"Ahem, there was a little incident, but it's not a big deal." Julius said with fake smile.
This is a big problem. Crowd thouths.
Julius looked a little embarrassed, but still maintained his graceful smile.
"It's normal for everyone to be so surprised. After all, last year the Black Bulls received an unprecedented minus 50 stars."
"But they've changed this year and improved at an astonishing speed—achieving such results in one go. Their newcomers, in particular, performed very well."
The Wizard King shouted down from the tower, "Hey! Here comes a man from the Black Bulls!"
Adam glanced at Asta beside him.
This hot-blooded kid was the biggest contributor to the Bulls' runner-up victory this time.
The "idiot" that everyone in the Bulls collectively recognized.
"Adam, give Asta a ride," Yami said with a grin.
"Hope you have a smooth landing."
Adam grabbed Asta, and with the power of the Bull surging through his body, he hurled him into the air.
"Ahhh!"
Watching Asta soar toward the stage, Sakke trembled all over.
He had been secretly commissioned by Marx to expose the "inferior" identities of Yuno and Asta on stage so that the public would question their achievements—only for them to later "redeem" themselves dramatically.
But now? Sakke didn't dare to move a muscle. The madman who had defeated the beast was standing behind him. He wasn't stupid enough to pick a fight.
"These two guys can start a quarrel wherever they go."
To prove the Black Bulls' performance, Asta and Yuno put on a "performance" together.
With just a little push from the Wizard King, the effect might not have been as smooth as a rehearsed act, but it still riled the crowd up.
As expected of the Wizard King—he had a hell of a way of controlling the atmosphere.
"That's so funny!"
When Adam thought of Nozel's face earlier, he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"Boy, what are you laughing at?"
"Captain Yami, just now…"
Adam told Yami what happened, and the carefree captain burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! That cold pigtail bastard actually made that kind of face? Oh, I'm never letting him live that down."
The energy of these two idiots together was no less destructive than Mereoleona going full power.
People around them instinctively kept their distance, like they were standing next to a bomb about to go off.
Nozel, still standing on stage, shivered. He could feel it—something bad was coming.
No, it had already happened.
The Black Bulls had stolen his second place, and Yami would definitely roast him to death.
"Damn it!"
Nozel clenched his fists. Ever since Adam showed up, nothing good had happened to him.
"The presentation of meritorious service has concluded successfully. Now, please welcome the King."
The Wizard King waved his hand, and the supreme ruler of the Clover Kingdom, Augustus Kira Clover XIII, made his grand entrance.
"Come and praise this king!" King said as he raised his hands.
The moment his distinctive duck-like voice rang out, the crowd went silent.
This king with his ridiculous appearance had absolutely zero prestige.
"I am the king! Come and praise me!" King said again as he expecting.
As the leader of the nation, he wasn't even as polite as Asta on stage. Instead, he immediately started making a scene.
"Can't the Wizard King just be the King?"
"If only the Wizard King were the King!"
…So brave.
Adam was genuinely stunned. These people weren't even trying to pretend.
And with that, the clown on the stage looked even more ridiculous.
"Just bear with it. We're seeing Mereoleona soon…"
If it weren't for that appointment, Adam would've slipped away already. The fun part was over—now all that was left was this useless king's performance. How boring.
But from another angle, this kind of figurehead was actually the perfect "partner" for the Wizard King in the Clover Kingdom's system.
"This king has something to announce. We have found the lair of the Eye of the Midnight Sun."
Augustus XIII dropped a bombshell—he would select a group of elite Magic Knights to launch an assault on the White Night Eye.
"Is it reliable?"
Adam tuned out halfway. Just be glad they hadn't already invaded your capital, which is weaker than District 13.
He exhaled slowly. Lately, his temper seemed to have gotten longer.
Was that the devil's power influencing him?
Or maybe it was just his true nature being amplified.
"I don't want to get chopped in half, so I'd better keep it cool."
…
"Why should the King choose? We admire the Wizard King and the captains—not the King!"
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Asta began pulling stunts that made Adam's jaw drop.
Yuno became his straight man, coolly playing along.
"I still haven't heard about it. Yuno, have you heard of the King doing anything useful?"
"No."
"He's got such strong magic, but has he ever done anything for the people? Don't you think that's weird?"
"Mm."
"I don't have any magic, and I don't know much, but I just feel like this King is stingy and not generous at all…"
"Asta, bro, read the room! Now's not the time for brutal honesty."
Augustus XIII was shaking, cold sweat dripping down his forehead. How could these two idiots blurt the truth in front of everyone?
"Execute! Execute them immediately!"
The King screamed, pointing at Asta and Yuno.
"…I'm not ready for this."
Adam was practically speechless. He never expected Asta and Yuno to be even more chaotic than him.
But then the Wizard King stepped in front of the King, politely asking him to forgive Asta and Yuno.
The people were also buzzing, not because they were shocked Asta spoke—but because they agreed with him.
The King really was stingy.
"The King's Chosen Knights—I'm looking forward to it. Members of the Magic Knights, let me see what you can do!"
With just a few words, the Wizard King calmed the furious Augustus XIII.
The commendation ceremony ended, and Adam was ready to go look for his fiery lioness.
"Hey! The ring's glowing."
Adam noticed the ruby dragon ring was reacting—it could track down whoever wore the phoenix ring.
"You didn't even reply when I talked to you… You must've run off."
The corner of Adam's mouth curled upward.
That hateful woman… She'd taken advantage of him and then ran.
Poor, innocent boy.
…
Down below, not far from where the Wizard King and Asta stood, Mereoleona was glaring at her squad.
The Crimson Lion Kings had gotten lazy the moment her idiot brother went unconscious.
In the star ranking, they'd actually placed fifth—unacceptable.
"You bastards!"
She punched Leopold straight to the ground without hesitation.
"Even when she's angry, Sister Mereoleona's still gorgeous."
Mereoleona froze, turning her head to see Adam standing there. She looked at him as if she'd seen a ghost.
"Follow me."
The others stared blankly as Mereoleona grabbed Adam by the collar and dragged him out.
"It's really hot…"
"Shut up."