Chapter 1534: The Boy Who Reads

This chapter is updated by wuxiaworld.eu

When they arrived at the judging room, Melisa was nowhere to be seen.

However, they did see several Apprentices who usually followed Melisa around, discussing something while taking notes.

Seeing them arrive, the Apprentices’ eyes lit up, greeting them: “Great, Lord Komone, Water Pattern Witch, and Wizard Pat, you have finally arrived!”

Under Angel’s puzzled gaze, the excited Apprentice explained: “It was Manager Melisa who asked us to wait here…”

With his explanation, Angel finally understood why Melisa had asked Komone to undertake this evaluation.

Everything was for—

The New Star Competition ranking list!

Each contestant’s detailed information would be recorded on this ranking list, including a potential ranking, strength ranking, and points ranking, serving as a basic reference for the competitors or the audience who purchase this information.

“I remember, isn’t there a supposed potential seed ranking being widely talked about outside?” Angel wondered. So, is the Infinite Battle Tower planning to monopolize this business officially?

The Apprentices looked at each other, somewhat embarrassed: “The ranking that is being circulated outside, even though it seems to be compiled by independent individuals, is actually ranked by us internally.”

That is to say, there is no unofficial ranking; it is all officially manipulated by them. This time they even intend to create a more detailed list, and furthermore, update it immediately after each match, to extract Magic Crystals from the audience and players.

“Making money is not the main purpose; the main goal is to promote the New Star Competition,” the Apprentice explained earnestly, but whether that was true or not is another matter.

Having understood their intention, Angel and Falina immediately lost interest. Komone also looked speechless. However, the Apprentices eagerly looked at Komone, and he, having no choice, made some comments about The Deceiver to provide them with material to write about.

After “milking” Komone, the Apprentices then turned their attention to Angel and Falina.

“Water Pattern Witch and Wizard Pat, what do you both think about The Deceiver?”

Falina shrugged, “I didn’t watch much of the competition, but the deductions made by Komone are probably correct. The Deceiver has concealed his skills. His actual strength should be much higher than what he has shown.”

Angel merely commented: “High potential.”

How high specifically, Angel couldn’t compare since he wasn’t familiar with the strength of other Apprentices. But compared to the competitors he knew, Spiwey’s strength should also be in the top-tier, possibly close to, or even higher than Xiliu and Qi Li.

After giving perfunctory responses to the Apprentices recording the ranking, they then left the judging room. Komone looked at the competition schedule on his communicator carefully, then mentioned, “There’s a match in 10 minutes, it’s said both sides are strong, I plan to watch it.”

Having said this, Komone bid farewell and left.

After Komone left, Falina also browsed through the competition schedule: “Oh, Sharley also has a match later. During this period, I plan to randomly choose a few matches to judge, so I can rest for the next few days. What about you? Are you planning to stay?”

Angel shook his head: “I won’t watch any matches today. Tomorrow is my first day teaching, and I plan to go back and prepare the content of the lesson.”

Falina nodded understandingly; she too had prepared diligently for her first teaching session, but later became lax as she grew accustomed to it.

After Falina left, Angel prepared to leave the Infinite Battle Tower and return to the manor.

His reason for not continuing to watch the matches today was partly because of his classes tomorrow, and partly because he noticed that today’s schedule did not include any matches he was interested in.

Xiliu and David had just narrowly advanced in the New Star Competition yesterday.

Adding Nausicaa, Serum, and Qi Li, except for Shan, all of Angel’s good friends had advanced.

Angel planned to focus on their matches, and since they weren’t competing today, there was no point in wasting time.

Walking along the route he came by, Angel made his way through the quiet corridor.

Halfway there, he saw someone leaning against the wall corner not far ahead.

This was exactly where the Black Cat had previously shattered the door, the area behind the door leading to the competitors’ backstage—so… this person might be a competitor?

Angel did not stop, continuing forward. Sure enough, that shattered door had now been pushed open, suggesting he had come from the competitors’ backstage.

Angel paused, his gaze lingering on the dimly lit long corridor leading to the contestants’ area beyond the door, then shifted to the person in front of him.

This was a young boy, engrossed in a book he held in his hands.

The sound of Angel’s footsteps seemed to startle him. He lifted his head in confusion, his eyes momentarily bewildered before settling on Angel.

He paused, seemingly recognizing Angel, and respectfully closed his book to bow, saying, “Wizard Pat…”

His expression was awkward, like that of a student caught reading a non-curriculum book during class.

Angel’s gaze unconsciously moved to the book pages, “The Lies of Nedberg.”

Angel thought he was reading a book related to battle or transcendental knowledge, but unexpectedly it was such a book… a book discussing philosophy.

The story begins with various events occurring in a family named Nedberg, which later turned out to be all false, meaning it’s a family of deceivers. Hence, someone’s assessment of the Nedberg family was: “The words spoken by this family are all lies.”

Later on, it was confirmed that the person who made this assessment also bore the surname Nedberg.

From this point on, the book delves into a series of discussions on lies and truth.

As a philosophical work, it indeed is worth reading, but for a contestant in the New Star Competition to be reading it here and now seemed odd.

The boy seemed to notice Angel’s curiosity and somewhat embarrassedly said, “In my next match, I’ll be facing The Deceiver, so I’m reading this book…”

Angel did not expect this answer. If merely studying books about lies could decipher deception, then not so many people would be fooled in the world. Moreover, “The Lies of Nedberg” isn’t just a book about lies, but rather explores an idealistic philosophical issue.

Although internally critical, Angel didn’t voice his thoughts; instead, he nodded at the boy, saying, “This is a good book.”

Then he walked past him.

After Angel’s departure, the boy was taken aback for a moment, a flicker of joy crossing his eyes after a while; this was the first person today who had approved of his book. Earlier backstage, many had mocked the book he read, prompting him to leave backstage and find a quiet place outside to read.

Of course, there was another reason… Backstage was too dirty.

He was worried it might stain his book.

…

“You seem preoccupied, what are you thinking about?” It was Greya who spoke.

After leaving the Infinite Battle Tower, Angel had run into Greya who was also preparing to return to the manor, so they left together.

All along the way, Angel hadn’t spoken much, seemingly contemplating something, which piqued Greya’s curiosity.

Greya’s voice brought Angel back from his reverie; he pondered for a moment, then shook his head, “Nothing much. Just met an interesting person when I was leaving.”

“An interesting person?”

Angel didn’t respond, but couldn’t help but think of the boy reading that philosophy book earlier.

Embarrassed and awkward, he seemed nothing but innocent.

However, as Angel passed by the swinging door, he detected a strong scent of blood.

He had used his spiritual power to scout around, and the scene backstage was spectacular… like a red dye vat had been overturned, blood everywhere.

Among the chaotic fighting aura, the most distinct was emanating from that reading boy.

If not mistaken, that tragic scene backstage was probably stirred up by the reading boy.

Seemingly innocent, yet harboring an unimaginable demon inside.

If Spiwey faces him in the next round and hopes to conceal his skills without being eliminated, it probably won’t be possible.

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