"No…This can''t be real…This isn''t happing…"
As thunderous cheers reverberated in the ara after Colz Academy''s tertaining win, one man was despairing.
Elmer knelt on the g and grabbed his head with both hands, struggling to breathe as the reality of his betting station going bankrupt slowly sank in.
He wanted to run with all of his money but he would simply be hunted down by the authorities if he did so.
He knew how ruthless the city lord was wh it came to punishing betting stations who didn''t want to pay up.
In the d, he remained petrified in his kneeling formation. Too overwhelmed to make proper decisions.
To make things worse, the people a him startedughing at his misfortune.
Nothing was left of everything he worked hard for.
All of it.
Gone.
Unfortunately, such is the nature of his business. ELMBets was just one of the many betting stations in Valzia City so he wouldn''t get any special treatmt that would save him from this nightmare.
He was finished.
***
"I could not believe that just happed folks! There was just no way Colz won that easily. Someone! p me awake! That Colz Priestess is just too strong!"
Themtator said in a loud voice, emphasizing how Wdy single-handedly carried the tire match for Colz.
Such an overpowered barrier convinced some mysterious people from the crowd to act on their ideas–immediately, lest others do it first.
Watching Shye descd from the stage as he faked a stern expression, Kiin and the other represtatives almost died ofughter.
They''ve known each other for a long time and they knew that it was Shye who wanted tough the most right now.
Not only did they easily win, but they also probably secured a lot of fans.
After a shortughing session, the Colz group strode back to their academy stations in a good mood.
Daydreaming about various purchases they would make after iming their winnings.
Speaking of winnings, it seemed that Bart had another important announcemt to make.
Armed with overflowing confidce and a jolly smile, Bart ascded the stage and raised the microphone close to his mouth.
"Everyone! Are you not tertained?! Colz sure loves to surprise everybody, don''t they? Speaking of surprises, Valzia City has a surprise for bettors."
"We proudly announce that Valzia iming Station is now op."
"The iming station shall act as a regtor, suring that the bettors could im their winnings without any worries."
"Regardless of the betting station, as long as you have your receipts with you, the iming station will give you your winnings fairly."
"That''s all from me, please joy your winnings and your meal. The quarterfinals shall begin in two hours."
Bart gave the crowd a graceful bow before descding from the stage.
After Bart''s announcemt, the crowd immediately dispersed. Some dejectedly left Valzia City after losing a huge amount of money, some wt to eat, and some excitedly collected their winnings.
Naturally, everyone from Colz Academy was in the third group, immediately meeting at the rdezvous point to collect their winnings together, th, once the whole crew was together, they marched towards the newly oped iming station with giddy hearts.
Their thusiasm didn''tst long though.
Excited faces turned into frowns as a vast sea of people stood betwe them and their winnings.
Surely they wouldn''t have time to eat lunch or make it on time for the quarterfinals should they decide to brave the bettor queues.
Luckily, their striking appearance made them discernible from the crowd.
Seeing the slightly distressed looks on the faces of the Colz bunch, a service staff approached, reducing the frown on the deans'' faces.
"Hello, Your Excellcies." The service staff said, "Are you here to im your winnings?"
"Yes, but it seems like we would have to return another time or we wouldn''t make it in time for the quarterfinals." Dean Privett replied with a sigh.
"May we know the operating hours of the iming station?" Dean Snowcrest added.
"Actually, there''s no need to return another time." The service staff replied with a smile, "We have a special iming counter for those who were still in the tournamt."
Hearing the staff''s words, the frowns on the deans'' faces vanished.
"Please follow me."
***
After half an hour, the Colz group left the iming station with the widest smile they ever had in their lives.
Who wouldn''t wh your initial bet is multiplied by eighty?
As for Shye, he was on cloud nine. His initial bet of ,000 silver coins came back as a whopping 9,600 gold coins.
With this, he could ev choose to live in Valzia City for a a month and a half.
He wouldn''t do such a thing though.
After all, he had many years ahead of him so he shouldn''t let himself be short-sighted and splurge carelessly.
He nned to choose an advturer guild, stay in a rookie advturer-fridly city, and get some experice there.
The money would naturallye to him once he''s capable ough as an advturer.
Deep in thought, he didn''t notice that they already arrived back at the rdezvous point where they would go their separate ways to eat lunch.
Some of the instructors along with thepanion studts shall eat at a nearby cante while the represtatives along with the deans and a few other instructors will have food delivered to them inside the academy station.
Splitting up with thepanion group, the represtative group returned to the academy station.
Their faces turned into one of confusion as they arrived in front of the academy station due to the small group of unknown people d in pristine silk robes with a gold wing insignia on the right chest area of their robes.
Shye couldn''t recognize the insignia but the deans could and it was pretty evidt that something big was happing upon seeing the excited looks on the deans'' faces.
"Hello, Dean Evelyn Privett, Dean Sv Snowcrest. We are from the Gold Wing Spellcaster Shop. Please forgive us for reaching out with such inappropriate timing but I hope that you would find it in your hearts to understand us."
"If it''s possible, we would like to talk to one of your studts, Wdy Primrose."