The staff member tightened her grip on the phone and smirked slightly.
"You’re acting all high and mighty, Miss Gu. But let’s see what the public thinks."
She raised her phone, pointing the camera directly at Gu Jin.
"As long as you take just one bite, I’ll leave and not cause a scene. I spent two whole days making this for you. Don’t you think it’s rude to reject my sincerity?"
Gu Jin remained unfazed. She tilted her head slightly and asked, "Who hired you?"
For a brief moment, the staff member’s expression turned pale, but she quickly masked it with a nervous laugh.
"W-What do you mean? I work here. I was hired by the hotel manager."
Gu Jin’s lips curled into a small, knowing smile.
"Is that so? But if you were a real fan, someone who truly admired me, you would never force me to eat something, no matter how long you spent making it."
The staff member stiffened, her fingers twitching around her phone.
Before she could finish, Gu Jin moved swiftly.
With a wave of her hand, all the food on the tray disappeared into her storage ring.
The staff member’s eyes widened in horror. "What are you doing?!"
"I will send the food for inspection," Gu Jin said calmly.
"If there’s nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about. But if there is..."
She let the words hang in the air, watching as panic flashed across the staff member’s face.
The woman stumbled back a step, gripping her phone tightly. "Y-You can’t!"
Gu Jin pulled out her own phone and, with a steady hand, took a picture of the staff member.
The woman gasped and quickly turned her face away, but it was too late.
"Now," Gu Jin said, slipping her phone back into her pocket, "tell me the truth. Who sent you?"
The staff member’s breath came out in shaky bursts.
Her body trembled as she clenched her fists, struggling to keep her composure.
But under Gu Jin’s unwavering gaze, she finally broke.
She fell to her knees.
"Please, Miss Gu! I—I was hired by a man named Wei Lin! He told me to make sure you ate even a single bite of this food. He said it would give you the flu and make you too weak to compete."
Gu Jin’s eyes darkened. Wei Lin.
She had heard the name before.
Gu Jin’s voice remained calm. "Interesting. And why did you agree to do this?"
The staff member hesitated, her face full of regret.
"He... He promised me a lot of money. I—I was desperate. But I swear, I didn’t want to hurt you!"
Gu Jin sighed, shaking her head. "Whether you meant to or not, you still did."
The woman clasped her hands together, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Please! I’ll do anything! Just don’t expose me!"
Gu Jin crossed her arms.
"I’ll give you one chance. Turn yourself in to the police. Admit everything. If you do, you might have a chance to start over."
The staff member’s mouth trembled. "And if I don’t?"
Gu Jin’s eyes turned icy.
"If I hand over the proof, the entire Fujio City will know what you tried to do. You’ll be condemned by everyone."
The staff member paled, her hands shaking. After a moment of silence, she lowered her head.
"I-I’ll go to the police..."
"Good choice," Gu Jin said.
The staff member bowed her head low before scurrying away, disappearing down the hallway as if escaping from the weight of her own guilt.
Gu Jin watched her leave, her face unreadable, before turning away.
There was no point dwelling on the incident now—her focus was on the competition.
She made her way toward the grand venue where the National Alchemy Competition was set to take place.
The streets buzzed with energy, filled with alchemists, spectators, and reporters eager to witness the event.
Towering banners and intricate decorations adorned the venue’s entrance, exuding an air of prestige and excitement.
As she approached the main doors, ready to enter, a man stepped in front of her path.
He was tall and slim, dressed in a neatly pressed suit, his dark hair combed back.
A pair of thin, rectangular spectacles rested on his nose, giving him a scholarly appearance.
He carried a clipboard in one hand and had a badge pinned to his chest, marking him as one of the event staff.
"Excuse me," the man spoke in a polite yet firm tone. "Are you Miss Gu Jin?"
Gu Jin’s sharp gaze flickered over him, taking in every detail.
Something about his demeanor put her on guard. Still, she nodded slightly, keeping her expression neutral.
The man adjusted his glasses and smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
"Perfect. I am an organizer for the National Alchemy Competition. I’ve been assigned to escort you inside through a different passage."
Gu Jin’s eyes narrowed slightly. "Why?"
The man’s smile remained in place, but there was a flicker of hesitation before he answered.
"The main entrance is quite crowded, and the competition wishes to ensure that top participants such as yourself can enter smoothly without any disturbances."
Gu Jin remained silent, studying him intently.
It was true that the entrance was bustling with people, and some competitors might prefer a quieter way in.
However, something about the man’s explanation felt off.
"Who specifically assigned you to escort me?" she asked evenly.
The man’s fingers briefly tightened around his clipboard before he responded. "It was decided by the higher-ups in the organizing committee."
Gu Jin tilted her head slightly as if considering his words.
Then, without any change in expression, she calmly reached into her pocket and pulled out her phone.
Without hesitation, she dialed the official number of the competition’s main office.
The man’s face subtly stiffened as he watched her.
"Hello, this is Gu Jin," she spoke into the phone.
"One of your organizers is requesting that I enter through a separate passage. Can you confirm if this is an official arrangement?"
There was a brief silence, followed by a voice on the other end, clearly confused.
"Miss Gu, we have not made any such arrangements. All competitors are expected to enter through the main gate."
A sharp glint appeared in Gu Jin’s eyes as she turned her attention back to the man before her.
The man’s polite smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he quickly composed himself.
"There must have been a miscommunication," he said smoothly. "I assure you, I meant no harm—"
Gu Jin took a step closer, her presence imposing despite her calm demeanor. "Who sent you?"
The man hesitated, but before he could answer, a group of security personnel approached. Gu Jin had signaled them with a simple glance while on the phone.
"Is there a problem, Miss Gu?" one of the guards asked, his sharp eyes scanning the man.
Gu Jin nodded toward the bespectacled man.
"He claims to be an organizer and wanted to escort me through a different entrance. However, the official office has no knowledge of this."
The security guards immediately stiffened, their expressions darkening.
"Sir, we will need to verify your credentials."
The man adjusted his glasses again, but this time his fingers trembled slightly.
"Of course," he muttered, handing over his badge and clipboard.
One of the guards inspected the badge before frowning.
"This is a real badge, but it doesn’t belong to you. It was issued under a different name."
Gu Jin’s eyes turned cold. "I suggest you start talking. Who are you working for?"
The man’s face paled, and sweat beaded on his forehead.
He glanced around as if searching for an escape, but the security had already closed in.
The lead guard’s voice was firm. "You will come with us for questioning."
As the guards seized the man by the arms, he struggled slightly but quickly realized resistance was futile.
His face twisted in frustration, but he remained silent.
Gu Jin watched as they dragged him away, her mind already piecing together the puzzle.
First the poisoned breakfast, and now this?
Were they so scared of her talent?
She composed herself and proceeded toward the entrance.
The crowd of competitors and spectators barely took notice of her arrival, too engrossed in the excitement of the competition.
The grand hall was vast, its intricate golden patterns and towering banners radiating an aura of prestige.
A receptionist seated behind an elegant mahogany desk greeted her with a professional smile.
"Welcome, Miss Gu. Please present your identification."
Gu Jin handed over her official participant card. The receptionist scanned it swiftly and nodded.
"Everything is in order. You are assigned to Competition Hall A. Please follow the signs to your designated waiting area."
She took back her card and moved toward the designated hall.
As she walked, she could feel the gazes of several competitors subtly shift in her direction—some filled with curiosity, others with thinly veiled hostility.