<b>Chapter </b><b>490 </b>
Time flew by when there was work to be done, and before they knew it, the top–twenty tournament had arrived.
From fifty contestants down to twenty–this round would eliminate thirty people.
While Simoncked the skill to take down Joshua despite having the motivation, he proved more effective once Bronx pointed out which contestants were aligned with Shirley. Forming alliances with others, Simon managed to eliminate several of Shirley’s people in one fell swoop.
By the time the dust settled on the top twenty, only two of Shirley’s faction remained. When thepetition narrowed further from twenty <b>to </b>ten, Barrett stood alone as herst ally.
Shermaine naturally secured her spot in the top ten. For someone of her caliber, this level ofpetition posed no real challenge.
While the pressure mounted for everyone else as the rounds progressed, nothing changed for her. She breezed through each match effortlessly, dispatching opponents without breaking <b>a </b>sweat.
Once she’d wrapped up another easy victory<i>, </i>she headed back to tinker with her fighter jets.
The next stage of thepetition–the final ten–would take ce once they reached Baykeep.
+28)
From those ten, only three would advance, and those final three would face off in onest battle. The winner would im the title of Baykeep’s new city
lord<b>. </b>
Over the past two weeks, Gracie had grown even more adorable, her skin taking on a healthy, porcin glow. Joshua had been the one caring for her most of the time during this period.
The moon hung full and bright in the night sky. Shermaine still hadn’t returned to their room.
After Joshua got Gracie settled for the night and left her in Jasmine’s care, he headed downstairs to find her.
With additional assistance, the modifications to the fighter jet were advancing rapidly.
Most of the structural changes were nearlyplete, and now Shermaine was wrestling with the central control system.
All the modifiedponents needed to sync with the main controls, but the connection sensors kept glitching out.
Anyone walking into the hangar would be absolutely stunned by what they’d see.
The jets were nothing short of magnificent–one gleaming in ck and gold, the other a striking crimson red. One embodied the power <b>of </b><b>a </b>dragon<b>, </b><b>the </b>other the grace of a phoenix.
Joshua stepped into the lift and spotted Shermaine inside the red fighter jet. As he entered the cockpit<b>, </b>warmth enveloped him–a stark contrast to <b>the </b>freezing warehouse outside.
Shermaine <b>was </b>curled up in <b>a </b>chair, fast asleep and lookingpletely at peace<b>. </b>The sight made Joshua shake his head <b>with </b><b>exasperated </b>amusement<b>. </b>
He slipped <b>off </b>his jacket and draped <b>it </b>over her shoulders, and perhaps feeling a bit fed up with her stubbornness<b>–</b>since <b>she </b>was <b>clearly </b><b>exhausted </b><b>but </b><b>still </b>refused <b>to </b>go <b>back- </b><b>he </b>gave her upturned bottom <b>a </b>light <b>tap</b><b>. </b>
That <b>little </b><b>smack </b>was enough to wake her up.”
Shermaine’s <b>eyes </b><b>fluttered </b><b>open</b><b>, </b><b>still </b><b>drowsy</b><b>. </b>“You’re <b>here</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
If I <b>hadn’t </be<b>, </b><b>were </b><b>you </b><b>nning </b><b>to </b>sleep here all <b>night</b><b>?</b>”
<b>Shermaine </b><b>burrowed </b><b>into </b>Joshua’s <b>embrace</b>, resting her head <b>against </b><b>his </b><b>shoulder</b>. “<b>I’m </b><b>almost </b>done <b>with </b><b>this </b>I <b>want </b><b>to </b>get <b>the </b><b>remaining </b>issu <b>out </b><b>before </b>we arrive <b>at </b><b>Baykeep </b>
07:37 Thu, 10 Jul 0 <b>M </b>
M
70<b>%</b><b>1 </b>
<b>+28</b>)
“What’s the rush?” Joshua wasn’t feeling any urgency at all.
“Once we reach Baykeep, Mr. York, you’ll undoubtedly be the most formidable adversary there. And it’s <i>not </i>like Noah Cruise Ship where things <b>are </b>easier to control–who knows, Judy might find out you’re there and send an entire army after you.”
Shermaine hadn’t forgotten that Judy had her sights set on her man. “Once I finish modifying these fighter jets, I can give her the beating she deserves<b>.</b><b>” </b>
Joshua chuckled, “Just so you can give her a proper beating, Sheary’s really going all out–working overtime every few days. Is it even worth it?” Shermaine paused for a moment, mentally calcting the implications. ‘He’s right. After all, staying upte can age a person, and I haven’t <i>been </i>taking proper care of my skin these past few days.‘
<b>She </b>nced at the time. ‘Oh wow, it’s sote already, and I haven’t even showered yet.‘
Shermaine seemed like she wanted to say something more, but Joshua cut in, “Besides, Sheary, you’ve been neglecting me for way too long.” Hearing theint in his voice, Shermaineughed and said, “Alright then, should I head upstairs and give <b>you </b>some attention?”
“No need to go upstairs,” he replied. “Right here works just fine.”
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