Chapter 191

After Lane and Rielle rejoined the team, the headmaster delivered another speech. Finally, Charon Military School's founder, Jerome, personally escorted Emma and Erza to their car. He had always admired these students and held high expectations for them.

Before they left, Jerome stood outside the car window and said to Emma, "Emma, Mr. Hall told me he'll be waiting for you in Yenovia. Your mind will be at ease during the competition. You'll definitely win a grand slam!"

Only then did Emma realize Liam had arranged to pick her up from the airport; even Jerome knew. Erza pursed his lips, blew on his bangs, and said roguishly, "It's good you have your boyfriend waiting. You already have someone overseas ready to take you to the competition."

"Erza, don't be cheeky," Jerome said with a smile. "Your grandfather said if you don't win first place, I should recommend you directly to the army."

Erza was speechless. "Fine. I'll stop talking and pretend to be mute, alright?" he grumbled.

When Erza and Emma arrived at the Yenovia airport, the sky was filled with dark clouds, just as before. After collecting their luggage, they spotted a man with Hilopian features standing out from the crowd. At about six foot two, Liam wasn't short among the Peksians. He looked handsome and reserved, waving at Emma.

"Liam!" Emma exclaimed, pushing her luggage and hurrying towards him. "My love!" Charon Military School's closed-door training meant she hadn't seen him in days. "Airplane food tastes terrible. I want steak," she whined.

"I'll make arrangements," Liam assured her, hugging her waist dotingly. Before leaving, he glanced at Erza. "Is this your classmate, Erza?" He'd met Erza a few times; the young man, a member of the Burton family, was quite well-known in Troln City. Levi had also mentioned Erza often spent time with Emma at school.

"Want to join us?" Liam asked Erza, his calm voice carrying an undeniable air of authority typical of high-ranking individuals. He wasn't genuinely inviting Erza; the question served to assert Emma as his. Erza, accustomed to a less structured life, felt unusually subdued in Liam's presence.

Erza touched his nose, quickly pushing his suitcase forward. "No, I have practice."

Emma raised an eyebrow but said nothing. She went to the underground garage with Liam and they drove away. The Yenovia night was cold as they drove through the city streets.

After a good meal, Liam and Emma drove to her hotel. Sitting in the passenger seat, Emma lowered the window to feel the cool evening breeze. Rain had fallen; the air felt fresh. She relaxed for a moment, then closed the window. The atmosphere became quiet and intimate. Finally, Emma asked, "By the way, what's going on with the King's Association?"

Liam, behind the wheel, said, "Everything's going as planned. They're trying to target you in the Krot Competition, just like they did Justine five years ago."

Hearing this, Emma clenched her fists. "With the high-voltage low-pile net?"

Liam produced the detailed plan used against Justine. "Here's an analysis of what happened to her. Justine joined the King's Association; they had her physical data. She had a delicate physique and underwent intense training, resulting in a high heart rate. They used an electric current of about 50 volts to stop her heart. The electricity passed through her twice, so quickly no one noticed."

Emma listened, gripping the paper tightly. Her knuckles turned pale, the paper crumpled in her angry hand. "The day after tomorrow, at the competition, I will expose their evil deeds," she declared.

The tournament loomed; Emma and Erza had reduced their training. For the past two days, their coach had emphasized rest and recuperation—standard procedure at their level. However, according to the organizer's rules, athletes in the Krot Competition shared hotel rooms. Emma, however, had a luxurious suite to herself. The coach instantly recalled Jerome's comment about Emma's boyfriend waiting in Yenovia. He concluded Emma's boyfriend had likely arranged the single room. The coach was deeply anxious.

He considered subtly reminding Emma to relax and avoid overexerting herself before the competition, particularly during certain exercises. But looking at her innocent face, he hesitated. Was he overthinking? He decided to approach the subject indirectly.

"Hey, Emma," he called.

"Yes?" she replied, engrossed in stretching. The competition was tomorrow. The coach avoided the direct question, still worried something might go wrong. "How have you been finding Yenovia? Acclimatized well? Are you sleeping well at night? Everyone else shares rooms, and you're alone..."

He tried to be discreet, but his military background showed. The more he spoke, the more awkward he became. Emma showed little reaction, but her face flushed slightly. She simply stated she slept well and resumed stretching.

Erza, having overheard, approached with a sly look. "Emma, you've been with Liam the past few nights, right? The coach means you need to restrain yourselves for a few days."

Emma nearly choked. "Pervert, why are you thinking about that?" Liam hadn't slept with her these past few nights; he'd avoided it to prevent tiring her before the competition.

Emma wasn't overly concerned about the competition's outcome, but she needed to be fully focused to deal with the King's Association. Before bed, she put on the special black opal necklace Liam had given her, gently stroking the rose gold pendant. A small button was on its side. "Tomorrow, as soon as I reach the finish line—push this button," she reminded herself. Years of conflict with the King's Association were about to end.

The next day, Emma was taken to the competition venue to warm up. The Krot Competition was a world-class event featuring individual track races. Emma and Erza participated in the women's and men's 400m steeplechase, similar to her first monthly exam at Charon Military School.

It was a beautiful day—clear skies, no wind or rain. Emma joined the other athletes on the track, in lane three, the same lane Justine had used. She regulated her breathing before the race began. The gunshot fired, and she ran with incredible energy, quickly pulling ahead of the other competitors.

"Good job!" her coach shouted, standing excitedly in the technical area. "Good job, Emma, come on!" His excitement was palpable. "If nothing goes wrong, Emma will win Charon Military School's first gold medal in the Krot Competition!" he believed.