Waking up too early left me feeling groggy.


    The other contestants, all first-timers to Lone Ind, were buzzing with excitement, chatting away non-stop. It was pretty loud.


    Flora took out her headphones and popped them on. Selene nced at Flora and quieted down.


    Mr. Tanner stared at the back of Flora''s head, looking worried. In the past, just the thought of Flora entering apetition could make him smile. But now, Flora hadn''t attended any of the training sessions. Could she really handle it?


    ...


    At exactly ten o''clock, the ne touched down. For all the contestants, it was their first time on Lone Ind. Once they got off, everything seemed new to them, like country folks visiting the city for the first time.


    Flora, carrying her luggage, walked at the back of the group. Herid-back and casual attitude made her stand out.


    "Is this the Austenberg team?" a staff member waiting outside the airport asked politely as they approached.


    "Yes," Mr. Tanner nodded.


    "Please head to the car on the far right. Someone will take you to the hotel."


    Following the staff member''s directions, they saw an open area with nearly a hundred buses parked. Contestants from various countries had arrived one after another, dressed in their national outfits with their country''s emblems proudly disyed. They all followed the staff''s instructions in an orderly fashion and boarded the buses.


    Nearly all the buses were full, and more teams kept emerging from the airport.


    As Mr. Tanner and his team were about to board their bus, a group of people in grey suits walked over. They seemed pretty important, as the staff member''s demeanor instantly became more respectful upon seeing them.


    "May I ask why you''re here? Does Ms. Abbey have any instructions?"


    The man leading the group gave a nonchnt grunt and nced over at Mr. Tanner and the others before asking, "Which one of you is Miss Joy?"Content ? provided by N?velDrama.Org.


    "That would be me," Joy stepped forward, having guessed these were Abbey''s people as soon as the staff member mentioned ''Ms. Abbey.''


    "Miss Joy, Ms. Abbey sent us to pick you and your friends up. Please,e with us to the car."


    He gestured towards a row of top-of-the-line stretch limousines not far away. Themotion drew attention from contestants of other countries, who couldn''t help but wonder since when did Austenberg have such connections on Lone Ind? To receive such treatment!


    "Oh my god, Joy, you know people on Lone Ind? This treatment is too good!"


    The Austenberg contestants were pleasantly surprised. While contestants from other countries had to


    to squeeze into buses, they got to ride in luxury limousines!


    "They mentioned Ms. Abbey... That must be Abbey, right? I could tell during training that Ms. Abbey thought highly of you! And now she''s even sent people to pick you up; she really treats you well!"


    Everyone looked on with envy. Being so highly regarded by Abbey was something many could only dream of.


    Joy''s lips curved up slightly as she basked in the envious gazes, lifting her chin a bit higher. This was more like it. She was meant to be looked up to.


    "Let''s go, let''s go. Hehe, thanks to Joy, we''ve made quite the entrance today."


    The contestants were thrilled. Thanks to Joy, they had a moment of glory in front of other countries.


    "Exactly. Without Joy, we''d be crammed in a bus right now! Thank you, Goddess Joy!"


    "Thanks, Goddess Joy!"


    "Don''t mention it."


    Joy smiled modestly, her eyes gleaming with pride as she inadvertently nced at Flora, who was trailing behind.


    "Flora, shouldn''t you say thank you as well?" Debra, the girl close to Joy, suddenly spoke up.