A middle-aged man appeared on the podium, looking only about thirty-five or thirty-six years old. With a clear and steady voice, he greeted everyone, his face wearing a warm and friendly smile.
His sharp appearance, cheerful tone, and the relaxed confidence radiating from his entire being made it obvious even from a distance that he possessed a well-trained, perfect physique. He was clearly a Genestellar—and a formidable one at that.
"This man is actually an alumnus of Seidoukan Academy and once dominated the Phoenix Festa!" Claudia whispered quietly to Roy and the others beside her.
As the chairman of the Festa Operations Committee—essentially the supreme commander overseeing all matters related to the festival—he was akin to a film director or a classroom teacher. Given the importance of the Festa, he was undoubtedly a high-ranking executive of the conglomerate, holding a position even higher than Kirito's uncle, Kouichirou.
"He doesn't look like someone who's undergone mental conditioning," Roy remarked, subtly observing Madiath Mesa on the stage.
This world's conglomerates had a peculiar rule: to become an executive, one had to undergo mental conditioning, abandoning personal desires to uphold fairness and impartiality as a prerequisite for management.
In other words, no matter how high-ranking an executive might be, they were essentially just a cog in the conglomerate's machinery, devoid of personal desires.
To become one of the conglomerate's highest executives, the requirements were even stricter. One's mentality had to be adjusted to a state where, "for the sake of the conglomerate's interests, even beloved family members or one's own flesh and blood could be abandoned without hesitation."
Why had Roy been discovered when he hypnotized Ginga's highest executive back then?
It wasn't because his control had failed. In fact, with the aid of his Mystic Eyes, his hypnosis had been overwhelmingly successful. The issue arose when he later used the highest executive to pursue personal gains, and other executives noticed something amiss—how could a highest executive have personal desires? That was how he was exposed, forcing him to leave Tokyo.
Executives who had undergone mental conditioning simply couldn't possess personal desires. They all behaved like robots, with almost no individuality to speak of.
Yet, from the perspective of lacking individuality, their uniformity was itself a glaring trait.
But this Madiath Mesa before them seemed full of passion, nothing like someone who had undergone mental conditioning. His personality was fully intact.
"He became the Operations Committee Chairman through a wish as a Festa champion," Claudia whispered even lower this time, so quietly that only Roy could hear. She seemed wary of this topic.
But this explanation made sense to Roy.
The wishes of Festa champions were absolute. Among the six major conglomerates, there was an unwritten rule: the wishes of champions took precedence over all other projects. When necessary, the conglomerates had to collaborate fully. Since the highest executives had no personal desires, this rule had never been broken.
Becoming a conglomerate executive through a wish was indeed a shortcut. Moreover, the operations of the Festa didn't interfere with the conglomerates' broader direction. Since Madiath Mesa had performed well after taking office, the conglomerates tacitly accepted his presence.
"Too much talk can dampen everyone's enthusiasm, so I'll conclude by announcing just one more new change—with technological progress, some regulations inevitably become outdated. Specifically, whether autonomous mobile machines should be considered weapons."
"We don't wish to impose restrictions on any rules lightly. Restrictions lead to stagnation, and ultimately, decline. So we hope everyone understands that this measure is merely for reference as a topic of discussion after the next tournament—for this tournament only, autonomous mobile machines will be recognized as 'proxies' and permitted to compete."
A murmur of unrest began to ripple through the audience.
Not just among the spectators—even some students on stage grew restless.
But among the 512 present, two girls remained utterly still, even breaking into pleased smiles.
On their chests gleamed the emblem of a wise owl, marking them as students of Arlequint Academy. This rule clearly worked to their advantage.
"We trust the discerning among you will understand—this regulation isn't designed to favor any particular academy, but to ensure fairness in the near future. We've always strived to establish rules most beneficial to all. To those who love and support the Festa, we ask for your anticipation—this new rule will elevate the Festa to even greater heights. The Festa remains the world's greatest entertainment, a stage that births unparalleled excitement and emotion, the supreme battle performance that stirs the soul!"
The moment his words ended, all unrest vanished from the stands, replaced by thunderous applause.
The audience cared little for rule changes—they only wanted the matches to be thrilling and intense. Any reform that promised fresh excitement was more than welcome.
"What masterful rhetoric."
Roy couldn't help muttering under his breath as Madiath's words echoed in his mind.
From its inception to becoming the world's largest entertainment spectacle, the Festa had undergone numerous reforms. After all, stagnation rarely captivates. But Madiath—rumor had it that every reform he spearheaded had been a resounding success. This latest change, allowing proxies to compete, would likely become another brilliant stroke on his record.
The man's talent was undeniable. Roy, whose short-term goal was to become humanity's king, felt there was much he could learn from him.
With a wave, Madiath concluded his address and stepped down from the podium.
Thus, the 25th Festa and the 24th Phoenix Festa officially commenced!
"—Now, everyone in the venue, turn your attention here! Today, in this arena, the first match of the first round of this Festa is about to begin. Let's welcome the competitors!"
The moment the announcement ended, deafening cheers erupted throughout the venue.
Amidst a dazzling storm of camera flashes, two teams emerged from the east and west preparation rooms, navigating the long, narrow corridors before stepping onto the stage.
"Ladies and gentlemen, first from the east gate—the duo from Seidoukan Academy, Roy and Claudia Enfield! My, what a way to kick off this Festa! Right out the gate, we have a team strong enough to contend for the championship this year!"
"Contestant Claudia Enfield hasn't made a public move in recent years, but as Seidoukan Academy's second-ranked fighter, her strength has always been evident. She was once considered capable of holding the top position at Seidoukan. The Orga Lux she wields, Pan-Dora, is rumored to be a powerful weapon capable of foreseeing the future. Just this piece of information alone makes people want to avoid facing her at all costs!"
"On the other side, contestant Roy—oh my, this fighter is far more eye-catching. His battle videos are still pinned to the front pages of various websites. To be honest, I'm personally a fan of his... ahem Although he's unranked, he defeated Seidoukan Academy's top-ranked fighter, Shippuu Jinrai, one-on-one in that widely known simulated battle a month ago. Yet we still don't know if that was his full strength! In terms of individual ability alone, he might just be this Phoenix Festa's strongest contender. With these two forming a team, who in this year's Phoenix Festa could possibly stand against them?"
***
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