"Say it again. What did you say just now? I think I have heard something wrong," Ethan said while glaring at him.

"No, you heard right. It was me who arranged this fight," Robin said. Ethan was going to punch him again, but Ella and I stopped him.

"Don't get me wrong, I didn't do it to hurt her. I did it for her good," Robin said while massaging his jaw.

"What do you mean?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at him. 

"I don't understand how me almost getting killed by my opponent is for my good."

"Didn't you say that you wanted to join the street fighting to repay your father's debt?" Robin asked.

"Yes, so?" I replied.

"Every once in five years, these street fighting clubs arrange competitions between their best fighters and the best fighters of other clubs. The rewards they provide to the winners are also huge. It is the easiest way to earn more money if you want to repay your debt as soon as possible. Just look at the amount you win in this fight. It is much larger than you normally earn," Robin said, and I checked the money I received from the club. 

True to his words, the reward I received today is huge. I received $100 for my normal fights, but this time I received $250 for my fight today.

"Fortunately, you joined the club just two months before the competition. I arranged this fight for you to see if you are fit to take this challenge or not. If you are up for it and interested in joining, then I can help you with it," Robin said with a smirk on his face.

"How did I perform today according to you?" I asked with an expressionless face.

"Why? Are you interested in joining this competition?" he asked instead.

"Alison, there is no need for you to join this competition. We will find another way to pay your debt," Ethan said, but I did not give him a second glance and nodded my head.

"Alison," Ella and Ethan shouted at me, but I did not pay any attention to them.

"Good, now that's my girl," Robin said with a smirk on his face as he patted my back like a proud father.

"So, how do I join this competition?" I asked him.

"To join this competition, you are going to need someone to sponsor you," he said.

"Why? Is there no way to join the competition without a sponsor?" I asked, crunching my face in disgust. The last thing I needed was to have some old, rich guy putting his hands on my body.

"You don't seem happy with the whole sponsor thing. Why?" he asked.

"You know that better than me," I replied, irritation seeping into my voice. "You know what kind of people are involved in these illegal things. It's either an old rich fatty, who looks like they're more interested in having intercourse with a young, beautiful girl than in winning money in street fighting, or it's mafia people. And I don't want to get involved with any of them. It would only increase my problems rather than solve them," I said, shaking my head in disdain.

Robin laughed, clearly amused by my answer. "Oh, sweetheart, you would be surprised to know what other people are interested in this kind of thing. I'll make sure not to introduce you to the kind of people you mentioned before. I'll ensure they are good people who won't create any problems for you," Robin said after he finished laughing.

"But still, I would rather not be engaged in this kind of thing," I said, shaking my head.

"Alright, how about this then? After you win a lot of high-risk games in the fighting arena, I'll provide you with the sponsors' background information. You can go through them and choose your sponsor yourself. Does that sound good to you?" Robin asked.

I thought for some time and then nodded my head in agreement. "That does not sound that bad," I thought as I gulped down my energy drink.

"But what if after meeting with sponsors Alison does not like them, and they keep bothering her to fight for them or sleep with them?" Ella asked, worry evident in her voice.

"Then I will take care of them. You don't have to worry about it," Robin said reassuringly.

"Are you sure you would be able to deal with them, then?" Ethan asked for confirmation.

"I am. They won't be involved in mafia business and will also be new to this scene but rich," Robin assured them.

"Good, that's a relief," Ethan said, letting out a sigh of relief.

"What if Alison doesn't like any of the sponsors you introduce to her?" Ella asked.

"In that case, if her fighting performance is good, sometimes even the fighting clubs sponsor fighters who attract their attention," Robin replied.

"So, how should I attract their attention then? I guess it would be better for me to get sponsored by a club instead of an unknown person," I said.

"It's simple: with your performance. If you win against famous fighters, especially as a newcomer, you'll get their attention. But you're not ready for that yet. I noticed that you left many openings for your opponent during today's fight. I advise you to train under me before taking on these kinds of fighters in the arena," Robin said with a serious face.

"Fine then, I will adjust my schedule and let you know so that we can schedule our training session," I said, nodding my head at him.

"Cool, then. Just give me a call, okay?" he asked. I nodded my head, and then he walked out of there.

As I sank into the seat, a wave of exhaustion washed over me, and with it, a symphony of pain echoed through every fiber of my being. Each movement sent sharp tendrils of agony coursing through my limbs, a reminder of the brutal dance I had just endured. It wasn't just a dull ache; it was a visceral, pulsating torment that seemed to permeate every inch of my body. Every breath felt like a laborious effort, each heartbeat a drumbeat of discomfort. I groaned softly, feeling the weight of every bruise, every strain as if they were etched into my very bones. If my first bout with the experts left me feeling like this, I dreaded to think what awaited me in the ring against even fiercer opponents.