The face hidden beneath the hood radiated an indescribably eerie and sinister aura. Beside him, several high-ranking members of The Severian Syndicate Council- men who were usually arrogant and untouchable-were hunched over, wearing intensely sycophantic smiles as they poured premium red wine for the cloaked man. "Mr. Envoy." A balding, middle-aged executive smiled obsequiously, his eyes darting to the surveillance feed of the waiting room below. "As you can see, the captain of the Elyndor delegation won't be showing up. Elyndor is completely leaderless today. They are doomed!"

Another executive nodded eagerly. "Exactly. Without Serena, Elyndor is nothing. So what if they advanced seventeen people? Once they step into the arena, we'll crush them like bugs."

"Numbers alone can't win the grand finale."

The man known as Special Envoy Mordecai picked up his wine glass, swirling it slowly.

The crimson liquid danced against the crystal.

From the shadows of his hood, his viper-like eyes stared coldly at the Elyndor team

on the monitor, watching them fiercely defend Serena.

"Heh heh heh..."

His voice was a gravelly, sinister rasp. "Of course she won't show up."

"C, The Abyss's Top-Ranked Hunter, never misses his mark."

"Serena Lancaster is already a corpse."

He took a sip of his wine, a flash of sadistic pleasure crossing his eyes.

The Severian executives felt a chill race down their spines, but they kept their fawning smiles plastered on, nodding repeatedly in agreement.

They showered him with endless flattery.

Mordecai narrowed his predatory eyes, his gaze locking back onto the seventeen Elyndorian competitors.

Watching them look so young, vibrant, angry, yet utterly helpless, the twisted smile on his lips grew darker.

He tilted his head back, taking another sip of wine, his crimson-stained lips curving cruelly.

"Once the finals conclude, arrange something."

"I want all seventeen of these prime Elyndorian specimens sent down to the

underground base. Not a single one escapes."

He slowly placed his glass down. His voice was light, but it carried a bone chilling malice. "The Overlord. will be exceedingly pleased to have test subjects with such highly developed brain capacities.

The executives' faces paled slightly, but they immediately plastered on even more deferential, groveling smiles.

"Yes, absolutely, Mr. Envoy! Rest assured!"

"We've already made the necessary preparations. None of those Elyndorian

students will leave this building!"

...

Back in the waiting room.

The countdown on the main screen had hit the final three minutes.

Outside the doors, the arena announcer's highly dramatic opening monologue boomed through the surround sound. speakers, echoing in everyone's ears.

"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to The Global Elite Gauntlet: Grand Finale!"

"This is the ultimate battle for glory! The pinnacle of achievement! The final clash of the brightest young minds across the globe!"

Epic orchestral music roared through the stadium.

The atmosphere out in the arena was completely electric.

But inside the waiting room, the temperature had plummeted below freezing.

The Elyndor team was stretched to their absolute breaking point.

Lydia kept darting her eyes to the door, biting her lip so hard it almost bled. "Why isn't the Captain here yet..."

Caleb's palms were drenched in cold sweat as he tried to force his anxiety down. "She'll come."

"Yeah, she definitely will!"

Across the room, the Severian contestant checked the timer. "Less than three minutes."

He swept a condescending look over

the Elyndor team, his tone dripping

with

disdain. "It's almost over, and Youoader is still missing in action."

"It seems your precious Captain really has abandoned you."