Shadow Empire

Chapter 492: You Can’t Win Even If You Cheat
Some people are destined to shine while others are still exploring the world.

Lance is such a person. Large amounts of wine represent wealth and profit, and no one can refuse this in this highly commercialized country.

When everything is priced and placed on the shelves, money is the measure of everything!

No one could refuse Lance, just as they could not refuse wealth.

A larger organization began to be built around Lance, and a network of interests was also woven.

It will become bigger and bigger, penetrate deeper and deeper, and pull more people into this big net and become part of it!

A few days later, a boxing match was about to begin in Jingang Gymnasium.

In the lounge, the boxers who were invited this time are making final preparations.

"Iron Fist" Logan is his nickname, which means his fists are as strong as steel and unbearable.

Almost most boxers with a certain degree of fame have their own nicknames. A nickname is not necessarily a negative label, it can also be a sign of acceptance and recognition.

Before a boxer goes on stage, he needs to put bandages on his fists.

The main purpose of bandages is to protect the boxers' fists, the muscles in their hands and wrists, and prevent them from being strained or dislocated for some reason.

Logan's coach took out a circle of special bandages from the backpack he carried with him.

These bandages look much thicker than ordinary bandages. Not just a little bit, but a lot thicker.

It was stuffed, with some plaster in it, sewn into the bandage gauntlet.

At first it will be fine, soft and fluffy.

But as the fight progresses, sweat, and even the boxers intentionally drinking water or pouring water on themselves, can get water into the gloves.

After gypsum absorbs water, it becomes hard, just like cement!
This is also the origin of the name Iron Fist. He is a cheater and a habitual offender.

But because he has been hiding well and not challenging top-ranked boxers, people don't think there is anything wrong over time.

Those ordinary boxers lack sufficient social influence. Even if they have some doubts about Logan after the game, no one will stand up to seek justice for them.

The organizers once checked Logan's gloves and found no problems, so people stopped checking and just thought that it was just some people who were unwilling to accept defeat.

Most people admit that Logan's fist is very hard, and the nickname "Iron Fist" gradually spread.

But some people knew about this, and Logan became a "stumbling block" in the eyes of some people, especially when people needed him.

After tying the bandages, his coach put on the gloves for him, "The referee won't open your gloves, so you don't have to worry at all."

"The big guy on the opposite side has some strength. He just broke his jaw. You should try to avoid a face-to-face fight with him before your fists get stronger."

"Use your pace to move quickly. After five rounds, we'll show him what we can do."

Logan nodded and bit into the braces.

The coach patted his shoulder to relax him, "It's just an ordinary game, defeat the opponent and return with a victory!"

On the other side, Ethan's coach was also arranging tactics. "Logan's performance was actually very ordinary, but his punches were very heavy. Everyone who has fought him said so."

"He tends to save his energy for the last few rounds, so in the first few rounds he will mainly roam around to consume your energy. Don't be fooled."

"Your backhand punch is very lethal, and it must be harder than his. If you have the chance, don't be stingy!"

Ethan nodded, "Don't worry, I will let him know that I am the Iron Fist, not him!"

The coach liked Ethan's strong confidence and his strong physical talent. "Well, use one victory after another to tell people that an 'Ethan Storm' is forming!"

Many people came to the competition today. Ethan's fame is increasing with his victories. Iron Fist Logan also has many fans and haters. With the Kodak family promoting it behind the scenes, Likalaizhou believes that this will be an exciting boxing match.

More than a thousand people came to the scene, and the Kodak family also opened telephone betting. Before the game started, the total betting amount exceeded two million.

As both boxers entered the ring, the referee began to check their gloves.

They would not untie the boxers' gloves casually, but would only confirm that there were no foreign objects in the gloves by touching them, and then he explained the rules.

The two boxers bumped fists and then separated.

Ethan had a good impression of Logan. Logan was very polite and did not make any offensive actions or say anything unpleasant.

He also took the initiative to greet Logan.

As the bell rang, the competition officially began.

In the first round, both sides played very conservatively, mainly testing and moving around. Most boxing fans also knew that Logan would not get into the game until four or five rounds later, so they were not anxious at all.

Logan maintained an attitude of avoiding fighting throughout the first round. Except for trying his best to avoid falling behind in technical points through technical strikes, he avoided fighting throughout the whole process.

This actually made Ethan a little confused, but he respected the opponent's style of play. After all, everyone has their own opinions.

Some people just like to fight right away, as if they are in a hurry. The winner raises his hand and the loser falls down.

There are also some people who play with more style and technique. They will take the initiative to reveal their flaws and let the opponent launch an attack to consume the opponent's physical strength.

The heavier the fight, the more important it is to manage physical strength. Even though each round doesn't have much time, just a few punches can deplete a boxer's strength and put him in a passive position!

The first two rounds were very dull, but in the third and fourth rounds, the two sides began to have some substantial contact, and the game became more exciting.

Some fist and body collisions made the audience scream continuously, and the atmosphere suddenly became heated up.

After the fourth round, Ethan's coach told him to be careful because it would be "Logan time" next.

This is a statement made by Logan’s fans, which means that Logan is about to start exerting his strength.

His haters called this period of time "cheating time". Even though the organizers and even the league did not catch him cheating, many people still believed that he cheated.

Although no one launched any fierce attacks in the first four rounds, just constantly dodging and punching also consumed a lot of their physical energy.

Ethan panted slightly and nodded, "I'll be careful."

Sure enough, Logan's aggressive movements and desires became more obvious. He began to actively look for Ethan's weaknesses and tried to hit him twice.

Ethan, who had been hit by several punches, also felt that Logan's punches felt heavier and harder.

He was also a little confused. Everyone was expending energy, so why did his fist become heavier?

Shouldn't it become lighter due to the physical exertion?
He didn't understand and didn't think deeply about it. All he wanted at this moment was victory!

Stone, who was sitting in the corner, watched the match on the ring. The Lance family bet another half a million on Ethan to win.

After all, Iron Fist Logan is a long-established character, while Ethan is just a boxer who has fought a series of minor roles, so in terms of people's acceptance, Logan's odds are lower because he has a greater chance of winning.

Ethan has just become famous and has not fought any strong opponents to prove himself, so his odds are slightly higher.

Nearly 1.6 million of them are bet on Ethan. If Ethan wins again, they will lose a big sum this time!
Excluding the other part of the income, they would roughly lose about seven hundred thousand!
He lit a cigarette, squinted his eyes and looked at Ethan, and at Logan who was looking for an opportunity, hoping that they would not go beyond the script this time!
With the sound of time ending, the fifth round ended. Both boxers returned to their positions, and Ethan's breathing rate increased significantly.

The coach poured some water on his head, and he couldn't help but ask, "Why are his punches getting heavier?"

Many people have studied Iron Fist Logan's games and have more or less discovered these irregularities, but the league said that he has no problems, so naturally everyone can only assume that his stamina pool is very deep and his stamina management is very good.

When you have no strength, your ability to withstand harm from the outside world will decrease. That's the only explanation.

The coach didn't have much to say except to ask him to try not to get hit.

At the beginning of the sixth round, everyone could see that both sides had not recovered their strength, and their steps became heavier. Ethan was unable to dodge in one fight and was hit hard in the face!
The first time he was hit, he staggered backwards and almost fell to the ground. The referee quickly pushed away Logan who was about to chase him, ran to Ethan and asked him about the situation.

"How much is this?"

Ethan shook his head. He had a little tinnitus now. He watched the referee constantly gesturing with his fingers and blinked hard. "Three."

The referee looked at him for a few seconds, "Can you still play?"

Ethan nodded, "I can."

He touched his forehead with both hands to show that he was fine, and the referee announced that the game would continue.

Ethan carefully dodged Logan's punches until the end of the round.

He sat back in the corner, panting, dodging and blocking constantly, which made him lose his energy even faster.

When your opponent just pretends to swing his fist, and you need to mobilize most of your strength to defend, while also stepping back to create distance and coordinating a series of physical changes, the physical energy consumption increases exponentially.

"His punch is so heavy, it's like a hammer!"

The coach's face also looked a little gloomy. Watching the game records and commentary records were completely different from actually encountering them.

The words in those records become more vivid and three-dimensional, and it is also more difficult to stick to them!

"His punch made me feel like I was hit by a car," which is definitely different from actually being punched.

The coach could only ask, "Can you still hold on?"

Ethan's cheekbones and temples were swollen, as were his cheeks. There were several red marks on his abdomen, which were also swollen and had burst blood vessels.

He looked back at the fans who supported him and the brothers sitting in the front row. He nodded and said, "I can!"

On the other side, Logan's coach frowned slightly and said, "Don't play around, finish him off in this round."

Logan was a little confused. “I didn’t play with him. I really tried my best. Didn’t you see those punches I threw?”

"Ordinary people would have fallen down a long time ago!"

Logan's coach was also a little worried. He observed that Logan's physical strength was a little insufficient.

"Anyway, as soon as possible."

Both sides took a rest and there were no technical or tactical arrangements. At this time, it was a test of willpower.

At the beginning of the seventh round, Ethan's steps became heavier. He had consumed too much energy and could not even take quick steps. His feet were stuck to the ring as if they were glued.

His opponent didn't seem to have much strength left, but his punches were still as powerful as ever.

The fight between the two sides became fierce. Ethan didn't want to hide anymore and started a positional war. The number of times and opportunities for both sides to fight with each other increased.

As the sweat flew from the punches, the enthusiasm of the entire audience was about to blow over the roof of the gymnasium!

People are really looking forward to the outcome of this game. Regardless of winning or losing, they have contributed to an unforgettable game!

At this moment, Ethan in the ring was so focused that he didn't notice anything happening around him. He realized that if he continued fighting like this, it would be difficult for him to win because his fists would become weaker and weaker.

Although the opponent's fist was a little weak, it was only limited.

He must give his opponent a decisive punch when he has the ability to kill!
He wants to reveal his flaws on purpose!
During an attack and defense, Ethan lowered half of his body as if he couldn't even raise his arms. Upon noticing this, the coaches on both sides showed a look of horror, while the other waved his fist and exhaled heavily!

The next second, Logan's swinging fist hit Ethan's chin so hard that Ethan even heard the sound of a broken bone!

But at the same time, Ethan used all his strength to bet on a lead hook. He was not very good at it, but he knew how heavy his fist was!

This moment seemed to be frozen in time, everyone's eyes widened, many people stood up in shock, they even forgot to shout!
The two giants fell down at the same time, and the whole arena shook violently!

The next second, the referee seemed to react and began to check the situation of both sides.

Then start counting the seconds.

In such a situation, if someone can stand up, the one who can hold on is the winner.

People started chanting the fighter's name, with the vast majority of people in the gym calling out for Ethan.

It's not just that Ethan is a native of Jingang City, more importantly, they have placed a heavy bet on Ethan!
At this time, Ethan's cheap flesh had been torn open, and blood was constantly flowing out. Amid the shouts of the people, he opened his eyes.

The whole world was dark. He moved his hands and the calls around him became louder. He could feel that people were calling his name.

He glanced at his opponent lying on the other side and began to try to get up.

The referee stopped for a few seconds and looked at the giant Ethan, watching him try hard, get up little by little, turn around and kneel, then straighten his body, support his knees and slowly stand up!

In an instant, the entire stadium erupted in thunderous applause and cheers!
On the other side, Logan also woke up and tried to get up, but finally he gave up.

Ethan's uppercut was too powerful. He now has at least a severe concussion. It's difficult for him to even sit down, let alone get up!
"Ethan wins this game!"

The referee did not ask Logan to stand up, but had him carried away on a stretcher. The coaching staff and Lance rushed onto the ring, patting his body and hugging him. Ethan also smiled simply and innocently.

He won again!
"Damn son of a bitch!" Stone stood up and threw the cigarette he had just taken two puffs of heavily to the ground. The people in front of him were all dead gamblers who were cursing Logan loudly because Logan made them lose money.

But more than that, there were gamblers and boxing fans who held up their betting tickets as if they were seeing their parents!

Some people even knelt on the ground and worshiped Ethan!
They believed that this match would become an important moment in the boxing world. The final confrontation gave all those who witnessed the scene goose bumps with excitement!
Lance was also celebrating Ethan's victory, but Erwin suddenly patted his arm and motioned him to move to the side.

"I heard someone say there was plaster in Logan's gloves."

Lance frowned. Even if he was stupid, he knew what it meant to have plaster in the gloves.

Someone cheated!
What’s even funnier is that he cheated and still didn’t win!

He licked his lips, glanced at Ethan who was being helped off the ring to go to the hospital, and gave Erwin a look, who nodded slightly and left.

On the way to the hospital, Logan's boxing gloves were taken off by his coach and thrown casually into the gym's trash can.

Then he chased a few steps and caught up with Logan who was being pushed into the ambulance.

They are not short of money and have enough money to call an ambulance.

"I lost." Logan's eyes were a little dazed. "Even if... that's the case, I still lost."

“Am I not cut out for this sport?”

The coach's face wasn't looking very good either. He cheated and still lost. What else could he say?

But he couldn't tell Logan "You are a waste", he also had to comfort Logan because Logan would bring him wealth.

"That kid Ethan is talented, we all know that, and you lost to him... I don't think it's your problem."

"You should change your mindset. You are still no match for him even though you are like that. It can only be said that he is beyond his level in the cruiserweight division. He should go to the heavyweight division!"

These words seemed to comfort Logan. Logan recalled the shocked look in Ethan's swollen eyes at the end. He suddenly felt guilty about cheating in the boxing.

Maybe he shouldn't do this.

Perhaps, if he didn’t rely on cheating, he might have become a good boxer.

(End of this chapter)