Hearing Rose’s words, Hilia couldn’t help but feel anticipation too.

But she worried a little, saying, "Although I want to watch the drama unfold, if innocent people get caught up in it, it’s not so good..."

Rose said indifferently, "You saved them once, but can you save them forever? So many serious accidents have happened already, yet they still insist on risking their lives to watch the matches—then it’s clear they’re courting death. Kind words can’t change the fate of those hell-bent on dying."

"If you’re worried, wait until you get an answer from your mentor, and then issue a warning in your name in the newspapers, suggesting that people not go watch the match tomorrow. If, after all this, they still go, why bother saving them?"

"That’s true."

Hilia no longer felt pressure.

She’s kind, but that doesn’t mean she’d save people who knowingly court disaster.

If they’re so obsessed with risking their lives, then let them die.

Hilia returned to the inn, just about to head to the park behind to practice Magic, when Nikodemos suddenly called her over.

In an office room, Nikodemos looked at Hilia and, coincidentally, Benovia who had come in for something, and said, "You’ve both seen the rumors and the newspapers these days, right?"

The two nodded.

Nikodemos looked at Benovia, "Everything you’ve done, I’ve noticed. You’ve done well, and now the momentum is on our side. However, that doesn’t mean we’ll succeed."

Benovia asked in surprise, "You mean the Northern Alliance doesn’t care about everyone’s voice at all?"

Nikodemos said, "Generally, they’d care. It’s just that your opponent is a Northern Alliance team. Unfortunately, that team has a member who’s the child of a grand duke. That grand duke is a Tier Six Mage in the Northern Alliance. Seeing this opportunity to get his child into the top sixteen, he might intervene, make Adrian withstand the pressure—at least hold out for tomorrow."

"Hold out till tomorrow?" Hilia was slightly stunned. "Does it make any difference?"

Nikodemos said, "Yes. Since yesterday’s match was pushed to tomorrow, it means your match isn’t over yet—there are still two games left, and you haven’t entered the top sixteen. If you’re missing a member in those two games, they’ll have a chance to beat you and make it to the round of sixteen."

He looked at Benovia, "In a bit, I’ll go together with the head of the Royal Magic Academy and the Ista delegation to talk with Adrian for final confirmation. If he really drags it out until tomorrow to restore Hilia’s eligibility... you may end up playing four versus five tomorrow."

"Four versus five..." Benovia pondered for a moment, then said confidently, "Judging by their performance yesterday, it’s not certain we’ll lose even with four versus five."

Hilia asked seriously, "Mr. Nikodemos, can we refuse to compete?"

Nikodemos was surprised: "Refuse to compete?"

Hilia nodded. "If the League Committee is so determined to rig things, we should resist in our own way. Why play along and send four to fight five?"

Benovia said, "Don’t worry, Hilia. Even if we’re down a person, we can easily defeat them and advance to the top sixteen, crushing their black curtain scheme."

Hilia replied, "I believe in your strength, but doing so is still going by their rigged rules. If they’re already like this, who’s to say they won’t come up with other tricks? Like a biased referee, or rule you as violating something."

"Well..."

"If you trust me, don’t go to the arena tomorrow."

Nikodemos raised his eyebrow. "Sounds like you know something?"

Hilia said, "Earlier, I discovered a group of heretics, followed them into one of their bases, and found a lot of documents there. Although most of those were about potions, I managed to deduce their intentions from a few clues."

Nikodemos asked, "What is their intention?"

"To sabotage the Mage League as a starting point, announce their existence to the world, and accomplish some unknown goals."

"A bunch of rats in the gutter, even together they’re still just rats," Nikodemos said with contempt.

"But for the Northern Alliance, these rats might be the plague."

Nikodemos was silent for a moment, then shook his head. "You’re right. I’m afraid everything in the Northern Alliance leaks through to the Sect like a sieve. So, tomorrow the Sect might stir up trouble again... If your eligibility is restored later, I’ll tell the committee about this. Still, perhaps even then they won’t care."

Benovia was baffled. "After all this, and they still won’t care?"

"Because the grand duke Gerald, who’s pushing Adrian to hold out, will be in charge of match security tomorrow."

"I see."

Hilia asked Rose silently in her heart, "If a Tier Six Mage is overseeing the arena, does that mean it’s safe?"

Rose shook his head. "The Northern Alliance, in the eyes of the Polar Blood Alliance, is about as secure as a sieve. That Tier Six Mage’s arrival was already anticipated. From what I see, not only will a Tier Six Mage fail to stop them, he’ll end up getting run around in circles."

Hilia’s heart skipped a beat. "Is it really that scary?"

"You’ll see for yourself tomorrow."

"Alright."

...

Night.

Adrian sternly rejected Nikodemos and the Ista delegate’s attempts to pressure him, refusing to loosen up on Hilia’s eligibility for the match, still insisting on disqualification.

After everyone left, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and went to a hidden location.

"Mission accomplished, Your Grace Gerald. I got through it, but I can only hold out till tomorrow. If I refuse any longer, I’m afraid I’ll become the one disqualified."

"That’s enough. Without a Tier Four Mage who can shake up the tournament, my child can lead his team to an easy victory. Well done. After you hand over the Mage League, I’ll arrange your training and help you complete your ascension trial so you can advance to Tier Six."

"Thank you, Your Grace Gerald. It’s an honor to serve you." Adrian was deeply excited.

Originally, he was about to give in—this was always just a matter of face, and now everyone is standing against him, the mounting pressure from all sides was suffocating.

Just then, the Northern Alliance grand duke, Mr. Gerald, showed up, backed his stance, and gave him the courage and reward to push back.

The lure of advancing is far stronger than anything the Mage League could offer.

If he becomes a Tier Six Mage, let alone one competitor, even if others try to pressure him, he could simply kick their whole team out on a whim!

"If the Sect causes trouble again tomorrow, I hope Your Grace Gerald will act to ensure the match goes smoothly."

The brazen Polar Blood Alliance made Adrian break out in a cold sweat; now he feels like sitting on pins and needles, worrying that any small disturbance could be the Sect stirring trouble. If they make trouble tomorrow...

Mr. Gerald waved his hand, completely unconcerned.

"Just a bunch of heretics. If they dare cause trouble, I’ll let them see what happens when they make me angry!"