At five in the morning on March 21, many people had already arrived at the venue.
A nine-tier platform had been erected in the central square, directly beneath the pyramid. It looked like an extension of the pyramid's slope.
On either side of the platform stood six tiers of spectator seating. Together, they formed a structure like a coliseum.
A broad road ran down the middle toward the Port District, wide enough for over a hundred people to walk abreast.
Three tiers of seats lined the road for those who had barely qualified to come to the island—people below level 24.
Alan and Lin Li could only sit there. They looked at the distant platform and shook their heads.
"It's too far," Alan said quietly. "If a Sword-Keeper stands up there, all I'll see is an outline made of a few dots. Without a sniper rifle, I'll be no use in today's battle."
Lin Li smiled at some of the others who had come early to pick their seats, then muttered through his teeth, "Stop talking. This has nothing to do with us. We're loyal to the core."
Alan chuckled. "We're supposed to be overthrowing the Illuminati, but in the end, we don't even have to lift a finger..."
"Look at Adams. He's still directing people to their seats," Lin Li said.
Adams was guiding the crowd, deciding who sat in the six-tier section and who went to the three-tier section. He had it all arranged.
Lin Li waved to him. Adams spotted him, handed his work to a subordinate, and wandered over.
"Have you seen Hua Ji?" Lin Li asked.
"Briefly, late last night. He told me to do a few things and left. I haven't had a moment to spare. A huge crowd arrived at two this morning—at