66 Relaxation Week part 3

The Meng duo, Guan Yu, Yue Fei, and Baron were still discussing about the tournament that the Sun Alliance was setting up.

(BM) "I have not been to any of these official tournaments, is there anything that I need to know so that I can prepare?" Baron asked.

(MT) "I have been to this tournament many times in the past and there are actually 3 separate subcategories that are all under this name. As you guessed, it is the air, land, and sea. I have participated in the air portion multiple times." Meng Tian replied.

(BM) "Are we allowed to enter into more than 1 category?"

(MT) "Most people do, the entry fee for the first category is 1,000 if you want to do 2, then the fee to enter is 1,700. If you want to do all 3 then that will cost 2,000 silver coins. With the prized of all 3 being the same, most people wouldn't let such a good chance go to waste."

(BM) "I see, how far have you gotten into the tournament?"

(MT) "I have personally broken into the top 50, while my brother, Meng Yi, is about the top 100."

(MY) "This tournament is no joke I tell you. Just when you think that you have won, you find out that the master that you are up against has played you the entire time. The amount of masters you go up against is certainly worth it for the price, just being able to go against someone that you normally wouldn't get to is very beneficial to anyone who is seeking to become a master."

(BM) "I gather that means we will be able to spectate each match?"

(GY) "Yes, I believe that the best part of any tournament is to spectate and see how each strategist reacts to certain situations. The endless combinations of moves available to both strategists in even a single battlefield is always fascinating." Guan Yu added.

(BM) "I see, that does make sense. When do we register?"

(MT) "Just when we get there. Part of that fee goes into taking care of us like providing a room to rest and collect our thoughts. There is one last thing that you should know though. Official tournaments like this one and the faction selection tournament and the deathmatch tournament have very strict rules."

(BM) "How strict?"

(MT) "You know how so far in your sims, you have the strength and health of around 50 men?"

(BM) "Yes?"

(MT) "Well, you will once again you will have the stats of a regular man, this means that assassinations are much more common. You had best be wary of everyone around you. Heck, even your own soldiers will turn on you, or even bribed, if you aren't careful enough."

(BM) "Interesting, I suppose that that is why people who know how to fight is quite a hot profession here."

(MT) "Indeed, no matter how good you are at warfare you will not be able to do much in war if you are dead. Many people are willing to go to these lengths just so they can increase their chances of winning."

(YF) "Well, though they are fairly common in the deathmatch tournament it isn't very common in the community hosted events. Still, exercise caution and and you will be glad you did." Yue Fei added.

(BM) "That is very solid advice, thanks for telling me before hand. How do you think we will fare in this tournament then?"

(MT) "As the one with the most experience in the air battles, I say we have got quite a good shot that one of us makes it into the top 25, with some degree of luck of course. I can't say for the other two battlefields as I usually don't even bother with those two categories."

(GY) "This is where I have a little more depth than you, Meng Tian. I have been to a few of this particular tournament's, while I am quite confident in my abilities on land, I couldn't even hold a candle to these guys."

(BM) "That is quite a statement considering you are our best land based strategist."

(GY) "Unfortunately so, the winner last time was Wang Jian of the Yellow Wang faction and also one of the top 20 elders. Similarly, this tournament is hosted about 50, 100, and 150 years before every faction selection tournament. For quite a while now, the Yellow Wang faction's four co leaders have dominated the land portion."

(BM) "You mean Wang Jian, Li Mu, Lian Po, and Bai Qi?"

(GY) "Correct, in fact within the last 20 or so tournaments the four of them have always placed within the top ten."

(BM) "Is there no one else in the other two great factions that can best them? Why are they placing so highly?"

(GY) "From what I understand. The Sun Alliance is quite content with just spectating the tournament and most elders of that group aren't interested in joining the tournament. Also, the leader of the Sun Alliance, Sun Tzu, as well as the core of his faction hasn't been back in nearly 500 years. If they did participate, then the Yellow Wang faction will almost certainly be pushed out of the first place spot."

(BM) "What is the situation for the other great faction then?"

(GY) "..."

(BM) "What?

(YF) "The reason that Guan Yu is hesitating is because… well, there hasn't been much news concerning them recently."

(BM) "How is that possible for a faction as large as Middle Kingdom?"

(YF) "We're just as confused as you are. Their leader hasn't done anything noteworthy in over a century. It doesn't seem like the elders and those within the inner circle are that much more active either. There have been rumors going around that they are either preparing something big, or in the process of disbanding."

(BM) "Is there any basis for those claims? I have a hard time believing such bold claims."

(YF) "Yes, there has been a story that's been going around recently…"