There was no helping it!
She had made a last-minute decision to pose as a streetwalker to test Roy. If he had taken the main road, that would have been fine—it would have led him through the red-light district, and she could have just paid a working girl to approach him. But instead, he chose the less crowded backstreets. She had no time to find someone else, and with him about to leave the red-light district entirely, she had no choice but to step in herself.
"You figured it out?"
Sylvia sighed and dropped her fake smile.
"Figured out what?"
Roy responded with a meaningful glance.
What did he mean, "what"?
A flicker of unease ran through Sylvia. Could he have even seen through her true identity?
"That I'm not actually a streetwalker."
"Of course. You're still too naive—you should learn more from the real workers in the red-light district."
Roy grinned at Sylvia's visibly annoyed expression. Seeing how irritated she looked, he decided not to tease her further.
"Anyway, what's your reason for coming here and pretending to be a streetwalker just to approach me?"
Roy genuinely had no idea why a world-famous idol like her would go out of her way to proposition him like some random streetwalker.
Wait.
Wouldn't it have been more interesting to play along and see how she reacted?
Ugh, what a missed opportunity. He just didn't have enough experience.
Well, no matter. This experience would definitely come in handy next time!
"Sorry, but I can't tell you that part!"
Sylvia smiled faintly, then immediately turned and bolted.
Asking him outright if he was here to find a woman would have been way too blunt—any normal guy would dodge the question. This attempt had been a complete failure. She'd just have to wait for another chance.
The moment she turned to run, Roy reached out, his long arm snapping toward her back.
But Sylvia moved with unexpected agility, darting away the instant she spun around. Roy's hand closed around nothing but a beret.
Feeling the sudden absence on her head, Sylvia realized her hat had been snatched. Alarm bells rang in her mind—if he saw her face now, her cover would be blown for sure!
With a soft murmur, her entire body blurred like a mirage, vanishing from Roy's sight.
"Damn, she's fast."
Roy held the beret, staring in the direction Sylvia had disappeared, but made no move to chase her.
With this hat as a medium, he could easily track her down using magic. But honestly, he was exhausted today and didn't feel like playing hide-and-seek.
Wouldn't it be way more fun to go back to the dorm and play Unlimited Virgin Works with Claudia instead?
Roy yawned and took the shortest route back to Seidoukan Academy. All students were required to stay in the dorms—skipping out would cost him credits. His credits came entirely from his Festa performances; he couldn't scrape together a single point from regular exams.
Only long after Roy had left did Sylvia finally reappear atop a nearby building.
She touched her bare head and let out a frustrated sigh. That beret had been her favorite.
"What was he even doing here?"
Though it was just an impression, Sylvia didn't think Roy seemed like the type who enjoyed nightclubs. Yet the fact remained that he'd come to the entertainment district and stayed an entire day, behaving exactly like those playboys who lingered in clubs until they'd had their fill of fun before heading home.
Better not mention this to the Souji for now, until she'd fully investigated his purpose.
If Roy truly was here for entertainment, she'd eventually catch him red-handed. Since the Souji currently had no dealings with him, she could afford to take her time investigating. But if Roy wasn't here for pleasure, it would be utterly inappropriate for her to slander someone just for her friend's future.
Having made up her mind, Sylvia turned and left as well.
That night, Roy returned to the dorm—Claudia's dorm—making her moan well past midnight.
...
Once the main tournament began, the competition stages were reduced to just four venues: the Sirius Dome and three large arenas.
Starting from the fourth round, each stage only hosted two matches per day—one in the morning and one in afternoon. With four stages, that meant only eight matches daily. After two days of the fourth round, only sixteen teams remained out of the original thirty-two.
By the fifth round, the number of matches was further reduced to just one per stage each day. This round also lasted two days, and by the afternoon of the twelfth day, the eight finalist teams of this year's Phoenix Festa had finally been decided.
Jie Long, Huang Chen Hall.
Thunderous roars continuously shook the grand hall, accompanied by crackling sounds in the air as if lightning were striking.
Chaofeng, wearing a mask depicting a mythical beast, was locked in fierce combat with Fan Xinglou's top disciple Wu Xiaofei. Chaofeng's punches exploded through the air, while Wu Xiaofei's stomps shattered the ground. The explosive clashes continued back and forth in a spectacular display.
Zhao Hufeng watched from the sidelines, clicking his tongue repeatedly, his eyes flashing with awe.
If he were to face either of them, he'd likely last only about ten moves at most relying solely on his speed before being beaten to near death.
"Truly worthy of being the senior disciple! His strength far surpasses mine and Second Sister's—no wonder he's the only one among us who can spar with Master! And for Chaofeng to fight him to such a standstill is equally impressive!"
Fan Xinglou sat atop a huanghuali corner table at the head of the hall, her gaze shifting between the two combatants. Occasionally, she would murmur something, but no sound emerged. Even Zhao Hufeng, standing so close, couldn't hear her words.
Only Roy could hear the voice transmitted directly into his ears—Fan Xinglou was teaching him the techniques of "Perception."
It wasn't that Fan Xinglou didn't want her other disciples to learn; this was actually the result of careful consideration.
Without practicing the Amagiri Shinmeiryuu style, it was extremely difficult to reach the realm of "Perception"—unless one possessed extraordinary sensory talent. Among them, only Roy had this innate ability, making him the only one with the foundation to achieve Perception. Forcing the other disciples to learn these techniques without the proper foundation would be putting the cart before the horse, achieving nothing but adverse effects.
As the two combatants remained locked in their fierce duel, the barrier at the hall's entrance suddenly rippled, and two figures stepped inside.
"What's happening?"
"Did someone break in?"
The moment the two entered Huang Chen Hall, they saw the intense battle unfolding before them and froze in astonishment.
Upon closer inspection, they realized one of the two was actually the reclusive yet highly revered senior brother, causing them both to startle instinctively with fearful expressions.
"Take a break."
Fan Xinglou's command from above brooked no argument. Wu Xiaofei immediately ceased his movements and stood at attention.
Roy, who had been mid-punch, swayed slightly before stopping his motion.
He glanced at Wu Xiaofei's perfect control over his movements and couldn't help but admire him inwardly.
Though Wu Xiaofei hadn't reached Fan Xinglou's pinnacle of strength, he had long since ascended to the mountain's peak. There was good reason his ranking on Óðrerir was higher than Roy's.
"Li Shenhua, Li Shenyun, what brings you two here?"
Zhao Hufeng frowned upon seeing the twin duo but still dutifully stood up, asking them with a stern face.
Li Shenhua cast a fearful glance at Wu Xiaofei and Roy before respectfully bowing to Fan Xinglou at the head.
"We didn't mean to disturb you, Master. It's just that tomorrow's opponent is formidable. Even with thorough preparations, we're still anxious and wished to seek some advice from Second Sister."
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30+ advance chapters! Your support helps me write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon.com/aarvan🔹