Lynx lay unconscious on a wooden bench, his injuries already completely healed. He was inside a grey, rundown room where the walls were rusty and rotting, the far corners stacked high with dusty wooden boxes.
...
Inside Lynx's head, he was rethinking everything he had done, especially the plans he had carried out by himself.
It was completely dark in his mind, with only his own thoughts echoing through the black void.
{Rey... from the very moment we met, I've always been suspicious of him. He could track me for some strange reason, and he was always listening and keeping an eye on us, even though he doesn't act like the type to do that. It wasn't until we defeated Team Nine where I stole the illusion skill. It had a hidden ability that let me control and manipulate the connection between me and the illusion. I could see and hear through my clone while it had no presence at all, because my source of energy is Will Power, which is essential and something no one can just sense.}
{So I followed Rey. He was telling everything about Lucia and me to some mysterious figures, while all they responded with was to keep updating them. That was enough for me to realize those people were connected to the assassins Lucia was running from. So I set my plan into motion.}
...
After the match between Team Seven and Team Five had concluded around noon, Lynx made his way to the registration hall. Staff members were milling around holding official papers, and Phoenix was just getting ready to leave her desk.
"Hey, wait." Lynx raised his hand, waving over at her.
Phoenix stopped and waved back with a warm smile. "Hello Lynx, do you need help?"
Lynx walked a little closer, nodding. "So what is it?" Phoenix asked, smiling slightly.
"I have a few questions and a request. First off... is the referee close to the Administrator?"
"That's a strange question to ask," Phoenix admitted, tilting her head. "But yeah, they are blood brother and sister."
"Ah, I see. Then can I meet the Administrator? If possible, I have a deal to make with him that would benefit him."
"Uhh... I'm not sure about that. He's usually really busy—"
Before Phoenix could reject his request, Lynx reached into his coat and pulled out a small packet wrapped in foil. "I brought this for you as a thanks for helping me out before. The summoned people call it chocolate. It's sweet and tasty from what I heard, and it was really hard to get."
Phoenix's eyes instantly shined like stars, her mouth watering at the sight. "Is that really chocolate!? Aren't those like... super expensive?"
{Heh... I bought it with the money I won from gambling when I bet on my own team.} Lynx nodded proudly, handing over the sweet gift.
"So uh... where were we? AH YES! You wanted to meet The Administrator!" Phoenix perked up, clutching the packet tightly. "Let me go inform him."
Phoenix stepped behind her wooden registration counter. In the floor beneath the desk, hidden right under a heavy woven carpet, she pulled back the rug to reveal a secret wooden trapdoor. Opening it showed a dark flight of stairs leading down into the floor beneath the registration hall. She headed down the hidden staircase.
A few minutes later, Phoenix came back up the stairs, pulling the carpet back into place. "He gave permission. Come with me."
She led Lynx down the secret hallway. The pathway split off to three doors, one on the left labeled [Staff Only], one on the right labeled [Storage Room], and a large one straight ahead marked [Administrator].
Phoenix opened the main door for Lynx.
Lynx walked inside as Phoenix took her leave, closing the door behind him. The office was clean and quiet. In the middle of the room sat a massive wooden table covered in papers spread everywhere. The Administrator was sitting right on top of the desk, one leg crossed lazily over the other.
"Now speak," the Administrator said, looking down at him. "What deal could you possibly have for a man who possesses everything?"
{Exactly as I thought. He's arrogant, and his sister is impulsive.} Lynx pointed a finger straight at the Administrator. "Do you have respect, or do you have power? I'm offering you both. I'm a hidden knight from the Kingdom of Luch, located in The World of Dynas."
The Administrator's expression turned dead serious as he lowered his leg. "Why would I believe any of that? What proof do you have?"
"You don't need to believe me," Lynx said calmly. "The Luch High Venerables possess the sensory power of the supreme. They can oversee and hear whenever their kingdom is spoken of, whether it's just a mention or said with bad intent. That's the exact reason no forces have ever dared to harm it, they know anyone who intends to harm the kingdom will be caught. If I was lying about the name or speaking against the authority, they would've teleported here to end me instantly. As for proof... after the tournament is over during the ceremony, a group of assassins will try to execute Lucia Hayat. She is the princess of the Kingdom of Luch, and her real name is Lucia Isotta Luchiet."
"Even if I take those as facts," the Administrator countered, "how does any of this benefit me?"
"I'm getting to that. When they arrive, they will give you a permit note asking you not to stand in their way. While that happens, I will be fighting against my own team for personal reasons that I'll keep private. Once it's over, I want you to take Lucia and Rey into your care and offer to send them safely to the World of Dynas."
"How are we supposed to send them there?"
"Oh, don't act like I don't already know," Lynx grinned. "You have people who can travel through dimensions. You came down here because this place was safer than your home world, which is desperate for power, yet here you're seen as nothing more than a shop owner. After Lucia and Rey survive the attack, send them to the World of Dynas, to a kingdom far away from Luch, I know you have hidden organizations back there. Once the army of Luch arrives to find Lucia, they'll hunt through sect after sect. That gives you time to guide them and build trust. And even if you don't, being seen alongside the Luch army will make those sects place you above everyone else. Once Lucia reclaims her throne, you'll be the main one benefiting, because she'll see you as a savior and an ally. It's a win-win."
"And what are you asking from us in return?" the Administrator asked, narrowing his eyes. "And what will you do if I don't follow a single word you said?"
{Oh, arrogant idiots like you love power. You'll obey like a dog until that power is yours.} Lynx's grin widened. "If you don't do it, nothing happens. It's just a wasted opportunity for you. As for what I want, it's nothing much. During the ceremony, rank the top three teams based on performance, put me in F-rank, and then just enjoy the show."
"Do keep in mind," the Administrator warned, his voice turning dangerous, "if any of this is a lie or fails to happen, I will crush you."
"If I was lying, the first ones to crush me would be the High Venerables." Lynx waved his hand turning his back.
"If you're trying to kill their princess, why haven't they shown up then?" the Administrator added, narrowing his eyes.
"They don't meddle in Luchiet family affairs," Lynx replied coldly. "Their only job is to keep the Kingdom clean from external threats."
~
{After that, I simply left, waiting until I made Rey take me to their hideout, at least the one they tricked Rey into thinking was their main base.}
~
"Sir Lynx, come with me," the red assassin said, pointing a finger at Rey and the other assassins in the room. "You people stay here."
The red assassin and Lynx walked out of the classroom, heading down the dusty hallway together.
They entered the principal's office, where the red assassin slid into the main desk chair. "Take a seat."
Lynx dragged an old wooden chair across the floor and sat down, both of them facing each other across the desk.
"So why haven't you finished Lucia yet?" the red assassin asked.
"I'm looking for her divine artifact," Lynx said smoothly. "It's an invisible artifact that can only be seen by the ones she trusts. You're planning the attack for the ceremony date, correct?"
"Alright then, sir. Do you think you can pull it off within the limited time?"
"You doubt me?"
"No. Not considering how you fooled Rey and completely manipulated Lucia, who I heard can sense intent far beyond our own abilities."
"I could've set up others to do the job for me," Lynx said, leaning back. "But the High Venerables possess the power of supreme eyes, an ancient power that lets them oversee any mention or intent related to the Kingdom of Luch. That's why no force has ever been able to harm it, because anyone who tries gets destroyed before they can even make a move."
{Yeah, no... I completely made most of that up,} Lynx thought, closing his eyes for a quiet second. {Although it's true no force has ever harmed Luch, it's not because of supreme eyes. The High Venerables are just insanely strong, and their authority is almost righteous, at least from the outside. But with all these lies, I'll be able to guarantee the safety of Rey and Lucia.}
"That's some valuable information," the red assassin noted. "Why share it with low-level assassins like us?"
"I was once like you, so think of me as a brother," Lynx replied. "As for the main plan, tell the guy who requested the permit to handle the ceremony attack so the authorities don't interfere."
"We will do as you command."
...
Rey pushed open the rotting wooden door, stepping out of the abandoned school building. The hinges let out a loud, harsh cracking noise.
"Don't break it, we ain't here to be charged for repairs," Lynx said cheerfully, walking beside him.
"Don't worry bro," Rey said, flashing a quick thumbs-up. The door fell flat with a clatter. They glanced around, and seeing nobody was watching, they rushed away.
Once they had walked far enough away from the building, Lynx slowed his pace and turned his head toward Rey. "I want you to oppose the cult during the attack, no matter what I do."
Rey froze in his tracks, confused and shocked, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
...
Lynx woke up, his eyes slowly fluttering open.