With the Imperial Championship approaching, colorful flags hung from streetlights and eaves.
The Empire clearly took the tournament seriously, dressing up the competition two days away like a grand festival.
The ten Academies selected from a field of 160 were preparing with feverish excitement. Meanwhile, Annan sat in the auction hall, watching a beautiful Girl wheel out each lot and lazily calling out a bid now and then.
Doing in Tatuun's Imperial Capital what he had done in Reekan's Royal Capital was easy enough. So was crossing paths with the Montreal family again.
Bel Gordon Knights Academy, which had been bidding against Annan, watched him go from lazy to annoyed to seemingly frantic and congratulated itself on getting under his skin. By then, Annan and Sir Kimberly were already splitting the spoils.
"You've done me a huge favor. I need money badly right now..."
Their windfall was beyond anything Kimberly had imagined, and he grew talkative. "Don't worry. You'll get your share right away."
The eight lots sold for about 5,600 Gold Coins in total. After the auction house took its five-percent fee, Annan received 1,300 Gold Coins.
"You're so schem—cunn—clever. How have I never heard your name?" Kimberly stumbled through the compliment as he sized Annan up. "Are you a competing student?"
"Yes."
"That's strange. You didn't get an invitation?"
"An invitation?"
Kimberly explained that the Empire took the Top Ten Championship Tournament very seriously. Nobles and other powers had flocked to it like cats catching the scent of fish, and Invitation Letters had rained down on the top ten Academies.
The reason they had received no Invitation Letter was probably that they were staying at the Montreal family's Manor. No noble dared poach guests from the royal family.
“Do you know Solz Magic Studies Academy?”
"That's where I'm