Neo left the phoenix biome.
He stepped towards the center of the sanctuary.
After crossing a few different biomes, he came across a brown building.
He entered Derek’s office.
“Has the phoenix finished its rebirth?”
“No, we failed. It’s dead.”
“Is this a prank…?”
Derek waited for Neo to say something.
When Neo didn’t reply, his face morphed into an ugly grimace.
“Do you realize what you’ve done!? It was a phoenix!
“A phoenix!
“If you are incapable of completing the mission, how dare you take it!?”
“…”
Neo let Derek vent his anger.
“A phoenix is more expensive than your entire life!
“I’ll make sure your team is penalized for this!
“Not just penalized, I’ll make your life a living hell! You damned brats—”
“I’ll be taking my leave. Please visit the mission hall if you have any complaints,” Neo said.
Derek fumed.
Neo was on the doorstep when he stopped and turned around to face Derek.
“Also, the phoenix was ‘weird’. It wasn’t afraid of me even though I have Death affinity.
“I suspect it had a tainted bloodline and it is the reason its rebirth failed.”
His words made Derek shut his mouth with a snap.
After all, Derek knew exactly what was wrong with the phoenix.
‘Did…. did he notice?’
Derek’s palms were covered in sweat.
He did not reply to Neo.
“Again, I apologize for the mission’s result,” Neo said.
He left the sanctuary.
On his way, his device rang.
[A-rank mission failed]
[-60 credits]
[Total credits: -60 credits]
“That’s some balance.”
He chuckled wryly.
Jack ran up to him when he reached the mission hall.
“Neo!”
“Did you take another mission?”
“About that…. The slots are full.”
“…Who was it?”
Jack’s expression fell further when he noticed Neo’s frown.
It hit him again that they failed the participation requirements.
“Arthur’s team, Lumen. They were a few minutes faster than the Poseidon Clan’s team.”
Neo patted Jack’s back.
“It’s fine. We’ll get a slot.”
“…?”
Neo didn’t explain further.
….
Few hours ago.
Neo left the mission hall after taking the phoenix mission.
He was about to meet up with Percival and others when he noticed Lucas speaking to Percival.
‘Lucas…’
‘This guy will definitely interfere again in our mission.’
‘I can stop him, but it’s bothersome.’
A thought occurred to him.
‘It’s better to let him attack us and use him.’
He took out his device and message Felix.
> Felix <
Me: My team will give up the third slot.
Me: It should increase your chances of securing the slot since my team has the highest chance of getting the slot.
Felix: …What do you want in return?
Me: It’s a good thing you are quick on uptake.
Me: I want you to—
…
Present
Felix met up with Percival.
He was nervous.
“Why did you call me?” Percival questioned.
“I wanted to report about the interference of God Clans in our team’s mission.
“They have been repeatedly trying to sabotage us.”
“…”
A sigh left Percival’s lips.
“You think this is the first time something like this happened?
“If you think like that, you are wrong.
“Get used to it. It will keep happening in the future too.
“And if you don’t like how things are done here deal with them yourself.”
“The professors won’t help us…?” Felix questioned.
“They won’t unless something crosses the line.”
Everything Percival said was same as what Neo told him.
The academy already knew what was happening in the competition.
They were ignoring it purposefully.
“Sigh, can I meet the principal?” Felix asked.
“Are you thinking of complaining to the principal?
“Don’t do that.
“You will need to pay with credits for an official hearing and pay extra on top of that if you want the principal to act as a witness.
“6,000 credits in total.
“Two people can attempt the Junior Templar exam with those credits. It’s useless to go to the principal even if you that much amount.”
It was a checkmate for Felix.
There was no way he could get the Zeus Clan and others punished.
Or so Percival thought.
“I still want to visit the principal. Do I need to pay credits for it?” Felix questioned in a mocking tone.
“It’s not needed. The top 10 students can meet the principal whenever they wish.”
Percival whistled.
A pegasus flew down.
It lowered its head and let Percival caress it.
He turned to Felix.
“Sit behind me and hold tight.”
They climbed the pegasus.
The winged horse neighed and took off to the sky.
It flew higher and higher.
Felix saw the campus from above.
No matter how high they flew everything within his gaze was inside the academy’s boundary.
“It’s quite big,” he said.
“Yeah.”
The horse reached a giant cloud.
It flew above it.
There a majestic mansion lay.
Percival flew down and the landed on the clouds.
“Enter the mansion and go straight to the office on the third floor. You’ll find the principal there.”
He left after giving the instructions.
Felix walked on the clouds.
The door of the mansion opened when he stepped near them.
He entered the place.
It had a grand foyer, marble floors, three chandeliers, velvet drapes, ornate furniture, sweeping staircase, and sunlit rooms with tall windows.
The mansion seemed devoid of any living presence.
Felix recalled Percival’s words.
He climbed the staircase for the third floor.
The office was the second room to the left of the stairs.
Felix was about to knock when he stopped.
He gulped.
‘I agreed to Neo’s plan since it seemed to be the only way my team could qualify for the slot.’
‘But…’
‘I’m pretty sure the principal would kill me if the plan fails.’
His heart hammered against his chest.
‘Should I just dip?’
Arthur and his team already got a slot.
Neo couldn’t do anything if Felix went back on his words.
It was an easy choice.
It should’ve been easy.
Felix bit his lips.
‘Dammit.’
He knocked.
“Come in,” the voice answered from the inside.
Felix gulped and opened the door.