America? No, it's the warp!

"You've come just in time, bro! I was thinking of pushing my limits, but my friend went to take a shower, and I was worried about who would help me!"

Logan glanced at the weight of the barbell plates: two 20kg plates and one 5kg plate on each side, plus the 20kg bar, for a total weight of 110kg.

This is a weight that only experienced gym-goers with three or more years of experience can lift.

At the time, it was referring to natural use; Marcus was clearly using performance-enhancing drugs, and perhaps he had only trained for a year.

When the original owner was at his physical peak, his strength should have been around 100kg. He also practiced bench press in the army.

"Okay, go ahead and push."

Marcus repeated the movements he had planned many times: gripping the bar, lifting the bridge, landing firmly with both feet, and pressing down in one go.

He slowly lifted the barbell, moved it to just above his chest, and then slowly lowered it.

His face turned bright red, his muscles instantly became congested with blood, and his blood vessels swelled up like earthworms.

Logan needs to hold the barbell with both hands, ready to pull it back in case of an emergency, in case it breaks Marcus's ribs.

He wasn't the one who struck me with the stick that night, so there's no need for him to plot against me here.

In addition, he needs to be made to clearly state who the missing third person is.

Marcus used his arms again to lift the barbell back up and quickly put it back on the rack.

"Yes! I did it, bro!"

He jumped up, high-fived Logan, and bumped shoulders with him, sharing the joy of successfully completing the challenge.

"Thank you so much, bro! I wouldn't have dared to try without your help!"

"What's your name?"

Logan gave a friendly smile and said:

Logan.

Then he interrupted the other person's self-introduction.

"Marcus, it's only been two days, and you've already forgotten my face?"

He maintained his smile, but Marcus's smile gradually turned into a hint of fear.

"It's you! How did you find this place? And how do you know my name?"

"You don't need to know that. If you don't want to go to jail, tell me who the third person who didn't show up that night was."

Logan's smile faded. He could let the other person go, but at the cost of someone else.

"Impossible! Don't even think about it! I didn't do anything that night, and even if the police came, they couldn't convict me."

Although Marcus's face was still bloodshot, he still retained some of his thinking ability.

The power of the Nine Dragons was not enough.

That night could be classified as a gang robbery, but we need evidence; there are no security cameras at that alley entrance.

It's quite difficult to get the police to arrest someone based on just one side of the story.

The three of them are not Black.

Are you sure you don't want to tell me?

"Yes! What can you do to me?"

Marcus glanced at his physique and, confirming that the other was definitely inferior to him in strength, began to feel emboldened.

[Quest Acquired: Third Person?]

On the night you escorted Sister Claire, you were attacked by three unidentified individuals. In a military base behind the lines, you found one of them, only to discover he was a soldier from the Star Guardian Army. Using some clever tactics, you managed to get him to reveal the identity of the third person.

[Reward: +20 Merit Points]

"A reasonable solution?"

"Beat him up? No way. He's not a homeless man; he's a legitimate American citizen. Besides, this is a gym; a fight would definitely attract the police."

Logan's mind seemed to be completely consumed by Khorne, and he couldn't think of any other way besides beating him up.

"Damn it, Tzeentch, at least give it your all!"

He glanced at the weight on the barbell and then thought back to the upgrade he had just received the night before.

"Got it!"

"Of course I can't do anything to you. America is a society governed by the rule of law."

Logan then changed the subject, "But I don't think your combination of working out and using performance-enhancing drugs is working. How come your bench press is only 110kg?"

"Even lighter than when my second aunt pushed me."

Marcus's atrophied brain was unaware of what provocation was; he only knew that his newly broken weight limit had been mocked by his opponent.

"Talking big isn't enough! Make a bet with me if you dare!"

"You want to know who that person is? If they bench press heavier than me, I'll tell you!"

Logan was waiting for this.

"Okay! I'll bet you! My stake is two hundred dollars!"

He pulled $200 from the inside pocket of his jacket, slapped it on the bench press, and then asked,

"Who will act as the notary?"

Marcus was pleased with the bet and shouted towards the distance, "Ivan! I want a gold bet!"

The gym fell silent instantly. Everyone stopped what they were doing—those working out, taking supplements, and getting injections—and all looked over.

It's like a pair of amazing yoga pants suddenly appeared.

A tall Russian man strode over and asked in a loud voice:

"Who wants a golden bet?"

"here!"

Marcus waved, indicating, "Me and him, I'm going to have a bench press contest."

Once the bet was confirmed, everyone left the equipment and gathered around, eager to see what was going on.

"Alright! Let me repeat the rules of the golden bet!"

Ivan's face showed barely concealed excitement.

"No one has dared to come here for a long time, I think you've all forgotten about it."

"First, let's make the bets clear and I'll keep them safe to prevent any reneging later."

"The entire process was fair, just, and transparent, witnessed by everyone in the gym. I swear on my favorite vodka, we will not favor any of you."

"Finally, if anyone dares to cheat, the entire Golden Gym in America will never welcome him, and everyone in the fitness world will despise him."

"Do you understand?"

"Got it!"

Logan and Marcus answered together, each with a confident smile, leaving the onlookers momentarily unable to guess who would win.

"Marcus will definitely win. He's a veteran who's been training for two years. That guy doesn't show any obvious signs of training."

"I don't think so. Since he dared to gamble, it means he came prepared."

"Who cares who wins? Let's just have some fun!"

Marcus asked for paper and pen and wrote down the bets.

"Write it in more detail!" Logan reminded him from the side.

Ivan took the note, covered the name, and showed the rest of it for him to confirm.

"The person who appeared at that alleyway with the two of us on the night of October 23rd was...

Logan nodded, indicating that the bet was reasonable, and then handed over $200.

Ivan took the money and began to explain the betting agreement to everyone:

"Alright! Marcus's bet is a name! This one..."

Logan.

"Logan's bet is $200!"

"The standard for winning or losing is the bench press weight. Whoever bench presses the heavier weight wins. You get three chances, and I will assist you."

"Any more questions?"

The two shook their heads.

"Alright, who wants to go first?"

Marcus confidently raised his hand: "I'll go first!"

He added a 5kg dumbbell plate to each side of the barbell, increasing the weight to 120kg.

He then lay down on the bench press and, with Ivan's assistance, succeeded on his first attempt.

"My God! He just broke through 110kg, and now he's broken through again!"

"Holy shit! I'll have to ask him what kind of medicine he used later."

"Your turn."

Marcus Lie stood up abruptly, his face flushed, but he still maintained a calm and collected demeanor.

Under everyone's gaze, Logan walked to the barbell.

Let's test what 70% muscle activation level looks like first.