Principal Sophia's fingers twitched slightly; she had a sharp sense that something had just occurred within her domain, but the strange sensation was fleeting and elusive.
"Principal, what is it?"
Geoffrey, ever perceptive, noticed something was amiss with Principal Sophia and asked in a hushed tone.
Percival glanced over, curious.
Principal Sophia's eyebrows furrowed slightly, her golden hair shimmering in the sunlight, casting a radiant glow.
Yet, her doll-like face showed an unusual expression.
"There's something wrong in the domain!"
What?!
The two men's faces turned serious immediately.
How could there be a problem in the domain? It was Principal Sophia's domain, which had never had any issues for years.
Why now?
"May I ask, Principal, what seems to be the problem?"
Knowing the seriousness of the issue, Percival lowered his voice and asked carefully.
Principal Sophia closed her eyes again, tuning in to feel more deeply.
If her domain were likened to a program, she sensed there were some unfamiliar additions to the code.
"I haven't pinpointed it yet; I hope it's just my imagination."
"Keep a closer watch on what's happening inside."
Percival and the others nodded involuntarily upon hearing Principal Sophia's words.
Principal Sophia was not one to be overly suspicious.
If she felt something was off, there surely was something amiss!
This assessment was crucial not only for Star Cluster Academy but also for many wealthy families.
Should any issue truly arise this time, the academy's reputation would be utterly destroyed.
Everyone was paying attention to the situation among the three fortress strongholds, yet Principal Sophia distinctly felt her connection with the domain fading.
She vividly sensed something slowly vanishing from her mind, and her feeling of control over everything was diminishing.
No, this was not right! This sensation was completely incorrect.
It was not at all what one should feel when in control of a domain.
What was happening?
She took a deep breath, closed her eyes again, and carefully searched for that hint of irregularity.
It was too strange, indeed very strange; she had never experienced anything like this in all her years.
The senior members also seemed to notice something unusual about Principal Sophia, casting inquisitive looks her way.
But in the next second, Principal Sophia returned to her usual demeanor.
Indifferently, she observed everything in the silver mirror, as if all her previous concerns had been merely illusions.
In the Northernmost Realm of Alkaid, resources are scarce and the secret realms particularly treacherous.
Were it not for General Coldmoon's year-round vigilance, the dark god might have already invaded.
Mizar, as the Southernmost Realm, shares a certain similarity with Alkaid.
General Divinedragon has been its protector for many years, ensuring Mizar's peace.
read-on-MVLeMpYr
"If there are no objections, then I shall temporarily..."
Before he could finish, a scornful laugh erupted from the crowd.
"The one at the top of the leaderboard hasn't spoken yet, who do you think you are?"
A mocking remark from within the crowd drew everyone's eyes to John.
Everyone's gaze upon John was filled with wariness.
Indeed, the fearsome killer had yet to speak!
Some had not witnessed it themselves, but word had spread about this man who had slain over thirty people with a single skill! And in the end, he had faced a platinum-tier boss alone, at god-tier no less! Soloing the boss, he had conveniently eliminated many competitors.
Even Isabella and Amelia, ranked second and third, had some connection to him, and had even driven others away for his sake in the end.
Seeing all eyes on him, the man on the stage's face turned crimson with a mix of embarrassment and resentment.
John slightly lowered his eyes, his mind racing.
Since this was a team battle, leaders must be elected for each of the three fortresses!
Perhaps the so-called scores were based on which fortress had the most survivors, or who killed more monsters, he mused.
He didn't care much about how many were left in the end, but...
He glanced at the man on the stage.
John, naturally averse to hassle, wouldn't mind following a capable leader.
But this man... with his foolish appearance and clearly not the sharpest, and boasting about coming from Merak with such arrogance, clearly did not regard others highly.
Such a person would definitely not make a good leader.
"John, you agree, right?" someone asked with a smirk from within the crowd.
Following the voice, John looked around, and everyone bowed their heads, unwilling to meet his gaze.
The speaker cleverly disappeared into the crowd.
John's lips curled slightly into a smile as he slowly ascended the platform.
Upon the stage, Archibald Sterling's heart clenched with nervousness, and he instinctively stepped back, creating distance between himself and John.
Realizing how his actions might look, he blushed and forced himself to stand his ground.
"What... what do you intend to do?" he stammered.
John smiled lightly, his fingers caressing his staff.
Under the sunlight, the gem on the staff reflected a dazzling light, catching everyone's eyes.
"Coincidentally," he said slowly, "I was thinking I'd like to be the leader too."