Chapter 475: The Situation

Li Mochen's timely arrival greatly relieved his agent Edward Jeffries and Mr. Borg Ferguson, who had feared that after his change in status, Li Mochen might look down on endorsement fees and abandon his path as a fighting superstar.

Carl Holton also visibly relaxed upon seeing Li Mochen: "I thought you weren't going to compete, Your Highness the Crown Prince of the Wiltonshtain family."

The incident of the Wiltonshtain Group's heir replacement was gradually spreading across all of America. Many, unaware of the truth, made various guesses, and rumors ran rampant outside.

Some believed Li Mochen's recent performance had earned him the favor of the Wiltonshtain family council; others thought Cleo and her siblings had attempted a coup, failed, and were purged from the group's upper echelons; there were also tales that Philip I was ill and had officially stepped back, allowing Consueli, who had risen to power, to reveal his true nature, driving out his children from his first marriage, and elevating Andre, his only male descendant from his second wife, to the first position in the line of succession.

Carl was also in the dark; Dwight was tight-lipped and hadn't explained the truth to him. But the shift in their relative status was undeniable.

According to rankings by certain underground organizations, the Wiltonshtain family's overall combat power, wealth, and influence placed them between twenty-fifth and thirty-fifth in America, and during Philip I's prime, they even touched the threshold of the supreme families.

As the first heir of this family, Li Mochen's status and power were equivalent to a prince of a small country.

"Crown Prince?"

Li Mochen sneered: "Are you trying to disgust me, Carl?"

"That's what the newspapers and TV say now."

Carl Holton spread his hands: "You're no longer a prince in distress, Amo. Many people think your story is practically a real-life Cinder Prince—the male version of Cinderella."

"So?"

"Public opinion is polarizing. Children from wealthy families are never favored by commoners, which is why many from prestigious families avoid the fighting world. This has made some people dislike you, and those who already hated you hate you more. But your female fans are more loyal, especially those from the middle class. To them, you're their dream, their ideal lover."

Carl smiled bitterly: "Our team is going all out to shape your image as someone abandoned by the family who stood on his own, worked hard, and eventually gained the family's recognition. But our opponents have media resources no less than ours. Felton Williams and Glenn Adams have benefited from the backlash, gaining several times their previous support. People are eager to see them defeat you, a hero from the common people trampling a noble son into the mud, stripping away your pride—that's the drama the public loves."

Li Mochen's conversation with Carl was cut short as his first match was about to begin. His opponent, named Andrew, was the state runner-up of North Carolina, a wildcard entrant due to his strength.

The NHSAA National Tournament, besides the eighty state champions, also issued ninety-six wildcards to exceptionally strong competitors from each state who failed to qualify. These fighters paired off, and the forty-eight winners joined the eighty state champions to determine the top sixty-four.

Li Mochen had to defeat this opponent and the next round's fighter before meeting Felton Williams in the round of thirty-two.

The match was uneventful. Over three rounds, Li Mochen defeated Andrew after a hundred exchanges each round, scoring a full fifteen points, taking about twenty minutes and forty seconds.

Two days later, his next opponent was similar to Andrew—defeated after a hundred exchanges per round, with one 'fatal blow' each, totaling three hundred exchanges, in nineteen minutes and twelve seconds.

This opponent was slightly stronger overall than Andrew, but a bit impatient during their bout, hence the shorter time.

However, before and after the match, the two stands were filled with boos. This made Li Mochen acutely aware how much his status as the first heir of Wiltonshtain hindered his path as a fighting superstar.

That his agency managed to secure him major endorsement deals with Skywalker Sports Drink and Cadira Pharmaceuticals under these circumstances was truly remarkable—

"Don't mind the crowd too much, Amo. Los Angeles is on the West Coast, after all. You're a fighting star from the East; it's natural they'd root against you. This is Williams's home turf. What matters is your nationwide popularity and influence."

After the second round, Li Mochen's personal agent Borg Ferguson was unfazed by the roaring jeers from the stands: "The situation is better than we expected. Your matches still have the highest viewership of all NHSAA National Tournament events, double that of other fighting stars. Sales of Nathan Group and Elizabeth Cosmetics products have surged again. There are plenty of people supporting you. In terms of purchasing power, your fan base crushes those stiffs."

"Things are improving. According to our surveys, many genuine fight fans are changing their attitudes toward you."

Carl spoke gravely: "Our company's research suggests it's because you never use strength or speed beyond your magical class level in matches, relying on technique to win. This has earned praise from many veteran commentators and retired legends. They consider your combat skills master-level, your swordsmanship exquisite and practical—techniques that can overcome stronger opponents. This boosted your second-round viewership by 1.5% over the first round, with many fight fans focusing on your swordsmanship itself."

Li Mochen was already aware of this.

The sales of his book "Rage War King" after these two matches were telling. The five published volumes each saw a small surge, with sales increasing by two to three million copies each.

"But the next match is crucial. You must defeat your next opponent, Felton Williams, cleanly and decisively. Otherwise, Amo, you'll become a laughingstock across America. And Williams has prepared thoroughly."

Carl's face was grim: "Rumor has it he's reached level 11, becoming an Outlaw. His overall strength is said to rival powerful Outlaws at levels 17 or 18. So the odds at several bookmakers aren't in your favor—currently 3.27, and 70.2 for you winning within a hundred exchanges, with no takers yet."