CHAPTER 410: ROUND ONE: RESULTS (4)

Althea wasn’t acting like her usual self. But then again, she was perhaps not the person he once knew. Hex still remembered her rushing out, leaving him confused and worried not so long ago.

That night he had seen glimpses of her old self. He still didn’t know why she had left so abruptly. Another meeting might have helped clear things up. But with the competition in progress, he hadn’t found an opportunity to do so.

He needed another moment with her. Her presence inside the arena might just have been that opportunity. Alas, the events took an unexpected turn.

’Let’s see what she is up to.’ He had his doubts about her intentions but decided to play along. Not for her. And certainly not out of jealousy. This was a perfect opportunity to learn more about the Baron’s past. A past he knew very little of.

"You are Mikhael’s student?" Sven’s question pulled him out of his thoughts. He turned his gaze toward the Crown Prince.

Sven and his wives were eying him. His voice was even and expression calm, yet Hex perceived the storm brewing behind the Prince’s cold eyes. The ever-so-slightly gnash in his speech didn’t escape Hex’s sharp ears.

’Seems I inherited part of the Baron’s old grudges too.’

Honestly, he didn’t mind. It should be expected. So far, he had enjoyed the reputation of his master. It made sense that there would be old grudges too.

"Shouldn’t it be Sir Mikhael Lichtenmane to you?" Hex asked in return. Prince or not, no one was allowed to speak his master’s name lightly.

Sven’s eyes narrowed. "Mikhael forfeited everything when he left the North. When his people needed him, he was nowhere to be found. Only my master and ancestor helped the Empire and its broken pieces to survive. He has no rights over the North and neither do you."

A couple of minutes ago Hex didn’t even know he had rights over the North. Having or losing them didn’t matter. He deliberated telling the mighty prince just that. But that wouldn’t be fun. His identity as a potential heir clearly didn’t sit well with the Crown Prince. Or else he might have not taken Hex so seriously.

"You don’t have a say in the matter either. I am sure the North can decide for itself."

Hex had no idea who or what the North represented but he wasn’t here on his own. At this moment, he was representing his master. Backing down wasn’t an option.

His words hit a sore spot. Not only did his face contort in anger, but one of his wives almost started to curse him. Another one of his wives held her just in time and pressed her hand on her mouth.

’I guess the North indeed is still up for grasp. Or at least a part of it still sees the Baron, and by extension, me as the heir of it.’

This encounter exposed another area he was lacking in. He uncovered a lot of information about his mother, Heaven, and the world in general but came up short on his master’s past. There was little he could do about it, though.

’There is so little time and so much to learn,’ Hex sighed. His experience with the merchants taught him something. ’I need to utilize the spies and merchants. They can gather all the available information on certain subjects. Even if they don’t learn the secrets buried in time, the information will still be useful.’

Hex’s mind spun rapidly. Unlike the prince and his consort, he was more focused on the information or the lack of information he had. The other party seemed more interested in him. And not in a good way.

"They are here," Hex heard Sterling say suddenly as he tugged on his sleeve. Looking up, he noticed the judges, the High Elder, and the representatives enter the arena.

"This place is awfully quiet." Tectonic chuckled. Inside the silent hall, his voice was perfectly audible. His smile reached his eyes, which twinkled as his gaze moved back and forth between Hex and Sven.

"Ahm...should we discuss the results, your Eminence?" The main representative scraped his throat and asked.

Tectonic appeared sour but cheered quickly. He waved animatedly at the representative to continue.

With a bow, the representative took center stage.

Hex took his seat. As did Sven. The interruption of the judges came timely. It provided time to blow some steam off and reel in the building tension.

It struck Hex that the group at the center stage had done so purposely. They had been listening in and when they felt like things could spin out of control, they stepped in. Those crafty foxes.

"This is it. The moment we all have been waiting for."

A bit too melodramatic, perhaps. But it worked. The people still whispering and throwing glances toward Hex and Sven refocused their attention. The representative smile broadened as he basked in the attention. All eyes were on him. As he seemed to like.

"The competition has been fierce. And interesting. Quite a few known names of shone so far. Even more unknown names have echoed in the crowd."

He chuckled, pleased with himself before he continued.

"First off, well done. To all candidate heirs. Each team has proven that the resources pumped into the candidates have bore fruit. To the people participating in different modes, well done too. You guys have proven that the resources we merchants gather from all over the world have worked. The generation of talent is nurtured well."

"So, everyone has to thank merchants?" Hex sneered softly at Sterling, who chuckled awkwardly.

"Is true. In a way," Sterling replied, to which Hestia snapped, "In a delusional way."

The man on the stage didn’t mind people whispering or whistling at his remarks. He took them as compliments.

"Thank you," he said before flashing another smile at the stumped crowd. "But let’s proceed to the results, shall we?" He signaled someone to hoist banners at both sides of the stage. While they were hoisting, the representative walked back to the center.

"Before looking at the list, know that you all are awesome. There are no winners," he said and then pointed at the banners, "except those sixteen groups, of course."