Then the referee started counting, and after he finished counting, the man with the broken nose never got up again.

The rat's fellow villager won; he fought with his life on the line, knowing that if he didn't kill his opponent, he would likely be killed by him.

A commotion erupted from the audience seats, with people yelling and shouting wildly. As expected of an underground black market, people's mentality was extremely distorted.

The other five competition stages also saw winners and losers determined.

Those who lose usually suffer greatly. The only saving grace is that the other losers, as long as they don't die, will receive a considerable bonus. Of course, the bonus for the winners is vastly different from that for the losers.

This is also the allure of underground boxing matches for those desperate criminals.

The rule here is that the prize money is immediately redeemed after each round, but those who receive the money don't know if they'll survive to enter the next round.

After watching for a while, Xiaoxi and the others had a better understanding of the rules.

During the break between the two games, Haozi found his fellow villager.

“Count, do you remember me? I am Mouse.”

Having just won a match, the count was a bit tired and didn't really want to talk to his fellow countryman.

"It's a rat! How did you get to the third basement level? How did you manage to win on the first or second level?"

"Impossible, you absolutely cannot win. Don't bother me, I'm taking a short break, the next match is about to start."

The mouse scratched its head, feeling extremely embarrassed.

"Count, I'll only take five minutes of your time. I have a favor to ask of you: could you lend me some money?"

It is clear that the rat has a very poor reputation and credibility, which the Earl greatly disdains.

"I think I'm almost out of my mind? I risked my life to lend you money? To quote an Eastern saying, 'Throwing pizza at a dog is like throwing it away—it's gone forever.'"

Xiaoxi can't stand anyone altering Eastern proverbs; she corrects them directly.

"It's like throwing a meat bun to a dog—it's gone and will never come back, okay?"

The count looked down at Xiaoxi from his high position, "Little girl, this is not a place for you to play. Did the rat bring you in? What's going on? Don't be fooled by him."

Xiaoxi and the others were looking for compensation from Haozi, and of course, Haozi himself said that they should get the money.

Wu Changquan and Xiao Xi had a tacit understanding. He kicked Haozi in the back of the knee, and Haozi, with a mournful face, had no choice but to tell the truth.

“Count, I stole their companion’s diamond bracelet and tore it. Because it was made of diamonds, I have to pay for it, and I can’t beat them.”

The count slapped the rat across the face.

"Damn it, I told you not to rob it, but you wouldn't listen!"

"Take care of your own affairs. My money didn't come easily, so I won't lend it to you! We're just acquaintances from the same hometown; our relationship isn't close enough for me to help you."

Mouse was dumbfounded. His fellow villager was tough and stubborn; if he said he wouldn't lend money, he really wouldn't.

Indeed, that bracelet wasn't cheap. Was he really going to drive himself to the point of selling kidneys? What else could he do? He'd still die once the poison took effect.

The rat, like a shrew from the mountains, clung to the count, crying and fussing, but the count kicked her away with a single foot.

Xiaoxi and the others had no sympathy for a scoundrel like Haozi. He deserved this outcome, since he dared to rob someone in the street.

Yao Hong guessed that she couldn't pay back the money anyway, so she could only accept her bad luck. Fortunately, all the diamonds on the bracelet were intact, and she could always find someone to repair it when she returned to China.

The count glanced coldly at the rat lying on the ground, barely alive, and finally softened.

"Your crying is so annoying. I'll pay back the money for you. Don't bother me again. I'm only doing this because we're from the same hometown."