Chapter 163: It Begins
"Lucien Vilheart."
When someone murmured that name in a low voice, the atmosphere in the tavern shifted completely.
The candidates and casual customers who had been chatting moments before all lowered their voices unconsciously. Even a few who had been drinking until their faces were flushed turned toward the door, a hint of seriousness creeping into their eyes.
Zich followed their gazes. The young man walking at the front had golden hair and wore a white gold coat. A faint warm smile rested on his face, unlike those that belonged to arrogant young masters.
But precisely because of that, he stood out all the more.
Some people needed loud voices and outward displays of force to remind others of their presence.
However, Lucien didn’t. The moment he simply stood there, everyone around him had already taken notice.
The two girls and one boy behind him were equally elegantly dressed, their movements unhurried and measured, clearly shaped by long term family education and mage etiquette.
"He’s one of the most favored contenders in this tournament."
"I heard his Light Flame has extremely strong suppression against undead and shadow type targets."
Though the murmurs were kept low, they reached Zich’s and the others’ ears clearly, but they showed no excessive reaction.
He simply watched quietly as Lucien entered the bar.
Lucien, for his part, made no move to show off. He merely turned his head to say a couple of words to his companions behind him, his tone gentle and his smile steady, then headed toward an empty table.
Just as he was about to sit down, his gaze suddenly swept across half the bar and landed on Zich.
Their eyes met briefly.
Lucien displayed a polite smile that lacked any form of hostility.
Zich looked back at him calmly, neither averting his gaze nor returning any exaggerated expression.
After giving him a small nod, Lucien withdrew his gaze first and sat down at his table.
The area around that table quickly grew quieter as none of the others dared to say a word, afraid of catching the attention of the four powerful mages.
Helen leaned in slightly and said in a low voice, "Lucien Vilheart. One of the Fourth Shelter..."
Zich picked up his cup, his tone steady.
"I know enough."
"You know his abilities?" Helen asked.
"To a certain extent," he replied. "The forums have said plenty already, but then again, he might still have hidden trump cards up his sleeve."
Helen nodded. "Good. He’s not an ordinary mage. The Vilheart family has always been known for Light Flame type classes, and Lucien is the most anticipated of their generation."
Jayden suddenly chimed in. "He’s not weak."
Everyone turned their heads toward him, a trace of surprise in their eyes.
"I’m not concerned about you," he said when he noticed everyone looking at him. "It’s just that if you lose too stupidly, it’ll affect humanity’s standing."
Zich paused for a moment. "That sounds very selfish, no matter how badly you try to cover it up."
Jayden turned his face away, hiding the twitching of his lips. "Interpret it however you want."
Helen looked at him, her expression softening slightly.
Although this wasn’t reconciliation, for Jayden to offer Zich a reminder at a time like this already showed that he was starting to put the tournament and humanity’s overall performance ahead of personal grudges.
They finished eating shortly afterward, and Helen paid the bill. As the four left the place, quite a few gazes still followed them.
Lucien remained at his table, watching the direction in which Zich and the others had left.
The young man beside him asked in a low voice, "That’s the summoner, right?"
Lucien nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
"He doesn’t look as exaggerated as the rumors say." The young man clicked his tongue. "Up close, he looks so fragile and weak, unlike in the simulation. I almost didn’t recognize him."
Lucien lifted his cup, the smile at the corner of his mouth deepening slightly.
"The better someone is at hiding, the less they let you see from the outside."
The young man looked thoughtful upon hearing that.
Lucien’s gaze remained fixed on the doorway as he said thoughtfully, "If any of you run into him in the next stage, don’t underestimate him in any way. If you do, it might cost you dearly."
After saying that, he finally withdrew his gaze and took a light sip from his cup, his eyes flashing sharply.
...
The next morning, Central City was even more bustling than the day before.
The streets were packed early. Event staff constantly guided spectators from different races through various passageways. Massive holographic screens lit up one after another above the city. All roads leading to the main arena were under temporary control.
Starting today, the second stage of the Chosen Tournament would officially enter public broadcast.
This was completely different from the first stage.
The elimination rounds of the first stage had only been shown in observation halls and on a few authorized platforms, serving more as a screening round for high level powers, judges, and representatives of various races.
But the second stage was different.
This was a competition truly open to the public.
The main arena of Central City was already packed with spectators, and various banners hung high above. They talked and gossiped among themselves, their voices so loud that they could be heard even outside the city.
Meanwhile, the broadcast had also begun in the real world.
In some squares of the middle and outer rings of Stoneheart City and other major cities around the world, officially authorized projections were playing footage from Central City.
Near the Grave family cemetery, a smaller broadcast screen had also been set up.
It was a temporary setup pieced together by a few nearby residents following a direct order from Arthur, who wanted those from the outskirts, where Zich had come from, to see the tournament live as well.
In all the past years, it was the first time this had happened, and everyone knew why.
Leon stood at the very front of the crowd, arms crossed, his face barely concealing his pride.
"See that? In a bit, my son will appear."
Someone beside him laughed and said, "Leon, you’ve said that over a dozen times already."
"So what?" Leon declared loudly. "My son’s on the big stage. I could say it a hundred times, and it still wouldn’t be enough!"
Lorraine stood beside him, face palming. She already had a light migraine after trying so many times to stop him from boasting and shouting.
Still, even though she could rein in her emotions better, her eyes were a mix of pride and worry.
No matter how capable Zich had become, in her eyes, he was still the child who would come home from the graveyard, the one she’d check for injuries.
On the screen, the view of Central City’s main arena gradually zoomed in.
The candidates’ passageway began to light up, showcasing the thirty two candidates....The next and final stage of the tournament was about to begin.
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