiang Tang glanced at Tanaka Mari, who was being completely suppressed: "You call this a small favor?"

"Ten credits!"

Wang Laicai tapped her device against Jiang Tang’s, transferring ten credits.

"Happy to serve!" Jiang Tang immediately turned and headed toward the battlefield.

Wang Laicai followed her for a few quick steps and whispered instructions: "Don't get bogged down. I’m going to get the car; see you at Exit C in ten minutes." With that, she vanished into the crowd.

Jiang Tang moved against the flow of people, snatched a white uniform from a disciplinary committee member to wear, took off her mask, and hung her head to blend perfectly into the "enemy" ranks, constantly closing in on the short-haired woman.

"Boss, I'm here to help you!"

The short-haired woman’s fist paused at the sound. Tanaka Mari seized the opportunity to create distance and couldn't help but glance at the owner of the voice. Were there people among the disciplinary committee who were so oblivious to the situation?

A white shadow rushed toward them, wielding a peach-wood sword, and zoomed past the short-haired woman at high speed. The short-haired woman only felt a gust of wind sweep by, followed by a yellow paper talisman dropping onto her forehead.

In an instant, a crackling bolt of lightning struck her head, causing smoke to rise from her hair, and she stood there, stunned on the spot.

"Go, go, go!"

Jiang Tang grabbed Tanaka Mari’s hand and, without a second’s hesitation, bolted into the emergency exit. The short-haired woman’s face darkened; she tore the yellow paper from her forehead and roared at her bewildered subordinates: "What are you standing there for? Chase them!"