The chameleon

Upon arriving at the scene, Zelen and Nitwit saw Tomasz and Viktor throwing fruits at Luka.

Their anger flared like rising heat, but just as they were about to step in, they heard a murmur from behind.

"It's alright. You guys don't have to fight with cheaters."

"What do you mean?" Nitwit loosened his fists and turned to face the voice.

"What I mean is," Miles said, sitting on the ground, "they used those fruits to defeat you guys. Without them, they wouldn't have stood a chance. Or do you believe otherwise?"

"Yes, you're right. Those bastards cheated. Can't you see how they were crying like little kids?" Zelen clenched his fists, his throat tightening as he tilted his head back. His body tensed, sweat trickling down his face as if he were crying.

"No need to worry. You should be happy they won," Miles said with a smirk.

"Are you making fun of us, you bastard?" Zelen's eyes widened in anger.

"Not really," Miles said, spreading his legs out and leaning back, his gaze fixed on the sky. "But do you even know what the winner's prize is?"

"No. What is it?" Zelen sat down in front of him.

"The winning group has to escort a box from the Elf Kingdom. They'll be responsible for its security, and a high-ranking officer will lead them," Miles explained.

"Isn't that a good thing? If they succeed, they'll earn fame and recognition from the king himself," Nitwit said, sitting beside them.

"That's true. But what if they fail?" Miles clasped his hands together, his expression serious. "This isn't an easy task. Many rogues, hired assassins, and other enemies will be after that box. If anything happens to it, their lives will become hell."

"How do you know all this?" Nitwit placed his book on the ground.

"I know for a fact that many people and assassins are going to attack them. But I don't care about that. I just want to see them punished." Miles shivered slightly, excitement creeping into his voice. "Oh man, that will be a sight to behold. Are you really just going to sit there like statues, or will you enjoy their downfall? Believe me, the taste of revenge is the sweetest thing in the world."

"You sound awfully sure that they'll lose," Zelen said, narrowing his eyes.

"Only an idiot would attack head-on. The mission takes place the day after tomorrow," Miles said, standing up. "They've ordered food from a friend's bakery that day. Their enemies have time to plan the attack."

He smirked. "After suffering a crushing defeat, many people are furious. It's humiliating to be called a loser. Do you really think they'll sit quietly? No. They'll take their revenge. And when they succeed....." He took a deep breath as if savoring the thought. "Just imagine the joy."

With that, Miles disappeared.

Zelen and Nitwit exchanged glances. Inside Zelen's mind, a memory flipped open like a book. Both of them stood up at the same time.

Next Day – 2 PM, Dinning Venue

"Hey Nitin, pass the salad," Luka said, extending his hand.

"Here you go." Nitin handed it over.

"Are you guys ready for tomorrow? I feel like this might be our last good meal," Viktor said before taking a sip from his glass.

"I pray to God that nothing you just said comes true," Tomasz muttered as he ate his strawberries.

"Before leaving the kingdom, Eero said he'd prepare something for us to eat on the way," Matteo said, putting his fork down.

"I told him not to bother, but he wouldn't listen," Nitin said, rubbing his eyes.

"It's alright. You know how he is. If you refused, he'd just feel bad," Ethan said, taking a sip of his milk.

Just then, a dining staff member approached their table and placed a large, donut-shaped dessert in the center.

"Please enjoy. This is a special treat," the staff member announced.

"Oh? Is there something special today?" Nicolas asked, setting his chicken down.

"No, it's just someone's birthday. He sent this as a treat to all the soldiers dining here. Please enjoy," the staff member replied before walking away.

"This looks like a donut, but I can tell it's not," Alaric said, leaning in for a closer look.

"You're right. There's cream on top, but the base looks more like a cake," Sebastian added, inspecting it as well.

"Whatever, let's dig in!" Alaric, Sebastian, and Matteo each took a piece.

"Hmm.....… this is amazing!" Alaric's eyes widened as he licked his fingers. "Hey, you guys should try this!"

"You go ahead. Just looking at it, I can tell it's too sweet for me," Nitin said, leaning back in his chair.

"Yeah, same here. You guys can have my portion too," Ethan added, resting his head on the table.

"Come on, don't ruin the mood. At least try a bite," Alaric insisted, breaking off a small piece and holding it out to Ethan.

"Hey, I said no—" Ethan tried to resist but ultimately gave in, taking the bite.

"See? It's good, right? Hey, Nitin, you try some too," Ethan said, turning to him.

"You guys won't stop until I eat, huh? Fine, just a small piece." Nitin extended his hand.

Nicolas handed him a medium-sized piece. "Go on, taste it."

"This is too much," Nitin said, breaking it in half and giving the other half to Sebastian.

"At least he's eating," Alaric said, leaning back in his chair.

"Let's get some rest tonight. Who knows how much energy we'll need tomorrow," Matteo said, standing up.

One by one, the group left for their rooms.

Next Morning – Departure

Livio's group stood ready, waiting for their superior officer. Ethan and Oliver were there to see them off.

The air around them grew heavy as a man with a long beard and tied-back hair approached. Clad in black armor, he carried himself with an aura of authority.

"So, you're the ones chosen for this job," he said, looking at them as if they were mere insects.

"Yes, sir," Alaric responded, stepping forward.

"Good. I expect each of you to obey my orders without question, even if it means death," the man said coldly. "Since you're here, I assume you've all stocked your inventories with healing potions and weapons?"

"Yes, sir! We are fully prepared!" Matteo shouted.

"And the support member? Has he packed the food and drinks?"

The group hadn't taken supplies from the soldier's palace, as they planned to get them from Eero's bakery instead.

"Yes, sir! Everything is packed and ready," Livio quickly responded.

Sebastian subtly gave him a thumbs-up for the quick lie.

With everything settled, they took off on large enchanted leaves, soaring over the kingdom.

"Take care, guys! See you soon!" Ethan and Oliver called out as they watched them disappear into the sky.

Later at Eero's Bakery

A customer exited the bakery, carrying a package of donuts. Before leaving, he checked his handwritten bill and glanced inside the box with a suspicious look.

After traveling a short distance, he discreetly added something to the donut and resealed the package. Then, he continued on his way.

Not long after, a group of soldiers stormed into the bakery. They grabbed the man and slammed his head onto the counter.

"What the hell?! Who is he?" Athena gasped, startled.

The crowd inside the bakery fell silent. Some customers even stood up in shock.

"Did this man purchase a donut from your bakery?" one of the soldiers asked Athena, locking eyes with her.

Eero and a waitress had seen the transaction, and the waitress stepped forward.

"Yes, sir. He ordered a donut for takeaway. I was the one who took his order," she confirmed, hands behind her back.

"You have no proof! Maybe these soldiers paid you to lie!" the pinned-down man growled.

"Sorry to disappoint you, sir," the waitress said with a smirk, "but our order book uses special paper. Whatever we write on one page gets imprinted on another. It's a great way to catch people like you."

She flipped open the book, showing the soldiers the recorded order.

"Good," the soldier said. "Now, you'll die like a dog."

They dragged the man away as the onlookers whispered in hushed tones.