As she looked at Heaven Dou City, several times livelier than usual, and the academy carriages streaming through its gates,
Ye Lingling felt a distinct twinge of nervousness. After all, this was a continent-wide tournament, one that would draw prodigies from across the entire continent.
Walking along the streets, the two of them saw many unfamiliar faces, gathered in groups.
"Are you Mr. Clockmaker?"
Since the empire covered all travel arrangements for every academy during the tournament, the Imperial Fighting Team would also head to the competition venue in the city ahead of time to familiarize themselves with the surroundings and settle in.
Neither Sunday nor Ye Lingling intended to return to Heaven Dou Royal Academy. They could simply go straight to the venue.
Just as they were about to head toward the Heaven Dou Great Soul Arena, a slightly uncertain inquiry came from behind them.
Hearing the name Clockmaker, Sunday stopped and instinctively turned around. Few people knew that name, after all; he had only used it once or twice.
Ye Lingling also turned around in puzzlement. She was all too familiar with the name Clockmaker.
Back when they had been at the empire's border, Sunday had used that very name.
Turning around, they saw a white-haired old man in a brocade robe, leaning on a cane.
Once he saw that they were indeed the people he had encountered in the tavern that day, a smile appeared on the old man's face. He bowed slightly and said,
"To think that Mr. Clockmaker, who did a good deed that day without leaving his name, was actually an Imperial Offering of the empire. I am truly astonished and filled with admiration."
"Sir, you are...?"
Looking at the kindly old man before her, Ye Lingling politely asked.
That tavern had not been