The next day swiftly arrived, the morning sun rising beyond the horizon, its golden-orange rays piercing through the lingering darkness of the night.
When the group had said they did not plan on sleeping, they had ant that literally, for even at this mont they were still awake and gathered within Finch’s room, with various bottles, chip wrappers, and other edible packaging scattered carelessly across the floor.
"The sun is already up," Vaelric yawned as his brown eyes shifted toward the window glass, his gaze falling upon the outside world.
"Maybe we should try live-streaming today," Finch suggested, but anyone who knew him well would understand that the boy was rely trying to capitalize on this thod of making money before he left the Thalvorn Empire and returned to the Zarethorne Empire. After all, the Zarethorne Empire possessed no technology; streaming over there would simply be plain stupidity.
"Wouldn’t that expose our abilities to the geniuses of the other Empires? Helping them create counters to our abilities and techniques?" Ryaen countered.
"Not really," Asher spoke, his eyes still fixed on the television before him as he played an online ga. "Anyone who is strong is strong. Information, while helpful, is still limited in value. Everyone here knows my abilities and elents, yet none of you have ever defeated ," he stated in a flat tone.
Everyone paused for a mont before nodding at his words, as they simply made sense.
"Then are we streaming together or separately?" Vaelric asked thoughtfully.
"Together, obviously. We would just ask the hotel staff to help us set up the necessary equipnt and also take us to forests, nests, or wherever they can find suitable opponents," Ryaen replied without missing a beat. Although she was having fun, her fingers and fists were already itching for a fight.
Finch smiled as he spoke. "Then how are we sharing the profits made from it?" His tone was almost eager.
Everyone remained silent for a mont before Vaelric spoke. "I won’t be taking a cut, so count out. I’m doing this for the fun of it," his words smooth and casual.
He was a literal Prince. Why would he need to share in the ager inco generated from streaming? Although his father had only given him a hundred platinum coins, which was nowhere near enough for the ridiculous prices of luxury goods and items within the Thalvorn Empire, he could always just ask for more.
"I also won’t be taking a cut," Ryaen stated without missing a beat, as she too was an extrely wealthy woman.
"Sa," Asher replied as he tossed his gaming pad to the side after losing. No matter how hard he tried, he simply could not beat these unemployed online gars.
’Sigh, maybe my talent doesn’t apply to gaming,’ Asher thought as he shook his head.
Finch and William looked at each other and nodded without another word. Although they did not speak, their eyes conveyed everything; a fifty-fifty split.
"When do we leave?" William asked.
"We can go this morning, after everyone freshens up," Asher said as he rose to his feet. Since they had nothing else to do, they might as well start the day with another adventure.
Everyone else simply nodded, and with that, they too rose to their feet and headed toward the door in order to retire to their own rooms and prepare.
Reaching the door, Asher pulled it open, and there stood FatelessPen, just about to knock. Asher’s eyes narrowed for a mont, his Omni Perception had had been active at its limits. After all, this was a foreign Empire; who knew what might happen at any mont?
’A Crownstar Life Ranker is still a Crownstar Life Ranker, huh?’ Asher thought to himself with a ntal sigh.
"Good morning, FatelessPen. It seems you were looking for Finch," Asher spoke calmly, about to step out, but he was stopped by FatelessPen.
"I’m not looking for Finch in particular. I’m looking for all of you," FatelessPen replied as he gestured for them to walk back into the room.
Everyone simply turned back and entered. FatelessPen looked around, wondering whether pigs were living here or the children of nobles instead. After a mont, he shook his head, choosing not to comnt on it.
"I’ve co with an order," he began.
At his words, everyone’s playful and relaxed deanor vanished. To them, this ant that things were finally about to begin.
"Cancel every plan you have today. According to the Principal, this evening you are to attend a gala hosted by the Thalvorn Empire," FatelessPen continued. "Everyone is to attend this gala. Every single person from the other Empires will be there. The geniuses and students from the academies you will be facing in the Inter-Empire Competition will also be there. You can think of this as a way to assess and observe who you should be wary and cautious of," he paused for a mont, allowing them to fully process what he was saying.
Asher, William, Ryaen, Finch, and Vaelric stared at one another as various lights flickered within their eyes.
"By 7 PM, various cars will stop in front of the hotel skyscraper. Any driver holding a card with your na on it is your assigned driver, and everyone has been assigned their own vehicle. You won’t be sharing like you did when you arrived," FatelessPen continued without missing a beat. "And finally, you are expected to remain within the hotel building until 7 PM and are only permitted to leave if you did not bring clothing and attire suitable for such a gala, so you may purchase so."
"Any questions?" he asked.
Everyone thought for a mont before shaking their heads. What FatelessPen had said was straightforward and simple; there was nothing that required clarification.
"Can I get a bank card with unlimited funds?" Asher asked.
FatelessPen stared at him for a mont before tossing a black card toward him. Then, without wasting another second, he drew a portal and vanished into it.
Although he could have simply given everyone a black card, they had not asked.
"Now I’m getting excited," Vaelric spoke with a smile on his face. Although he was hardly soone who loved battle like a maniac, he still wished to test himself against the geniuses of other Empires.
"It seems we finally get to see what the other Empires have in store for us," Ryaen stated as she stroked her chin with a smile.
"Thank the Stars we brought so gala and ball clothing. If not, I might have had to attend the gala in foreigner clothes," Finch mused.
"Even if you wanted to buy so, I’m sure they wouldn’t have your size, Fatty Wang," William joked as he stared at Finch with a smirk. After all, all of Finch’s clothes were usually custom-made because of his body.
Finch simply stared at William and said nothing.
"And I’m guessing you’ll be the star of the night," Vaelric added smoothly as he gazed at Finch with a suppressed laugh, insinuating that everyone would simply stare at him like a rare creature. After all, no one within the three foreign Empires had ever seen a fat person before.
Asher simply rose from where he sat as he spoke. "Well, since our streaming plans have been cancelled, I guess I’ll be going to sleep until 7 PM," his lazy side imdiately kicking in.
With that, he stepped out of Finch’s room, everyone following behind him as they all retired to their own rooms.
Finch could only sigh as he called the hotel reception desk and requested their cleaning services.
______
Bonus Chapter Sponsored by FatelessPen
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