82 Chapter 82: Announcemen (1/2)
The match was supposedly over. Teacher Fielding was about to step down from the referee box hoisted to the side, where he could supervise us from above without having to interfere with the match, and the spectators were about to leave.
However…
”Bravo! Bravo!”
Everyone froze when they heard the familiar voice. The architect of this match, the person who proposed this whole team battle to begin with, Feng Hai, was clapping his hands and making his way toward the arena. He raised his hands and gestured for my team to remain on stage. We glanced at each other, puzzled, but obeyed.
The unconscious ones were already being ferried away by the medics, but Feng Hai waved them to carry on with their duties. Other than Stan, the only casualty in our team, the whole of Holy Saints Society's team were whisked away on stretchers.
”Congratulations on your win!” Feng Hai told us as he clapped his hands, grinning deviously. There was something about his expression that I wasn't very comfortable with. It was almost as if he was scheming something.
Even so, I bowed my head, as did the rest of my team.
”Thank you, sir.”
”Thank you.”
”Thanks.”
”Now, now.” Feng Hai waved his hands again. ”You deserve credit for pulling off such an awesome performance!”
Aw…he was making us blush. Not that I cared, because I was sure there was a reason behind his blatant flattery.
Feng Hai wasn't paying attention to us now. Instead, he was turning toward the audience and spreading his hands wide.
”Based on today's performance, I think it's fair to say this team deserves a shot at becoming the representatives more than those fielded by Holy Saints today, right?”
There was some murmurs from the crowd, but the Holy Saints who had turned up to watch were unhappy. Even so, they couldn't say anything because the result was clear. The team they had sent out, even though it was partially second-string, had lost. There was no denying this outcome.
Even so, I didn't want to ruin their chances, so I raised a hand.
”Um, I'm sure more than a few of them have displayed an impressive performance in the match earlier. It would be unfair and overly harsh to dismiss them because of a single loss.”
”That is true. I've watched the match, so I can tell who performed well and who didn't.” Feng Hai nodded in agreement. I didn't know whether to feel relief or not. Lin Zhan Long was one thing, but I didn't want to earn the enmity from the rest of Holy Saints. Harrison Reed was an opponent I could not afford to offend.
The relief somewhat abated with Feng Hai's next announcement, however.
”Holy Saints will still get a chance to represent the academy. However, in the training camp next month…I'll be giving Vice-President Lin Zhan Long's quota to Ultimate Outcast.”
”…huh?”
Everyone looked stunned. I was also confused, but for a different reason.
”Training camp? What training camp?”
”Oh, I didn't tell you?” Feng Hai glanced at Alicia, who shook her head. He slapped his forehead mockingly. ”Whoops, sorry about that.”
The audience began whispering and murmuring amongst themselves, evidently just as bewildered as I was. Dong Fang Yue Chu glanced at me, and I shrugged. Nicholas and Elliot looked just as clueless.
”Ahem.” Feng Hai cleared his throat and had everyone return their attention to him. He grinned sheepishly. ”Um, I am organizing a special training camp for potential candidates who are capable of qualifying for the team to represent our academy at the national tournament this year. Make no mistake, it'll be tough. But there are limited quotas for each societies, and the quotas are actually dependent on the size of the societies.” He shrugged. ”That might sound unfair, but obviously the bigger your society, the more quotas you get.”
He then turned toward us.
”Fortunately, thanks to Vice-President Lin Zhan Long's pathetic…uh, I mean less-than-impressive display today, I think it's fair if I give one of Holy Saints' quotas to Ultimate Outcast instead.”