Chapter 265: The Grand Championship
For the past month, Nora had been unusually restless, unable to connect with her mainframe. Even now, in the open city, she couldn’t establish a link to any satellite. Though she could faintly sense a signal, it was constantly disrupted by some kind of magnetic interference. Still, the chance to connect, even briefly, lifted her mood.
"Please give me a gaming laptop," Eleanor said.
"How many hours will you be needing it for?" the attendant asked.
Eleanor mentally calculated the time left before sunset. "Seven hours, please."
The attendant was momentarily taken aback. Cadets rarely used the internet for long... most browsed for an hour or two before heading off to bars or other amusements. She hesitated, then decided to confirm.
"Miss, do you mean to book a gaming laptop for seven hours? Are you sure? Payment must be made in advance, and we don’t offer refunds. If you’re uncertain, you may wish to reconsider."
"Yes. For seven hours," Eleanor confirmed firmly.
"In that case," the attendant said, adopting a more professional tone, "I’d recommend one of our private rooms on the second floor. According to our policy, guests who spend over a hundred dollars qualify for a private room. For seven hours, you already exceed that amount."
"Is that an option? Thank you!" Eleanor’s eyes brightened... the idea of privacy delighted her. Nora could operate freely without the risk of anyone watching.
"Please, follow me," the attendant said, leading Eleanor upstairs.
The private room was pleasantly modest. A sturdy table, two chairs, and a small couch with a pillow to lie back on. It wasn’t large, but to Eleanor, it felt more than sufficient.
As she settled onto the couch, the attendant handed her a menu and said, "Miss, in the private room, water and carbonated beverages are complimentary. Any other food or drink must be ordered from the menu."
Eleanor glanced through the list and said, "Please bring me the laptop and a cup of Kopi Luwak, thank you."
"That will be one hundred and fifty dollars. Would you like to pay in cash?" the attendant asked.
Eleanor handed over fifteen ten-dollar bills. "Please bring the order along with some plain water. I’ll let you know if I need anything else."
"Of course. There’s a switch on the table... press it if you need assistance." The attendant bowed slightly, then left the room, closing the door softly behind her.
laptop. She arranged everything
laptop was already powered on... Nora had begun connecting to
you show me Freya’s current position? Where is
live feed appeared on the screen. Freya was in class, listening attentively as
and watched her for a long
Freya had already moved on to her second class, and Eleanor’s coffee had long gone
poll data remains in your favour. Juliette Blanc hasn’t sent you any new messages since you asked her to contact you if she required assistance... which likely means everything is progressing smoothly. But
forward, scrolling
***
was a knock
"Come in," Eleanor said.
couch; the laptop rested on the table, its
up. Do you need any
heading back. Thank you,"
every account, erasing
may return," Nora confirmed in
faintly.
Miss. Please come
Eleanor said softly as she walked out of
***
a proving ground where strength, skill, and nerve were laid bare. Though the outcome wouldn’t affect
The top ten prizes were the richest offered throughout the entire term, and every cadet
underground room of the academy building, Instructor Daniel Tremblay of the School of
cadets will participate in the qualifying round," he declared, his words boomed in every corner
will be selected by random draw. If anyone wishes to
assembled before him... faces steady, eyes
flickered under his dark moustache. "Good. Then let’s begin the
tablet device lay. With a few swift taps, he initiated the
by side. The first listed 1 to 50, and the second 51 to 100. The numbers began to roll rapidly like tumbling dice,
the motion stopped, the number beside ’1’ froze:
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