Author: M_W Cancer 

Proofreader: M_W Miss Fierce 

As Leo expected, it didn't take that long for the fight between the thirteen players to end, leaving only four players standing amidst the other nine injured or dead players. These four players weren't in any better shape than the others, though, but they still proved themselves nonetheless to be deserving of the remaining slots to participate in the fifth game of the Emerald Elven Battle Competition through winning the fight. 

The winners were one player from the weakest alliance, one player from the alliance of the major independent Guilds, and two players from the alliance of the major Noble Households. 

However, there was one big problem that everyone was facing...

"What is going on? Why hasn't the Survival Games ended yet?!"

"Hey?! There are only four of us here, plus the six of them! Wasn't ten players the required number to proceed to the fifth game?!"

"Why aren't they answering us?! Don't tell me that we still need to continue fighting?!"

"That..."

Unlike the remaining four players, Edgar Pierce and the others quickly understood what was going on. 

Looking at each other, they immediately saw from everyone's eyes that none of them had done any sort of trick. 

"Tch! I really didn't think that something like this was really going to happen," Edgar Pierce shook his head, a bit surprised. Honestly, he had suspected already that there were not only twenty players remaining in the Survival Games. But considering the lengthy conversation they just had a while ago and the fact that there was still no signs of any other players aside from them appearing yet, he decided to dismiss such thoughts, thinking that with the presence of Vine-arm Chimpanzees roaming around the surrounding, it is next to impossible for any other players to survive until this point just from hiding. How wrong he was, though...

"I'm honestly surprised. Just where did those players hide their selves that they were able to avoid the detection of all those Vine-arm Chimpanzees?" Eme Clarity expressed her thoughts. 

"We deliberately made the conversation long enough for any hiding players to reveal themselves, yet we still failed on making them reveal their whereabouts? How unbelievable!" Eben Nero felt extremely shocked. 

"You..." Emir turned to look at Eben Nero in surprise, totally not expecting his words. 

With a mocking look on his face, Eben Nero responded to Emir, "No wonder Noble Households are way above in status compared to Guilds. Just looking at you, I no longer wonder the reason why. I know that was Enos' line, but I just can't help myself using it to you since the both of you belonged to Guilds,"

"Enough with that, Eben!" Eme Clarity quickly stopped Eben Nero from creating any mess with Emir and the others from the alliance of the major independent Guilds since they can't afford to have any of that yet with their current situation. Though, she didn't forget to add, "They already admitted to that before. Remember what they have said? We, Noble Households, have never been in the same league as people from the Guilds,"

"Cut it off, you two!" Edgar Pierce stared solemnly at Eme Clarity and Eben Nero to make the both of them shut up. 

"Yes, your grace, Edgar Pierce," Eme Clarity and Eben Nero said in unison. 

"Everything might have gone as what we have planned. But as you can see, it still failed in the end. So, there is nothing to be proud of," Edgar Pierce clarified things before continuing, "Now then, let's prepare for who these players are. I really can't wait to see who was able to destroy my plan,"

"Understood, your grace, Edgar Pierce," Emir and the others nodded their heads in acknowledgment. At this moment, they no longer acted proud and arrogant in front of Edgar Pierce. If it was earlier ago, they would no doubt still believe that they are equals, even after seeing with their very own eyes just how strong the latter was. But right now, they don't believe any of that anymore as Edgar Pierce had not only proven his strength, but also his intellect.

There's a well-known rule amongst members of Guilds in the Celestial World that says, "You can offend strong people, as they would definitely cower in fear once they face 'Someone much stronger than them. But you should never offend intelligent people because those people will use those 'Someone much stronger than them instead to kill you," 

In other words, it is next to impossible to run and hide from intelligent people as they can even use either the road that one is using to run or the wall they are using to hide as a means to kill them. 

Such a rule has been proven numerous times already. And as a matter of fact, all Guild Leaders always taught the members of their respective Guilds to follow such a rule, lest they would accidentally cause the destruction of their Guilds. 

"The four of you!" Edgar Pierce called out to the four players who had just won the fight and earned the four slots to participate in the fifth game, as he then said, "I'll offer the four of you two choices to keep your slots. One, you can help us fight against whomever these players are who were waiting to reap your hard-earned victory. Or two, you can run and hide, while at the same time hoping that these other players would either come to us instead of chasing after the four of you or that you won't get killed by the groups of Vine-arm Chimpanzees roaming outside of this perimeter,"

"Just to remind the four of you, both choices have the same risk of losing your slot, albeit just different in the way that you can fight to hold your slots or leave it up to Fate whether you can continue holding your slots or not. So, I suggest that all of you would choose wisely between the two choices," Edgar Pierce motioned his hand, implying that it is now time for the four players to give him their answers.