Chapter 1594: Section 1595: Admitting Defeat

When Angel finished reading this message, his eyes drifted off for a moment.

“What’s wrong?” Greya noticed Angel staring blankly and couldn’t help but ask curiously.

Angel let out a deep sigh and slowly said, “The results are out.”

The content of this message was the competition result of “Devil Gourmet VS Armored Maiden”.

“Now that the result is out, it looks like there’s no chance to probe into Asaz’s background anymore. But why do you look like this… Oh, could it be?” Greya was halfway through her sentence when she suddenly felt something was amiss: “Who won?”

Angel’s gaze slowly shifted towards Sharley who was beside him.

“You didn’t lose unjustly.”

While Sharley was stunned, Angel said, “The result this time, Devil Gourmet won… He defeated Kavoline.”

Nobody present had expected this outcome!

Kavoline was the sole inheritor of the Shepherd’s Garb, considered by everyone as a powerful candidate capable of competing with Jiebo for the crown. How could he have fallen midway?

“Ah… Did Asaz advance to the semifinals?” Sharley asked incredulously.

Angel nodded: “Yes.”

Although Angel had never seen this Asaz, being able to defeat Kavoline meant his strength was undoubtedly substantial. After all, Kavoline was not only a nearly invincible contender among his peers but also possessed a Shepherd’s Garb, a powerful tool even coveted by Official Wizards.

Yet, despite that, Kavoline was defeated by Asaz. This also means that Asaz’s victory over Sharley was not a fluke; he possesses absolute strength.

Upon hearing this news, Sharley was initially shocked and at a loss for words. However, upon careful consideration, when she faced Kavoline before, it ended with her escaping in disarray, and Asaz being able to defeat Kavoline was proof that he was stronger than her. Thus, her feelings of injustice seemed unnecessary.

Even more so, Sharley felt somewhat relieved that Asaz had defeated Kavoline.

Although Greya was also surprised by the outcome of the match, overall, she felt more joy in her heart: “Since Asaz has won, there is still a chance to probe into his background during the semifinals.”

After Sharley and Greya accepted the outcome of the match, their discussion became much calmer.

Sharley: “I didn’t expect this Rising Star tournament to have so many dark horses. Just after a major upset was revealed, another soon followed.”

Jiebo and Kavoline, both favorites for the crown, had now both failed to reach the semifinals. This would definitely astonish everyone. Angel could even imagine that Mukihara Bar must be in chaos now.

“I wonder if there will be more surprises?” Sharley said, “There shouldn’t be anymore, right? The others seem to be equally matched.”

Angel picked up the communicator and continued watching the matches other than Jiebo and Kavoline.

The other two matches were ‘Philosopher VS Philosopher Scholar’ and ‘Hellfire VS Illusion Deer’.

The winners of these two matches would also enter the semifinals.

“These two matches, huh? The first pair seems less interesting, but the second might be more intriguing…” Greya paused: “I remember, Sinistra was defeated by this Illusion Deer; his strength must be decent. Hellfire, should be Qi Li, right?”

Greya had recently been very close with Illusion Demon Island and naturally knew very well about the affairs of the House of Lilith, which had good relations with Illusion Demon Island.

Qi Li, indeed, was the sole disciple of the head of the House of Lilith.

Angel nodded: “Hellfire is Qi Li.”

Angel had not expected Qi Li to have a match. He looked at the schedule; the match would start right after Devil Gourmet’s victory over the Armored Maiden.

That is to say, the match should be starting very soon.

Angel hesitated for a moment, wondering whether to watch this match or not. After all, he had a deep relationship with Qi Li.

While Angel was pondering, Sharley said to Greya, “Lady Greya, in my personal opinion, these two matches, perhaps the first pair might be more interesting.”

Greya asked casually, “Why? Is there something special about the Philosopher and Philosopher Scholar?”

Sharley: “This Philosopher’s power is very weird; it is said that so far no one has figured out the source of his power. Some even suspect that he used… a Mysterious Object.”

Greya was stunned for a moment, then shook her head immediately: “It’s impossible, this is Sky Mechanical City, the pilgrimage site for all Alchemists. If it really was a Mysterious Object, with the keen sense of Alchemists, rumors would have been rampant long ago.”

Having said that, Greya looked at Angel: “What do you think? As a special judge, you must know some insider information, right?”

Angel was still pondering over Qi Li’s matter, and when Greya asked him, he snapped back to reality.

“It’s not a Mysterious Object,” Angel stated confidently, as Greya had said, if it were a Mysterious Object, it would have been well-known by now, it definitely is not. Angel changed the subject: “However, what Sharley said is not wrong; this Philosopher is said to have very weird strength.”

Initially, Greya didn’t care much, but since Angel also mentioned it, she became curious: “In what weird way?”

“I’m not very clear myself, because I haven’t seen it with my own eyes. However, as far as I know, this Philosopher’s matches often end in inexplicable victories, and the judges can’t understand how he wins. Later, even Wizard Level judges presiding over the matches couldn’t figure it out either.”

At this time, Sharley also added: “Yes, my Mentor also went to watch.”

Angel nodded: “Yes, later the special judges also went, including the Observer Hydra from the Crown Star Church and Sharley’s mentor, the Water Pattern Witch. Moreover, since then, the Philosopher’s every match, Hydra has never missed.”

From this information, it is enough to see the peculiarity of this “Philosopher”.

Greya frowned: “Does Hydra also value him highly? Has he figured out the roots of this Philosopher?”

Angel shook his head: “I’m not familiar with Hydra, I don’t know.”

Greya turned to Sharley: “Your mentor also went to see him, what did she think?”

Sharley: “My mentor didn’t say much, just mentioned that he has the strength to compete for the championship with Jiebo. Now that Jiebo and Kavoline have lost, perhaps he could be a champion contender?”

“It’s not necessarily the case, don’t forget there’s also a gourmet apprentice and Xiliu who defeated Jiebo.” Greya: “However, since you all say this Philosopher is strange, I’ve become a bit curious… When is his match? I plan to see what’s so unusual about him.”

Angel checked the schedule in the record and replied: “In the afternoon.”

“Then let’s go see in the afternoon.”

…

Angel left Toby with Greya for ‘training’ and then left the manor.

While Greya planned to watch the match in the afternoon, Angel decided to head to the Infinite Battle Tower now.

After pondering, he decided to watch Qi Li’s match.

However, to Angel’s surprise, just as he was almost arriving at the Infinite Battle Tower,

a new message popped up on the communicator.

—-Qi Li lost.

In the battle against “Illusion Stag” Trom, Qi Li lost.

Angel hovered midair, looking at this match result, utterly bewildered. According to the match schedule, it had only just begun not long ago, how could she have lost so soon?

Previously, Angel had talked to Qi Li about the players she cared about in this New Star competition.

Qi Li indeed mentioned “Illusion Stag,” but she only briefly touched upon it at the time and did not specifically emphasize any particular aspect of Illusion Stag that she would pay significant attention to.

Angel couldn’t believe that Qi Li would be defeated by “Illusion Stag” so quickly.

Unless, Qi Li was injured, or something unexpected happened preventing her from battling Illusion Stag; or perhaps… Qi Li gave up on purpose?

If it was due to injury, Angel was rather skeptical. But if it was giving up, there surely must be a reason, right?

“Oh, could it be because of…” Angel suddenly remembered something. Qi Li’s biggest obsession in joining the New Star competition was to defeat Jiebo on the stage, in front of everyone.

But now Jiebo had already lost, making it obviously difficult for Qi Li’s obsession to be fulfilled. Unless, Qi Li also lost the match, there might be a slight chance to battle Jiebo.

Could it be that Qi Li really did this?

Angel recalled Qi Li’s personality; she wasn’t someone who cared about rankings, and even if she won the championship, she didn’t care about the awards, considering all resources of House of Lilith were tilted in her favor.

Qi Li is very self-willed, once she decides on something, it’s hard to change.

With her personality, to battle Jiebo, she might really make the decision to give up in the critical moment.

To others and spectators, it might be quite astonishing, but Qi Li doesn’t care about these at all, her only target is Jiebo.

Thinking of this, Angel became more convinced that Qi Li voluntarily lost the match.

Qi Li’s decision wasn’t something Angel could comment on, just that it turned out to be a futile trip for him.

Angel sighed.

Since Qi Li’s match had already ended, it was too late to go now. Since he planned to see the match of Philosopher Onassis in the afternoon, there was no need to go back to the manor immediately.

Angel lowered his head, looking down from high above.

The main urban area of Sky Mechanical City, clearly visible in its entirety.

Angel carefully checked his location, and not far from Champagne Road, he thought for a moment and decided to visit Fangling Hall.

When Angel arrived at Mukihara Bar, just as he had speculated earlier, the atmosphere inside the shop was more heated than the ever-increasing temperature of the Fire Moon festival outside.

Everyone was talking in surprise about the morning’s matches.

Jiebo, Kavoline, the two vastly unexpected developments exploded like red-hot iron balls thrown into a pot full of water, instantly boiling over.

As Angel approached the bar, no one glanced over, all were enthusiastically discussing with people at their tables.

Even if Angel hadn’t activated “Boundless Solitude” to lower his presence, probably no one would have noticed him.

That shows how focused they were.