207: The game begins

Xu Bai: "Is everyone ready?"

Students: "Ready!"

"Then let's go."

The group put on their neat uniforms, lined up in an orderly fashion, walked towards the entrance, then boarded the arranged special vehicle, and arrived at the competition venue.

The competition venue was entirely constructed from marble, and the building looked like an amphitheater. From the outside, it had many arched doorways. On the first level, there were numerous entrances, and the two upper levels featured various statues, all depicting figures from classical mythology.

Upon reaching the lower level, the students and teachers separated, entering through different arched doorways.

Walking inside, Xu Bai felt it resembled the Roman Colosseum he had seen during his travels even more.

Xu Bai: "How are your seats arranged?"

"Our seats are all pre-arranged; you can't just sit anywhere. We've arranged the best seats for everyone, allowing a clear view of the students' actions in front."

The other person thought Xu Bai was dissatisfied with the seating arrangement and explained to him.

"I have no complaints about the seats."

Xu Bai explained, then said nothing more. He would ask someone else later.

Xu Bai didn't look down on them, but he knew that even if he asked them many things, they wouldn't say, as they were loyal to the Empire.

Once everything was ready, he dismissed the others.

Later, after Su Linger's explanation, everyone understood the seating arrangements.

The seats arranged for the academy's teachers were on the second level. Here, higher status didn't mean sitting higher; instead, higher status meant sitting lower, closer to the front of the venue.

The first level was occupied by the Empire's Senate members and nobles; the second level by knights and teachers leading teams from various countries. In fact, Xu Bai later heard from Bai Shan that some people even invited them, the Card-Making Masters, to move down to the level below, but they refused; the third level was for ordinary citizens of the Empire; and the topmost area was provided for the Empire's lowest-ranking people and slaves.

It could be said that just by looking at the seating distribution, one could discern the Empire's clear class distinctions.

For those nobles, allowing slaves to be present was already their greatest act of kindness.

At the same time, Xu Bai realized that this venue was indeed an arena, and the students below the stands were being observed like monkeys.

Alas—

Although Xu Bai had some reservations about this, he said nothing due to his insignificant status... In any case.

The Empire's class system was extremely strict.

Most of their Card Makers were nobles, because only nobles could receive an education and purchase the tools needed for cards-making.

Some people from the lower classes, even if they had Card Maker talent, lacked the money to buy the necessary items for cards-making and had no channels to learn the knowledge.

In fact, many nobles would gather commoners to test their Card Maker talent. Those with talent would be adopted by them as their children's subordinates. For this, those commoners considered it a great favor, praying daily that their children would be noticed by a noble, otherwise, they could only live as humbly and cautiously as they did.

Therefore, those from the lower classes had no other upward mobility besides becoming noble retainers.

At the same time, these lower-class people also lacked the weapons and courage to resist.

Hearing all this, Xu Bai could only be grateful that he had reincarnated in the Tianlong Republic, and not in the Luo Lan Empire.

If he were an ordinary commoner in the Luo Lan Empire, even if he could make cardss, his authorization would be plundered by nobles, and he might even invite a deadly calamity.

Is such a country what those cults desire? I wonder if the Luo Lan Empire has cults? What are the goals of the cults here?

...After everyone had arrived.

The Empire's First Prince, Julian, stood up to speak.

"It is a great pleasure that the first 'Innovation Cup' Competition can be held in our Luo Lan Empire. This is also the first competition jointly organized by various countries, and we are all witnesses to this historic moment. I believe everyone feels quite honored by this.

First, on behalf of the Empire, I extend a warm welcome to the Card-Making Masters from various countries, the team-leading teachers, and all participating students. May the glory of the Empire shine upon us."

As soon as he finished speaking, he made a gesture of prayer.

And the others shouted in unison: "May the glory of the Empire shine upon us."

First Prince Julian continued his speech after praying.

"As the host of this competition, we will treat all participants equally.

All participants are also requested to abide by the competition rules, strictly prohibiting any form of cheating or irregular operations. No means shall be used to interfere with the competition, and opponents must be respected.

If you encounter any issues unrelated to the content of the participating cards, please raise your hand to signal, and we will resolve it for you as soon as possible.

We also hope that all judges and teachers will uphold the principles of fairness, impartiality, and transparency in scoring the participating students' cards-making works and discovering excellent Card Makers.

Finally, I sincerely wish all participating students to compete with style and skill, to gain honor and applause in this competition, and I wish our 'Innovation Cup' Competition a complete success!"

...Xu Bai looked at Julian from afar, but unfortunately, he couldn't discern anything, perhaps he was wearing makeup.

His gaze then shifted to the Second Prince, Theodore.

Comparing the two, he felt that the First Prince gave off a gentler impression, while the Second Prince was like an unsheathed sword, full of sharp energy.

Therefore, it would be better for the Luo Lan Empire to be inherited by the First Prince.

If the Empire were inherited by the Second Prince, perhaps wars would break out, after all, judging by his appearance, he was not an easy person to deal with.

However, all of this was merely Xu Bai's superficial speculation, with no factual basis.

He wasn't a politician; who inherited the Luo Lan Empire probably had little to do with him.

It couldn't possibly be inherited by Wu Zijin, could it? ...Xu Bai felt someone poke his arm beside him. He put down the Telescope he was observing with and looked at Xu Zixin beside him.

"What's wrong?"

"Do you have any extra Telescopes? Can you share some with the other teachers?"

Xu Bai glanced around, and the other teachers looked at Xu Bai with sparkling eyes, or rather, specifically at the Telescope in Xu Bai's hand.

"I have extras; everyone take one. You can see more clearly with a Telescope. Be sure not to look at places that are too bright, like the sun, okay?"

Xu Bai took out the extra Telescope cardss and handed them to Xu Zixin, asking him to distribute them to the other teachers.

Xu Zixin was very outgoing; in just one month, he had become very familiar with most of the teachers. This time, Xu Zixin was also his deputy for leading the team.

The other teachers took the Telescopes and also picked them up to look at the students.