Tournament Rules
Thanks to the guards' efficient work, the troublemakers, along with the two unlucky guys who had just passed out in the garbage heap, were quickly dragged away, and the street swiftly returned to order.
The minor incident was thus resolved.
"Brother Jiang Bai, what was that token you just had? It was amazing!" Wendy asked curiously, her eyes sparkling.
"Yes, yes! Even the captain of the guards knelt down before you!" Carla chimed in, looking on in astonishment.
Jiang Bai scratched his head and explained in a nonchalant tone, "It's nothing, it's just that I casually completed 100-Year Quest issued by the kingdom, and the king insisted on giving me a badge, saying that seeing this badge is like seeing the king in person or something."
Everyone: "..."
Good heavens, just like that... completed 100-Year Quest?
This Versailles flavor is way too strong.
"Amazing!!"
However, after the initial shock, the guild members still expressed their sincere admiration.
Makarov watched as the matter was perfectly resolved, but he couldn't help walking up to Jiang Bai and reminding him, "You brat! Aren't you worried about causing trouble in the capital and getting us disqualified from the competition?"
"Cancel?" Jiang Bai shrugged indifferently.
"If they really dare, then I'll go and beat everyone participating in this Grand Magic Games to a pulp, and none of them will be allowed to participate."
"..."
Everyone felt ashamed.
Although it sounds outrageous, Jiang Bai can actually do it very easily.
"Cough cough!" Makarov choked for a moment, then quickly changed the subject.
"Some rules still need to be followed! Now that everyone's here, let's go back to the hotel and get some rest."
"Huh? But we have a competition tomorrow, don't we?" Lucy asked nervously.
"Don't we need to prepare in advance?"
"The content of the competition changes every year, so there's no way to prepare in advance," Alzack explained with a smile.
"That's right," Bisca added, hugging Asuka.
"I heard there was a shooting competition the year we didn't participate."
"There was a race the year I didn't participate!" Sarukusuke added.
"However, the final ranking is determined by the total score across all events," Droy concluded.
"Oh?" Makarov stroked his beard, suddenly realizing a possibility, and looked at Natsu, Gray, and Lucy with a wicked grin.
"So you mean even if Jiang Bai gets a perfect score in all the matches, if Natsu, Gray, and Lucy lose too badly, we still won't get first place, is that what you mean?"
Hey! You old geezer!
"Why does it have to be based on the premise that we lose?!"
"That's outrageous!"
The three people who were called out immediately flew into a rage, shouting and complaining at Makarov in unison.
Makarov completely ignored the three clowns and instead pulled a book as thick as a brick from his pocket, handing it to Erza.
"Anyway, Erza, make sure you read through this rulebook before the match starts tomorrow."
"Huh?! Me?"
Erza stared blankly at the rulebook, which was thicker than a dictionary.
Just as the Titania was about to turn to stone, a petite figure took the "murder weapon" from her hands.
"Leave it to me!" Levy adjusted her delicate glasses.
"I happen to have brought 'Reading Glasses' with me."
A short while later, under the gazes of everyone who admired the academic genius, Levy closed her book.
"I've read it all. There are three key rules that need to be stated."
First, guild leaders cannot participate in the competition as contestants.
Upon hearing this, Makarov patted his chest and said with a look of relief, "Thank goodness, thank goodness I didn't hand over the chairmanship to that brat Jiang Bai so soon."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai rolled his eyes at the old man.
"Old man, even if you gave it to me now, I wouldn't do it well."
"You brat!" Makarov exclaimed, jumping up and down in anger.
"Second," Levy continued.
"Anyone without a guild crest is not allowed to participate in the competition on behalf of that guild."
"Of course." Everyone nodded in agreement.
"Third, all events will be kept strictly confidential before the competition officially begins."
"And," Levy's expression turned somewhat strange,
"The handbook concludes with one important note: all participants must return to the designated accommodation before Midnight."
"12 o'clock? Why?"
"It sounds like the Cinderella story," Lucy couldn't help but remark.
"It's still a long way from midnight," Gray said, glancing at the sky.
"Let's go take a look around first!"
"Oh! The capital! I've arrived!"
Natsu was the first to cheer and rush out, and the others followed suit, dispersing in twos and threes, eagerly beginning to explore this bustling capital city.
Before Jiang Bai could even find a place to slack off, he was supported by two soft arms on his left and right.
"Let's go, Xiao Bai."
"Come shopping with us."
Erza and Mirajane flanked him from either side, their faces adorned with irresistible, sweet smiles.
"Your task is to help us carry things."
Seeing the "kind" smiles on the faces of the two stunning beauties, Jiang Bai could only sigh helplessly and resignedly let them drag him away.