Chapter 57 The ceremony

"I'm back! Anyone miss me?" Mr. James regained consciousness again.

"Mr. James, I bet you don't exercise much. Your stamina is so poor. Look at how many times you have fainted." I nagged Mr. James.

"I don't think he needs to look to know." Isaac said.

"Mr. James looks so unhealthy. His face is so green like an alien." Rona laughed.

"Maybe he needs some ginseng to boost his energy and stamina." Ronald said.

"You have no rights to nag me when you guys are the one who made me faint! And alien? How can you compare me with an alien? I'm so much more handsome than some puny alien! And you, bunny no.4. Don't you dare feed me that bitter plant. I don't care how good it is. Bitter is a NO for me." Mr. James screamed. "Moving on, it seems the ceremony will start in 5 minutes, so we better hurry!" Mr. James clapped his hands, and we were teleported somewhere else again.

Shiing.

I looked up and saw the red translucent curtain. "?" I looked around the place. "Ah... This place..." I looked behind, and the cage was still there, but Munchy was no longer there. 'The final trial.'

"What about this place?" Ronald asked.

"Where your final trial was held, right?" Isaac said.

"You read my thoughts? Scary!" I hid behind Rona.

"Why would I waste my time reading your thoughts? It's probably empty anyway. Besides, your face shows everything. Literally everything." Isaac shook his head.

I touched my face and looked at Rona. "Did I scribble some words on my face?" Rona shook her head. I turned towards Isaac. "Liar. You read my thoughts."

Isaac facepalmed. "Talking with her shortens my lifespan."

Suddenly, a voice echoed the entire place. "Congratulations to the remaining survivors and welcome to the Grand Ceremony. We are here tonight to celebrate the Masters getting a new disciple. I hope the ceremony will run as smoothly as last year. While we are waiting for the 8 Masters to arrive, we shall provide some entertainment for everyone. Please welcome Lady Saska and Mister M."

The crowd applauded, and the show started. "Rona knows that voice. It's Mr. Gregory. He was the host for Rona's final trial. Mr. Gregory is super shy. He doesn't like to show himself." Rona drooled. "Makes Rona want to eat him."

"Oui. I think the reason why he doesn't show himself is because he knows you will eat him alive, Rona." I rubbed Rona's head. Then, I looked around and thought. 'So only the 4 of us left. The other 2 didn't make it...' Rona looked up at me and asked. "What's wrong?" I smiled and shook my head. "Nothing."

Bzzt.

"Hmm? That annoying sound again." I frowned.

A blue screen with Mr. James appeared. Mr. James smiled and said. "Hello. Hello again."

"What are you doing here, Mr. James? I thought Mr. Gregory is the host?" Ronald asked.

"To see you all one last time, duh. And did you say Mr. Ogre is the host this time? Hmm..." Mr. James turned the screen and looked around. "Yep. The size is about right. Looks like you guys might be able to see what Mr. Ogre looks like."

"Mr. Ogre?" I tilted my head. "I thought his name was Mr. Gregory?"

"Oh, that's what everyone called him. You'll know why when you guys see him." Mr. James grinned.

"Mr. James turned into a perverted demon!" Rona gasped.

"Pervert?! Bunny no. 3! How could you call me a pervert?" Mr. James screamed back.

'He doesn't mind people calling him a demon, huh?' I lowered my head and sighed.

Rona pointed at Isaac. "TsunTsun said when Mr. James smiled like that, he turn into a perverted demon."

Mr. James glared at Isaac. Isaac, who was analyzing the other survivors, turned towards Mr. James, glared back at him. "What? I'm busy. If you need something, speak fast."

"Eek!" Mr. James shrieked and grabbed someone next to him and cried. Isaac looked at Mr. James in disgust then continued with what he was doing. Mr. James sniffed. "Bunny no.2 hates me so much." The person Mr. James glued himself to, comforted Mr. James and said. "Maybe he is going through a rebellious stage." Mr. James stopped crying and looked at the person. "You're right. I never thought of that. Since he's just turned 13 this year, he might be in his turbulent stage." Mr. James looked at us and smiled.

"Oui... I don't like that smile." I backed a few steps away. Ronald and Rona nodded. "Me neither."

Mr. James moved closer and shoved something at our faces. "Here, behold the holy grail!" I peeked at the object, Mr. James was holding and said. "Pervy magazine? Really?" Mr. James smiled evilly. "Not just any magazine. This magazine is one of a kind and had been rated as the best R-rated magazine in the history of mankind. What do you guys think? This would make him like me more, right? Right?" I stared at Mr. James blankly, while Ronald was puking at the sideline with Rona patting his back.

Mr. James pouted. "Why aren't you guys saying anything? Are you guys too stunned at the holiness of the magazine. I understand. I do, too, sometimes."

I shook my head. "Nope. Totally wrong. Instead of him worshipping you for giving him a magazine like that, he would tear and burn that magazine, then try to burn you as well."

Mr. James gulped. "So it's a no? Then what do I give him to make him like me?"

"How about kidnapping the best hacker in the world and make him teach all his hacking tricks to Isaac. Maybe his favorability towards you will improve." I said jokingly. Ronald and Rona agreed. "Oh, that's sounds brilliant. Isaac loves to hack."

Mr. James's eyes sparkled. "Oh! Oh! Oh! What a perfect idea. I see it now. Yes. Yes. That would be a piece of cake. Thank you all for your wonderful idea. Well, I shall be going now. Don't miss me too much. Oh, and if you want something, pm me. I'll get it for you, my sweet little bunnies. Goodbye all, and please tell bunny no.2 I said goodbye in the most loving and gracious way. Without further delay, hacker kitty, here I come!" Mr. James said his goodbye and disappeared.

Ronald and Rona waved Mr. James goodbye. Ronald smiled. "Mr. James really adores Isaac, doesn't he?" Rona agreed. "Rona thinks so, too."

Rona looked at me. "Hmm? Rona thinks Lil's face is paler than normal. Is Lil sick?"

Ronald looked at me. "Wow! Llyne, what's wrong? You looked like you were going to fade away!"

I smiled weakly. "Why not die peacefully than die in a horrible way? Ha...ha...ha...ha..."

Rona and Ronald looked at each other and then looked at me. "What do you mean? Why would you die?"

Rona stepped forward and said. "Rona will protect Lil!" Rona grabbed my face and gave me a few big slaps.

"OOOWWW!!!!" I screamed. "Why did you hit me for? Weren't you going to protect me? Or is that your way of protecting people?"

"Rona doesn't know. Rona only knows that Rona doesn't want to lose Lil!" Rona hugged me, and I teared up and wailed. "Rona! I'm sorry for shouting at you. It's just... the thought that Shorty might kill me terrifies me so much that I can't think straight."

Ronald tilted his head to the side. "Kill you? Why?" Then I explained to Rona and Ronald. Ronald laughed and said, "No way. Isaac is such a sweet and innocent person. He won't kill you."

'Wow... What kind of charm did Shorty used on poor Ronald?' I scoffed.

Suddenly, the music and lights went off. Everyone was confused by the sudden interruption. Mr. Gregory cleared his throat nervously and announced. "Ehem... Ehem... My apologies for interrupting the show, but it looks like the Grand Ceremony will be delayed indefinitely due to Master Intel last minute... appointment."

"What's with the pause?" I cocked my head to the side. "I wonder who's this Master Intel. Could Intel be a short form for intelligence? Wouldn't that suit Shorty?"

Ronald nodded and said. "That would." Rona raised her arms up and said. "Rona agrees too!"

Isaac crossed his arms and pressed his fist against his lips. "I would prefer to be under a Master who is in charge of intelligence. That way, I can gather more information on our enemies and eliminate them in the blink of an eye."

We moved away from Isaac, and I whispered. "Oui... Sweet and innocent? Look at Shorty. He looks like an evil mastermind who is planning to dominate or destroy the world. I would strongly advise you to clean your brain." Ronald nodded. "Isaac looks really terrifying when he said that."

"Now, do you know why I think Shorty will kill me if he found out about that thing?" I whispered. Ronald nodded. "Ya, I know. Good luck. Rona and I will pray for you."

Isaac's ear perked up. "Oh? What did you do this time, jinx?" Isaac slowly turned his head towards us. His eyebrows were twitching as he clenched his fist and smiled at me. "Well, aren't you going to tell me? Don't worry, I won't hurt you, JINX."

"Wow. Rona can feel the burn from here." Rona hid behind Ronald. "Good luck, Lil. I'm cheering for TsunTsun."

I gasped and turned to look at Rona. "I thought you're protecting me?"

Rona shook her head furiously. "Nope. If two of Rona's besties are involved, Rona is out!"

I jumped onto Rona and pulled her cheeks. "Don't give me that lame excuse. You're just afraid of mad Shorty."

Ronald pointed at Isaac. "Ermm... Llyne, shouldn't you think of something because Isaac is closing in."

I stopped pulling Rona's cheek and screamed. "Right! I forgot! I have quickly come out with a bullshit excuse before he kills me!"

Suddenly, a hand reached out and squeezed by delicate shoulder. I yelled. "AAAAHHH! I did nothing wrong, I just called you a demon wearing a human skin. That's all!"