Ressa and Ano stood side by side in silence.
Aria and Aria were off on the side.
Ye Muo and Zenir skipped past the plesantaries and started discussing if there was anything good to eat at the banquet.
Ye Muo looked around. “I didn’t look yet, but that seems to be the beverage area over there. Bert and Adrian headed over just now.”
Zenir enthusiastically pointed everything out to Xavier. “Most of the drinks there are alcoholic so there’s nothing to see. That’s the dessert section with specialties from all sort of countries. Have you seen the map? I’ve been studying it since yesterday.”
Zenir lowered his voice, “There are so many tasty things back there. Anyone whose anyone that doesn’t want to be seen hanging out back there in their own reserved seats. Drinks and food are unlimited and brought to them in individual portions. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Alliance only serves them the best.”
Ye Muo also began to look forward to it. “Then let’s go and take a look for ourselves.”
Zenir deflated a bit. “But we won’t be able to have many things on the menu. I don’t feel comfortable heading to the area reserved for Kernan either. It’s hard to speak up there.”
Still, he seemed to cheer up somewhat. “But I’m sure Captain can do it. I’ll ask him how the food was afterwards. He was there last time as well. Apparently even the cutlery has gems inlaid in the handles. Unfortunately, he couldn’t comment on the food as he didn’t have much of an appetite.”
Zenir looked disappointed. “I heard even the decorative flowers on the plate were delicious.”
Ye Muo tugged on Zenir’s arm. “Then let’s go find my dad. He’ll definitely let us tag along.”
Zenir perked up before hesitating. “Are you sure it won’t be too troublesome for him? My parents told me not to follow Captain around all the time.”
Ye Muo turned to Aria and the others.
Before Aria could even speak, Ano straightened up behind her like a proper parental guardian. “If that’s what you want to do, then go. I’m sure Big Brother isn’t busy with anything official right now.”
Even if he was, this wouldn’t be the first time Xavier played nearby while he was working. Xavier should be free to do as he wished.
After receiving permission, Ye Muo pulled Zenir into the back.
Ano and Jacob were just steps behind.
Aria lingered for a moment. She turned to Ressa and extended a gentle invitation, “Would you like to come along as well as a guest of Grantz?”
Ressa put a hand to his chest. “I would be honoured.”
He ascended the staircase with the rest of the group. Looking up, he noticed many eyes turned their way, overt and discreet ones alike. Some looked away when Ressa met their eyes, while the rest didn’t seem to care.
Ressa was accustomed to their reactions by this point. Those who could frequent this area were either competition contestants or powerful officials. It was natural for these individuals at the top of their respective fields to behave arrogantly.
Ressa knew what their attention was drawn to. Grantz had been firmly thrust into the spotlight ever since the conclusion of the first round.
Ressa was willing to bet that intel on Grantz graced the desks of every national leader over the past few days.
This was the reality of the resource tournament: where every shift in the rankings rippled out and disturbed a delicate web of shared interests. It was because they originally gained the upper hand during their initial confrontation with Xiboen that Kernan was so relentlessly oppressed.
Grantz had proved their strength by eliminating so many countries in the first round, but they had also made many enemies.
Moreover, many more countries were itching to consolidate these new powerhouses of contestants into their own factions.
Ressa could already seen the incessant stream of probing and invitations awaiting the Grantz.
It mirrored his own experiences from when he first participated in the tournament. Even his country, Kernan, was also put under a lot of pressure.
Yet all that paled in comparison to what Grantz would experience.
The viewers were watching them as well.
[Ahh, why did they go inside! I can’t see them anymore…]
[Ressa headed in with the Grantz entourage. Does this mean Kernan and Grantz are planning to further their cooperation? Also, why did he tell them to be careful? It’s not what I’m thinking, right? That’s way too blatant.]
[What else can it be? Ressa’s insistence on staying in Kernan cost him greatly, and one contestant from a smaller country retired permanently last time the tournament was held. There’s probably a story there as well. It’s better to join the team of a larger country because they have the power to protect their contestants from harassment. That way, the team can focus on their performance in the tournament.]
……
The banquet attendees could socialize freely in the main hall.
Each country had a designated compartment away from the public venue for national leaders to take short breaks without disturbance. Naturally, sitting there was a clear signal that they were not up for socializing.
The compartments were circular in shape. The one Grantz was assigned was off to the side, opening up to the terrace on one side with a secluded corner inside as well.
Norton took a seat there as soon as he arrived. Dylan and Secretary-General Lin remained standing behind him. Helene had gone off somewhere on her own.
People came and went, but no one disturbed them.
Ye Muo locked on to Norton’s position as soon as he stpped into the spacious venue.
He deftly led Zenir over. Jacob and Ano exchanged a look before following.
They trailed behind at a leisurely pace.
It was only now that Zenir’s nerves got to him. He thought the rest area would be as crowded as Ressa mentioned. With everyone’s attention on the national leaders, he could slip off into a corner with ease.
Yet the space around the Grantz was so conspicuously empty!
Also, despite their leader appearing youthful, he didn’t seem approachable at all.
Which one was Xavier’s father again? Captain probably mentioned it before. Grr, Zenir forgot because he was too hungry. He would have done his homework if he knew things would come to this. Hopefully it’s that glasses-wearing fellow that seemed relatively approachable.
Ye Muo was oblivious to Zenir’s internal struggle. He made a beeline for Norton while dragging his friend along. Norton turned in their direction while they were still a ways away.
Zenir could only watch with wide eyes as Ye Muo walked up to Norton and called out, “Father.”
Ye Muo seemed self-conscious of their reason for coming here as well. He leaned closer to Norton and whispered, “We just wanted to sample the food over here. Zenir said it should be delicious.”
Norton didn’t seem to react. Secretary-General Lin leaned in from his side and told Ye Muo, “Please wait a moment, Your Little Highness.”
He headed to a nearby service desk to place the order. It would take a while for the food to arrive as everything was made to order here.
Ano and the others filed in behind Ye Muo.
Ano and Jacob casually took their seats. Aria was mindful of Ressa. “Feel free to sit wherever.”
Ye Muo: “Father, this is my friend Zenir and his team captain, Ressa.”
Ressa bowed to Norton. “Good afternoon, Your Majesty.”
Zenir’s brain had blue-screened from the moment Ye Muo referred to Norton as his father. Ye Muo never mentioned his father was the head of state! He knew he should have kept up with the news better…
Zenir snapped back to reality when his captain spoke. He stammered out something similar, “G-good afternoon, Your Majesty.”
Ressa only took a seat after Norton inclined his head in acknowledgement. Ye Muo pulled Zenir to the side as well. He sensed how nervous Zenir was and made sure to choose a seat further away from Norton next to Ressa.
Secretary-General Lin soon returned, flanked by a pair of tray-carrying waiters who served drinks to everyone in the compartment. Out of consideration for Ye Muo and Zenir, Secretary-General Lin had ordered non-alcoholic drinks only.
The young waiter set down a glass of milk in front of Ye Muo.
Ye Muo turned to look at Zenir’s drink, which was a glass of juice. Thank goodness they were roughly the same.
Zenir also made note of the milk. How childish. He was much more mature than Ye Muo.
Secretary-General Lin adjusted his glasses. “Lunch will be served in 13 minutes. Please be patient, Your Little Highness and Mr. Zenir.”
“Thank you.”
Zenir subconsciously straightened in his seat. “Thank you, sir.”
Secretary-General Lin stepped out again when there was only five minutes left and headed to the kitchens. He located the manager he had been working with before. “I would like to confirm the previous reservation for Grantz.”
The manager seemed conflicted. “Everything has been loaded onto the cart over there, sir. But a small problem has come up.”
There were four people standing by the cart. Judging by their outfits, two were staff members and two were banquet guests. Of the latter duo, one was a young man and the other was a older gentleman. The staff members were trying to reason with them, “The food here is reserved for Grantz, dear guests. Please wait a moment. You can also check with Grantz to see if they can spare some.”
The middle-aged man waved his hand dismissively. “That would take too long. Why don’t you leave the cart with us for now–”
Secretary-General Lin walked over and interrupted them. “Excuse me. We have no intention of sharing.”
He turned to the staff, “Please take the cart to the Grantz compartment.”
The middle-aged man glanced at his younger companion, who stepped forward and flashed the mech button on his wrist. “Too bad. We have no intention of backing down either.”
The staff members didn’t move.
Secretary-General Lin glanced in their direction.
The middle-aged man smiled thinly before lightly nudging the arm the young man was using to block Secretary-General Lin’s way. “Don’t be so impolite.”
He finally turned to face Secretary-General Lin. “We hold no ill will, so there’s no need to speak in absolutes. Why don’t you go back and ask your superiors if they would be willing to share some with us? After all, this matter isn’t something you can decide on, is it?”
Secretary-General Lin adjusted his glasses. “In other words, you two still intend to take the cart?”
“How about this? If you go back and ask, we’ll accept the outcome no matter what.”
“I will pass on the message.”
Secretary-General Lin left the kitchens and traversed the main hall.
Several discrete gazes around the room were directed at the Grantz department.
He headed straight to Norton. Everyone in the compartment turned to look at him. Dylan frowned at the evident lack of food.
“Your Majesty, some individuals have come looking for trouble. They’ve intercepted His Little Highness’ order and requested us to wait for a remake or hand over a portion of the food to them. They were unwilling to take no for an answer.”
Zenir’s eyes widened. He was too afraid to even make a sound. Witnessing this kind of thing first hand was embarrassing enough.
Ressa also subconsciously straightened, his brow furrowing. This was a bad sign. Kernan had also faced old-fashioned ostracization tactics like this before.
These scoundrels would probe the bottom line of their target bit by bit. It might just be food right now, but what about next time? Backing off would not garner respect, but being too rigid would just invite more negative attention. Of course, some countries were able to deal with this kind of pressure in a masterful way. They had expert diplomats who knew exactly how to shut down these tactics and minimize future fallout.
Ressa had a feeling that Secretary-General Lin was one such expert.
Secretary-General Lin lowered his voice, “This is an attempt to size us up, Your Majesty.”
Ressa couldn’t help but turn to look at him. He didn’t expect the man to be so frank with him around.
Ye Muo turned to Secretary-General Lin as well. He was almost finished with his milk. “Were they polite? I don’t mind sharing some with them if they were. I can wait.”
Secretary-General Lin recalled their demeanour. “I’m afraid not, Your Little Highness.”
The audacity of proposing such a request already indicated their lack of respect for Prince Xavier.
Norton inclined his head. “Dylan.”
Dylan nodded and departed with Secretary-General Lin.
Ressa began to worry as he watched Dylan depart. Was Dylan someone who could deal with a situation like this?
He knew from rewatching coverage of the first round that Dylan was from Grantz as well, but he hadn’t gotten to any footage featuring him yet. Still, Dylan didn’t seem like the guile, social butterfly type.
Aria was worried as well. “I hope Dylan can restrain himself a little. Xavier still needs to eat.”
Hopefully nothing would happen to the food. Xavier wouldn’t be able to grow taller if he went hungry.
