Selection Cancelled

Eugene stares at the stairs leading to what he believes is a basement.

[Team 2 discovers a clue, "The one that worships power."]

Eugene was startled by the announcement and suddenly purse his lips. Everyone is now getting clues, it's not time to explore a place that is not within plan. They need to get out of the dungeon the soonest the better so turning his back, he told his teammates to ignore it and take a detour.

Almost every team had now gotten a clue but the team leading this round is Team 1 who already got three clues and was on their way to finding the fourth one.

This made Eugene anxious.

"Commander, this place is so hidden, is there a clue hidden here?"

They are now inside a dungeon room that has a small entrance which will make it for others impossible to find easily. However, Eugene leads his team into this place and they enter without fearing danger. Though confused about how Eugene know such a place, they didn't voice out their doubts, afraid that the audience will think they were cheating.

"It's here."

Eugene tap each brick tile, listening to the sound it produced before confirming the formation.

He steps back and pushes the brick tiles in a star formation as the bricks around crumble and open, revealing a small box that surly contains a clue.

"Wow. There is really a clue."

Eugene squatted and grab the box before opening it.

[Team 4 discovers a clue, "The one who is perusing narration."]

Eugene sighed and stood straight, looking at his teammates, saying: "Do you wish to find the treasure or just get out of the dungeon?"

Everyone looks at each other.

Sanciel frown, "Is there something wrong with the clue?"

Eugene sigh, "This clue is how to get out of the dungeon. If we pursue finding the piece connecting to this one then we can immediately go out of the dungeon. However, there's no guarantee that we will be ranked first in this round because only those who found the treasure and exit the dungeon are bound to get the first ranking in this exam."

Theoran frown.

"Didn't it say that as long as we get out of the dungeon we will pass the test? How about we find clues to get out of here and then find clues leading to the treasure? In that case, even if we don't find the treasure, we can still go out before the given time ends."

Zaoran nodded, "It makes sense."

Reign raises his hand: "Commander I agree to whatever."

Timber vigorously nodded his head.

Eugene, seeing that his team members set aside the treasure, shrugged: "Well, let's do that. After all, we can just steal clues if we want but it's a bit onerous thing to do."

"You're right, it's really troublesome to ambush a team."

Theoran laughed when he suddenly think of something and said, "How about we wait to be ambushed then use that opportunity to get their clues? In that way, we don't need to go to them because they will go to us and we will trap them. Isn't that easiest?"

"Theoran..."

Everyone look at Theoran and said..."You're amazing!"

"Ah?"

Sanciel patted Theoran's back while laughing happily. Zaoran and Reign even grinned and look at Eugene expectantly. This made Eugene question if his teammate was influenced by him. What to do if someone is more badass than you?

"Well, that's a good suggestion."...forget it. Let them be happy.

Treasure Hunting is much more monotonous than they thought. Without much danger, they just walk around and enter some dungeon room to find clues. It's so boring that they just wanted to lie down and sleep but can't do that because they are still score-conscious.

At the moment Team 1 has the highest discoveries, the second is Team 3, the third is Team 2, and the fourth is Team 4.

These four teams only battled with each other but the second and first place are only being better by two teams which are teams 1 and 2 as they see the leader's capability. Of course, they also acknowledge Team 2 and Team 3's strengths but there is this difference in aura especially on how a commander brought their team into the limelight.

[Team 3 discovers a clue, "The one who is greedy for status."]

[Team 2 discovers a clue, "The one who overcomes fears."]

[Team 4 discovers a clue, "The one who opposes the heaven."]

[Team 1 discovers a clue, "The one who hides behind a mask."]

The announcement resounds with an interval of five minutes and everyone couldn't help but get anxious so with strong courage some lower-rank team decided to just ambush a group to steal clues. Of course, no one stupid will start with the 4 top-ranking teams because they won't be able to win. They could only attack those weaker than them or just a step higher from their ranking which added excitement to the audience.

——Grand Duke Karsten who is watching leisurely was approached by an imperial messenger.

"It's an emergency meeting."

Grand Duke Karsten gritted his teeth and stood up.

Seriously? In a time like this? That stupid emperor will call him? He's so angry but when the imperial messenger mentions the upcoming war of Nacos, his face turns solemn and follows the imperial messenger through the hidden room within the academy.

When he arrived he saw the ugly faces of some nobles.

Even Marquis Shradinza and Duke Del Viltaria didn't bother to hide their faces full of concern.

"Grand Duke Karsten you finally arrive."

Everyone turns their head and looks at the grand duke expectantly. Grand Duke Karsten sat down looking so thoughtless as if he doesn't care about whatever the reason the meeting is held and nodded at his friend before looking at the emperor with the two princes standing side by side, taking part in the gathering which was rare.

The emperor sighed: "Grand Duke, my intel just reported important news."

"Yes, the imperial messenger didn't forget to mention."

The emperor who loves to joke around didn't even bother to smile this time and just look at his subordinate with a serious expression and said: "The war, may begin sooner than we predicted."

Grand Duke Karsten frown.

"The wasteland of Nacos is wide, the journey to get onto the other side will take one month and the earliest is two weeks. Besides Nacos is a place that can restrict magic so it's impossible for a magician to open a portal in that place and teleport to get here."

Count Gilbert: "I understand your confusion grand duke, but we underestimate the people of that small kingdom. We heard that a strange person suddenly appeared in the Biscotti Kingdom. This person fell from the sky and is said to save their kingdom from catastrophe."

"This person has this strange knowledge and created a transportation that can travel faster than horse and carriage which can also store goods needed to survive in the desert."

Grand Duke Karsten paused: "Strange person?"

"That's right, this person is deemed as a saintess that comes from another world."

Grand Duke Karsten lowered his gaze, weighing the information he got, and couldn't help but get interested in that said, strange person. This is the first time he heard such an outrageous thing. How is it possible for someone from another world to come to their world? There's no such a thing in historical records and even the church won't find a basis for the veracity of that information.

"Where are the Biscotti Soldiers now?"

Duke Viltaria: "They are already halfway...Estimated arrival is...two weeks."

Marquis Shradinza clenched his fist: "We have a short time. Some soldiers must be sent out today to protect the border of our empire. However, opening the gate under such an eventful day will cause panic to people."

Grand Duke Karsten taps his fingers on the table.

The Emperor is worried about the safety of his people, he really had no choice. He doesn't know why things aren't flowing the way they predicted and planned, there must be something in it. So even if it is against his will, he had no choice but to declare his decision.

"Due to the fact that the enemy is coming nearer the border. I will announce the selection to be canceled including the coming-of-age ceremony. All Meza Eusto will automatically promote as Neva Eusto and the empire will be put under level 10 security alert to deflect all possible attacks coming from the outside of our zone."

Duke Viltaria licks his tongue.

"Yes, your majesty. I'll inform the tower to activate the barrier."

The Emperor closed his eyes and said with his heavy breath: "The palace will announce a decree that the empire will be in a state of war starting tomorrow." once it was announced, the people already know the rules. One must send a family member to participate in a war to show their loyalty to the great empire.

No matter what status you have.

Commoner or nobles. They must have one family to sacrifice.

All for the exchange of peacefulness of the empire.

——Eugene and his team are going around the north, finding a place to rest and food to eat. Their team already has five clues in their hand and the way outside the dungeon is about to unfold. If they accumulate all the clues leading outside then it's time for them to find clues relating to the treasure and grab the first place of this selection.

[Attention Meza Eusto's!]

Eugene and others were startled and looked up to see the announcement.

[Selection is canceled for emergency reasons. We repeat selection is canceled for emergency reasons and everyone must exit through the portal. Further information will be announced later. For now, please retreat from the dungeon.]

The audience and the examinees are confused.

In just a minute a portal appeared in their place and Eugene dragged his team to exit the dungeon and saw that the outside is full of people panicking. They all asked what happen and why they were told to go back. You know, this is the first time an important event like selection was canceled so the examinees who felt like something is wrong started to get nervous, wondering if they will be able to graduate or not because of the cancellation of selection.

Theoran: "What's going on?!"

The place is full of whispers and Eugene saw Timber's parents running toward their direction in a hurry, their faces full of worries and determination.

"Timber baby, we need to go back to the estate."

Timber is confused: "Mommy what's happening? Why is the selection canceled?"

Countess Fiona didn't reply and just grab her son pushing it to Count Rozans and look at Eugene saying: "You should go find your parents too and go back with them. The empire is in a state of emergency, you will be captured by soldiers if you don't have your parents by your side."

Eugene's heart started to beat fast.

He nodded at Countess Fiona and watch them walk away. Timber who is in the embrace of his father looks at him in confusion, waving his hand, mouthing 'see you' not knowing that this is probably the last time they will see each other again.

Eugene finally realize what was happening so he patted his teammates and told them to find their parents and go back with them to ensure their safety. He then walks away to find Eullian and his mother knowing that his father is currently part of an emergency meeting now. It didn't take long for him to see his mother and little sister, hugging each other in the corner, looking so helpless, wondering why some are running around, leaving the academy.

He purses his lips and approach.

"Mother..."

Eunice who is crying leaves her mother's embrace and hugs Eugene tightly saying that she is scared. This made Eugene sigh and coax his lovely little sister while helping his mother to stand up only to be slapped away, shouting at him: "What are you doing! Find your little brother!"

That's right, Eullian is not with them.

"Mother let me take you to a safe place first then I'll go find Eullian."

"No, you find him this instant!"

Eugene feels helpless so he pushes her little sister away and looks around. They are in the corner so no matter how people push around his mother and little sister won't get injured. It's fine, he looked at her mother's haggard and worried face, grabbing his arms tightly that her nails almost sink into his skin and telling him to find Eullian and ensure his safety.

In the end, he had no choice but to remove his storage ring and put it in his little sister's palm before walking away, going to the place where the Symphony selection is being held.