214 Small Episode 3 (2/2)

Then came a strange pile of pots and pans, chairs, tables, grilled chicken with cheese and turkey. Finally, a cute yellow mouse fell from the black cloud. Then the war started...

As the autumn wind blew the fallen leaves, the yellow mouse and the gray cats began to fight, ignoring everyone else. Armed with various weapons, they frantically beat each other amongst the fossilized players. They looked so lovely and cute, but each was more brutal and bloody than the last.

They fought with such intensity that children would cry in fear if they saw. During the fight, the gray cat kicked the soccer ball that was in its way, and then grabbed a chopper and iron bar to chase the yellow mouse.

The ball that was kicked cut a sad arc in the air. It passed over the blank goalie, and finally fell into the net. The whistle sounded. The music history department got one more point...

Cullen’s heart almost broke at the whistle. Two lines of tears rolled down silently and he practically broke down sobbing. Gavin gave his younger brother to him, so Cullen put so many of his best men into this team to help Banner regardless of the cost. But what was the result? They were beaten like dogs by amateurs of the music history department.

From beginning to end, Banner had not adopted any of his suggestions but held his own stubborn thoughts, aiming all hatred to that Eastern kid. He fought in full force early at the opening, and just now, he even directly absorbed the other's power.

This extravagant tactic was like the legend where a man used one-thousand green gold coins to kill a tiger. It was forthright and strong, but he had completely hurt himself and it was unnecessary. Moreover, the music history department had a set of strange skills. Ye Qingxuan, especially, was still mysterious. Was this guy trying to imitate the wolf disguised as the sheep? But it did not look like that!

Cullen still could not figure it out. Even with his years of experience, and was sly as a fox, he still had no idea what Ye Qingxuan was intending to do. He could not help but be so depressed he almost spat out blood.

Actually, according to the current situation, there was a more straightforward way—for example, they could bypass Ye Qingxuan directly to defeat the rest one by one, but Banner would never admit that he could not handle Ye Qingxuan.

Even if Banner tried to be like Gavin and pretended not to care about school matters, he still could not copy his elder brother's essence. Instead, he was so easily provoked by Ye Qingxuan’s joking words before the game.

Cullen sighed. He suddenly looked up and shouted, ”Referee, request for a timeout!”

-

The request was accepted and the spectators booed. Banner's face turned white and green. He looked at the others like a beast looking at its prey. His teammates were too afraid to look him in the eye, but Cullen stood still before him.

”Why stop?” Banner asked hoarsely. ”I just need a bit longer because I…”

”Before you lose miserably,” Cullen interrupted him with a solemn look. ”Banner, don't be childish. You were played in his hands from the beginning. Don’t you remember how Modifications died in the first round?”

”That's because they're too weak!”

Cullen frowned. ”But you might not be strong either.”

”You ...” Banner fell into rage. He did not understand how the submissive guy who had always obeyed him suddenly become so brave. He wanted to yell but turned speechless in front of Cullen's eyes.

In the awkward stillness, Cullen lowered his voice and looked at him. ”You are the leader, but don't drag the others down because of personal reasons. Gavin didn’t tell us to help you embarrass the whole student council!”

Hearing his voice, Banner face turned white with splotches of lividness. Fury built up in his features, but when he looked at the players, he was forced to restrain his anger. Those players had no objection to Cullen's decision. In other words, they were practically cheering.

One must know that although the leader was Banner, all the players were the backbone of the student council. In their eyes, when Gavin was absent, the real leader was Cullen. Banner was after Cullen...If not for Gavin's orders, these guys probably would not even respond to him.

Having thought it through, Banner forced his anger back, chewed his thin lip, and lowered his eyes. ”I…understand.”

”Good. It's not too late to fix things.” Cullen patted him on the shoulder with a sincere expression. ”Don't be upset. Gavin is my good friend so I’ll definitely help his brother. Don't worry, this time we’ll win beautifully!” He cheered up and led his teammates to form a circle. He quietly cheered the frustrated students on. He might not have had Gavin’s extraordinary influence, but Cullen's speech undoubtedly lifted the team’s spirits.

”The next tactic is to secure the offense. Ignore the interference of the music history department and absolutely do not get affected by them. The best way is to turn a blind eye. Never get caught up in their rhythm, okay?” Cullen looked solemn. ”...This time, at the opening, we’ll bypass Ye Qingxuan and go straight to the goal. The white-haired girl is exhausted and there’s no need to worry about Charles. The remaining players pay attention to the guy with the headpiece Follow our original plan and turn the tides in the second half! Are you confident?”

”Yes!” The players roared and their muscles bulged. They were energized with their morale lifted.

Cullen smiled and patted Banner heartily on his shoulder. ”This time, Banner, you’re still main offense. As long as you do follow the strategy, the victory will be ours!”

Banner's shoulders trembled. He lowered his head and said, ”I know.” In a place where no one could see, his eyes darkened. That green in his eyes was like frozen ice, hiding the deep abyss underneath. The manticore beside him felt his inner chaos. It turned its head and looked at him in bewilderment.

He smiled. ”Don't worry about me.”

He stroked the manticore’s hair and thought, ”It’s just there are some facts that they can't understand…” His fingers were cut by the scales among the hairs, but he did not feel it. He just silently recalled that white-haired youth's face and chanted in his mind, ”No one can look at me like that, no one.”