· The Game Has Begun!

Time passed bit by bit. In the reception room of the Eastern Federation embassy, Sora and Shiro lay on the sofa with bored looks on their faces, fiddling with the phones in their hands. Every now and then, they picked up a piece of fruit or a pastry from the table and took a bite. Beside them, Stephanie kept glancing nervously toward the reception room doors.

Several hours had already passed since Ino Hatsuse had left with Izuna Hatsuse, but they still had not returned, let alone started the game.

"Sora, do you think the Orc Race noticed something and plans to back out?"

The next second, as though she had thought of something, Stephanie ran to Sora's side, leaned close to his ear, and whispered the question. After all, by all rights, after this much time, the Orc Race should have long since finished whatever preparations they needed, yet there was still not the slightest movement. It was completely abnormal!

"Relax, Stephanie. They just went to invite the audience for what comes next. Besides..."

As he spoke, Sora raised his head and looked toward the reception room entrance. The doors were pushed open, and a cat-eared girl walked in. With a cute face wearing an expressionless look, she glanced at Sora and the others, then turned slightly sideways and made an inviting gesture.

"See? Here they are. Let's go!"

Sora gave the cat-eared girl a faint smile, glanced at Shiro beside him, then stood and walked that way. Seeing this, Stephanie hurriedly followed.

A few minutes later, after Sora and the others walked through a somewhat dim passage, the exit ahead suddenly lit up, and a huge wave of cheers came from that direction. Seeing this, Sora and Shiro exchanged a glance and walked straight out.

The next second,