The five talented youths responded in unison, their eyes shining with determination. “Yes, Lord Enzo, we will continue to give our best!”

Enzo nodded with satisfaction, then turned to Patricia and Matilda. “Patricia, Matilda, the training from here on out will be in your hands. Make sure they stay in top condition.”

Patricia and Matilda responded in unison, “Don’t worry, Lord Enzo, we’ll give it our all.”

Enzo nodded again, then turned to Kosor. “Kosor, make sure the rewards and prizes for the competition are handled promptly. They shouldn’t have any worries on that front.”

Patting his chest confidently, Kosor assured him, “Rest assured, Enzo, I’ll take care of it.”

With the arrangements made, Enzo finally let out a sigh of relief. He looked up at the sky and noticed it was getting darker. He turned to the group and said, “Alright, it’s getting late. Everyone should rest early. We’ve got even more challenging tasks awaiting us tomorrow.”

With that, Enzo turned to leave. However, just as he was about to walk away, a voice suddenly called out from behind him. “Lord Enzo, please wait.”

Enzo turned around and saw Marshal Klay from Star League approaching with a smile. Klay was dressed in a sharp suit, exuding an air of sophistication.

“Klay Marshal, is there something you need?” Enzo asked, puzzled.

Klay smiled warmly. “Lord Enzo, I’ve heard about the outstanding performance of your talented youths from Alfa Planet in the competition. Truly impressive. As a token of my admiration, I would like to invite you to dinner. Would you be willing to join me, Lord Enzo?”

Enzo’s mind stirred slightly upon hearing this. He knew this dinner might not be as simple as it seemed. Klay likely had some ulterior motive. However, considering it was an invitation offered with good intentions, Enzo didn’t want to refuse outright and nodded. “Alright, I appreciate the kind invitation, Klay Marshal.”

Klay’s face lit up with joy. “Wonderful, Lord Enzo! Please, follow me.”

With that, Klay led the way, guiding Enzo to a luxurious restaurant. The restaurant was adorned in opulent gold and crimson decorations, radiating an atmosphere of wealth and extravagance. The waitstaff, dressed in neat uniforms, greeted guests with warm smiles and impeccable service.

Klay pulled out a chair for Enzo and gestured for him to sit down. Then, he ordered several signature dishes from the restaurant and asked for a bottle of fine red wine.

Klay said with a smile, “Lord Enzo, please try the dishes here, they are quite delicious.”

Enzo nodded, picking up his knife and fork to start tasting the food on the table. It must be said, the dishes were indeed very delicious, and each one was delicately prepared and flavorful.

However, Enzo remained alert in his mind. He knew that Klay’s invitation to come here was not merely for a meal. Sure enough, during the meal, Klay began to probe about the Alfa planet.

Klay asked,”Lord Enzo, I’ve heard that Alfa is a planet full of magic and martial arts. Is that true?”

Enzo smiled faintly. “Klay Marshal, you’re joking. Alfa does indeed have a long tradition of magic and martial arts, but that’s hardly a secret.”

Klay nodded. “I see. However, I’ve heard that the young geniuses you’ve sent this time are very strong. I wonder how they usually train?”

Enzo’s heart shifted slightly, realizing that Klay was probing for details. He calmly responded, “Their training is very strict. They not only have dedicated mentors but also undergo practical drills and simulated competitions to improve their abilities.”

Klay’s eyes flickered with interest. “I see. However, I’ve heard that some planets use less honorable methods to secure good results in competitions…”

Enzo’s expression darkened slightly. “Klay Marshal, what do you mean by that? Are you implying that Alfa planet might resort to such methods?”

Klay quickly waved his hand. “No, no, Lord Enzo, you misunderstood. I was just saying this casually, I didn’t mean anything by it.”

Enzo snorted coldly. “I hope that’s the case. Alfa has always upheld the principles of fairness and integrity, and we would never use any underhanded tactics to win a competition.”

Seeing that Enzo was serious, Klay did not dare to continue on the topic. He quickly changed the subject. “Alright, Lord Enzo, let’s not talk about that anymore. Come, let’s drink!”

With that, he raised his glass and gestured to Enzo. Enzo also raised his glass, clinking it lightly with Klay’s before drinking it down in one gulp.

However, just as Enzo put down his wine glass, he suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. A sharp alarm went off in his mind: *”Damn, something’s wrong with this wine!”*

Seeing Enzo’s reaction, Klay wore a smug smile. “Lord Enzo, what’s wrong? Did you drink too quickly?”

Enzo fought against the discomfort, quickly calculating his next move. He knew that staying alert was crucial, or he might fall into Klay’s trap. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to calm down and then smiled casually. “Maybe, this wine is a bit strong.”

Klay, now even more pleased with himself, laughed. “Haha, don’t worry, Lord Enzo. After a few more, you’ll get used to it.”

With that, he poured another glass for Enzo. However, Enzo waved it off. “No thanks, Klay Marshal. I’m already feeling a little tipsy, if I drink more, I’ll be drunk.”

Klay’s eyes flickered with a hint of disappointment, but he didn’t press the issue. He just smiled slightly. “Alright then, Lord Enzo, let’s skip the drinking. Let’s focus on the food.”

At that moment, the door to the restaurant suddenly opened, and a familiar figure walked in—it was Patricia. She looked surprised when she saw Enzo and Klay sitting together. “Lord Enzo, what are you doing here?”

Seeing Patricia, Enzo immediately felt a sense of relief. He knew her arrival could thwart Klay’s plans. He quickly stood up and said to Patricia, “Patricia, what brings you here?”

Patricia walked over to Enzo, concern in her voice. “I heard Klay Marshal invited you to dinner, and I was worried about you, so I came to check on you.”

Enzo smiled and nodded. “It’s fine, Klay Marshal just invited me for a meal.”

However, Klay suddenly spoke up. “Miss Patricia, since you’re here, why don’t you join us? We can talk about the competition.”

Patricia’s brow furrowed slightly at his invitation. She didn’t want to decline outright, so she reluctantly sat down, but her gaze remained fixed on Klay, wary of any harm he might bring to Enzo.

Klay noticed her suspicion and felt a flicker of displeasure, but he knew it wasn’t the time to expose his intentions. So, he forced a smile and continued chatting with Enzo and Patricia about trivial matters.

Just as the dinner was coming to an end, Klay suddenly stood up and said to Enzo, “Lord Enzo, I have some business to attend to, so I must leave. I hope you both enjoy the rest of your evening.”

After speaking, he turned and left the restaurant. Enzo watched Klay’s departing figure and silently breathed a sigh of relief. He knew that he had narrowly escaped this time.

Seeing this, Patricia also stood up. She said, “Lord Enzo, let’s go.”

Enzo nodded, and together they left the restaurant.

However, just as they were exiting, Enzo suddenly felt a sharp headache hit him.

He couldn’t help but clutch his head, and his face turned pale.

Patricia quickly noticed and rushed to support him. “Lord Enzo, what’s wrong?”

Enzo gritted his teeth, trying to bear the pain, and said to Patricia, “I’m fine. It’s probably something wrong with the drink I had earlier. Let’s hurry back.”

Hearing this, Patricia didn’t dare to delay and hurriedly helped Enzo back to their residence.

However, when Enzo lay down on the bed, he had already fallen unconscious…

When Enzo opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a soft bed in an unfamiliar environment. He tried to sit up but was struck by a severe headache.

“You’re awake.” A gentle voice sounded beside him.

Enzo turned his head and saw Patricia sitting by the bed, looking at him with concern.

Enzo weakly asked, “Patricia, where am I?”

Patricia gently replied, “You’re in a safe place. Don’t worry. You were tricked by Klay. He gave you a drink laced with sleeping powder. Fortunately, I noticed in time and saved you.”

Enzo tried to recall what had happened the previous night, but the sharp headache left him feeling disoriented. He looked at Patricia with gratitude. “Thank you, Patricia. If it weren’t for you, I might have…”

Patricia gently shook her head. “Don’t say that, Enzo. We’re partners. It’s only right that we help each other.”

Enzo fell silent for a moment before asking, “Why would Klay do this? What is his goal?”

Patricia frowned. “I’m not exactly sure what his goal is, but I have a feeling he’s planning something sinister. Enzo, you need to be careful of him.”

Enzo nodded. “I will. But right now, what’s more important is that we need to hurry back and prepare for the upcoming competition.”

Patricia stood up and said, “I’ve already arranged for the spaceship. We can depart anytime.”

Enzo struggled to get out of bed, but Patricia quickly moved to support him. “Don’t rush. Your body hasn’t fully recovered yet. I’ll help you out.”

With Patricia’s assistance, Enzo slowly made his way out of the room. They boarded the spaceship and quickly returned to Alfa planet.

Once back on Alfa planet, Enzo immediately gathered all the team members and mentors and told them about Klay’s actions.

Enzo said seriously, “We must be cautious of Klay’s plot. He may try to sabotage the competition or cause trouble in other ways.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep