The Author's POV

"haha, been a while"

With an awkward smile on my face, I headed towards where Jin, Amanda, and the rest were. Glancing at my group, I pretty much knew everyone apart from a certain individual.

...his name was Zack I believe.

Leisurely chatting with Donald, whom I was in a group with back in Hollberg, Zack was a rather skinny individual with black hair and black eyes. He was around my height and apart from his long nose, he didn't particularly stand out.

As I observed him from the distance, apart from the fact that he was in my class, I really knew nothing about him. He wasn't even in the tournament arc therefore it was safe to say that he had failed the tryouts in my novel.

Arriving before the group, I nodded my head towards Jin and Amanda who nodded back. Thereafter, as I nodded towards Arnold, I saw him snorting and looking away from me.

...looks like he still hated me.

Well, not that I cared. In my eyes, he was merely putting on a show in front of Jin.

Turning my attention back towards Donald who was talking to Zack, I casually smiled as I greeted him.

"Hey Donald, been a while since I've seen you"

Turning around and glancing at me, Donald's casual smile faded from his face as he nodded his head.

"Hm? Oh it's you"

Noticing Donald's attitude, which was a stark contrast to what it was back in Hollberg I couldn't help but tease him

"mmhmm, I see...Now that I'm ranked higher than you, you're starting to be more polite huh?"

Hearing my remark, glaring at me, Donald raised his voice

"Do you want to fight you bastard"

Raising my brow I couldn't help but shake my head as I said.

"You still won't stop calling me bastard? Hey, how many times did I tell you? My name is Ren. Do you want me to spell it for you? R-E-N"

"You think I care about your damn nam-"

"Please stop"

Not so far from where Donald and I were, noticing that things were about to get out of control, Amanda sighed and spoke up. Her tone was neither overbearing nor cold.

She was really speechless at the moment.

In a couple of minutes they would be participating in the tryouts for the academy tournament and yet two of their members were already fighting.

Were they not nervous at all?

Brushing her hair to the side, Amanda curtly said.

"Please, calm down, and let's start discussing our strategy"

Thereafter, as she finished speaking, Amanda expectantly looked at me. Shortly after, as if mimicking Amanda, everyone else looked in my direction.

"huh?"

Noticing everyone staring in my direction, my brow couldn't help but twitch.

What's going on?

"Hold up, why is everyone looking at me?"

Unbothered by my expression, Jin looked at me and said.

"Do you not have a plan?"

Glancing at Jin, after a short pause I nodded my head.

"...I do"

in fact have a

this. I originally predicted for Jin to boss everyone around and tell them what to do, but to

mature a lot since the last time I saw

completely different from what he was a

response,

is the

*Sigh*

"...no problem, no problem"

from my mouth, lowering my voice, I pondered for a few seconds before

the

everyone looked at me strangely. Evidently

voice out their confusion was Donald as

plan is that?

my brow as I

"Isn't it obvious why?"

"Why?"

I answered back with another question as I looked

if you had the code who would

question, everyone started pondering. The first one to speak up was

"The strongest person?"

towards Amanda, I

option, yes, but not the ideal

on his lips, Jin

what is the ideal

faint smile appeared on my lips

ideal candidate would obviously be someone who could run fast or hide

be put in a flat terrain, someone who can outrun the opponent so

someone that could hide from the enemy's prying eyes

I looked at everyone

guys are following

everyone, and seeing them nod in understanding, my eyes soon paused

a certain individual in our

towards Jin. With his arms crossed, a slight frown appeared on Jin's brows as he

want me to

into the eyes,

and you will

he

holding the code, chances were that the other team would mainly focus their attention on him. Therefore, if everyone was focused on him, with me holding the code, chances

eyes for what felt like an eternity, Jin eventually looked away and nodded his

"...fine"

I secretly nodded my

Jin listening to what I was saying, the chances of us successfully passing the tryouts

that I was worried as originally Jin, Arnold, and Amanda made it

happen, with the plot armour they had,

Donald, who was quietly pondering for a while, suddenly

if they

Donald's question, I secretly nodded my head. He

also thought about

with the plan, I had already thought of

being the obvious target, the other team could also think that it was a trap

beforehand. Staring at Amanda,

you guys come

as he black hair gently fell to her shoulders, Amanda's brows lightly frowned as she looked at Arnold and Donald. With a hint of doubt in her voice,

"us?"

I looked at both

both will always be within a fifty hundred meter distance from

fifty hundred meters away from him, and

help but

"...why is that?"

Amanda for a brief

that it looks like Arnold is

It was simple really.

Jin was not the one that carried the code, naturally it would be either one