Chosen By The Lover's Constellation-Chapter 79: Names, Part Eight

"Um..." Lianna swallowed. "Zura... Did the guys checking people in not say anything about that amulet?"

"No." Zura arched a brow.

"They didn’t scan it?" She asked.

Although Lianna’s {Target Analysis} was a unique ability, people did have access to machines that could scan players and their items. Someone had to have caught this.

"They did. They scanned all our equipment," Zura added, gesturing at the players filling the stadium. "But, I dunno... Isn’t it just an amulet?"

Lianna took a deep breath.

[Okay,] she thought, trying to reach out to The Lover through her mind. [I know I can’t tell anyone else about the quests I get. But, can I tell her this thing is rigged to blow up?]

"..."

"Lianna? What’s wrong?" Zura asked while Enverna remained paled.

Lianna waited for a response.

[... Nothing? Maybe you’ve used up too much power for proper answers. Okay, how about this? Flash the quest message twice for "No" and once for "Yes."]

The quest then appeared.

Twice.

{Prevent the assassination of President Aria}

{Prevent the assassination of President Aria}

[Crap,] Lianna sighed.

Suddenly, things had gotten far more complicated.

The event was set to begin and Zura was a walking, ticking bomb.

A few options passed through Lianna’s mind.

She could ask for the amulet, take a look, and "forget" to give it back to Zura. She could grab it and run. She could kindly ask Zura to take it off, on account of it being offensive to her eyes.

The problem with these possibilities was the last part of the amulet’s description.

[Someone has to activate it. It isn’t timed.] She looked around. [Which means, someone’s probably watching her right now.]

Upon figuring that out, it became a matter of guessing how far they’d go.

It could be the case that the group behind this had a more overarching goal of simply causing chaos. If that was the case, then killing the president was only the cherry on top. The instant these people saw Zura handing her amulet off to someone else, they’d probably just give up on that and explode the item then and there.

Either that or killing the president was the only goal. That would be preferable, as that would give Lianna more space to work with. But, it meant that the likelihood of getting through this day without at least one, real fight breaking out was slim to none.

The stadium buzzed with anticipation as Lianna assessed her options. She stole a glance at Zura, the ticking bomb, blissfully unaware of the dangerous accessory around her neck. Enverna stood at Lianna’s side, her face etched with concern.

"Lianna, we have to do something. We can’t let her walk around with that thing," Enverna whispered urgently.

Lianna bit her lip, contemplating the gravity of the situation. She couldn’t risk exposing the bomb, not with potential eyes on Zura. The Lover’s warning echoed in her mind.

[Agh, I wish I could just tell everyone!]

"We need to play along for now," Lianna whispered. "Act normal, like nothing’s wrong. I’ll figure something out."

A man with a microphone stepped onto the field. The crowd hushed, eager to hear the rules.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Annual Player Assessment!" the announcer declared, his voice resonating through the stadium. "I’m your host, Adrian, and today promises to be a spectacular event filled with skill, strategy, and surprises."

Lianna’s eyes darted around, searching for any sign of the unseen threat. She kept her focus on Zura, who remained oblivious, her attention fixed on the upcoming competition.

Adrian continued, his voice booming across the stadium.

"First up, we have the Support tournament. Teams will showcase their ability to provide aid, healing, and strategic support. Our judges will evaluate everyone’s overall utility, mainly going by one simple metric: how valuable would these individuals be to a team? Who are these judges and how will they do that, you might ask...?" He grinned. "Well, we’ve gathered a select few to help them out."

The anticipation heightened as a group of renowned adventurers emerged from the shadows, their presence commanding attention. Each step resonated with a confidence born of countless battles and heroic deeds. Lianna, immersed in the unfolding events, strained her eyes to recognize any familiar faces among the illustrious figures.

Enverna, however, drew in a sharp breath. Her eyes widened, and she leaned closer to Lianna, whispering:

"Lianna, wait a moment. Isn’t that the administrator over there?"

Lianna’s eyes bulged out of their sockets.

"She’s here..." Lianna murmured.

It was hard to tell if the ruckus, the deafening cheers, were being aimed at her or not. But, the administrator was evidently powerful enough to be considered a "legendary" figure, standing amidst people wearing all sorts of expensive-looking, flashy armor while she wore nothing but a simple, black dress and her usual white gloves.

The administrator, a woman of striking presence, stood tall among the adventurers. Lianna’s curiosity became ever larger.

Adrian continued his introduction, his enthusiasm undeterred.

"These esteemed adventurers will join the players in the Support tournament, providing insight, guidance, and even a bit of a challenge. Let’s give them a warm welcome!"

The crowd roared as the adventurers took their positions.

"How? Well, we have a special treat for you all! These adventurers will engage in a mock fight, and our support players will have the opportunity to assist them in this exciting demonstration of skill and strategy."

The crowd erupted in cheers, eager to witness the collaboration between the renowned adventurers and the skilled support players. Lianna and Enverna exchanged glances, the weight of the impending challenges settling in.

"As participants are deemed worthy or unworthy, they will be systematically eliminated along with the adventurer they are supporting. Until only one person remains standing as the victor. Contestants, make your way to the lockers to prepare for the next round. The Support tournament is about to get even more thrilling!" Adrian’s enthusiasm filled the air as the participants dispersed, making their way toward the designated areas.

Lianna and Zura navigated through the bustling crowd, the air thick with anticipation. As they entered the locker room, a mix of excitement and tension permeated the atmosphere. The contestants hurriedly changed into their gear, preparing for the unique challenge ahead.

Lianna stole a moment to contemplate her next move. The amulet around Zura’s neck remained a looming threat, and the decision to disclose its dangerous nature weighed heavily on her mind.

She glanced at Zura, who was focused on adjusting her equipment.

[Now or later?] Lianna wondered, her thoughts racing. If she told Zura now, they could strategize together and potentially defuse the situation. However, the risk of triggering the explosive amulet prematurely loomed large.

Lianna took a deep breath, wrestling with the dilemma. She approached Zura cautiously, her voice low.

"Um... Zura," Her gaze flickered toward the amulet but didn’t linger.

Zura looked up, her expression curious.

"What is it?"

Lianna hesitated, her mind racing through the possible outcomes.

She came very, very close to just telling Zura then and there. But, looking over her shoulder, Lianna saw that multiple other players were sneaking glances their way.

[If any of these people are connected to the amulet, I do anything about it right now and it’s probably going to blow up.]

With that in mind, Lianna said:

"I... I have a feeling that there might be something off about the upcoming challenge. It’s just a hunch, but stay on your guard, alright?"

Zura raised an eyebrow, a hint of skepticism in her eyes.

"What are you talking about?"

Lianna forced a reassuring smile.

"Just... be ready for anything. That’s all."

Zura shrugged, dismissing Lianna’s cryptic warning.

"If this is your way of trying to throw me off, it ain’t working," Zura told her with a smile.

"What? No, I... Whatever."

Lianna inwardly sighed, realizing that conveying the true gravity of the situation without revealing the specifics might be impossible. As the contestants were summoned to the arena, she decided to keep this to herself, for now.

[Agh, what can I even do? How do I get this thing off her!?]

Soon, they were called back out onto the field.

Lianna, Zura, and many, many other players stood on the grass, all sizing each other up.

"Ladies and gentlemen, give a warm welcome to our support players and the legendary adventurers who will join them in the Support tournament!" The cheers enveloped them, a cacophony of anticipation.

Lianna shot a quick glance at Zura. A man came and gave each of the players a card. Each one was a different color.

Adventurers paired up with the support players who shared their colors. Unsurprisingly, the administrator came and walked up to Lianna. Both women were holding red cards.

"Well, well, well. Here we are," the administrator said. "I do hope you’ve prepared adequately for the occasion."

"I have," Lianna responded. "Kinda funny that a lot of this is just me trying to get you to introduce yourself," she said with a smile, trying to tuck away the worry about the explosive amulet so she could focus.

It came to her then that if the assassins were only going to blow the item up in the presence of the president, then all Lianna had to do to succeed today was keep Zura from winning.

Getting first place was essential, all of a sudden.

"It is. But, don’t worry, I will keep my word should you or Enverna win either tourney. Good luck."

[Oh, I’m gonna need it.]

"Is everyone ready?" A referee asked. One by one, the players all nodded.

He gave Adrian the signal.

Adrian’s voice echoed.

"Contestants, prepare yourselves! The Support tournament is about to commence!"