This time, no matter how much the Northern Alliance tries to stall and go through the motions, there’s no way they can drag it out any longer.

Because this is a matter of several thousand spectators’ lives.

The first two times only targeted the contestants and didn’t end in fatalities. The sheriff came over, took a look, and—well, what’s the big deal? Just go through the procedures.

But now, besides the thirty-six heretics who were killed, there were also some with weaker constitutions, or those who were doing something at the time and fell from the stands after being frozen—they all lost their lives.

Such a major incident, with countless people watching, even the Northern Alliance didn’t dare stall with procedure. Investigation teams were dispatched quickly.

Moreover, some representatives from other empires who understood arrays stepped up to join the investigation.

The tournament that day, of course, could not continue. With delegations from many empires jointly investigating, the details were soon clarified.

Adrian, president of the tournament committee, took on the role of spokesperson to broadcast the results to all—

"With assistance from all sides, we’re now releasing the investigation results to the public, reconstructing the full incident."

"According to our investigation, this major event was masterminded by the Polar Blood Alliance, with the intent to sabotage the Mage League, provoke the Northern Alliance, and provoke the entire world."

"The investigation found that heretics from the Polar Blood Alliance disguised themselves as spectators and infiltrated the arena the day before the match, where they spread magic crystal powder throughout the venue to form the array markings for [Absolute Freeze]."

"After the contest began, they intensified the rainfall, adding a strange agent to the clouds that could freeze people instantly. Once the array was activated, this agent could freeze victims within three seconds. As long as the array wasn’t destroyed, the freeze would last until all the magic power within the crystalline powder was depleted—estimated to take an hour."

"This incident was the result of negligence by the tournament committee. I apologize to everyone on behalf of the committee."

"After the incident, the committee immediately mobilized everyone to rapidly unfreeze the spectators, turning the tide and saving many lives."

Here, Adrian paused, and very reluctantly announced, "The contestant from the Ista Empire, Miss Hilia, played an important role in saving the spectators..."

The description of Hilia was passed over in a single sentence; if not for the magnitude of the incident, it might have just slipped by altogether.

Or, if there hadn’t been high-tier mages from other empires present, it really might have just been glossed over like that.

After Adrian’s briefing, the investigation process and results quickly reached the press, and, despite Adrian’s best efforts to keep her concealed, Hilia’s actions became widely known thanks to newspapers and traveling minstrels.

Afterward, news spread about Adrian disqualifying her from the tournament.

All at once, controversy pushed Adrian and the tournament committee right into the eye of the storm.

Adrian had no choice but to issue that disciplinary notice and explanation, publishing them through the press to the public.

But stripping a mage of her right to compete—when she’d just saved thousands of lives—no amount of procedural formalities could make people accept it.

In a mercenary tavern in Kost City.

A disguised Hilia sat alone at a table, sipping fruit juice, while listening to a minstrel recount the story of the thousand being trapped in ice.

"...that despicable referee, thinking he’s so authoritative, only cares about contestants challenging his authority, completely ignoring the lives of tens of thousands..."

"...Look! Beautiful Miss Hilia stepped forward, knowing her actions would cost her the right to compete—and still, she chose to act..."

"...She left, without hesitation, as if completely disillusioned by this land..."

The melodious tune and the minstrel’s enchanting minor spell made the scene of Hilia saving thousands truly captivating.

To the minstrel, Adrian had become the quintessential villain, utterly hateful.

Now it was the second day after the incident.

Yesterday’s disaster left all the contestants anxious. After discussions among the delegations, the Mage League had no choice but to announce a postponement and promise that all issues would be resolved within three days, ensuring such an event would not happen again.

How familiar.

Hilia couldn’t shake the feeling they’d made similar promises just a few days ago.

Even if this world had no saying like "third time’s the charm", three consecutive accidents—the third resulting in such serious casualties—had already left everyone with no faith at all in the tournament committee.

Everyone kept asking the same thing—

"Can the tournament really go on?"

Such a great Northern Alliance, yet in their own capital, got played by a bunch of heretics like puppets in their own hands.

And even after all that, you’re still harping on procedural justice—stripping the lifesaver’s right to compete?

Come on, if this keeps up, nobody else will dare to compete next time.

Inside the tavern, mercenaries and mages argued non-stop.

"That Adrian’s a real clown. A Tier Five Mage, and all those years of cultivation just led him straight to the dog’s ass, huh?"

"I remember the matches aren’t even over yet. This elimination round was supposed to be best of three—Miss Hilia and her team only played one match, there are two left."

"Could it be their opponents saw they were about to lose, so they bribed Adrian to disqualify the heroine, just to advance?"

"Heh, you know, with how useless those guys are, that’s honestly pretty likely."

"I heard the matches will resume tomorrow. Are they really going to keep being stubborn and not reinstate Miss Hilia?"

"If no official statement comes out tonight, then yeah, they’re gonna dig in."

"If that’s the case, I’m just refunding my ticket. Who wants to watch a rigged tournament?"

"The Mage League’s forum is already a warzone. Everyone’s mocking them, but since you could get tracked down on the Star Spirit Network, no one dares curse them openly. Shame."

"Man, he’s a Tier Five Mage. I wouldn’t dare scold him on the Star Spirit Network, either. The best I can do is boycott the matches."

"Watch the tournament? You want your own beauty to get frozen stiff too?"

"Hahahaha!"

"..."

Hilia left the tavern, in high spirits.

The public was already on her side.

Honestly, more than getting her tournament rights back, Hilia found herself looking forward to them continuing to brazen it out and refuse her reinstatement—just to see what kind of disaster would befall them tomorrow.

Just then, Rose’s voice sounded: "Tomorrow the heretics will cause more trouble."

Hilia froze, startled: "The Polar Blood Alliance is really that bold? Aren’t they at all afraid that the Northern Alliance might wipe them all out?"

"Who knows," Rose chuckled softly. "If they cave to pressure and give you your rights back, I’ll tell you how to break their killer move tomorrow. If they tough it out..."

"Then just enjoy the show."