UNLIKE what everyone expected, after the countdown disappeared, the two players on the rink just remained standing. Razor looked like he couldn't be bothered to move while Noctis just tilted his head, observing the person standing on the opposite side.

Luo Yan remembered the other's match during the last round. It was obvious that Razor wasn't fighting his hardest during the first part of the match. In fact, he only did his best when he was almost cornered. It's like he was forced by the situation to fight his opponent seriously.

Luo Yan didn't want the same thing to happen here. He didn't want to have the role of forcing the other to be serious. It's like he had to prove his worth to the other. The only one who would look good in that kind of scenario was Razor. Because it would appear like he was on a superior position. Like he was better than Luo Yan. 

How could Luo Yan let something like that to happen? He wouldn't let himself appear inferior. Why would he when he knew that he wasn't? It's not because of pride. It's simply because he was confident in himself. 

It's not the confidence that stemmed from arrogance. Like someone who would always think that he was better than everyone else despite not having any basis for it. Just being fueled by their own delusion. If that was the case, then his personality would be totally rotten. 

No, his confidence came from the fact that he believed in himself. Of course, this belief was something within the range of his capabilities. He wouldn't think that he could be a world-renowned genius just because he believed in himself. But winning this match was a different matter. 

"Hey, Razor. Can you go all out from the beginning?" he said. "I don't want people to think that I just won because you're too lazy to fight properly."

Cai Hong stopped his hand that he was about to lift up to cover another yawn. He tilted his head, wondering if the other was taunting him. And then felt confused because that seemed to not be the case. There was no malice in the other's eyes. It's like he was really just genuinely telling him to fight seriously. 

Seeing the other not answering, Luo Yan finally just shrugged. "But if you're not in the mood, that's fine too. I can just finish our fight in a minute. That way, people would simply think you're too weak."

Cai Hong felt the corner of his mouth twitching. Even though he felt like this white-haired elf didn't say that out of spite, it was still a bit annoying. 

Because the crowd couldn't hear this one-sided conversation, they could only see two people standing motionless on the rink when they should have been fighting. Murmurs spread around. Some even showing dissatisfaction. It might be due to the fact that a lot of them were expecting a blood-curling fight from the beginning of the match. But instead, what they got was, well, this.

Of course, not all thought that way. 

In the royal box of team Siren, Xia Li frowned at the murmurs she'd been hearing. "These people, do they not know the word 'wait'? They're acting as if the match is already over."

"That can't be help. Aside from your brother, those two are the ones with the highest bets," said the one sitting beside her. It was the younger sister of their team's captain – Zhu Jingyi. "They're probably worried about their moneys."

Xia Li pouted hearing that. Hmp. If they bet on Noctis, then they should trust in his abilities. 

In another box, the one belonging to team Sanguis…

Xu Ru, most commonly known as 'Alucard' to the players of Arcadia, watched the two figures on the rink with interest. He was particularly focus on the white-haired elf. Remembering what happened at Yuexing Pavilion the last time and even being permanently banned from the said building, it would be wrong to say that he wasn't pissed about it.

In fact, he had thought of causing trouble to Yuexing Pavilion a number of times because of that. But he stopped because after much contemplation, he finally realized why that beautiful NPC that danced during the opening night seemed so familiar. 

It was the reason why he so wanted to pull that veil covering the other's face. Not only to quench his curiosity but also to check why he felt a sense of familiarity. It's because the NPC and Noctis were one and the same.

Most people would definitely not realize that. But he's not most people. He's good with faces. Especially if it's a beautiful face.

Noctis being that NPC only meant one thing – he's the owner of that pavilion. That realization had him wheezing because he found it so interesting. The owner of an in-game business that even Moonlight Media promoted, how could one not be intrigued. 

Xu Ru smirked while looking at the white-haired elf. He didn't usually watch the Rookie Carnival. But after knowing that Noctis passed the first round of the tournament, he decided to watch today. 

[Let's see what more interesting things you will show.] 

Then, his cheek was suddenly pulled out of the blue. He glanced to the side and looked at the culprit. "Princess, what are you doing?"

"Nothing, you just have this annoying look on you. It kind of piss me off," Qin Rushi said unapologetically.

Xu Ru could only give the other a helpless smile. 

At the same time, at a VVIP royal box where the people outside couldn't see those sitting inside, two people were also looking at the rink with interest. Both had varying shades of golden hair and different shades of blue eyes. 

The one with silver-rimmed glasses was Duan Yu. And the other with long flowing platinum gold hair was team Celestials' captain – Li Xu Min.

They didn't join their other team mates at their royal box because Li Xu Min's presence alone here would definitely cause a fuss. That's why they chose to sit here, away from the prying eyes of other players.

"Is he the one you mentioned before?" Li Xu Min asked, referring to the white-haired elf.

And Duan Yu nodded.

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