"We shall invite the City Lord to help us with the draw." Peter announced and the audience looked onto the field to see the City Lord walking onto the pitch. It was because the City Lord was involved in the draw that he didn't give his usual big speech before the teams were invited onto the field.
"That's odd."
"Yeah"
"The City Lord has never been involved in the draw before"
"Do you think something weird is going on?"
"Not really"
"I think you guys are reading too much into this"
"He is the City Lord. If he decides to be the one heading the draw, that's his decision"
"Yeah. That just means that this year's Grand Tourney is more special than the past years"
Mane's sharp ears picked up the words of the people closest to him in the stadium, and he understood that the City Lord had never been involved in the draw. From the people's murmurings, it was strange that the City Lord had chosen to be involved, but they didn't read much into it. He was their City Lord, and he could do whatever he wanted. But Mane wasn't as naïve as the spectators, and neither were the other teams.
The leader of the Indigo Team, the Celestial Fairy, creased her brows slightly when she heard Peter's announcement. Although her reaction was slight, so far what Mane had gathered from her countenance could be explained in just a word: calm. For someone like her, creasing her brows was enough for Mane to understand that she was taken aback by the announcement.
The Red Team's captain, Red Prince, was more open with his reaction. He mumbled the words 'oh really now' when the announcement was made, and raised one of his eyebrows above the other in an exaggerated manner.
The Black Team's captain, Black Saga was probably the only one who didn't have any reaction to the news. He was as calm as ever, like a rock battered by a stiff breeze; unmoving and unruffled.
"It seems that he was already aware," Mane thought silently to himself seeing Black Saga's calm reaction. There was no way he was going to believe that Black Saga was someone who didn't express his emotions. The man was a rod user, and his aura was as stiff as his weapon. But from the man's smile Mane could tell that he was a kind gentleman, and that he wasn't one to hide his emotions. So it was highly likely that he knew that the City Lord was going to be involved in the draw.
"Don't you think Vital Orange is acting very strangely?" Hildegarde who was seated on Mane's shoulder looked at Vital Orange with eyes full of scrutiny and said.
"Yes. He is acting very strangely. He keeps looking at Black Hand. However, Black Hand is acting very calmly. I can't pick up anything strange from him." Mane's eyes narrowed into slits as he stared at alternatively between Vital Orange and Black Hand. Vital Orange looked uncomfortable, as if he was sitting upon a bed of nails. The large man kept looking at Black Hand, yet the Snake assassin didn't bother to respond to Vital Orange's stares. Black Hand kept gazing at the City Lord who was entering with a calm gaze, just like everyone else. Vital Orange however, couldn't bring himself to look at the City Lord.
"Do you think it has to do with that night?" Hildegarde asked. Her question had Mane furrowing his brows in contemplation. He started to think carefully about what happened a few nights ago, and he realised that Hildegarde might be on to something.
About two days ago, Mane was out training at midnight when he felt the presence of Vital Orange appear next to the gate. Mane was curious, and so he followed Vital Orange's presence and found the big man dressed entirely in black, sneaking out of the house. But he wasn't alone. Next to him was someone who looked very much like Black Hand. Although this person's face was covered entirely, Mane could tell from his build that it was Black Hand. The man was an assassin, so Mane wasn't surprised that he had been able to hide his aura. And it was because of that that Mane didn't sense him initially. However, Vital Orange didn't have such skill. Mane watched as the two men left sneakily, and easily got past the guards to God knows where. However, before the break of day, they were back.
Mane didn't really worry too much about what he saw. Everyone had their secrets. He had his secrets, and so did Dan. It wasn't strange that others also had things they weren't willing to share with others. But after listening to Hildegarde's words, he reckoned that there was some connection between the City Lord, Vital Orange and Black Hand. And from Vital Orange's reaction, it wasn't a good one.
"The City Lord is accompanied by his beautiful daughter, and our future City Mistress, Mira!" Peter exclaimed in excitement seeing the lithe figure accompanying the City Lord. The crowd cheered loudly as several men shamelessly kept shouting at Mira to marry them. Next to Mira was someone that Mane recognised, the bodyguard who had almost attacked him in a moment of hotheadedness, Blake. However, Rusty, the person Mane felt threatened by, was not here. Mane had found out a lot about the man in the past few days and understood that the man was always with the City Lord. Even when he wasn't standing right next to the City Lord, he was always close by. But this time the man wasn't here. And Mane felt that his absence was more than just a coincidence. The last person with them was a young woman who followed after the trio with a small hand woven basket in her hands.
"Hello Captains," the City Lord greeted the four leaders once he arrived at the center. The captains respectfully returned his greeting, and even Celestial Fairy opened her mouth to speak for the first time.
"We meet again," the City Lord turned to Mane and Lam and said. His words stunned the captains, including Vital Orange who had no idea that the three had met before. Black Hand showed a reaction for the first time too. Even he was surprised.
"We do," Mane responded through the mask, and Lam greeted the City Lord as well. Their young and exuberant voices stunned the members of the other teams who had been assuming all this while that the masked men weren't so young. But Mane and Lam had fairly immature voices, and the rest didn't know what to think anymore.
"When do you plan to honor your promise? Or you have forgotten that you promised me a dinner." The City Lord smiled and said. His words had the members of the four teams who had just recovered their calm to lose their calm again.
"Soon, City Lord. I give you my word that we would be there once the competition ends. How did you like our gift?" Mane bowed slightly to show respect and asked. The others were surprised. These two men obviously were acquainted with the City Lord, and they had even given him a gift! Even Celestial Fairy was looking at Mane and Lam with a lot more interest now. There was no way she thought these masked men were ordinary anymore.
"I did. It helped a lot with my injuries." The City Lord laughed and turned to look at Vital Orange and Black Hand when he spoke of his injuries. Vital Orange grew slightly pale, but Black Hand was very calm. The assassin was even smiling at the City Lord.
"I am glad that the City Lord benefitted from my gift. Although it saddens me that you had been hurt. For the last time we met, you were as fit as a fiddle." Mane smoothly stated.
"Yes. Life is fickle. One moment you are full of health and in the next, things aren't as good as they were." the City Lord sighed in mock pity and stated. Mane could see from the man's eyes that the City Lord was distrusting of him, which was likely due to the fact that he was on the Orange Team.
"City Lord, it's me. I want you to know that whatever is going on has nothing to do with me and my friends. We are only here to fight with the Orange Team in the Grand Tourney. We have no close ties to them. In fact, I'm very interested in them. And I feel that I could get the information I seek from you. How about we talk properly when I come to your home?" Mane quickly sent his voice directly into the City Lord's ears with Lock-On. The City Lord was stunned by the sudden intrusion, but the man quickly recovered himself and nodded at Mane.
"Please do not look at me with such eyes, Miss Mira," Mane turned to Mira and pleaded wryly. He could feel Mira's murderous aura centering on the Orange Team – and on him especially – ever since she came. Mane was very certain that Vital Orange and Black Hand had done something that was likely related to the City Lord's injuries.
Mira coldly regarded Mane and then turned her head. Blake who was right next to her was just as cold, if not colder. Mane smiled wryly seeing their expressions, but no one could see this through the mask. As for Lam, he was confused. He could feel the animosity of Mira and Blake, but didn't understand what was going on. Mane decided that he would brief him once they were alone.
"It seems that the City Lord is sharing some words with the contestants. No doubt wishing them luck for the fight ahead." Their interaction didn't go unnoticed since it was done in front of a fully packed stadium. However Peter, just like every other person here thought nothing of the interaction.
The City Lord nodded at Peter to indicate that he was ready, and then Peter took over.
"In the basket are four pebbles, each of a different color. We have the red pebble, the orange pebble, the black pebble and the indigo pebble. Each pebble represents a team. The colors of the pebbles correspond to the teams they represent. Each captain should please step forward and pick a pebble when the name of their team is called"
The City Lord took the basket from the young woman who bowed and stood to the side. Then he held it before the captains as each of them came forward to pick a pebble.
"Up first is the Indigo Team whose members are the reigning champions." As was the norm, the first pick went to the champions, and then the rest occurred in alphabetical order.
Celestial Fairy walked up to the basket and picked up a pebble. She held it firmly in her hand so that no one would see.
"Next, is the Black Team."
Black Saga walked up and also picked a pebble from the basket. Just like Celestial Fairy, he kept the pebble he took hidden from the eyes of the others.
"Next up is the Orange Team"
Vital Orange nervously walked up to the smiling City Lord and picked a pebble. The City Lord didn't show any reaction, still smiling happily.
"Last but not least, the Red Team"
Red Prince picked up the last pebble when it was his turn.
"Now would the captains please show their pebbles to the audience?" Peter requested, and the captains held up their hands and displayed their pebbles.
"Well, there you have it folks! The Red Team squares off against the Black Team! And the Indigo Team faces the team they knocked out at this stage of the competition last year, the Orange Team!"