The boxing match was spectacular, a kind of spectacular different from that depicted in film and television works, and even different from high-level fighting matches in the real world.

The brilliance of this match lay in the reasons both fighters had to continue fighting, even though by the end, both of them were completely exhausted, they persisted in wanting to stand a little longer.

Had one of them not been unable to continue, heavily falling to the ground and unable to get back up, the match might have continued a while longer.

Tragic, the word is very fitting to describe the battle within the iron cage, from the ferocious attacks at the start to eventually competing to see who could push the other one down, the bloodstained ring floor, the scabbed wounds, the marks left by dark red dried blood...

When the victor expressionlessly was supported by the referee to lift his arm, and when the defeated knelt on the ground sobbing, all of this impacted Helen greatly.

She went to college, read many books, and knows that sometimes men can be very vulnerable, like her father.

Before she worked for Lynch, she saw her father's vulnerability more than once, yet he had to pretend to be strong.

She thought that was the limit for men, forcing themselves to smile no matter how bitter it got, but at this moment, she realized men actually can cry.

No matter how resilient he was just now, how persistent, at the moment of failure, he could also break down and cry like a girl.

Men's tears are more lethal than women's, after all, rarity makes something precious, too much, too rampant, and it becomes worthless.

Lynch waved to the attendant, who immediately came over, "Mr. Lynch, honored to serve you."

Photos of Lynch, Mr. Wardrick, Mr. Pato... and others like this, members of the United Development Company's board of directors, have already been printed into booklets and given to all the service staff on the ship.

The cruise company doesn't expect them to satisfy every board member, but at least doesn't want problems due to staff not recognizing these important figures.

Lynch's face is the most distinct among all the board members, he's the youngest, the most handsome, and has the best temperament, so the attendant recognized Lynch at a glance.

"Can you tell the story of the ring?" Lynch asked with a smile, "The lady beside me is very interested in the story of the defeated gentleman."

Helen glanced at Lynch, with something peculiar in her gaze, she quietly reached out to hold Lynch's hand, and then turned to look at the attendant.

The attendant described a very ordinary, yet not ordinary story with a voice full of emotion.

It's ordinary because at its core, this story is related to money, almost everything is more or less connected to money.

It's not ordinary because beyond this, there are things surpassing money, such as familial affection, struggle, and redemption.

To provide suitable programs for the cruise audience, the iron cage fights are not only filled with professional boxers but also some semi-professionals, though this is the cruise company's claim.

Actually, these semi-professional athletes might not have even known the rules of the ring a year ago, but they needed money and simultaneously met the standards of the cruise company and other entertainment institutions, and brokers naturally approached them.

Brokers provide them with a contract lasting only one year, within which they typically undergo at least six months of professional training, then come aboard the cruise or other places to compete.

With at least six months of high-intensity training, they already fight quite decently, and the reason they're brought in is the money.

The defeated was once a senior partner at a large firm, receiving enviable dividends yearly, his wife unexpectedly was diagnosed with a rare disease, he heard non-public medical resources offered better treatment plans, and thus switched his wife's social medical insurance to services provided by commercial insurance companies.

Just like the advertisements on TV and newspapers portray it, the upper society all uses commercial medical insurance, and enjoys superior private medical services.

When wealthy, when able to earn, these are no issues, the medical group applied the finest medical resources and techniques upon his wife, allowing him to experience the benefits and value of commercial medical insurance.

Though not cured, it alleviated to an extent nearly not affecting life, without further worsening, which satisfied him, but all this got destroyed because of the onset of a financial crisis.

The company he worked for didn't survive the second round of financial crises, declaring bankruptcy, he lost his job.

Federation people lack a habit of saving, the money he had was far from enough to maintain his wife's insurance, without paying medical insurance, the medical group ceased all extra medical services for his wife.

When having money, when continuously paying, the medical group treats these clients like the Lord, providing careful and serious service.

But once these clients can't provide more, they become trash, then get thrown into the heap.

The man considered switching his wife's commercial medical insurance back to the social insurance system, at least to get basic medical coverage, but regrettably, both the social service bureau and Federation medical headquarters rejected his requests.

Because when he chose to forgo the social insurance's medical coverage, he signed a voluntary waiver document.

The Federation's social insurance is a right every Federation citizen enjoys from birth, but it's worth noting that this right isn't applied for by the citizen, it's granted by the Federation following laws and charters at birth.

This isn't an application-based right, which means once someone relinquishes these rights, there's no possibility of applying again.

The Federation doesn't even have an agency to receive applicants, so naturally, there's no question of returning to the social security system.

So, to scrape together money to continue paying for the exorbitant medical insurance and expenses, this person, who was once a well-dressed pillar of society and successful individual in people's eyes two years ago, has to get into a cage now to entertain those around him.

But he failed, and this means his remaining chances are few. If he loses again, he will be eliminated.

Aside from the base salary in the contract, which is almost nonexistent, he wouldn't receive any extra money, let alone the money to save his wife.

Lynch could feel the girl gripping his hand more tightly than before—she was drawn to this story.

He pulled his hand away from the girl's palm and took a pen out of his coat pocket.

The waiter quickly understood Lynch's intention and respectfully handed him a notepad.

Lynch quickly scribbled and sketched on it, then signed his name. The waiter glanced at it when he took it back and, pleasantly surprised, repeatedly thanked Lynch, "Thank you very much for your generosity, Mr. Lynch…"

Lynch smiled and nodded slightly; the waiter soon left.

He gave the waiter a small tip, which would ultimately be settled with the United Development Company in the form of a bill. Lynch and other board members, shareholders, and ordinary expenses on the ship would eventually be settled with the United Development Company.

No one would take advantage of the company, as that would give people an excuse to laugh at them, but obviously, tips were not included in this.

In about ten minutes, after watching the match, the crowd began to slowly disperse under the host's guidance, and the next match would begin in half an hour.

The girl sat for a while longer, her spirit finally calming down. She felt… life was cruel, always taking away people's hope and future.

The only fortunate thing was that she met Lynch. Lynch gave her a job, a high salary, helping her and her family avoid a similar tragic fate.

She could hardly imagine if her family faced these problems, having to sell their house and move to a poor environment, walking into a deeper abyss in a long, lightless tunnel.

In the end, to earn money, would she become one of those girls in the pool outside the room?

She might, because she really needed money, she needed money to support her family, to provide better treatment for her sister.

The defeated boxer in the ring could really arouse Helen's sympathy because the worst scenarios they faced were similar, and that was the condition of their loved ones' health.

This requires a lot of money, continuous money, and more money.

She could meet Lynch, but who could that poor guy meet?

o(╥﹏╥)o

After composing herself, she looked at Lynch, meaning she was feeling better and they could leave, but Lynch didn't do that.

"Let's wait a bit longer..."

Wait for what? Helen wasn't clear; she had nothing to ask and just sat quietly beside Lynch.

After a short while, a very disheveled middle-aged man was brought over by the waiter. "Mr. Lynch, the person you're looking for has arrived."

"If you have any orders, I'll be nearby..."

The waiter quickly moved away but did not leave Lynch's line of sight. The man staying with Lynch was the defeated one from the ring.

"Smoke?" Lynch asked.

There were quite a few people here earlier, so he hadn't smoked. Now that the people had dispersed, he took out his cigarette case and took one out.

The disheveled middle-aged man hesitated with his head down for a moment and eventually nodded, accepting a cigarette and a lighter from Lynch to light up his own.

"You're very lucky!" Lynch also lit one for himself, crossed one leg over the other, leaned slightly forward, his left elbow resting on his leg. "Your situation is somewhat similar to the lady beside me, so I decided to also give you a chance. You can introduce yourself, and if suitable, I will offer you a job!"

The disheveled middle-aged man suddenly looked up, revealing a somewhat distorted face. He looked at Lynch in disbelief, as if he couldn't believe that after destiny played a gigantic trick on him, it was offering him another, but a good one this time!

Sitting beside, Helen suddenly realized that the disheveled middle-aged man in his thirties or forties in front of her was the guy who was just crying on his knees.

She abruptly turned to look at Lynch, whose face was still maintaining his habitual smile.

Confident, clean, and sunny!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.