A white-robed man went to retrieve the fallen Blondy, who kept shouting at them.
"Hey! I'm not that injured! Where are you taking me?!" Although he could feel pain all over his body and was greatly exhausted, it wasn't to the point where he wanted to be taken by them just to heal his injuries. In fact, he could do it himself using the healing items he had brought along, and he would fully recover in a few hours.
But the white-robed men didn't answer; they just dragged him out of the venue while he kept shouting.
Apollo, watching all this, shook his head. At the same time, he heard the announcements from the other stages that their rounds had also ended. He saw Bel standing alone on one of the stages and the other competitors on another stage. Clearly, they had won without a hiccup.
He didn't see Gail, probably because she would be among the fighters for the next round.
"Seems like no surprises for the expected winners of each room," Apollo muttered as he jumped off the stage and headed back to his room.
Along the way, Bel approached him. "You did great."
"So did you," Apollo responded.
"Your opponent belongs to one of the noble families in the city. Although he doesn't belong to the three main Martial Schools, his status makes up for it," Bel said.
"Oh? So?" Apollo glanced at her, though he already had an idea why she was saying this.
"They are petty, and they definitely won't let go of you," Bel chuckled before nodding towards the platform. "Just look at that man—he's clearly staring at you like you're a dead person."
Apollo turned to see a middle-aged man standing beside the railing of the platform, looking at him coldly. Just like Blondy, whom he had just fought, the middle-aged man also had the same hair color. Nevertheless, Apollo raised his hand and waved at the man like an old friend.
"What are you doing?" Bel asked with a frown, lowering the small masked man's hand. "Aren't you afraid?"
"Why would I be?" Apollo asked back, a smile forming on his face. "They don't know me. Actually, no one knows me. I'm a ghost, and I can disappear whenever I want."
Hearing this, Bel had a look of understanding for a moment before she shook her head. "You're right, no one knows you, but it doesn't mean that will remain forever. They are one of the noble families; their strength and resources are beyond what a Foundation Building Cultivator can handle. Well, unless you have some sort of backing, like a Martial School."
Apollo stared at Bel with a raised eyebrow. This woman sounded like the System for a moment.
"Okay, I get it," Apollo said before hurriedly walking away, leaving Bel staring at his back with a speechless smile.
Shaking her head, she noticed Gail walking past the masked man and stopping in front of her.
"Gail, what's up?" Bel asked in confusion, seeing the serious look on the girl's face.
"Nothing, I just feel a bit uneasy," Gail said, smiling bitterly. Somehow, ever since the third test began, she had been feeling this way. Her heart beat faster than normal, and this feeling—vaguely—she felt when facing danger. As someone trained to be an assassin, she was sensitive to threats, but so far, she hadn't seen anything suspicious besides the 'power-ups' of some of the Martial Students.
"You know, women's instincts are stronger than men's," Bel sighed. "I also feel a bit uneasy now that you mention it."
"S-Something like danger coming your way?" Gail hesitantly asked.
"Right! Haha, I guess great minds think alike," Bel chuckled. "Anyway, good luck!"
One after another, the winner of each room was finally decided. Master Popo flew back to the central stage, and at the same time, the other stages started moving until the whole stage became one once more. The two-football-field-wide stage was like a behemoth in the middle of the venue.
"I would like to congratulate the winners of each room who displayed amazing skills and battle techniques," Master Popo said, though his nonchalant tone might have suggested a lack of sincerity.
"The third test is not yet done, as we still need to determine who will be the top one," Master Popo continued, looking around the venue. The audience watched with great excitement, but he could see that some of them were exhausted. "But before that, we will take an hour break before continuing the Exam.
Use this time to eat and replenish your energy, as the Exam will only get more exciting from here on out!"
With that said, the audience shouted, their voices reverberating inside the venue.
At the top of the platform, the important people were talking among themselves, including Klown, who was having a heartfelt conversation with the leader of the delegations.
"I was wondering, where is your granddaughter? I thought you came with her?" Klown asked.
"She's probably back in your city, fooling around," the old man said.
"You are blessed to have such a granddaughter. I've heard she is the most talented cultivator in your city, right?"
"She is, and no one else will be," the old man said, a proud smile appearing on his face.
"Haha, you are right!" Klown laughed. The way he moved and talked made him seem very approachable, like a defenseless, wobbling middle-aged man. But the Families and the Headmasters thought otherwise, though they didn't say anything. "But if she's back in the city, she should go to the Skyline Savory. I bet she will have the time of her life there!"
Hearing this, the other visitors walked towards him, and their voices echoed as they shared how much they wanted to go there.
"Don't worry, don't worry!" Klown waved his hand. "Although we may be far away from them, it doesn't mean that their food is not. Besides, I've prepared a special meal for all of us here!"
The visitors' eyes lit up, and even some of the family heads, as they already had an idea of what the mayor was referring to.
As they continued their talk, Klown suddenly frowned, though it only lasted for a second before the 'amiable' smile returned to his face.
"Excuse me for a second, I need to go to the bathroom," Klown said, standing up while adjusting his expensive attire. Then he started walking towards the exit, but unbeknownst to him, a few people noticed the strangeness.
Axton and Elmo looked at each other while Mathias remained quiet.