Shirleyviel paused before continuing.
“This Graduation Duo Tournament is the perfect opportunity. It is a chance for us to conduct our ‘experiment’ out in the open.”
“My Spatial Blockade and your Extreme Cold Imprisonment. In theory, if we cooperate perfectly, we can just lock Mr. Cat by our side without worrying about what he is trying to do.”
Shirleyviel turned her gaze toward Otillia.
“But we have never truly joined forces before. This tournament is the best stage to test whether our theoretical lockdown techniques actually work. Besides, Mr. Cat and that Imperial Prince were assigned to the graduation group. We can take this chance to see just how strong Mr. Cat really is.”
“Once we know his true strength, our future actions will go much more smoothly…”
“Lady Otillia, you wouldn’t want Mr. Cat to—”
“His name is Ian…”
Otillia felt a surge of discomfort listening to Shirleyviel call Ian ‘Mr. Cat’ in that ethereal, soft voice.
It felt as if the other woman was savoring her man right in front of her.
Thus, Otillia decided to speak up and correct her.
However, Shirleyviel merely shrugged and continued, unbothered.
“Lady Otillia, you don’t want Ian to leave our side either, do you? Locking him firmly within our reach is the best outcome, isn’t it?”
At those words, Otillia’s breathing hitched for a moment.
She imagined Ian imprisoned within the ‘Love Nest’ she had prepared.
A heat mixed with tremors and excitement instantly swept through her entire body.
“Then, what happens after the experiment succeeds? After he is locked down, who does he belong to?”
That was the core issue.
Shirleyviel’s smile remained unchanged, but a cold sneer flashed deep within her red eyes.
“Then… it will be up to our own abilities. During the period the ‘shackles’ are in effect, whoever can make him ‘willingly’ let us brand him first will have the right of priority. As for afterward…”
She looked toward the endless night sky, her voice light and airy.
“Perhaps we can continue to cooperate. After all, monopolizing him alone carries too much risk. We still have our public identities to maintain. Without the convenience brought by our status, things will become very troublesome later. Having two people involved is simply more convenient, isn’t it?”
Shirleyviel’s proposal was bold and insane.
Even though it meant she couldn’t have Ian all to herself…
The woman was right.
She couldn’t discard her status as the daughter of a Marquis, just as Shirleyviel couldn’t discard her status as a Duke’s daughter.
At least, not yet.
Otillia stared at Shirleyviel for a long time before finally reaching out her hand.
“Then I wish us a happy cooperation, Miss Shirleyviel Connalt.”
Shirleyviel let out a soft laugh and reached out her own hand.
“Happy cooperation, Miss Otillia Filimon.”
—
Three days passed in the blink of an eye.
The Imperial Royal Magic Academy’s annual Graduation Duo Tournament officially commenced.
The entire academy square was divided into several arenas of various sizes by magical barriers.
The area was bustling with people, and the atmosphere was electric.
Most of the lower-year students gathered in the freshman group area, while the arenas for the graduation group were set up in the most prominent positions at the center of the square.
A massive crowd had gathered, including academy tutors, noble spectators, and guests.
Even William Reinhardt, the King of the Chester Empire, was personally in attendance.
He was accompanied by the five legendary tutors of the Imperial Royal Magic Academy and the Stargazer, Marguerite.
There was no doubt that King William had come specifically for Amivy.
Ian stood in the preparation area for the graduation group contestants.
Looking at the elite upperclassmen around him — all of whom possessed steady auras and restrained Mana that marked them as dangerous — he felt like a husky that had wandered into a wolf pack.
Beside him, Amivy stood tall and proud, a fierce fighting spirit burning in her ice-blue eyes.
The “special training” from the past few days had actually ignited a powerful desire to win within her.
She swore she would prove herself on the stage of the graduation group!
“Are you nervous, Excellency Chaoslanna?”
Amivy glanced at the silent Ian and asked in a deliberately provocative tone.
Ian looked at her gloomily through his mask.
‘Who do you think caused this situation?’
However, Ian maintained his dignity as an ‘instructor’ outwardly.
“I’m fine. Please rest assured, Your Highness. I have already devised a tactic!”
“Oh! Well done, Kevin!”
Amivy’s eyes lit up when she heard Ian mention a ‘tactic.’
Just as she was about to ask for details, the high-pitched magical loudspeaker in the preparation area rang out with a clear, resonant announcement:
“Graduation Duo Tournament, first round, third match! The ‘Brave Party’ versus the ‘Academy Chief Reserve Team.’ Will both sets of contestants please head to Arena 3 immediately!”
The Brave Party referred to Ian and Amivy.
The Academy Chief Reserve Team was usually composed of the top elite students from the fourth-year class, with strengths reaching at least the level of a Rank 4 High Magic Master.
Hearing this, Amivy’s battle intent surged, and she temporarily pushed the question about the tactic to the back of her mind.
“Let’s go! Excellency Chaoslanna, let us go take our first victory!”
“Right.”
After Ian responded, the two walked side by side toward Arena 3 in the center of the square.
Two young people dressed in deep blue academy uniforms were already standing on the stage — a man and a woman.
Their auras were steady, their gazes sharp, and the fluctuations of Mana around them were suppressed but potent.
They were clearly experienced experts.
The spectators in the stands began to whisper when they saw the matchup.
“The Brave Party? That’s the one wearing the mask, right? I heard he’s the one instructing Prince Arthur.”
“Their opponents are Leona the ‘Frost Blade’ and Garl the ‘Earth Bulwark’! They’re a duo ranked within the top fifty of the fourth-year class!”
“But Prince Arthur is the Hero, after all. It should be a fairly even match.”
In the VIP viewing gallery, King William’s gaze swept over the arena.
His eyes shifted as he whispered a few words to the Academy Dean standing beside him.
The Dean’s expression changed slightly, but he immediately nodded and notified the referee’s bench via magical transmission.
The moment Ian and Amivy stepped onto the stage, the referee’s voice echoed through the field via amplification magic.
“Due to an emergency adjustment by the tournament committee, the matchup for the third arena has been changed! The opponents for the ‘Brave Party’ have been swapped to — the ‘Royal Guards Magic Research Class Representative Team’!”
As soon as those words were spoken, the entire audience erupted in an uproar!
The Royal Guards Magic Research Class was filled with quasi-Rank 5 experts who possessed extremely rich combat experience, or those granted special admission due to their talent or military merit!
They were veterans of actual combat!
They usually only participated in top-tier exhibition matches or invitational matches for the graduation group.
They rarely appeared in the regular rounds, let alone the first round!
In the stands, Marguerite was startled and seemed about to say something to King William.
But King William merely waved his hand, a hint of an interested smile playing on his lips.
Seeing this, Marguerite could only swallow her words of protest.
She could only silently pray for her only student not to be beaten too badly.