Chapter 1324
Nicholas extended his long fingers and smoothly plucked the microphone right out of the paralyzed Arbiter’s grip.
“As the sole Ultimate Silent Benefactor and the Chief Judge for The Global Elite Gauntlet: Grand Finale p>
Nicholas’s deep voice echoed powerfully through the massive waiting room. “I’d like to ask the organizers a very simple question p>
“According to the official rulebook for the grand finale, if a contestant arrives at the venue before the official starting bell, do they or do they not retain their full eligibility to compete p>
The Arbiter’s face lost all its color.
Before he could even stutter a reply.
Nicholas smoothly raised his hand, flashing his elite identification credentials.
Seeing the official red seal stamped on the document, the Arbiter’s face flushed a violent crimson. He couldn’t force a single word out of his throat.
“Furthermore p>
“Does a standard arbiter hold the authority to arbitrarily declare a contestant ineligible based on personal whims before the clock has even run out p>
“Does he have the power to revoke an official finalist’s status simply because a few defeated losers banded together to complain p>
He narrowed his eyes slightly, the suffocating pressure rolling off him crashing down with devastating force. “Does this behavior align with the tournament’s official rules p>
“Does it align with the international standards of fairness, justice, and
transparency p>
Question after question.
Each one slammed flawlessly into the faces of the Chief Arbiter and the organizing executives.
It left them completely and utterly speechless.
No one had anticipated this.
This ultra-elusive, top-tier benefactor, who practically never made public appearances, had chosen this exact moment to step out of the shadows.
And… he was blatantly backing the Elyndor delegation.
Cold sweat poured down the Arbiter’s forehead. His lips trembled. “Mr. Blackwood, this… this was all just a misunderstanding p>
“A misunderstanding p>
Nicholas’s lips curved into a smile, but there was absolutely zero warmth in his eyes.
“Publicly inciting a mob to strip a finalist of their qualifications is a misunderstanding p>
“Blatantly revoking a competitor’s rights well within the legal time limit is a misunderstanding p>
The executives on the sidelines turned deathly pale, exchanging panicked glances as a freezing dread crawled up their spines.
Finally.
The Arbiter buckled under the terrifying pressure. His legs gave out entirely, sending him crumpling to the floor in absolute defeat.
Wearing an expression of utter humiliation, he faced the global audience, looking toward Serena and the Elyndor team as he spoke into the microphone. “It has been confirmed. Elyndor’s captain, Serena, Lancaster, arrived before the official bell. She is fully eligible to compete p>
“The judging panel made an egregious error in judgment p>
“For this p>
His face twitched as he slumped over the console, bowing his head in total humiliation. “We offer our most sincere apologies to the Elyndor delegation and to contestant Serena Lancaster p>
The Elyndor section instantly erupted into uncontrollable cheers and applause.
Lydia was so thrilled she was on the verge of happy tears.
Caleb let out a massive breath, finally releasing all his pent-up frustration.
As for the previously arrogant Severian and Norvanian competitors, their faces were
now ashen as they stared at the floor.
Those who had eagerly raised their
hands to kick her while she was down tooked as if they had just been violently slapped across the face Their expressions were downright agonizing.
They all shrank back, entirely too terrified to make a sound.
Meanwhile.
Inside the VIP viewing lounge.
The sycophantic smiles on the faces of The Severian Syndicate Council members had completely frozen.
Sitting in the center of the leather sofa, Special Envoy Mordecai froze.
Beneath the shadow of his hood, his sinister eyes widened dramatically as he glared at the monitor, staring at the completely uninjured, lazily arrogant girl on the
screen.
*Crack p>
The stem of the crystal wine glass splintered under his crushing grip.
A second later, he shattered it entirely into a pile of jagged shards.