LRAB Page 87
Page 87
After the call ended and he hung up, Jiudao Lie looked towards the classroom where Angelina was and muttered to himself:
"Angelina, don't blame me, I'm doing this for Neon and America."
Chapter 195 The Betrayed Girl
"What? You want me to participate in the Nine Schools Tournament?"
Shangguan Wen looked at Nanakusa Mayumi who made the suggestion and was very surprised. He was nominally an exchange student at No. 1 High School, but in reality, as long as the Japanese officials were not stupid, they would probably have doubted him. This sudden invitation to him to participate in the so-called Nine Schools Tournament was undoubtedly a test, a way to find out his identity and ability. Nanakusa Mayumi seemed to see through Shangguan Wen's concerns. She smiled slightly and explained:
"Not only Shangguan, but also Shields has been invited to participate. You can serve as competitors or as logistical support CAD maintenance personnel. Our First High School needs elites in all aspects for this Nine Schools Tournament, and you two are undoubtedly the best candidates."
Shangguan Wen turned to look at Angelina, who was standing beside him. She saw that Shields was also stunned, clearly unprepared for this sudden invitation. But Shields quickly regained her composure. She walked over to Shangguan Wen and whispered,
"Shangguan, it seems we need to think about this carefully."
Shangguan Wen nodded, knowing that Angelina was right. Although their motives for being invited to the Nine Schools Tournament might not be entirely pure, he didn't mind playing along.
"President Nanakusa, let's think about this."
Mayumi Nanakusa nodded, turned around and chose to leave.
Shangguan Wen turned around and looked at the girl who was full of pressure, very silly and easily fooled.
"Angelina, why did you agree to participate in the Nine Schools Tournament?"
For some reason, when Angelina faced Shangguan Wen, her professional qualities as an American soldier (there weren't many in the original novel, she was just a silly and cute girl) disappeared, and she became just an ordinary girl next door, speaking timidly:
"My grandfather hopes that I can participate in the competition and win honor for No. 1 High School."
"Does the person behind you know?"
"Behind the scenes? They knew about it and agreed to let me participate."
Shangguan Wen touched Angelina's blonde hair, his eyes filled with sympathy and pity as he said:
"Poor child, he was sold and didn't even know how to count the money"
"What? Me?"
Angelina pointed to her nose and said that she was one of the world's strategic magicians and one of the national strategic forces, so how could she be betrayed?
"Your grandfather, the Americana officials behind you, and the Nine Schools Tournament you're participating in, it can be said that they're all working together to target me, and they're using you as bait to be sacrificed."
Angelina's expression quickly shifted from confusion to shock. Her blue eyes widened, as if she couldn't believe her ears. She shook her head, trying to process this sudden and complex situation.
"No, it's impossible. Grandpa is one of the people closest to me, how could he... Besides, I'm an important strategic magician in America, how could they use me as bait?"
Shangguan Wen sighed softly, his eyes becoming softer, yet with a subtle hint of seriousness:
"Angelina, many things aren't as simple as they seem. Your grandfather is Jiudao Lie, and his first priority is the Japanese Jiudao family. And America, for the sake of greater interests, even dared to kill her own commander-in-chief, let alone a mere half-blood magician. As for the Nine Schools War, it's dispensable."
"But why me? Why choose me to target you?"
Angelina's voice trembled slightly, and she felt unprecedented confusion and fear.
"Because you're so foolish and easy to fool, I guarantee that by the time you return to your dorm, your superiors will have already prepared a set of lies to deceive you, and they'll even add that it's all for America."
Shangguan Wen spoke slowly, his eyes deep, as if he could see through everything.
"You've been too close to me these past few days, and your grandfather and the officials saw an opportunity to use you. They knew that if you could convince me to participate, I could become a key part of their plan. And you, naturally, were caught in the middle of this storm."
Angelina's face turned pale, and she felt dizzy and almost lost her balance. Shangguan Wen was quick to support her and let her lean on his shoulder.
"Don't be afraid, Angelina. Although things are complicated, there is hope."
Shangguan Wen's voice was low and firm, like lighting a lamp in the darkness.
"I will protect you and won't let you become anyone's victim. You can live the life of a normal high school student, instead of being like a social animal, playing 007 every day and being betrayed and backstabbed by others."
Angelina raised her head and looked at Shangguan Wen with tears in her eyes. Her heart was filled with gratitude and trust. She knew that in this complicated situation, Shangguan Wen was the only person she could rely on.
"Shangguan Wen, thank you. I don't know what to do, but I believe in you."
Angelina's voice was tearful, but her eyes were firm. After all, she was only a 16-year-old girl. Even with the veneer of a soldier, she was still a human being, with emotions of joy, anger, sorrow, fear, and terror.
Shangguan Wen smiled and nodded, comforting her and said:
"Okay, Angelina. Now all we have to do is calmly analyze the situation and find a way to deal with it. Remember, no matter what happens, don't lose confidence or courage."
Shangguan Wen's words were full of power, as if injecting new vitality into Angelina.
"Um"
On the other side, Nanakusa Mayumi returned to the student union office and sat in the student union president's office chair, resting her chin on her hands, thinking about what the principal said to her, then looked up at Jumonji Kazuto who was still looking at Shangguan Wen and Angelina's information next to her. She always felt that there was some conspiracy brewing here, and it was being hidden from her.
She couldn't help but look at Jūmonji Katsuto. As the next head of the Jūmonji family, he must know more than her. She has two older brothers, and the position of family heir is not hers. She is also destined to become the object of political marriage with the other ten master clans or foreign wealthy families.
"Jumonji, why did the school suddenly change from arguing to unanimously requesting Shangguan Wen and Shields to participate?"
After a moment of silence, Jumonji Katsuto spoke softly:
"Because this time they want to use the criminals in Chinatown to frame Shangguan Wen with a false charge."
"Chinatown? False accusations? Are they planning to cheat in the Nine Schools Tournament?"
The eldest daughter of the Nanakusa family had also heard that many Japanese underground forces used the Nine Schools War to conduct gambling activities, but she did not expect that this time they would play so dirty.
Mayumi Nanakusa's eyes instantly became sharp. She leaned forward, clenched her fists and placed them on her knees. She was obviously shocked and angry at the shocking news.
"Using the Nine Schools' Competition to cheat and then framing Shangguan Wen? This is not only unfair to Shangguan Wen personally, but also a stain on the reputation of the entire Ten Master Clan! How could the school be involved in such a conspiracy?"
Jūmonji Katsuru sighed softly, his eyes shifting from the documents in his hands to gaze out the window at the golden-tinged campus stained by the afterglow. His voice was filled with coldness, completely lacking the innocence of a 17-year-old high school student.
"All of this is for Neon. Your father is one of the insiders. Now Greater Asia has become the Human Union. The abnormal technology unleashed by the Human Union has made the world uneasy, and even more uneasy for Neon. This is Neon's self-protection!"
"But what does this have to do with Shangguan Wen?"
"War requires a fuse, and Shangguan Wen happens to meet this fuse."
Chapter 196 Who is the Hunter and Who is the Prey
Angelina returned to her dormitory. Not long after she stepped in and took off her shoes, she received an order from the top leaders in the country, asking her to participate in the Nine Schools Competition and achieve excellent results.
Then, Angelina contacted her father in China and received the same wording. Once was a coincidence, but twice or three times was a malicious conspiracy.
Angelina's heart was broken at this moment. She never expected that in order to plot against Shangguan Wen and the [Human Union] behind him, she, a self-proclaimed strategic magician, would abandon her without any hesitation, and even deceive her into being loyal to the country after being abandoned.
Angelina secretly hated in her heart:
"You bunch of old men, just wait for me, I won't let you go!"
Angelina clenched her fists, her eyes gleaming with unyielding determination. She knew that she had been sent to the Nine Schools Tournament, nominally for the honor of her school, but in reality, the higher-ups were using her as a pawn for some ulterior motive. And she refused to be manipulated.
After hanging up the phone, Angelina sat on the edge of the bed, took a deep breath, and tried to calm herself down. She began to analyze the situation.
The Nine Schools Tournament, as an annual event for high school students in the neon magic world, brings together the elite students of 06 from nine top magic academies, and the competition is extremely fierce.
Having gone through Shangguan Wen's education, she knew that there were hidden talents among high school students in Japan, and that a little carelessness could lead to failure.
Restrain your former arrogance.
----split line----
Gu Jie, the chief commander of the international terrorist organization "Blanche", is meeting Yotsuba Maya in Neon Yokohama at this moment. The "Forbidden Yotsuba" once destroyed the big man where Gu Jie was. Now for common interests, the mortal enemies have joined forces to target Shangguan Wen.
Sipping her tea, Yotsuba Maya suppressed her murderous intent and asked her former enemy with a smile:
"Shangguan Wen and Shields are already heading towards the Yokohama stadium. How is your Blanche preparing? Is she not even able to speak?"
Gu Jie sneered in response:
"Hmph, don't worry about that. My men are good at framing others, and besides, it's not without your cooperation."
Yotsuba Maya gave a fake smile and asked tentatively:
"Today's Greater Asia, no, the Human Union, is almost becoming a country with half the civilization of the universe. As a native of that country, why would you still want to join us? Gu Jie..."
"We are all old foxes. We all know what we are pretending to be."
Gu Jie gently put down the teacup in his hand, a sly look flashing in his eyes:
"Yoshiba, you and I may have been rivals in the past, but on this vast stage, interests are always the most solid alliances. The growing strength of the Human Union not only threatens my position in Blanche, but also touches upon the former boundaries of your interests, the Forbidden Four Leaves, isn't it? As for why you joined, hmm, whether it's Greater Asia or the Human Union, their rapid development has offended existing interest groups. In this era of imminent change, which side you stand on is often more important than where you stand."
Upon hearing this, Yotsuba Maya curled up the corners of her mouth into a meaningful smile:
"You're right, Gu Jie. A timely alliance can multiply our strength. However, I still want to remind you that our cooperation must be based on absolute trust. If there is any sign of betrayal, the consequences will be borne by you."
Gu Jie nodded, his eyes revealing unquestionable determination:
"Of course, Clover. My sincerity towards cooperation is as strong as my desire for victory. My Blanche has laid a tight net, waiting for Shangguan Wen and the others to fall into it.
And you, [Forbidden Clover], need to deliver the fatal blow at the critical moment to ensure that nothing goes wrong. Then, you will understand.
The two exchanged glances, as if reaching some unspoken understanding. The neon lights outside the window shone on their faces, reflecting an endless thirst for power and victory. This conspiracy, woven by mortal enemies, quietly unfolded under the night sky of Yokohama. How would the storm it brought about sweep across the world?
----split line----
Shangguan Wen and Angelina pretended nothing happened and followed the No. 1 High School bus to Yokohama to participate in the Nine Schools Tournament. Along the way, people who didn't know what was going on were talking and laughing, only those who knew the truth remained silent.
Faced with the trap that had already been set up, Nanakusa Mayumi hesitated whether to tell Shangguan Wen. After all, there was no honor in this, and the future of No. 1 High School was at stake. In the future, people would talk about how No. 1 High School targeted foreign students.
But on the other hand, his family was also one of the participants. Once he told Shangguan Wen, he would be a traitor to his family and his country.
She was caught in a dilemma for a while, which made her depressed.
Jūmonji Katsuto, who was sitting in front of her, glanced at Nanakusa Mayumi who was caught in internal strife and just shook his head. Mayumi was a little naive. She thought that the rich and powerful families were all man-eating monsters with human skin. The so-called honor could not compare with the actual benefits.
Mayumi Nanakusa looked back and saw Shangguan Wen with a calm expression, seemingly unaware of the coming storm. Angelina was humming an unknown tune beside her, seemingly completely immersed in her own world, unaware of the undercurrents around her.
The school bus slowly drove through the busy streets, and the scenery outside the window passed by frame by frame like a movie film, but it could not distract Mayumi Nanakusa's thoughts at all.
Even though she had not participated in it personally, she had been accustomed to it since childhood. The whispers about the exchange of power and interests between families and within families haunted her like a nightmare.
She knew that what was hidden behind this Nine Schools War was not just competition between schools, but also a complex game between major forces. No one knew how many people would become victims of the ambitious people and how many would die.
"Don't worry, Nanakusa Mayumi, it's rare that your heart isn't dark."
Shangguan Wen's voice suddenly appeared in her mind. She instinctively wanted to stand up and look back, but found that she could not control her body and could not speak.
"What exactly is going on?"
"It's magic. Now you can talk to me temporarily in this spiritual consciousness space."
Nanakusa Mayumi in the consciousness space couldn't help but exclaimed
“That’s not scientific at all.”
“But it’s magical.”
Mayumi Nanakusa took a few deep breaths. She was originally worried that Shangguan Wen would die in the dishonorable siege, but she didn't expect that this guy would pretend to be a pig and eat the tiger. He probably already knew their plan clearly.
"Student Shangguan, when exactly did you find out, and what is your true identity?"
Shangguan Wen rested his chin on his hand and replied:
"From the moment you plotted against Angelina, you knew you were plotting against me. As for my identity? Asking too much won't do you any good. You just need to know that I, here at the Human Union, am the one who can decide the death of 2 million people in Japan."
"[Human Union]? Japan has 2 million people? Could it be that Japan is jumping into the trap after hitting a wall?"
Nanakusa Mayumi was filled with shock, the transition between hunter and prey was so swift.
Chapter 197 Nine Schools Battle
Officially known as the "National Magic High School Friendship Magic Tournament," it's a team competition featuring magic competitions between the top-ranked to ninth-ranked high schools affiliated with national magic universities.
Competition results can influence the evaluation of individual schools. Schools' commitment to the competition may even exceed that of elite athletic schools in traditional national competitions. Not only government officials and those involved in the magic field, but also businesses and international audiences come to admire, conduct research, and discover talent. It's a dazzling stage for magic high school students.
The events of the 295th competition are as follows: "Precision Shooting", "Group Ball Score", "Wave Board Competition", "Icicle Attack and Defense", "Illusion Star Picking", "Secret Monument Decoding" and "Shield Fighting".
Shangguan Wen and Angelina participated in the shield-machine battle.
Shield fighting is a melee combat using a shield, typically conducted on a field elevated above the ground or floor. The victor is the one who destroys the opponent's shield, captures it, or knocks the opponent off the field. Physical attacks on the opponent's body are prohibited, but attacks on the shield are permitted. Shield fighting involves using magic, one's own shield, or one's own body to attack the opponent, even using magic to knock them off the field.
The women's competition is a three-set best, while the men's competition is a five-set best.
When Shangguan Wen saw his entry, he immediately guessed what the other party wanted to do.
"Shield Fighting? This is a match carefully prepared for Jumonji Katsuto."
It goes without saying that the person on the other side competing with him is an enemy in disguise.
Well, if something goes wrong, you can shirk responsibility, and if you succeed, you can make a profit. Combining this with the original novel, it is Gu Jie's "Blanche".