Meanwhile, outside the Olympic Sports Center, chaos erupted among the crowd.

"Who the hell is that Axel?! My money—gone just like that!"

"The Intelligence Bureau! Pay up! Your intel was garbage!"

"Yeah! Pay me!"

The citizens of Shiverstone were loud and furious. Many blocked the Bureau's storefront, shouting and cursing in unison.

Inside, the Intelligence Bureau's decor remained unchanged: austere, almost museum-like. The portly shopkeeper glanced out at the commotion, amused.

"Shopkeeper, aren't you going to see what's happening?" one assistant asked.

The fat man shook his head with a grin. "No rush. Let's wait for more to gather."

Rumor had it that the Bureau's owner was a high-level Awakener with clairvoyance abilities. His subordinates were similarly gifted, granting them unparalleled access to intelligence.

Despite the mystery surrounding their leader, the public had always trusted the Bureau. And when it came to betting, most had placed their money on Hollow Fortress.

As predicted, the crowd grew angrier when their bets failed. Shouts and curses at the Bureau's doors intensified.

Finally, the shopkeeper wiped his sleeves, pushed open the door, and immediately had spittle flying across his face from the mass of protesters. Calmly, he took out a handkerchief, wiped it clean, and said with a chuckle, "Everyone, calm down. If your saliva freezes on my face, I won't be able to talk."

"Stop the crap! Pay up! Where the hell did this Axel come from? Why isn't he on the list?!"

"Yeah! With his skills, he's easily top twenty—maybe top ten!"

The fat shopkeeper smirked inwardly. Top twenty? He's way beyond that.

He smiled, calm and collected. "We've gathered intelligence on Axel. However, some of his information isn't convenient to share publicly, which is why he wasn't included in the original rankings."

The crowd was instantly dissatisfied—some muttered in anger, others shouted.

"What do you mean, 'inconvenient to share'? You didn't find it! That's why I lost all my money!"

"I understand your frustration," Xylon said evenly. "That's why the higher-ups have decided to re-rank Axel. Of course, it's for reference only."

Though the explanation didn't fully satisfy the irate crowd, curiosity had them leaning in.

"The higher-ups have determined Axel's final ranking…"

Everyone held their breath. The sudden hush was so complete that even the faintest sound seemed amplified.

Just then, the fat shopkeeper's voice piped up in a completely unrelated commercial. "The Hundred Birds Antelope Herbal Essence Mask will make your skin—"

"I'll kill you!"

"Are you fucking kidding me, interrupting with an ad right now?!" The crowd erupted in outrage.

Xylon's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. He wasn't doing it for fun—the payment had been ridiculous. Seeing the crowd ready to storm him, he quickly raised both hands in surrender.

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"Calm down, everyone! I'll tell you right now—Axel's final ranking is… top two."

For a moment, the angry crowd froze. Then, disbelief turned into laughter.

"Are you serious?"

"Top two? Do you know who's in the top two? Terrence and Sergio! Which one is Axel supposed to replace?"

"Ahem… anyway, this is our final ranking. Just a guide for your betting."

The laughter and grumbling persisted, but Xylon's smile suddenly turned icy.

"And let me remind everyone: the Intelligence Bureau is an information organization, not your personal gambling news service. Lose your money if you must, but don't blame us. Today's Axel ranking is free information—use it wisely. Anyone trying to stir trouble… hehe, don't say we didn't warn you."

With that, a tangible Force wave radiated from him, causing several faces in the crowd to blanch.

"Level 3 Awakener?!"

No one had expected that the store manager at the Shiverstone City branch was actually a Level 3 Awakener. If they had, they wouldn't have dared act so brazenly.

Using a combination of intimidation and subtle charm, Xylon gradually dispersed the crowd's hostility.

"Manager, you're amazing!" Two shop assistants exclaimed, their eyes gleaming as they rushed over to him.

Xylon chuckled and casually pinched the assistants' buttocks. "I'm more than just talk. Let's get back to work."

The portly shopkeeper's name was Xylon, general manager of the Intelligence Bureau's Northern Region. He wouldn't have been at this branch if it weren't for the academy competition—but today, his presence was necessary. If he were just a normal store manager, there was no way he could have controlled the crowd.

"Axel… the Whisper Syndicate kid. This time, even the military can't complain about rumor spreading. His power has been fully exposed," Xylon muttered, hands clasped behind his back as he stared into the distance, anticipation clear in his posture.

......

To calm the remaining troublemakers, Xylon officially announced Axel's updated ranking. Given that this pertained to the finals, the news spread like wildfire. Betting platforms lit up instantly.

Although Bloodstone Warfare's victory over Hollow Fortress had cost many bettors heavily, others rushed in, confident that betting on the next match against Stormwatch was a near-certain win.

But after Axel's newly revealed top-two ranking, the odds shifted dramatically.

"Are you kidding me? It's now 4-to-1? Are you trying to lure more people to bet on Bloodstone Warfare? I'm not doing it—hahaha!"

Previously, Bloodstone Warfare's win probability had been so low that betting on Stormwatch was virtually a no-brainer. Now, with Axel officially recognized as a top-tier Level 4 Awakener, the Bureau's new calculations had restored Bloodstone Warfare's chances—and altered the entire betting landscape.

"Top two on the power rankings? Axel's that strong now?!" At the Shiverstone train station, a slightly overweight man thumped his chest and stomped his feet like the sky was falling.

Beside him, a lean, good-looking guy covered his face, clearly wishing he didn't know him. They were Axel's old high-school buddies—Drayke and Storm.

"Cassia, what are you spacing out about?" Drayke called.

A short distance away, Cassia stood in a white down jacket, staring blankly at the latest rankings. At his shout, she blinked, forcing a smile as though she'd just woken from a dream. "Nothing. Fatty, did you find us a place to stay tonight?"

Drayke sighed. "Cassia, you've already asked me that twice."

"Oh." She nodded, and the three of them grabbed a taxi. On the ride over, the driver wouldn't shut up about the Bloodstone Warfare team—especially Axel—leaving the three friends dazed.

It had been a while since they'd all gotten together. With universities and war academies closed for the big competition, they'd decided to meet up for the finals.

The only venue was the Olympic Sports Center. They knew Bloodstone Warfare had made it that far, but hadn't expected Axel to be one of their key players.

"Uncle, Bloodstone Warfare is insane. How much did you put down on them?" Drayke asked curiously.

The driver grinned. "I bought Stormwatch."

When they arrived, the three looked around, still a little disheveled. After listening to the crowd, it was clear most people weren't betting on Bloodstone Warfare.

"How about we buy a little?" Drayke suggested.

Storm hesitated, then sighed with a hint of guilt. "Fine. Just to show Axel some support. I'll throw in ten Rough Stones."

Cassia nodded, handing twenty Rough Stones to Drayke. "Go on. Place the bets."

Drayke, suddenly in high spirits, muttered, "If I lose, Axel's paying me back."

The other two smiled faintly, but the mood didn't last. Reality sank in—Axel's status had changed. With his strength and reputation now, would he even have time, or the desire, to meet with them again?

The thought left all three quiet. As if by silent agreement, none of them spoke further. Drayke rubbed his numb hands together. "Cassia, Storm, I'll go handle the bets."

The streets were jammed with people. Ordinary folks made up the bulk, but plenty of Awakened were here for the tournament too.

Like regular students playing at being grown-ups, the three of them bought their modest tickets and shuffled back to their slightly run-down hotel.

"Axel's moving so damn fast," Storm muttered under his breath.

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