Bermuda

"Wow—."

The escorted participants made appreciative murmurs as they moved. Leonardo Blaine was no exception. His usually widened golden eyes swept across the main stadium interior beyond the arched windows.

Even from outside when searching for the entrance he had guessed it was large, but once inside the arena the opposite side felt so distant the scale ~Nоvеl𝕚ght~ seemed immense. It hardly felt like a stadium—exaggerating slightly, it felt like stepping onto an island remodeled for the sole purpose of the League. Inside were not only the home ground and stands but an array of conveniences and commercial facilities.

Moreover, the strong presence of water in the air could not be explained only by the nearby river. Between the spectator tiers, artificial waterfalls flowed in stepped cascades, coolly sweeping along. The streams pouring from the falls all converged toward the center of the stadium and formed another river running along the edge of the wide ground.

For a moment he recalled the mysterious room found in the Castle of Romance, but it was fleeting. The river rose again along curved transparent columns that reached almost to the ceiling.

Eight columns spread in every direction and met at the open ceiling to form a semicircular roof. Water that by all natural logic should have fallen vertically instead whirled at the center of the ceiling, rode the opposite columns, and leisurely streamed down again to spill as waterfalls.

He could not determine the exact principle, but it was a beautiful structure that blended water and light without blocking the sky. Sunlight dappled wave-pattern shadows across the field. It was a distinctive construction that showcased Agrizendro’s reputation as a city of water while pleasing the eye. It felt as if one had stepped into an underwater world.

By astrological compatibility it was the worst place for Leonardo, yet he did not dislike it since it was His Grace’s home ground. He only regretted that his presence could not be detected at a glance. In a place filled with watery hues and scents, finding a hidden blue gem would not be easy.

Of course he did not expect His Grace to skip the League event run by the Council on opening day. Clinging to that hope, Leonardo peered about the stadium, resting a hand on an open sill.

Is he still in here?

Some spectator sections had been converted into box seats like an opera house or private seats for dignitaries. They were not yet full, but as a duke of the Empire, Legion Commander of the Council, and the lord of this land, he would likely sit in those symbolic seats.

Stopping to look out with disappointment, a member of the staff approached and cautioned him.

"Testing will begin soon. Please move along quickly."

Leonardo turned and nodded in response. Even as he moved, his gaze swept again toward the opposite side of the stadium and the ground where rehearsals were underway.

Temporary portal entrances glimmered in places. They appeared installed for convenience so crossing on foot would not take half a day, or perhaps because match venues might connect to external locations.

If the latter were true, the chance of meeting him would be lower, so Leonardo silently wished the test would finish quickly to allow even a brief moment of free time. Even catching a glimpse from afar would be enough.

Unable to resist the urging glance from the attendant, his hesitant eyes moved to the stairs that appeared ahead. Leonardo followed the guide and climbed the steps slowly, still tracking Hugo’s presence until the last moment.

At the same time he cycled between vague hope and defensive resignation, wondering whether the man would recognize a face so tightly concealed.

"Preparations are proceeding smoothly. In approximately thirty minutes we will link with the Central Branch stadium, adjust for latency, and commence the simultaneous opening ceremony broadcast at 7:00 PM capital time. VIP and honored guest entry routes have all been secured, and we have reconfirmed their morning attendance while briefing them on less congested routes."

Hugo listened to the League operations officer’s report as he scanned the main stadium interior. The north side where he stood was restricted to officials. Although staff occasionally hurried through, it was relatively uncrowded compared to other areas.

"The performance acts have all arrived except one team, which is rehearsing in their assigned waiting rooms and halls. The remaining team experienced a minor issue en route but has responded they will arrive by two hours before the opening, so rehearsal is excluded for now. Ignition and lighting devices for the performance have completed safety checks and are confirmed operational."

Though there was still time before the ceremony, Hugo—who had deliberately arrived early—was personally checking to ensure nothing would go wrong. Of course that was not the only reason he moved about briskly.

"To avoid crowding when entry time approaches, we allowed early admission. However, tickets must be presented on entry, and re-entry will require passing the security checkpoint again. Security personnel positions have been assigned..."

"Have all the test participants arrived?" Hugo asked.

The officer, glancing at his notebook, paused and looked up at the Commander. Hugo had stopped and stood with his hands clasped behind his back at the corridor window, scanning the left side of the arena.

The officer checked his wristwatch and replied, "Ah, yes. Assembly time was 2:00 PM local, so the participant support team should have escorted them to the multipurpose hall. Any further instructions?"

"...No. I was wondering when it would finish."

"Hmm... the durations differ by test type, so I cannot specify a precise time, but they should wrap up around the same time as the opening ceremony. I heard this year’s participants increased roughly 1.5 times over last year, so we divided events and plan to hold tests over two days. I will contact that department and report back."

Hugo nodded but could not take his eyes off a single point across the stadium. The crowd was so dense it was unclear, but somehow he felt a ripple of Leonardo’s presence from that spot.

He could not be certain whether it was his imagination or truly Leonardo’s aura. Some who registered failed to appear, and above all Leonardo was cautious enough that even if he participated, he would likely have concealed his presence perfectly.

Still, if I drop by before the tests to offer encouragement, I might naturally interact with the participants.

Of course it was unprecedented for the Legion Commander to personally greet test participants; there were simply too many, and many other matters demanded attention.

Suddenly Hugo wondered if meeting him before the matches might burden the man. Hugo sighed silently and resolved to wait quietly until Leonardo finished his test.

Then the officer flipping through the notebook spoke up.

"Ah, there’s a report from two hours ago. There was a small disturbance at security gate A-9."

"A disturbance?"

"Yes. An attempt to smuggle a firearm past entry was detected; the individual was detained and transferred to the East Branch Second Division Inspection Office. In his bag we found Council uniforms and three entry tickets not issued to him, hidden amid old clothing."

Hugo, who had been walking with his hands behind his back, stopped in place.

"Our uniforms and three tickets? Where did those come from?"

"The source of the uniforms is unclear. Since the clothing was used rather than new, it seems a cooperating collection vendor may have mishandled the items. We checked the tickets’ unique identification numbers; they were not issued to a specific person but designated for invited guest distribution."

Hugo’s brow tightened. Rowdy incidents on busy event days were common, but the timing was poor—only weeks had passed since the public resolution of the explosion at Pentagov.

That the perpetrator had prepared Council uniforms suggested a targeted infiltration attempt. Hugo’s nerves prickled at the prospect this was a precursor to a mimicked crime modeled on the previous incident.

The officer, watching the Legion Commander’s expression, trailed off and added, "It seems the tickets may have been sourced from another agency..."

"Have we identified their purpose?"

"Ah, it’s an unreliable claim, but the detainee insists he’s from Bermuda and said he came seeking the Cardo Raw Stone. He also claimed he came to realize the will of the cosmos..."

"......."

"Yes. He appears not mentally sound, so we cannot determine exact motive or identity yet. We will report further after interrogation. The seized devices were lighters, matches, small fireworks, and fan flares—items commonly confiscated in past years—so the counterterror team dismantled and disposed of them onsite."

Hugo, who had reflexively moved to smooth back his hair, halted when his fingertips met the hair gel and then adjusted his tie instead. He continued, "...Well done. But this is not something to dismiss lightly. Request additional personnel at headquarters. Two hundred, please."

"Understood."

"This could be intended to stir hostility toward Bermuda natives. So do not announce it externally until interrogation completes and we have clear results. Also verify there are no infiltrators inside; assign this matter to Deputy Levernil. Relay detailed instructions to him."

"Yes, I will keep that in mind."