?Chapter 468:


    He was sure that Justiceze would take the trophy unless the mysterious first-ranked yer returned — which, ording to online chatter, was unlikely. Their score had not changed in months. Most assumed that they had quit.


    Then came the reply. “Good luck. I will be there to watch. If you take first ce, I will give you a gift.”


    Ethan blinked at the message. “Really? That would be too kind.” Another message popped up. “Consider it a thank-you — for your advice. It helped me make up with my wife.”


    Ethan paused, surprised. Then it clicked. He remembered when Justiceze had posted a desperate plea online, asking how to apologize to an angry spouse.


    Ethan had replied on a whim, offering heartfelt advice — mainly because Justiceze had once helped Maia. He had not expected his words to actually work.


    Grinning, Ethan stared at the screen, feeling a wave of satisfaction wash over him.


    Tomorrow’s tournament had just be even more meaningful.


    By the next afternoon, the Wront Technology Museum was swarming with life. Influencers jostled for position, tripods and gimbals in hand, ready to livestream the event. Journalists from gaming media arrived in clusters, while developers from rivalpanies lingered around the sidelines, observing thepetition.


    The national finals for Genius, hosted by Ark Technology — a subsidiary of the Cooper Group — had turned into a spectacle worthy of the industry’s full attention.


    Maia moved through the crowd like a ghost, wrapped in a beige trench coat. A baseball cap hid her hair, and a mask obscured most of her face. With her rising online presence and her connections to the game, she had be something of a low-key celebrity. She had no intention of drawing any unnecessary attention now.


    Ethan had already headed off to the registration booth.


    Maia spotted a seat near the front and settled in, nning to cheer him on when the time came.


    But just as she adjusted her coat, a voice, low and unmistakably familiar, brushed her ear. “Trying that hard not to be recognized?”


    Maia stiffened. Her heart skipped a beat. She turned her head sharply. And there he was — Chris. His eyes were bright with amusement, his grin unbothered. Somehow, even with her disguise, he had picked her out of the crowd.


    “What are you doing here?” Maia asked under her breath, her voice tight with surprise.


    “Naturally, I came to see the tournament unfold,” Chris said with azy grin, as if attending were as obvious as breathing. “Had I known you woulde here too, I would’ve dly caught a lift with you.”


    Maia’s eyes settled on his shoulder, brow furrowing. “You’re hurt — shouldn’t you be resting at home, not gallivanting around?”


    Chris gave a low chuckle,ced with mischief. “Are you worried about me? Don’t lose sleep over it — I know where to draw the line.”


    Maia fell silent, momentarily out of words, and shifted her gaze toward the arena, scanning the crowd in search of Ethan.


    Just then, the host’s animated voice rang out, setting the wheels of the tournament in motion with a ceremonious opening speech.


    As the participants began filing in, the stands erupted into a storm of cheers and apuse. From every region, teams roared in unison, lifting their top ten like champions before the battle.


    As the host city, Wront had the honor of presenting its contestantsst, holding their aces up their sleeve.


    With barely contained excitement, the host introduced the hometown yers — Mnie and Marisa — who stood side by side in the team, their res sharp enough to slice through steel.


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