Chapter 123: Rigged (3)

Lily gave a pessimistic smile. She very well knew what game Wrik was playing. There were 13 people sitting there; 14 counting Lora. She knew something like this would happen today. Wrik and his group already had the upper hand in numbers. Even the people they brought in are mostly under them. That's why she chose Lora to take part in the discussion, even though her chance of winning was low.

Actually, she did not hold much regard to be the flag holder as she could tell even if she became the leader; she had to listen to Wrik. 

Though Wrik was not detestable, her personality does not allow that, that's why she played an inside game before the discussion.

Lily eyed the corner of the table to a certain person. Sitara who could not be said as a part of Wrik's team. Lily had a friendly talk with this female archer before this, regarding the matter of leadership, though the archer had not given her a confirmation yet.

"We also chose sister Lily," Maidens said one after another, giving an icy stare a Wrik. 

'Why am I being the villain now?' Wrik sighed.

Dairyl choose Lily too, but she gave no glare at Wrik. Her behaviour was serene, like always.

Wrik shook his head. He expected something like this to happen as well, and the look Lily gave to Sitara did not miss his senses as well. But even with Sitara on her side, lily would not win. It would just balance out in a draw. Counting him, Wrik had seven votes.

But Wrik did not want a draw. Any delay might slow them even more, and who could tell there would not be a tear in their group? He very much did not want that.

Replying to Lily's smile, Wrik smiled as well. "I chose Michelle."

Not just Lily and her companions, even Wrik's group was startled at his phrase. They all expected to vote for Wrik, even Michelle herself. Even though the redhead had been a flag holder for a week, she found the job to be boring and too much of a hassle. She would be glad to hand over the reign to someone else.

Tanya was the next to voice out as she found out why Wrik chose Michelle. "Very well, I chose Michelle as well." 

Byul was not that stupid to notice that, chose Michelle as well.

"Flame Girl," Anton snickered. "Remember to be grateful to me." 

"Did I ask you, you crazy stalker?" Michelle yelled back. She had finally come up with a nickname for Anton. After knowing Anton's Class name, she came up with this, but being separated for a week, she did not get to call him that. 

"What did you say?"

Everyone's stare at the two of them made them silent. They decided to give another time for the argument. 

Within seconds, everyone except Sitara voted. Lily-6, Michelle-7. Now it all depends on Sitara. She could balance it out, or chose to vote for Michelle. 

Everyone looked at her, who was still bewildered. Fortunately, she was cleaver enough to know the ploy here. 

Gritting her teeth, she said. "Sorry, lily. I chose Michelle."

It was not that difficult of a choice for her. She had already gained the trust of Michelle. It would be better she capitalised on that for more. 

"What is happening? Why did you guys choose Sister Mischelle over Elder Sister Lily?" Lora asked. The thing that went down just now was over her.

"Be silent, Lora," Lily said sternly. "The meeting is over then."

"Yes," Wrik nodded. He felt a little bad for Lily and Dairyl. Dairyl had taught him so much, yet he played them like this. But he had no choice. If he wanted to get something from the Tower, he needed to do these types of things.

Wrik hardened his heart. Even if he did not like this type of scheming, he still had to do it.

Everyone stood up and chose to go back to their designated chambers. 

"Ahh, Lily, will you wait for a little?" Wrik asked. "I still have something to talk about with you in private." 

Lily said nothing, whispered something to Dairyl before waiting in the room.

Tanya, who was beside him, frowned at him for a little then went away with her two sisters. One by one all the others went away until only Wrlk and Lily remained in the stone room. 

Wrik looked at her and found no expression on her face, and she was waiting for him to open his mouth. But Wrik did not know where to start. Should he apologise first? Or asked what he wanted to do?

In the end, Lily opened her lips first. "You don't need to feel bad, Pretty Brother," she said, smiling at him. "In the end, all I wanted was to survive the test." 

Wrik sighed and nodded. Then he felt some discomfort in his senses. He looked forward and said, "Ton, go back now."

A snort came in return. Wrik enlarged his senses to find Anton moved away. This guy loves gossip too much. 

"Sorry about that," Wrik said, focussing on Lily again. "And about what happened today."

"Don't worry, I get it. You did what you thought would be best for your companions."

Lily's understanding nature made him feel even worse. But what he could do? What's done was done.

"Now tell me quickly what you wanted to tell. I'm feeling quite sleepy today."

Wrik nodded. "I don't know if you remember on our first meeting you said you said the first place is already fixed," he asked, eyeing her. "Why did you say that?"

A few lines appeared on Lily's forehead. She tried to recall what she said and sighed inwardly. "Did I say that?" she asked, feigning ignorance.

"Yes, when I said we could aim for the top spot, you said, that spot was already fixed." Wrik repeated. His eyes were still straight at her. 

"That's probably after I learned about Scythe's progress," Lily said, losing eye contact with him. "Don't think too much, Pretty Brother."

Wrik shook his head, sighing. "I know you have some ability to guess someone's nature or instinct. I have something like that too," he said. "But I did not even need to think twice to decide you are lying."

Wrik had a few suspicions about this matter. At first, he thought Lily only mentioned it as a saying, but then after getting messages from Ryat Higgs and Lucas, his thoughts were different. In those recorded messages, both of them indicated winning the Little war was almost impossible for them. 

By the time Lucas or the bald shopkeeper recorded the message, they should not have the slightest idea about the test, yet they were so sure about it. This did not add up with the general calculation.

If it was what he thought, then they were in for something even worse. 

"I have a hypothesis," Wrik said. 

"I am listening." Lily found no way out of it so decided to go with this. 

"As far as I know, you came to the test zone two days before us, right?"

"Yes," she sighed. 

"And Scythe came even before that. Four days or more," Wrik continued. "How do you think the allocation days of the participants are decided?"

"I have no idea.".

"Do you have any idea how far each participant drops?" 

Lily shook her head. "I know what you're trying to say," she said. "I came to the same conclusion as you. But this is just a hypothesis, we got no proof." 

"Yet we got so many coincidences," Wrik said in a cold tone. "You may just be happy with that thought, but I will not." 

There was no way it was a fair trial when someone get a head start of a week while someone got assaulted the moment entering the test zone. Wrik already concluded after getting the messages from Lucas and Ryat. He just needed to think twice to know that THIS GAME WAS RIGGED.

Scythe got one week of head-start along with other benefits. Arjamith got his allies together in one spot. Theiron, the noble son, found a flag within an hour of the beginning of the test.

What Wrik and his companion got? They got separated and assaulted the moment they entered. Byul and Tanya almost got enslaved if it was not for the last-minute decision made by Tanya. And all of his other's companions suffered a lot in the first week of the trial. Anton and Kevin became slaves—got beaten up bad every day. Davin and Jacob lost their sleep, moving day and night to find others. Moreover, they have no idea about Evan and the two siblings.

And this was not just done to Wrik and his group. Similar case happened to Lily and her sisters. What Lily got? She got separated from her sisters. Only had an adolescent child and Dairyl—who did not fight with her. And crazy orge after them.

"If they called this a fair trial, then even Maha will be damned," Wrik announced coldly.

Lily sighed again. "Did you mention this to anyone else?" she asked.

"I'm not so stupid," Wrik said flatly. Gossiping this around might have quite some difficult consequences, and it would only disappoint their teams. It's better they precipitate with all their courage in.

"Even with knowing all this, you will still try to win the game. Even Though there is no chance of success?" Lily asked. From the first day she saw Wrik, she guessed that. Yet she still asked.

Wrik gave a single nod.

"Then answer me a question." 

"Ask." 

"Why are you so eager to win?"

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End of Chapter: Rigged.

Next Chapter: Undercurrents.