After Aefel was done checking all the cages, he gazed at the kids who were still facing the wall with their hands raised.
He thought for a minute and a wide grin smile appeared on his face. He grabbed one of the guards and asked him to escort the kids back.
Kyle’s eyes trailed around the empty room as he followed behind the guard clad in a blue uniform with the others. While he was standing in punishment the cages were transferred to another place.
He quickened his pace to arrive beside Regius and patted his shoulder.
“What about the mermaid?”
Regius shrugged his shoulders with a conflicted expression.
“After we got caught Yue’s father asked someone to take her away. He said he would take care of this matter.”
Regius hummed and gazed at Yue.
“Yue, you should ask your father to release her. So, she can go back to where she came from. After all, We did so much to save her.”
Yue didn’t reply. She thought for a second and gave him a nod. The matter regarding the mermaid was quite sensitive that’s why she wasn’t sure if her words would have an impact on this topic but she would talk to her father to see what he could do.
Kyle sighed. He wasn’t worried about the mermaid. He just wanted to send her back safely because she knew Nine.
The remaining distance was covered in silence as the guard let them out from the underground auction.
The street outside was crowded and messy. A few guards were dragging some individuals dressed in luxury attires who were crying their hearts out. The underground auction was surrounded and Kyle was sure Aefel captured all the people who were present inside.
He gazed around, the once vibrant and loud festival was quiet with many onlookers peeking at the people who were being dragged out from the underground auction. All the shopkeepers and stall owners were closing their businesses with resentful looks because it was the first time the elven festival was stopped mid-way.
Kyle and the others reached the hotel within an hour. They secretly smiled with relief because Aefel forgot to punish them further. However, they were utterly wrong.
The man was crueler than their imagination. Including Yue his daughter, all six of them were forbidden to leave the hotel without permission.
Regius sneered as they sat down in the hotel lobby to eat something.
“So what we can just run off secretly.”
His happiness was cut short because a group of bulky guards arrived at the hotel to keep an eye on them.
In the end, all of them were stuck in the hotel for the next few days.
Sinon cried out loudly to voice out his grievance but he shut his mouth after he got a glare from one of the guards.
After eating some snacks, they all staggered to their rooms with dejected expressions. Anyway, it’s not like they had anything else to do. So, what’s the point of sitting in the lobby?
Kyle gazed at their backs with a strange expression. Alas, it seemed he was the only one who didn’t find this arrangement strange. As lazy as he was, he decided to just spend his days in luxury.
His next few mornings were peaceful. He ate delicious elven dishes, bathed and wore clean clothes, slept under a warm blanket without any care. He was truly enjoying himself.
Just like that the day when they had to leave the hotel arrived.
Kyle dragged his body out of bed and took a long warm bath. He wore a long-sleeve brown hoodie coupled with leather boots and left his room.
After a minute, he arrived at the lobby and met with the others.
Just like them, all the participants who were told to stay in the hotel stood obediently in the lobby.
A few minutes later, Anlee and Dynn arrived at the hotel. The duo counted the kids and Anlee was the one who clapped his hands to gather everyone’s attention.
“Alright, I believe you all have rested enough. Now follow me.”
The old man led the kids outside. They traveled on foot for an hour before stopping in front of a large platform.
A huge teleportation Array was set up in the middle of the platform.
Kyle’s gaze drifted off to the other end of the platform. Aira the one who arranged the event with Anlee was standing in front of a group of kids.
As if noticing Kyle’s gaze, she lifted her eyes to look at him for a brief moment before she retracted her gaze to look at Anlee.
She talked with him while Dynn merged the two groups of kids and asked them to stand in the middle of the platform.
Afterward, Dynn stood in front of the platform and gazed at Regius with a serious expression. His voice was heavy as he patted his shoulder.
“Kid, the moment you joined the event you stepped on a path of no return. Now, I can’t do anything. So, try to work as hard as possible because I don’t want you to die out there.”
Regius was confused but Dynn only gave him a faint smile.
“Your grandmother gonna miss you so make sure to come back alive.”
Dynn sighed and left the platform. He talked with the King and found out about everything but it was too late. Regius’s name was already included in the list of the individuals who would enter the Secret Realm from Kingdom Tersia. Even when Dynn pleaded with the King the latter didn’t budge. Now, the only thing he could do was wait Or find another way to persuade the King.
After he left, Aira arrived in front of the kids. Her expression was cold as usual. She raised her voice to speak loudly.
“After the event, a total of 116 participants won, and now including the new arrivals there are 200 individuals who would enter the special training conducted by the King.”
“I hope all of you work hard because it would be a pity if so many talents from Kingdom Tersia died in vain.”
Her voice was grim when she spoke the last sentence. Just like Regius, everyone listening to Aira was confused. Why was she talking about death when they were just going to train?
However, their questions remained unanswered because the Array below their feet lit up with a bright light.
Anlee nodded at Aira and stood in front of the kids. In the next second, he and everyone else standing on the platform vanished.