Chapter 1243
He needed to understand the gravity of this.
The logistics of the tournament were supposed to be entirely under the Prescott family’s domain.
Every single detail should have been firmly within their control.
Yet, the Elyndor team seemed to know exactly what they were going to do. Every step of the way, they flawlessly sidestepped the Prescotts’ traps, having prepared countermeasures and backup plans for everything.
The Prescott network hadn’t caught wind of a single move.
The realization sent a chilling dread down Phelps’s spine.
When he looked at Serena, that eerie feeling only intensified.
This woman p>
It was as if she had the ability to predict the future.
No, that wasn’t it.
She wasn’t just getting lucky, and she wasn’t just barely dodging their traps.
It felt like from the very beginning, she had never viewed the Prescott family as a threat.
The more Phelps thought about it, the more agitated he became. He clenched his fists, the toxic malice in his eyes nearly overflowing.
He stared fixedly at the Elyndor section, his eyes locking onto Serena at the front of the formation.
He refused to accept this.
Elyndor couldn’t possibly stay lucky forever!
He turned his head, exchanging a quick look with another tournament official nearby.
The official gave a subtle, almost imperceptible nod.
Only then did a cold, cruel smirk touch Phelps’s lips.
Fine.
Let’s see how this plays out.
No matter how much Serena planned.
He wanted to see how the hell she was going to get out of the next trap he had set!
Soon, the opening ceremony officially commenced.
Grand, stirring music echoed through the arena as the stage lights flared to life.
According to tradition, the captain of each nation’s team was required to carry their country’s flag, leading their squad down the main central runway while the live audience and global broadcast cameras watched.
Serena was the undisputed choice for Elyndor’s captain.
“Captain, you’ve got this p>
“It has to be Serena representing Elyndor p>
“Yeah, no one else fits the role p>
Mr. Ashwell naturally had no objections.
Serena was already the captain of the top-ranked Elyndor team.
In terms of presence, the ability to command a room, and her current core status within the squad, she was the only one suited to stand at the front and carry the Elyndor flag:
Moments later, a staff member walked over, carrying the metal flagpole bearing the Elyndorian flag.
“Elyndor Team, please prepare for your entrance p>
With that, he handed the flag to Serena.
She reached out and took it.
The moment the metal touched her palm, her eyes turned ice-cold.
There was something wrong with the pole.
The weight was off.
The center of gravity was wrong.
On the surface, it looked perfectly fine, maybe even a bit more polished than a standard flagpole.
But with a slight twist of her fingers, her sharp senses detected that the internal load-bearing structure had been deliberately compromised.
It wasn’t natural wear and tear.
Someone had sawed through the internal support, leaving only a thin outer layer of metal holding it together.
If she marched in and gave the flag even a slightly forceful wave p>
The pole would snap right in half!
And if it snapped p>
The flag would hit the ground.
On a global live broadcast, in front of millions of watching eyes.
It wouldn’t just be embarrassing.
It would turn Elyndor into a monumental international joke.
It would grind their nation’s dignity right into the dirt.
And the Severian committee would only have to issue a sincere public apology.
They could easily scapegoat and fire a “temporary intern from procurement,” washing their hands of the whole incident.
Mr. Ashwell had been keeping a close eye on her. Seeing her brow furrow ever so slightly when she took the flag, his heart instantly skipped a beat. He lowered his voice. “What’s wrong p>
Serena’s expression didn’t change. She just shook her head slightly. “It’s nothing p>