"Ah? Ah! Y-Yes! Sir Daru!"
Only after a few seconds did Cindy snap out of her stupor, definitely not looking as competent as she’d claid.
"Just Daru’s good enough, but I’m fine with whatever you’re comfortable with." Daru added, shifting the topic to more aningful things: "I was told you’d lead to the eting?"
"Yes, please follow ."
Daru’s eyes watched her small form as she passed him, then followed, noting that she seed very uneasy around him, for so reason.
She was walking considerably faster than was necessary.
Unfortunately, he wasn’t very skilled at handling such situations, so he just put the matter to the back of his mind and walked behind Cindy, looking around and appreciating the Governnt Compound.
The short handler glanced from ti to ti, but whenever Daru would try to make eye contact with her, she would quickly look away.
’We’ll probably get along in ti...’ he shrugged inwardly.
Soon, they arrived before tall doors, bold but controlled chatter making its way into the duo’s ears.
Cindy cleared her throat, took a deep breath, then pushed the door open, encouraging Daru to follow her — timidity gone, replaced by cold professionalism.
Daru did.
He was greeted by a luxurious chandelier suspended from the ceiling, a vast eting table with at least 100 seats, and unfamiliar people.
For a mont, the hall descended into probing silence as eyes landed upon the two new arrivals with heavy scrutiny.
Cindy was trembling deep inside, but she didn’t show it.
She was a Handler of Iron Lotus. The one responsible for Onimaru Kunitsuna.
She could not show the slightest hint of incompetence. Not here, at least.
The Iron Lotus representative examined them for a while, inwardly nodding at the fact that Daru and Cindy carried themselves with a disposition worthy of their guild’s na.
This was the first ti most of them were eting each other, after all, so even between allies, probing existed.
Most of them...
A pair of pleased silver eyes locked on Daru, imdiately recognizing him with a sweet smile, and then approached.
Daru, having just arrived at the part of the vast eting table where the representative of Iron Lotus was waiting alongside three more talents and their handlers, bowed at the faintly smiling, bespectacled, stern man who offered to shake his hand.
He politely returned the greeting, then sat at a free seat while ignoring the searing gazes from not only the three Iron Lotus youngsters but also those from other guilds.
Cindy made herself comfortable beside him.
Just when the short handler had made up her mind to better her relationship with her talent, she noticed an approaching silhouette.
Her sudden head turn prompted Daru to instinctively do the sa.
Cindy’s eyes widened, and she failed to stop her body from shaking a little. Daru, on the other hand, only reacted with high brows.
"Why, aren’t you a star, Onimaru Kunitsuna?" greeted a familiar voice jokingly. "You didn’t even bother looking this princess’ way..."
"Ah, hey, Elara. I didn’t expect to see you so soon. Antariel is quite far, after all."
"Right? I an, can’t this eting just be decided through an email? There isn’t even a difficult decision to be discussed here!" Elara complained with familiarity. "You, , everybody knows the rest!"
She said it so bluntly and casually, but the aning of her words did not sit well with the other twenty-three talents in the room.
They respected Onimaru Kunitsuna to a degree.
However, they didn’t believe they should be brushed away so easily, either.
From what they heard, he just relied on a strange summon to make Skylar Ashwind give up on the match.
While obtaining that is impressive in and of itself, the victory could be attributed to at least fifty percent luck, perhaps more.
This ant that they were just as competent as Onimaru in terms of raw combat prowess.
At least that’s what they believed.
Still, despite Elara’s bold words, no one resented her, only Daru.
Even the talents from The Ivory Enclave, who thought they should be the ones closest to "The Princess", found themselves frustrated at the unexpected closeness.
How and when the hell did one of the Four Starblades, Sigrun, et Onimaru Kunitsuna?
Animosity simred as Daru continued chatting with Elara.
Cindy was quite envious on so many levels and for so many reasons. Yet, inwardly, she was thrilled and deeply impressed.
Her talent, Onimaru Kunitsuna, actually has a connection with one of the Four Starblades, and based on how Sigrun was talking, she considered him her equal!
It was a privilege to be so close, acting busy with her journal while eavesdropping on their casual conversation.
The Iron Lotus Representative seed curious, too, but knew it was inappropriate and a bit pathetic to use this chance to chi in.
The stern, bespectacled middle-aged man shall ask his guild’s young talent later.
Everyone had their own opinions about the situation.
So focused on the mysterious Onimaru Kunitsuna; others on the interaction, while a few on their disdain and disappointnt towards the only S-ranker in the room.
Soon, however, everyone was forced to drop their thoughts as the door creaked open.
A familiar figure to Daru, surprisingly serious and dignified this ti, entered.
The one in charge of humanity for the Yggdrasil Race, Sword Saint Caladbolg, had arrived. Trailing him were two familiar young n.
’Caleb?...Nando?’ Daru wondered why the two were here.
"Everyone, take your seats." Caladbolg’s voice carried a firm, commanding edge, and the representatives, talents, and handlers obeyed without hesitation.
Even the Sword Saints of their guilds wouldn’t cause trouble with the old man around.
The exalted saint scanned his eyes over the room, nodding in satisfaction after confirming that everyone was ready.
"Alright, let’s not waste ti. I have received recomndations, and so I will na the five representatives of the human race in the Yggdrasil Race. If anyone objects, you may raise your hands and challenge the decision. Then, we shall discuss. Gram, Chi Xiao, Sigrun, Durandal...and Onimaru Kunitsuna."
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