"Next, please welcome Leia, Saintess of the Wealth Church!"
Peterson's rousing announcement drew cheers that nearly blew the roof off the Gladiator Arena.
So what if Bailey Knight sang beautifully? So what if Onyxia the Silver Dragon fulfilled every man's fantasy? The Saintess was one of their own!
Since the Wealth Church had arrived, the Saintess had spent every day helping the poor and injured in the streets and outside the city, freeing them from despair.
Whatever anyone else did, Free City was voting for the Saintess!
Of course, voting for Bailey Knight, the lord's beloved Silver Dragon, Blue Dragon, and Brass Dragon, Rose, and the other contestants... that was another matter.
The Saintess also sang a holy hymn, but unlike Rose, she declined the Choir's harmonies and the band's accompaniment. She simply stood in a beam of Holy Light descending from above and sang alone.
It was as though Lady of Wealth had touched her throat. Her clear voice sounded heavenly.
All five judges approved, and the votes pouring in after her performance proved that her status and looks were not the only things that made her exceptional.
Annan looked at the list, now down to just a few contestants, and suddenly remembered something. "What happened to that Bard?"
He had been so busy lately that he had forgotten all about that troublemaker.
The Skeleton King asked, "The Chaos Cult?"
"Yes."
"He didn't make the top hundred."
Annan paused. The result did not surprise him, though. He summoned Luoxi and asked quietly, "Where's the Chaos Cult's Bard?"
"He's already left..."
Annan frowned. Why had that man entered the competition? Just to say hello?
Or had he intended to spread chaos, only for Annan to expose his identity by accident, leaving him with no votes and his scheme in ruins?