Franklin Duarte's reassuring words put everyone at ease.
These men weren't martial artists and couldn't judge the gap in power. They only knew both fighters were strong.
So they trusted Franklin Duarte completely.
Right then, the door burst open.
Woods Walters and I rushed inside.
The second they spotted me, everyone's expressions shifted to pure terror!
"Mason...Mason Raymond survived!" someone yelled!
Several people scrambled to hide behind Franklin Duarte!
Caldwell looked the most shaken of all!
He stared at me, his whole body shaking!
"He...he actually made it!" Caldwell snarled through clenched teeth.
He whipped around to Franklin Duarte and said coldly, "Franklin, you're up now."
Franklin Duarte nodded and said, "Relax. River City's just a backwater town. How tough can anyone really be?"
Franklin Duarte's confidence seemed to calm Caldwell's nerves a bit.
Soon, Woods Walters, Victor Green, and I entered the pavilion.
