The sudden praise was caught by everyone present, bringing forth several murmurs from the crowd. For so reason, I found myself looking at my squad mbers who, for so reason, still seed to be wearing their sunglasses.
Can you guys stop?
"This was one of the harder groups that we’ve had to judge in all honesty."
With the Vice-Director’s words going in a direction that was unlike how he had spoken to the previous teams, tensions suddenly rose. Looking around, I could feel even more gazes directed our way.
In particular, I took note of Leon’s expression.
He didn’t say anything and was just smiling, but I could read his expression, ’Did he figure sothing out while I had left? Did he give everything, or did he hide sothing from ?’
Honestly, no.
I was also kind of lost.
Was it my team, or was it Zoey and the others?
"They have lost several mbers of their group, most notably one of their renowned Paragons. Even so, they were able to bring back several notable findings. And that is not all. I am certain everyone present is already aware of what they accomplished within Point Z, correct?"
The crowd remained silent for just the briefest of monts.
Then—
"That’s right! They’re cheaters!"
"...How was that allowed in the first place? This makes no sense!"
"They should be deducted points for what they’ve done."
"Fuck off!"
A lot of them erupted into boos as they directed their hatred our way. This ti, it was a lot more intense than it was before.
’I guess it must be because they are finally starting to see us as a threat to the places of their favorite Guilds.’
When I looked at my squad, expecting them to be a little overwheld by the jeers, I was instead surprised to see them standing still, staring at the crowd with their sunglasses. Almost smilingly.
’What the hell happened to them while I was gone?’
But then, I suddenly recalled Nora’s words and just decided it was in my best interest not to know.
"Quiet."
With the Vice-Director speaking again, the noise ceased as he continued, not wanting to drag the ti any longer.
"Based on their overall performance and the results they have achieved, the group has accumulated a total score of 319 points."
The crowd erupted.
This was one of the highest initial scores that had been given so far.
"How is this possible!?"
"How does that count?"
"That’s not all." The Vice-Director ignored all the noise and continued, "They’ve also managed to acquire several important and key pieces of information that we’ve deed to be extrely useful."
Once more, the noise quieted down, all eyes fixed on the Vice-Director.
He wasted no ti, imdiately shifting his attention toward the screens as an image appeared.
The photo showed the inside of what seed to be a wardrobe. At first glance, it looked ordinary, but upon closer inspection, a small, fragnted piece of tal could be seen hidden within. Before the very eyes of everyone present, the image zood to display a closer image of the tal... and it was there that murmurs swept the place as people tried to figure out what it was.
"What is that?"
"...It’s got weird symbols?"
"A ring? I don’t know..."
Yes, I agreed with whoever had said it. Although it was broken, it really did look like a sort of fragnted part of a ring.
However, within that part were several engravings.
My eyes squinted subconsciously as everyone looked at the broken ’ring’.
’Lesser?’
That was all that it said. In fact, I wasn’t even sure that it was that, as the ’r’ was cut in half. However, sothing about the ’ring’ made my chest tremble, feeling a certain sothing as I drew a deep breath.
"We’ve studied this piece of tal, but we’re still not aware of its significance. It doesn’t appear to be an anomalous item, and there wasn’t much we could derive from it. Therefore, after carefully tallying the score, we’ve decided to award them 418 points."
The place erupted again.
This ti, it wasn’t out of chaos, but out of relief.
With 418 points, we were still far from reaching the top spots.
"The other teams have also handed in several items and clues, but after calculating everything, the Severed Stars Guild has managed to obtain a total of 533 points."
"Waaah—!"
Cheers swept the place.
So were because so people were genuinely happy for us, while others were because our group didn’t surpass the points of their favorite group. Looking around, I stared at my own group, who cheered, happy with the result.
I could understand why they were happy.
While these points didn’t put us at the very top, they at least solidified our position, breaking the status quo that had persisted for many years with the Oak Circle. This was a massive victory in itself.
But...
’I don’t like this.’
I didn’t like this position.
It just... didn’t sit well with , especially since I was the one who had acquired the data back in the Limbo. I had also given the data to the examiners, but very clearly, they had ignored it since Leon had the transmitter.
’This is bullshit.’
My sense of bitterness only grew as I turned my head and caught sight of Leon. Our eyes t for a brief mont, and he nodded at , as if congratulating , but it was clear he was mocking . This beca especially apparent to when I noticed the slight lift at the corners of his lips.
I took a deep breath.
’Calm down. Relax. I’ve gotten what I wanted. There’s no need to be hung up on about this. I can always deal with him later. Yes, I can do that. Later.’
Scratch~ Scratch~
Without even realizing it, I began to scratch the side of my neck.
It was starting to feel extrely ticklish.
"Ehm."
The only thing that stopped from scratching further was the Vice-Director, who coughed slightly, drawing everyone’s attention as he continued, "Wait. Before everyone starts cheering, I am not done yet."
Not done...?
Not just the crowd, but even I was confused. There was more?
’Is it possible that he’s counted what I sent? If so—’
"There was sothing else that we had received, but didn’t show just yet. Not because we couldn’t quite make sense of what we’ve received, but because the footage that we’ve received doesn’t co from the Guild in question."
Huh?
"It doesn’t co from the Guild in question?"
"Does that an it’s coming from another Guild? Soone is helping them?"
"Why would they do that?"
Even I was confused by what was happening, and as that confusion grew, the Vice-Director’s gaze fell on for a brief mont before he raised his head to look at the screens in the distance.
After which, the screens change.
And soon—
—Clink! Clink!
—Cheers! Hahah! This is so wonderful wine!
—How about you enjoy this food? What do you think?
—This is amazing! I wish to never leave this place! It’s paradise!
Footage that I thought would never surface in the world appeared.
And in that mont, I caught sight of myself as I took a sip of the wine alongside the others.
The eyes of many imdiately fell on as my heart skipped a beat.
This...
Surely not, right?
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