"Now then, please have the elder judges score this work."
"This is an absolute blasphemy!"
"Childish, inferior aesthetics, nonsensical design."
On stage, Bayev seed determined to use every derogatory term he'd ever learned.
"Why would plants spit peas? There's no such plant monster in this world."
"And why would sunshine fall from the sky?"
"Moreover, it's far too repetitive. Won't playing in the sa garden over and over cause aesthetic fatigue?"
"No plot, no main storyline. All flash, no substance."
"Cheap tricks. Young designers reallyy don't bother learning proper designing anymore and just do as they wish."
"I give this work a 0."
Zero!
The entire venue instantly fell deathly silent.
This situation had been rare over the past several decades.
There's a psychological effect called the Spiral of Silence.
It refers to how people who feel their opinion is in the minority will remain silent out of fear of isolation.
And the silence of the minority makes the majority opinion seem even more dominant, forcing more people with differing views to stay silent, ultimately forming a spiral of silence.
A portion of the audience who liked Legend of the Saints and disliked Plants vs Zombies had previously been the minority.
But when an absolute authority figure began voicing different opinions, this minority found their backbone.
Most of these people hadn't even experienced Plants vs Zombies.
And in their hearts, they reinforced the belief that their choice was the best.
"Yeah, yeah! What nonsensical garbage ga!"
"What's the point of such absurd chanics?"
"Trash work getting such high scores, I bet they paid for shills!"
But clearly, a large portion of the audience genuinely loved Plants vs Zombies.
Seeing such an excellent work get scored zero, they instantly exploded.
"Old maan, are you blind or is your brain full of shit?!"
"This person's definitely doing this on purpose. Such a fun work, does he think everyone else is stupid?"
"Shaless old fool! Your outdated notions should be swept into the trash heap of history!"
The audience had transford into a battlefield, with two opposing factions arguing endlessly.
Alto's previously assured mood was in shambles.
He could see it now, this old bastard was definitely targeting him deliberately.
In the first round, the one who'd rejected him was this sa scumbag.
He had such a massive advantage, and this huge zero instantly dragged him back down.
Right now, he wanted nothing more than to rush up there and gut him.
But he was powerless. They held the knife while he was on the chopping block.
He was just a civilian with no background, no power. His words couldn't change the competition rules.
Looked like first place had slipped through his fingers. He needed to think about his next steps.
His expression grave, he began contemplating his next plan.
"Elder Bayev, your evaluation is far too irresponsible."
lissa's eyes were serious.
"I completely reject your assessnt."
"First, you say this work has inferior aesthetics. Then please tell , what kind of aesthetics do you consider superior?"
"Are only aesthetics you define as good considered high-class?"
"When a work is beloved by most people, that kind of beauty is genuine beauty."
"Second, you say the design is nonsensical."
"I think you simply didn't examine it in detail, did you?"
She directly projected her own progress through the projection stone, enlarging it.
"This work's strength lies precisely in its extrely rigorous logic. Each level's design, all the plant and zombie stats are incredibly clever."
"Furthermore, regarding the repetitiveness you ntioned."
"Every ti you complete a major stage, a new scene appears."
"Gaplay, plants, zombies all change."
"I suspect Elder Bayev made his judgnt without even playing it."
"Also, Elder Bayev, have you forgotten what you said earlier?"
"Didn;t you say, that as long as a work is interesting and the public accepts it, then it's a good work?"
"And you also insisted on showing more tolerance toward rookie designers!"
Bayev was left speechless, his face flushed red.
lissa showed no rcy in her words.
"So, in summary, I give this work..."
"A perfect 10!"
One zero, one perfect score.
The entire venue erupted.
Today truly was a historic mont.
The sa work receiving both a zero and a perfect score, this has never happened before.
The audience below had already devolved into chaos.
On stage, the elder judges discussed this highly controversial issue in pairs.
Plants vs Zombies was undoubtedly an extrely excellent work.
Everyone who experienced it themselves greatly enjoyed it after all.
They just didn't understand why the first elder was be so hostile.
"Silence!"
"The competition continues!"
Seeing that stunning mature elf woman stand up for him...
Alto's eyes lit up. Maybe there was still hope!
He looked in lissa's direction.
lissa likewise looked toward Alto in the contestants' section.
Alto nodded at her in gratitude.
He'd rember this favor.
lissa smiled slightly. She genuinely loved this work. She didn't want a designer with this kind of potential to have his talents buried, so helping Alto was a given.
"I give it a 9."
The following judges also gave high scores.
'There's still hope. Even with one zero, as long as the remaining judges give high scores, I can still win.'
...
"I give it an 8."
"I give it a 9."
As ti passed, judge after judge gave their scores.
The audience's emotions rose and fell with each score.
One 0, one 10, three 9s, three 8s; average score: 7.6.
Just one judge left.
As long as this judge gave more than 8 points, he'd win.
The thrilling mont had arrived.
The entire venue held its breath.
Waiting for the final mont!
The last judge; Christer.
Alto looked at the current situation.
Right now his judge average was 7.6. As long as he got one more 9, his judge score would tie with contestant number two, and he'd win by a narrow margin.
Conversely, anything less than 9 would an losing by a narrow margin.
Damian's fists clenched tight, nails digging deep into his flesh.
So close.
He kept signaling Christer on stage.
Christer wore an inscrutable smile, scanning the entire venue, his gaze passing over Damian.
Seeing his aningful look, Christer's brow furrowed slightly.
This person seed to be the nephew of one of Lunaria's Four rchant Guild presidents. He had so ties with that president, who'd previously pulled strings hoping he'd show so favoritism.
His gaze swept toward the judges' panel.
Suddenly he saw lissa staring at him, giving him a aningful look.
He suddenly swallowed, as if thinking of sothing terrifying.
"Now then..."
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