349 -342- The chief referee
"Firstly, let's talk about the events of this sports event—"
Inside the Piltover's Pinnacle, Seraphine discreetly glanced to the side, stealing glances at the board held by the staff, which had the script written on it.
"Fencing, weightlifting, swimming, sprinting..."
Seraphine introduced one after another, then, it came to the most anticipated and largest event of this sports event.
Seraphine looked up at the strange rectangular box, something like a camera?
Anyway, Seraphine didn't understand the principle behind it, although she was also considered a decent little inventor.
She continued, "Football, this is the biggest event of this sports event, and also the most rewarding event."
——————
"Football? What's football?"
"I seem to have heard from a merchant from Piltover saying that it's a group of people chasing after a ball."
"Can that be considered a competition? What's the point?"
"It seems very interesting, Gellix just went to Twin Cities to see His Highness play football last time. He said that Lady Fiora also loves that sport."
"Eleven on each side, many positions, His Highness plays as a forward, Lady Fiora as a center, she seems to be the scorer?"
"Listening to you say that, it seems quite interesting indeed."
——————
"This competition's participants come from all over the world."
"Now, let me introduce the football players in particular."
Seraphine smiled.
"First is the Lion Team created by Demacian Prince, His Majesty Jarvan IV. The team members are—Jarvan IV, Garen Crownguard, Fiora Laurent, Tryndamere, Ashe, Alistar, and Gus Arckman."
After Seraphine finished reading the names, she continued, "The Lion Team is strong and is the top seed in this Football Cup."
"Look, it's His Majesty!"
Jarvan III heard an officer behind him shout. It had been almost a year since he last saw Jarvan IV. Naturally, Jarvan III missed his son very much.
"Next is the Wolf Team established by Noxus, the team members are—Noxia, Seaman...."
"The third team, also the top seed team of this event, all come from Shurima—"
Seraphine introduced seriously.
——————
Under the Valkes Mountains, in the coastal town of Stonewall.
This is a place deeply affected by the devastation of Noxus but has not compromised and surrendered to Noxus.
Ayelia, with her hair tied up and wearing a gray linen dress, carried a basket of berries, intending to grind them into delicious jam.
Passing through the central square of the town, someone stopped Ayelia.
"Hey, Ayelia, come and look at this."
"This thing can really show people, look at that girl, she's so beautiful!"
In front of a three-meter-long, one-and-a-half-meter-wide board, a group of farmers had already gathered.
Hearing this, Ayelia curiously joined them.
"The Lion Team consists of—"
Ayelia looked at the pink-haired girl in surprise, listening to her voice.
"Tryndamere, Ashe, Alistar..."
"Thud."
The basket fell to the ground, and the dark red berries rolled all over the ground, but Ayelia just stared blankly at the screen.
"Alistar."
Alistar?
Ayelia's thoughts were instantly brought back to a few years ago—
That was a Minotaur locked in a cage, wearing shackles.
The eyes that had once been filled with anger and resentment towards her gradually became gentle, simple, and trusting.
The arena was engulfed in flames, and the tall figure protected her.
By the riverbank, a group of Noxian spies rushed out from the shadows, but Alistar charged into the battle.
Ayelia called out his name over and over again, but he never came back.
I always thought you were dead.
"Alistar.... Could it really be you?"
Ayelia covered her mouth, tears streaming down her cheeks.
——————
"Rafen, this girl is really beautiful."
On the docks of Bilgewater, a huge screen was embedded in the cliff. This position was not only visible to the people of Bilgewater but also to the surrounding Ionia.
"Her voice is also very pleasant." Rafen flicked his earring and smiled.
Sarah wore a black bra, with round shoulders draped in a blue windbreaker, somewhat resembling the style of the Enforcers of Twin Cities. Her hair was casually scattered behind her shoulders. She raised her long legs and sipped her drink, saying, "So, are you saying my voice isn't pleasant?"
"I didn't say that, Captain."
"Mm?"
"Alright, my lady." Rafen shrugged, then said, "It's a pity that we couldn't participate, we can only watch."
"It's not a pity."
"Rafen, what's meant to be ours is already ours. We can't be so greedy."
Sarah said meaningfully.
——————
"The sixth team is the Lightning Squad, the team members are—Zeri, Ezreal, Akali, Vi, Sett, Yu(Mouse)..."
Hearing this, several people on the islands of Ionia looked at each other.
"It's Boss and Mouse."
"Boss really went to that Twin Cities to participate in the competition, but why is he participating in football?"
"Yeah, he should be participating in boxing matches."
Several people were confused, not understanding what was going on.
——————
In the hall, Seraphine stood up and said, "Next, let's invite the chief referee of this sports event to talk about the spirit of the event."
"Let's welcome Linwin Lorant, the referee of this event."
Seraphine stepped aside, and Linwin straightened his clothes before walking up.
When facing the camera, Linwin's expression was very serious.
————
In Noxus, Swain watched the TV expressionlessly, no one knew what he was thinking. Behind him was a cloaked mage, also the third person of the Trifarix Council—The Faceless.
The outside world only knew her as The Faceless, a powerful mage. But who would believe that she was the leader of the Black Rose mentioned by Swain when he took the stage, the Pale Lady?
"Good afternoon, everyone. I am the chief referee of this sports event.
The opening ceremony of the sports event will be held on May 20th, which is in nineteen days. At that time, Twin Cities will bring everyone an unprecedented opening ceremony.
Here, on behalf of the referees of this project, I assure everyone that Twin Cities will treat all athletes fairly and justly, and cheating behavior will not be tolerated in any event!"
"Once cheating behavior is discovered, the participants will be immediately disqualified from the competition, and their respective countries and tribes must be held accountable to Twin Cities and other athletes. So now, please take the competition seriously, athletes. At the same time, countries should make corresponding preparations.
I know some people may doubt why a referee hold this much power..."
Linwin smiled with his hands behind his back—
This sports event is of great significance to Twin Cities, Linwin, and even to all continents and countries and tribes.
Therefore, Linwin will never allow cheating.
Because it's an extraordinary world, plus it's the first time hosting such an event, unfair situations will naturally occur in some events, but this is unavoidable.
Twin Cities has done its best to be fair, such as the use of Petricite and the specially made Hextech balls, all of which are aimed at reducing the physical gap between the two sides.
But Twin Cities really can't achieve absolute fairness.
However, outside the field, Linwin will strictly prohibit all cheating behavior and intentionally losing matches.
"I—Linwin Lorant."
"Am the ninth councilor of Piltover and the leader of Zaun."
"So I think I have this right."
"That's all I have to say."
After Linwin finished speaking, he left the camera.
Seraphine quickly followed up.
