Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 898 Can’t be stopped?
Maybe it was because she tried her best in the quarterfinals, but the popular player Leila failed to create miracles and unfortunately only won the third place in the qualifiers. However, this result was enough for her, because she did not step into the arena to attract attention from the beginning. Now the girl who has a place in the main competition is taking advantage of the last short period of time before the competition to perform better. According to Phyllis, who occasionally comes to the Chateau to visit Shino, she broke three rackets in a week, which gave George, who is responsible for repairing props, a headache.

On the other hand, Gloria, who also has a place in the main competition, is also working hard. Although she initially participated in the competition because of the curse, after getting to know the sport in depth, especially after watching Miss Leila's wonderful match in the quarterfinals, Gloria has already felt the charm of the wind flower ball and has devoted herself to the role she plays. She is rubbing her hands, waiting to make a splash in the selection competition and welcome the cheers and applause from the audience as a winner. In Alice's words, it is "burning".

Of course, the golden maid also contributed to this. As for what the contribution was... Anyway, Gloria's original words were: "I don't want to be eliminated in the first round like Alice. That would be too embarrassing!"

For this reason, she frequently borrowed the court of the Shadoly Manor for training, and declined Alice's offer to train with her, preferring to play against the wall alone. The Crimson End Demon King, whose kindness was rejected, held a grudge and secretly planned a vicious revenge plan, determined to make this guy who looked down on him pay a heavy price. As for what the plan was, it was not convenient to reveal it now, but it was so vicious that even Alice would tremble when she heard it.

The shadow from the Crimson End Demon King is surging undercurrents beneath the peaceful daily life. A huge conspiracy shrouding the tournament is about to be unveiled... right?

After the trials, instead of having some free time, Xinuo became even busier. Every morning before dawn, she rode her beloved horse Brandy away from the manor and did not return until the evening. She looked exhausted, like a tired traveler returning home, except for her eyes, which were still bright and energetic. Even the manor's old butler, Weber, seemed to be busy doing something unknown to everyone, so that only outsiders like Lingge were active in the huge Shadoly Manor, making it seem as if they were the owners of the manor.

In addition, Xino's grandfather, Mr. Van Indrew, the head of the Gustaf family, became more secluded. When Lingge and others visited the Chardoly Manor, they could occasionally see him walking in the tree-lined avenue in a wheelchair or looking at the sky in the cypress forest. Later, he was almost never seen, except for one time when he entrusted Lingge to bring Rolena to the manor and personally expressed his gratitude for the potion. After that meeting, Lingge privately asked Rolena if the potion was really useful? Was Mr. Van Indrew's injury healed? Why was he still sitting in a wheelchair?

At that time, Rolena said to Lingge in a convincing tone: The medicine is very effective, Mr. Van Indrew's injury must have been healed, this is a fact that can be observed with the naked eye. As for why he is still sitting in a wheelchair, it may be because of... psychological factors.

"Psychological factors?"

"Yes, his body has recovered. From a physiological point of view, as long as he does not encounter any major disasters or illnesses, he should have no problem living for another ten years. However, there is a deep sense of desolation in his heart, like a dead tree that has withered and decayed, preventing him from continuing to have the will to live. To put it simply, he is still alive, but his heart is dead."

There is no greater sorrow than a dead heart. Ling Ge had heard this saying before, but this was the first time he had seen a real example. Moreover, he recalled the tone and demeanor of the old man when he met him. He really didn't look like he had been stimulated. With his current age and physical condition, it would probably be difficult for him to go to the battlefield and fight the sealed beasts. If that was the case, how could he have such a determination to die?
Lingge couldn't figure it out, and it seemed that he didn't have time to figure it out, because before he knew it, time had passed to September 9, the day when the championship began.

Of course, according to convention, there will be no official competition on the first day of the main competition. Instead, there will be two parts: a draw ceremony and an exhibition match. The former is to divide the 64 main competition players into eight groups to compete, and the latter is to invite two popular players from the contestants to play an exhibition match that has nothing to do with the results, in order to heat up the atmosphere for the opening of the main competition. The players invited to this year's exhibition match are the famous "Caesar" and the "Moon Goddess" who is no less famous than him. It is said that considering the psychology of some young audiences, the organizer originally wanted to invite "the youngest main competition player in history" Miss Gloria to play this exhibition match, but the latter declined with the reason that "I want to focus on the main competition". Afterwards, a street newspaper quickly published a headline news: "Surprise! A certain player actually commented on Caesar and Moon Goddess: third-rate players who can only attract attention with exhibition matches..."

This led to another war of words, with the three parties arguing fiercely. All we can say is that it really heated up the atmosphere of the main competition.

As parents (fog), Ling Ge and Saint Xia Liya will accompany Gloria to participate in the lottery ceremony. As for the Crimson End Demon King who excitedly shouted that she also wanted to go, they jointly sealed her on the Cloud Whale Sky Island to prevent her from coming out to harm the world. This made the Crimson End Demon King's anger even more uncontrollable, and she secretly decided to carry out the evil conspiracy in advance...

Shino was going to go too, but not to accompany Gloria, but to accompany her good friend Leila. Although she was very busy recently, because she had promised long ago, the girl still managed to squeeze out some time to personally be there to accompany her friend to witness the important moment in her life. However, just as she was about to get on the carriage and go out, she was stopped by the old butler Weber who came in a hurry. "I'm sorry to waste your time, Miss Shino." The old butler, who rarely appeared in the manor recently, stepped forward and lowered his voice to avoid being heard by the other three people in the carriage: "The master wants you to go to his study. He has something important to say."

Xino paused, his eyes flickered, and then he asked directly: "Is it about the beast?"

The old butler Weber was shocked. He didn't expect the young lady to bring up this matter in front of the guests. However, there was nothing unusual in the carriage, as if the three guests had not heard this. Weber seemed to understand something and nodded gently: "Yes."

"I understand."

Xino let out a light breath, and laughed at himself in his heart that he was going to break his promise again, then turned around and said to Ling Ge and others in the carriage: "Sorry, it seems that I can't go into the city with you. Please tell Leila, just say..."

She thought about it for a moment, not knowing how to explain, so she simply shook her head: "Forget it, just say I have something urgent to do and can't be there. I'll explain it to her in person next time we meet."

Through the car window, Lingge nodded slightly, which was considered as agreement, so the girl turned and left without hesitation, her snow-white ponytail fluttering gently in the wind, and her back showed no trace of reluctance.

The old butler Weber bowed to everyone apologetically, then turned around and followed Heno away.

Inside the carriage, Gloria looked at this scene in confusion, while Saint Shalia said softly, "She seems to be having a hard time."

"Yes, but it's her own choice."

Ling Ge looked at the girl's gradually receding back, expressionless: "We can't stop it."

　Give me some meow
　　
　
(End of this chapter)