Haidu: Top of the Tower

Chapter 19 Looking for an Alliance
In the next few weeks, except for the competition, all players entered a state of isolation.

In order to avoid "premature alliances or mutual harm" between the players-this is the official word, although everyone knows how it is-each player's residence is independently closed.Bedrooms, training rooms and dining rooms are all integrated into one suite; not only are the access points exclusive, but the schedules are strictly staggered.

Before the start of the game, the only opportunity for Milady to know about her future opponents and potential companions was the brochure issued by the committee.

The Hanxing, Changge and other families in "Sea Waves Concerto", like the Gaota family, have already decided who will win the game, and of course they have enough goals to be defeated.Their sole purpose in participating is to ensure the smooth continuation of the current patriarchal position, and they should not care about Milady; however, be careful that they may extend a helping hand for Luo Geng.

Another object that needs to be guarded against is the "executor family".

Executioners are special.It is different from all the Wave Concerto families, and it was born and rose as a newly cultivated violent institution of the Trial Family in recent years.Its significance in the trial competition is more like an eye and a hand left by the trial family in the arena... Apart from trying not to contact the executioners and arouse their hostility, there is not much Milady can do. of.

The reason why Milady is able to sit here at this moment should probably be thanks to the next person on the list: the Fengjiao family that just surfaced this year, was originally one of the Arcana families in ancient times, and has been in decline for many years. When he tried to return to the Wave Concerto again, he could only come up with a mere contestant named Mai Ya.

If it weren't for such a small unstable factor, and Yi Luogeng's cautious and suspicious, I am afraid that Milady would not be able to enter this year's trial competition, right?

Her biggest enemies in the trials are naturally the three members of the Gaota family: Li Wei, Nawa, and Luo Geng.

The current situation is far from ideal: Luo Geng realized that she was the enemy before the game started.After the start of the match, they will definitely do everything in their power to encircle and suppress Milady... It is precisely because of this that she chose to trap Nanshan, who has the best understanding with Luo Geng, and leave behind a relatively less threatening Nava.

How will they do it?

While thinking, she opened the test watch.

Trials of Prosperity can be divided into three parts.

The first part is the warm-up match, which does not involve winning or losing, and does not affect the score.

The second part is composed of four official games.Theoretically speaking, all the players will fight on their own, even in team battles, the team members are not limited to people from the same family; every player wins a game, they get [-] points, and if they get [-] points, they can qualify and enter the next round. Part of the sinking battle.

The third part of the sinking battle is also the final moment for the generation of the family patriarch.

In the sinking battle, there are two situations: first, if more than one member of a certain family has qualified, then at the end of the game, if the last remaining member of the family also meets the condition of "sinking at least one member of the same family", It will be the patriarch next year - this condition is set to avoid the situation where the fisherman takes advantage of the situation.

Second, if a family only qualified for one player, it must sink two qualified players from other families in order to successfully obtain the position of patriarch.

The worst situation is that more than one member of the same family has qualified, but the others are sunk by foreigners, causing the last member to automatically lose - regardless of whether last year belonged to the "Sea Wave Concerto", as long as there is no winner this year , all the family's political power, business management rights, and even the patriarch's mansion will be taken back.

After reading the introduction, Milady still had no clue, so she had to read it again.

"There are hundreds of games in the Prosperity Trials library.

"Every year, the Prosperity Committee will take out several games and put them into the candidate pool. The warm-up match is to give players a chance to vote for the game content they want to play. Each player has five flags, which can be Within one hour, freely decide which five games to put the flag on. After the time is over, the game with the most flags will become the content of the five rounds of this year's trial competition. If the number of flags is scattered or tied, the committee will decide randomly assigned."

Wait - maybe this is an opportunity?

Milady hadn't watched the warm-up match, but even in the official match, the players didn't pay much attention, and sometimes they even passed it with a smile on their face, let alone the warm-up match?

For the players of the major families, whoever wins, who loses, and what they do is determined long ago, and there is basically no competition with other families.They go all the way to the end smoothly and perfunctorily like a performance every year, so it is difficult for them to consider the problem from the perspective of a real contestant-to increase the hope of victory, they must pass the warm-up match and set a goal for themselves. advantage of the game.

She'd better control the situation of the warm-up match before Luo Geng could react... Thinking, Milady drew a circle on the warm-up match.

The week of preparation and training before the game passed in the blink of an eye.

As the only constant link, the location and process of the warm-up match are the same every year: the hall of the Haidu Library has been emptied and furnished, with several special bookshelves and tables and chairs for the players to rest; Because there are no spectators in the warm-up match, there are only a circle of chairs around the hall, and a lot of reporters are scattered here and there.The contestants who haven't seen each other for a week usually regard this hour as an opportunity to socialize, chat for a while, and accept interviews with reporters after the end, and it's over.

It seems that this year is no different.

According to the unwritten convention, the total number of contestants is generally plural; even if there is one more malt from Fengjiao's family this year, there are still 30 people.At this time, these thirty contestants were standing in the hall in groups of three or four, some were greeting acquaintances, some were whispering with their heads bowed, some were in a daze with their arms folded... Luo Geng, who was the most outstanding in appearance, almost looked like It jumped into view.

He was tall and tall, and the contrast between the dark green coat and the golden-red flames was too sharp to be mistaken; as soon as Milady entered the hall, he stopped talking with the person next to him, and the two looked across half of the hall, twisting Together.

"welcome,"

When several people looked at her coldly, a female voice sounded from the other end of the hall, attracting everyone's attention.A dark-haired woman in a dark blue suit dress was standing behind the only desk in the hall, holding a loudspeaker in her hand.

"Welcome all outstanding and brave contestants to participate in the No.11 Prosperity Restoration Trial Competition. I am the host of this trial competition, and the Chief Advisor of the Prosperity Committee, Amelia."

Anyone who has watched the trials in previous years will naturally know this woman from the Judgment family who has always looked cold.

Amelia has a set of words that must be said every year, and everyone listens quietly as if they have never heard of it: "... In the coming year, the Haidu councilors and the patriarchs of the major families will start from the present. Born among all of you. This warm-up match, one is to select the next five games, and the other is to give everyone a chance to get to know each other."

While she was speaking, Milady scanned the hall, trying to connect the introductions on the list with herself.

There are a few people in their 40s and [-]s who can tell at a glance that they are the current patriarch, and they have known each other for a long time; among the young people, it is not difficult to distinguish who is the heir designated by the current patriarch—because all the contestants stand in a small group based on the family as a unit. The crowd surrounded the heirs like the stars and the moon.

There is only one brown-haired girl who is alone, and it should be Malt from Fengjiao's family.The girl looked to be Milady's age, with bright eyes and bright brown hair that rose and fell like the waves of the sea.

"Everyone must have understood the general content of the warm-up match," Amelia quickly entered the topic, "Now let me explain in detail."

In the library lobby, there are a total of ten candidate games, and players need to vote for five of them.

Each alternative game is represented by a special bookcase; one end of the bookcase is marked from number 1 to number 10, and it is scattered and disorderly in the back half of the hall.

A row of small sockets is installed on the edge of each wooden board of the bookcase. After the contestants choose the game, they insert the small flags into the sockets to vote.

When the warm-up match is over, the staff will count the number of flags on the bookcases, and the five bookcase numbers with the most flags will determine the content of the next trial match.

"In order to keep the game interesting," Amelia said with a straight face, "you will find that the bookcase does not clearly write the content of the game, but only contains hints such as books, gadgets, or maps. For example, someone wants to Knowing the content of the game in Bookcase No. 3, you must make a guess from the books and props in Bookcase No. 3. Books and props can be picked up to read, but they must be put back in their original places without disturbing, covering, altering or moving Location."

Because the warm-up match was not considered an official match, it was the first time Milady had heard of this detail—judging from the faces of other people, they already knew it.

Amelia pointed to the folders corresponding to the ten bookcases on the table, and said: "After the warm-up match, I will announce the results and the content of the selected games on the spot.

"It should be noted that armed conflict is not allowed in the warm-up match, and the use of tricks is prohibited. Violators will be disqualified on the spot."

The words sounded very serious, but most of the contestants looked at them casually; the one who listened most seriously was Fengjiao's Malt.

After the staff assigned five small flags to each player, Amelia looked around.

"Do you have any questions?" Seeing that no one answered, she nodded. "Then, the warm-up match begins now."

After the timer started, the atmosphere was relaxed beyond Milady's expectation.

The players were soft-spoken and personable. They didn't look like they were competing, but they really seemed to be here to socialize-not to mention that the committee also prepared refreshment tables and chairs.After discussing for a while, most of the contestants dispersed, and some surrounded the current patriarch, taking one step at a time; it seemed that a flock of sheep had been released to graze on the hill in the hall, and the atmosphere was loose and loose, which made Mi, who had quietly hid Laidi breathed a sigh of relief.

At the very beginning of the warm-up match, she got in between the bookcases and distanced herself from the three of Gaota. At this moment, while paying attention to the movements of Luo Geng and the others, she glanced behind herself. bookcase.

On the top shelf of the bookcase was a decorative painting of two glaring gladiators.As if this reminder was not obvious enough, there were a few books scattered among them, namely "An Overview of Gladiator Fighting", "Introduction to Physique", "Predator Martial Arts Training Method"... Milady sighed secretly, and in the On the bottom floor, a pair of statues of little warriors with intersecting swords were seen.

Needless to say, this No. 4 game must be fighting.

For the warm-up match, Milady knew that her goal was simple: she could not allow games that were beneficial to Luo Geng and others to be selected.

Luo Geng's abilities seem to be relatively balanced, so it can be said otherwise; Li Wei's strength and martial arts, Nava's eyesight and attention to details are all things that she has to suppress with the content of the game as much as possible... No. 4 game is just right for Li Wei Only to make use of his strengths, she had to try to get rid of him.

However, she thought of it, and Luo Geng naturally thought of it too.

Milady stood where she was, and looked around.The location of the ten bookcases in the hall is so messy that there is no order at all.A few dozen steps away, the next bookcase protruded obliquely from the corner, and the number plate hanging on the side was number 10.

"Is it combat?" Suddenly someone asked with a smile.

Milady turned around.

A 27-year-old female contestant, the badge on her chest belongs to the Changge family.With such a natural attitude, she probably didn't know that she was talking to the traitor of the Gaota family.

She shouldn't leave a flag here, right?Milady was not very hopeful, she nodded and said, "It seems like it's still a battle between two people."

"I don't choose this," the female contestant said with a smile, "I guess only those little boys are willing to fight."

After that, she nodded and left without leaving a flag behind.

No... This is not a good thing for her, Milady thought blankly.

The most important resource for the warm-up match is undoubtedly the flags, and she has to collect as many flags as possible before Luo Geng starts.To do this, people have to throw the flag first...

While thinking, Milady approached No. 10 bookcase.

There were already two members of the conference family there, they seemed to be a pair of siblings, the two glanced at the badge on her chest, and the older sister greeted politely: "Do you want to choose this too? This game seems to be good. "

"What game?"

The sister pointed to a painting and said, "Look, the child in the painting is covering his eyes with his hands, and the person next to him is describing a set pattern to him, either guessing a riddle or solving a problem."

Indeed, bookcase No. 10 is full of "Top Ten Mysteries of the World", "Mysteries of Numbers and Logic", "Unearthing the Secrets in Others' Words!" "Books like that.

The young boy who was supposed to be her younger brother didn't seem to have the slightest interest in puzzle games, unlike her sister.Recalling the words of the female contestant from the Changge family just now, Milady tentatively said: "That's not bad, unlike the one I saw just now, who wanted to fight with hands."

The attention of the meeting brother's brother suddenly raised his head-for young boys, fighting seems to be equal to excitement and fun, especially when there will be no serious consequences. "Battle?"

"Yeah, it seems that gladiatorial techniques are involved..."

"I'll go and have a look!" He raised his legs and walked away, walked two steps and then turned back, "Hey, which bookcase is it?"

Milady raised her hand, and before she could say the number, the younger brother saw the painting of a gladiator in the distance, and ran away like a gust of wind.

The elder sister of the meeting period seemed embarrassed, smiled, and hurriedly followed.

With the call of the gladiator's painting, the younger brother quickly came to the bookcase; the older sister seemed to follow up to persuade him a few words, but the younger brother still planted a small flag.

Milady waited without moving for a while; when no one was paying attention, she quickly approached No. 4 bookcase and quietly pulled down the little flag.The only people who saw this scene were the reporters sitting at the edge of the hall - a group of people who could not interfere with the game in any way.

She put the little flag back into the flag bag at her waist, her heart pounding.

The start was pretty smooth, and I got a flag so quickly; just relying on collecting one by one like a thief, not only is the efficiency too low, but the risk is also high...not to mention that the three of Gaota's family will follow her sooner or later. .

It would be much easier to have an alliance.

In order not to be blocked by Luo Geng and the others, she didn't want to stay in the same corner for too long, and when the timing was right, she quickly walked towards the next few bookcases.

Bookcase No. 5 seems to be a commercial game, and it already has a flag; Bookcase No. 1 should be a hunting game, and it has also harvested two flags, but Milady didn't find a chance to start.

When she came to bookcase number 2, a girl heard the noise and glanced back at her.

"Is it the malt from Fengjiao's family?" Milady was overjoyed, seeing no one around, smiled and stretched out her hand to the girl. "I'm Milady, and I'm looking for you."

"Milady... oh, from the High Tower family?"

Looking closer, the malt is even more small and exquisite; she is only up to the height of Milady's shoulders, she is bright and bright, like a drop of honey sliding down from the petals.

Malt was a little puzzled. "What do you find me for?"

"When I saw you on the introduction list, I thought about your situation... maybe I can give you a little help."

The words flowed into Milady's heart the moment she saw the malt, and flowed out of her mouth at this moment.She said kindly: "You are the only one in Fengjiao's family, isn't it difficult? You have to rely on yourself, and it is already very difficult to win three rounds. Even if you succeed, in the final round of sinking battle , you have to persuade other families to assign two people to you... If you are not careful, you will be targeted by everyone."

"I know," Mai Ya sighed, "I've thought about it countless times in my heart."

Milady was about to speak, but she didn't expect her to continue: "But there's nothing to be courteous about, it's...that, no, anyway, there's a reason. In short, if you want to help me, it must be because you want to use me, and I can provide you with value, isn't it?"

Malt reacted quickly, but opened her mouth so honestly, she had to say what other people were thinking.

It was the first time Milady had seen such a girl.She was a little dazed, looked at Mai Ya for a few times, Mai Ya coughed, and turned her eyes away as if nothing had happened, but her face was slightly red.

With a little hesitation, she said slowly: "Because the Gaota family hopes to have more allies in the 'Sea Wave Concerto'..."

"You are a deceitful person," Mai Ya opened his mouth, and four words slipped out.

Not to mention Milady, she herself was taken aback first.

"That, no, I mean...I mean," she tried hard for a few seconds, and finally had the right words: "You lied."

Even Milady sometimes opened her mouth and couldn't speak.

"Is that the boy who is the heir of your Gaota family? Tall, with golden red hair, and good-looking, and you can tell that he also knows that he is good-looking."

Malt gave up trying to speak well, stretched out his arms, and compared Luo Geng's height. "When he saw me before, he just turned his eyes away. He didn't have the slightest enthusiasm to win me over, and he didn't even know who I was—ah!"

Milady took half a step back, feeling that the words he had spoken to her for less than a minute seemed to have turned over several times on the turbulent waves. "What's wrong?"

Malt's eyes, which were as clear as waves, were fixed on her tightly.When the girl was excited, she became a little brighter, making one worry that she might attract moths.

"You...I understand," Mait glanced out from the gap in the bookcase, and said in a low voice: "Now that I think about it, since the warm-up match, you haven't acted with people from the same family at all. If you need help , why didn’t you look for someone from the same family, but me instead? So...you don’t want to take the opportunity of the trial match to take the position of patriarch, do you?”

Milady regretted that she shouldn't have spoken to her.

"You don't look like you are willing to be subordinate to others," Mai Ya sighed in admiration: "You really dare to think! But who doesn't want to be the patriarch, I am so anxious. When I become the patriarch and have money , I want to hire the guy who wrote "The Adventures of Fanny" and write stories for me every day. Tell me, how can we join forces and help each other? Anyway, you won't take my seat. I don't want you as an ally for nothing. You're right."

(End of this chapter)