IUD-Chapter 840 The People at the Opening Ceremony

You can read ahead up to 70 chapters on my patreon, and I've also activated a (date to date) subscription model on my patreon: https://www.patreon.com/GGS6395

Storms always arrive swiftly.

The long-awaited "Gryphon Festa" had finally begun, drawing the attention of spectators from around the world.

Not long ago, the battle city had reopened to the public, welcoming a flood of visitors eager to witness the spectacle.

Compared to the Festa, the School Festival was merely a small affair.

After all, the School Festival was limited to the Six Great Academies.

The Festa, however, was a global event.

The scale was on an entirely different level, and the influx of people this time far surpassed that of the School Festival. If not for the strict entry regulations—permitting only ticket holders and a select few with special privileges—this aquatic city might have been overwhelmed by the sheer number of visitors arriving from all corners of the world.

The excitement surrounding this event had even exceeded that of the previous "Phoenix Festa."

After all, the "Gryphon Festa" carried a higher degree of unpredictability.

Team battles were inherently volatile.

Even if a team gathered formidable contestants, a lack of coordination could spell their downfall.

As a result, the "Gryphon Festa" often commanded more attention than the "Phoenix Festa." That said, nothing surpassed the prestige of the "King Dragon Festa," where one-on-one duels reigned supreme— a testament to the timeless appeal of individual combat.

Of course, advancements in the tournament stage also played a significant role.

This year's arena had been specially remodeled for the "Gryphon Festa."

Four large-scale battle stages had been constructed, including the centerpiece—the Sirius Dome.

The Sirius Dome, in particular, had undergone a complete overhaul.

Throughout the battle city, live broadcasts of the Sirius Dome were being projected via enormous space windows that adorned the streets and buildings alike.

From these displays, one could see that the stage within the Sirius Dome was encircled by a trench resembling a moat, filled with a protective gel said to be developed by the Arlequint Institute. This innovation transformed the stage into a floating island on the lake.

Once the battles commenced, the protective gel enveloped the entire arena, supplemented by an external force field, significantly enhancing safety measures.

Amid this grand spectacle, the stands of the Sirius Dome had already been packed to capacity, and deafening cheers erupted from the audience, their echoes resounding through the entire battle city via the space windows.

Fang Li was also present in the Sirius Dome.

However, he was neither on the battlefield nor among the spectators. Instead, he stood in Jie Long's exclusive VIP room, observing the stage through a glass window.

Behind him, Orphelia remained as silent as ever, standing in quiet attendance. Yet, unusually, her gaze remained fixed on the arena.

The opening ceremony was in progress.

The Student Council Presidents of the Six Great Academies stood together on stage, all clad in their respective school uniforms. Positioned in six distinct points, their arrangement mirrored the layout of the academies within the battle city, forming a six-pointed star around the central podium.

Naturally, Fan Xinglou was among them. So was Claudia. Even Dirk stood there, arms crossed, his sharp gaze locked onto the podium.

But Fang Li's eyes rested on someone else.

Draped in the uniform of Queenvail Academy, she effortlessly commanded the room's attention, as though an ethereal spotlight had been cast upon her.

She was the world's number one Diva.

Not knowing whether she sensed Fang Li's gaze, Sylvia glanced toward Jie Long's VIP Room. Spotting him, she playfully closed one eye in a teasing manner.

"That girl..."

Fang Li shook his head with a soft smile, his eyes filled with warmth.

"It's been three weeks... I wonder how she's been."

After all, she was a world-class Diva. It had been difficult for her to take time off even during the previous School Festival, and ever since, her schedule had been packed with performances, interviews, and public appearances. Meeting Fang Li in person had become nearly impossible.

Of course, they still managed to video chat every day.

Because of this, it didn't take long for the amusing fact to surface— that Orphelia had been sleeping in the same bed as Fang Li.

Fang Li still vividly remembered Sylvia's reaction when, during one of their calls, she caught sight of Orphelia lying beside him on his bed.

In the end, after much explaining, he managed to clarify the situation, leading Sylvia to let out a long, resigned sigh. Ultimately, she accepted it.

Perhaps even if he told Sylvia outright about his relationship with Orphelia, she still wouldn't believe it.

It wasn't just a matter of trust. Sylvia had interacted with Orphelia before and understood her well.

She knew that the girl who always carried an air of sorrow in her eyes was unlikely to have any romantic involvement with Fang Li.

Unless, of course, the sadness weighing on her heart could be lifted.

But that was no simple task. Anyone could see that.

Thus, Sylvia had accepted the situation without much resistance.

Thinking about their three weeks apart, Fang Li turned his gaze back to the breathtaking figure standing on the stage, feeling a touch of longing.

"After the opening ceremony, I should go see her."

Chances were, Sylvia was thinking the same thing.

Having made up his mind, Fang Li shifted his attention to the podium.

There, the chairman of the Festa Operations Committee was delivering an impassioned speech.

"Madiath Mesa..."

Fang Li narrowed his eyes at the man who had once approached him under the alias Laminamors. A key player working alongside Valda, he was secretly orchestrating something under the guise of the Festa's management.

At that moment, Madiath's gaze flickered toward Fang Li. Much like Sylvia, he seemed to acknowledge his presence. A faint, knowing smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Then, just as quickly, Madiath looked away and resumed his speech.

Seeing this, Fang Li scoffed lightly and turned to leave the VIP room.

Orphelia immediately followed.

Without looking back, Fang Li spoke.

"I'm going to see Sylvia. You can head back first."

At those words, Orphelia stopped in her tracks.

Fang Li exited without hesitation.

Watching his retreating figure, Orphelia slowly turned her gaze back to the stage, her eyes settling on two figures.

One was Dirk.

The other was Madiath.

Her crimson eyes wavered slightly, revealing a sorrow that she couldn't suppress. She closed her eyes for a moment, then silently turned and left the VIP room as well.

She didn't know it yet.

But an unexpected encounter awaited her.

(End of Chapter)