The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 1281  Building Hype

It was well past dark by the time that everyone had gotten their turn through the arena floor, but the enthusiasm hadnʼt dampened even a little bit.

Not even when they saw staff putting up the pricing sheets at the registration desk.

It wasnʼt cheap to get a fight, but far less expensive than entering a dungeon. The only part that put a damper on their enthusiasm were the operating hours, which Azov insisted on, to comply with city rules.

They had to restrict the noise from two until six in the morning. But, as most of their shops appealed to both nightlife and vampires, Karl had agreed to put a sound dampening spell on the property.

The fights would run all day and night, but the shops on the lower levels would be open various hours, depending on what they served.

The café and ice cream shop were open all day and night, while the fine dining was only open from four in the evening until two in the morning. They already had applicants for the vendor stalls on the lower concourse, mostly from small Guild Alliances who couldnʼt afford a full-sized shop. They had an Alliance Shop with outside access, so Karl had only saved a few of the stands for their own people, and they had planned to let the rest fill naturally.

By morning, the whole sector of the outskirts was abuzz about the ”Nara Group Combat Market”. That was not the official name. Tian and Geralt had put ”Darklight Arena” above the entrance. But the name seemed to have stuck.

Karl went back at eight in the morning, to make sure that the arena was ready for their first open day.

The vendors would be coming at ten, so they had two hours to set up before the arena opened, and the food deliveries were already finished by the time that he got there. A quick mental scan said that none of the Green Dragon Clerics had gone home. They were all near the break room, sleeping on cots.

There were private sleeping rooms accessible from the break rooms, Opal had insisted that they were necessary for long shifts and hot days. A bit of rest when you werenʼt feeling well, and you could finish a shift.

But they also let the clerics stay overnight when they didnʼt want to go all the way back to their temple or the Alliance house, as their work contract entitled them to worker housing with the Darklight Host.

”Oh, the big boss is here. Good morning. Would you like a cookie?” A small woman asked as Karl watched for vendors at the gate.

”Certainly. Everyone likes cookies. Who might you be?” He replied.

”I am Summer, I have stall 128 rented for the week.” Karl smiled. ”Ah, a nature Cleric, then? Welcome. 128 is on the far side of the arena, near the pizza shop. The number is on the table and the roof.”

The girl swept back her hair revealing pointed Elven ears, and nodded. ”Yep. A follower of the Nature Goddess, but not the Green Dragon. Thanks for the directions, I will see you soon!”

With everyone having an inventory, not many had to bring in large boxes of stuff for their shops. A few still did, but the building had been well-designed for deliveries of all sorts, as well as accessibility by species that didnʼt agree with stairs.

Like Lamia.

They had no problems navigating stairs, but they didnʼt like them. The edges dug into their belly scales, so it was more like moving across sharp rocks than walking up a flight of stairs as a human.

”Hey boss, when does registration open?” A wrath demon called from the street. ”The first four fights are already registered, and will be entering the ring at noon. Registration opens at half past eleven, when the gates open.” The Demon looked at the line of people waiting along the fence, then sighed.

”It will take forever to get inside.” He muttered.

Karl smiled at him. ”It wonʼt be as bad as you think once we get going. Youʼll see.”

Once he dispelled the effect that was creating the fence, they would be able to enter from every direction, and the polite queue that had formed at the vendor entrance would be largely meaningless.

It would just put them in the first row of people to enter.

Most of the vendor stalls would be empty today, but they had nearly thirty of them by the time that the gates opened. The staff were all ready for an insane rush of customers, and the cold marble mixing slab at the ice cream shop was polished to perfection after some morning flavour combination sampling by the resident Cleric.

Cherry Cheesecake was chosen as their special favour of the day, and got a second scoop for half price. Not a big discount, but the Green Dragon Clerics insisted that was the way to win customersʼ hearts. With more ice cream.

”There had better be meat, thatʼs all Iʼm saying.” Karl heard a Werewolf Druid complaining to his friend in the street.

”Try the kebabs from the bleacher vendors. Or you can go to the Darklight Lounge and ask the lovely ladies for the full kilo porterhouse steak special. Theyʼre opening early today.” Karl shouted, looking straight at them.

”Now, thatʼs a man who knows whatʼs important. But what kind of meat?”

Karl smiled. ”Dry aged Overlord Ranked Water Buffalo.”

The werewolf went a bit pale in the face. That sort of meal at a fancy restaurant was worth two days of his wages.

”Perhaps Iʼll start with the Kebabs.”

Karl nodded. ”Theyʼre locally raised, from outer district butcher shops. All excellent flavours, but much more affordable. Or you can go for a classic pepperoni pizza slice. Or the whole pie.”

The werewolfʼs friend laughed. ”Heʼs got you down already.”

And now everyone in line knew what the best meat options in the stands would be. Easy advertising.