Argenti's praise didn't make people uncomfortable, because from almost any angle, it was obvious that every compliment this knight spoke came from the heart. There was absolutely no false politeness in it.
His sincerity and pure heart gave off a dazzling light.
But these sudden compliments really did leave people helpless and embarrassed.
In any case, only after Argenti showed his abilities did the area finally quiet down again.
Everyone still remembered that their purpose this time was to attend the festival and play Aetherium Wars.
So they started asking the sponsor of this tournament, Giovanni, about more detailed things.
Giovanni enthusiastically explained everything to the group, while Argenti quietly listened nearby.
Even though he didn't understand this field and knew nothing about it, he truly hoped to learn these things, and he showed a surprising amount of "enthusiasm."
And this enthusiasm probably burst out after Nero said he was a veteran Aetherium Wars player.
After that, since many people still hadn't played the game before, and Stelle herself was only a beginner, Giovanni generously said he was willing to lend out Aether Spirits so everyone could first experience the fun of "battle."
Everyone quickly got into it, but when it was Stelle and March's turn, they suddenly heard noisy arguing from not far away.
Giovanni frowned, then turned to look. "...Hm? Why's it so noisy over there... What happened?"
The group temporarily stopped focusing on the game experience and walked toward the source of the commotion.
Then they saw three company employees in uniforms surrounding a child.
"Hey! Brat! Hand over that coin in your hand!" one fierce-looking employee shouted.
Right after that, another employee said, "You little punk, your hands haven't been clean since you were young. What'll happen when you grow up?"
Eric shrank into the corner, looked at the three company employees, and shouted, "I... I picked this up..."
"Hey, you guys, that's enough! What kind of skill is bullying a kid?" Heroic March immediately shouted at them.
"Sister March 7th, th-they..." At that moment, Eric seemed to see a savior and hurriedly spoke up.
"It's fine, leave this to us." March comforted him softly, then sighed and quietly said to Stelle, "If I knew we'd have to fight at the festival, I wouldn't have worn a dress."
Giovanni glanced at March, then stepped forward and said, "I say, dear guests from the company, judging by how tightly you're clinging to that coin, I assume you're also Aetherium Wars players?"
Several employees turned to look at Giovanni, and one of them disdainfully said, "Where'd this masked guy come from? What's it got to do with you whether I'm a player or not?"
"Yeah, yeah! What's it got to do with you?" another company employee shouted. "Wearing a mask and acting sneaky, you some kind of pervert?"
Giovanni: "..."
After a brief silence, Giovanni smiled and spoke again. "Hehe, what I mean is, since everyone here is a player, why not settle this with an Aetherium Wars 'duel' according to the rules?"
As he spoke, Giovanni stepped aside and brought March and Stelle forward before saying, "I propose that these two young ladies challenge you on behalf of this child...
"If they lose, then this coin naturally becomes your trophy, and you may deal with it however you wish... But if you lose, then I'll have to trouble you to put away your fangs, or at least stop causing trouble in my arena. What do you think?"
"But I'm still a beginner. Can't I just solve this with my bat?", Stelle said.
"It's fine. We need to get familiar with the game anyway. Besides, isn't Nero here? He's a veteran player!"
Nero stood in the back and nodded, "Don't worry. I guarantee you'll beat them up."
"Hah? You say battle and we battle? Who the hell are you?", one employee asked.
Another employee quickly chimed in, "Exactly. Who are you people? I can just take this coin directly, and then it's still mine!"
"Y-you guys...", March gritted her teeth.
'These people were so annoying.'
Meanwhile, Stelle fell into thought. She felt like she could see someone else's shadow in these people.
Although these few were still about a hundred million points worse than that old acquaintance they dealt with not long ago, still...
'Just how many people like this are there in your company!?'
Stelle began doubting the company's internal employee management system. However, what she didn't know was that it wasn't only employees acting tyrannically everywhere.
When those at the top weren't proper, those below followed crookedly too. That was also one of the reasons why the average quality of company employees had fallen so low.
Seeing that these company employees refused to cooperate at all, Giovanni helplessly shook his head.
"Everyone, I chose such a gentle method because I was thinking about your futures. But since you refuse to resolve this peacefully, then I'll have to ask you all to..."
As he spoke, Giovanni stepped back a few paces, then very politely asked March to move aside a little, revealing Nero behind her.
"Everyone, do you recognize him?"
Right after that, the company employees all took a step back and cried out in shock.
"Ah?!"
"Holy crap, Boss Nero!"
"This is bad. I heard Boss Nero always gets revenge and is really petty!"
The Interastral Peace Corporation had enormous influence, so not every company employee necessarily knew Nero.
But this group in front of them had been brought by Topaz after all. Given Topaz and Nero's relationship, as Topaz's subordinates, they more or less understood a bit about Nero.
Not to mention, you couldn't find the unique aura this young man had anywhere else. And...
That delicate face and beautiful white hair, that cute height and terrifying greatsword, were obviously all very effective proof of Nero's identity.
"Ah no, um, uh... I mean, since Boss Nero wants to have a match, then of course we have to join in! Haha, ahahaha..."
The employee who had called Nero petty quickly reacted and immediately changed his tune.