Messing With Her? Are You Crazy! novel Chapter 1066

The surrounding competitors screamed, instinctively scrambling backward to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the containment bags.

A wave of pure panic ripped through the crowd.

"Are you serious? There are actually that many venomous bugs in there?"

"How the hell did something like this survive on a secured island?"

"If... if one of those things bites you, you'd be dead before the medics even arrived!"

"This is insane! No wonder The Dreamscape Initiative lost their minds. I... I'm not going to be able to sleep at all tonight."

"Chief Arbiter, how can there be an infestation like this? Is our safety actually guaranteed?"

...

Graves watched the mass hysteria rapidly spiraling out of control. If this Vermin Infestation compromised the psychological state of the competitors and derailed the tournament, he would be held entirely responsible as the Chief Arbiter.

The financial penalties would be the least of his worries. If the federal directors charged him with criminal negligence, his career would be permanently destroyed!

Desperate to regain control, Graves puffed out his chest and roared with all the authority he could muster. "Silence! Everyone, calm down immediately!"

The shouting died down, but the sheer terror remained plastered on the students' faces.

Graves kept his expression deadly serious. "I personally guarantee that this island underwent a maximum-level bio-sweep. Even if a few anomalies slipped through the cracks, the threat has now been completely neutralized and contained."

"I will personally lead The Board of Arbiters and the GSTF Security Detail in a secondary, comprehensive sweep of the perimeter tonight. There will be absolutely no further incidents."

"Now, return to your dormitories and go to sleep. Do not let this affect your performance in tomorrow's trials."

The competitors exchanged nervous glances.

Everyone was still deeply shaken. How could anyone guarantee that those things weren't currently waiting in their own beds?

But facing Graves’ furious, threatening glare, no one dared to openly challenge him. Slowly, reluctantly, the crowd began to disperse, shuffling back toward their rooms in small, frightened groups.

"Why is every other team completely fine?"

"Maybe you should ask yourselves if karma is finally catching up with you."

He scoffed aggressively. "If you refuse to sleep in your assigned room, then you can stand out here in the freezing wind and fend for yourselves."

"But if I hear you scream again, or if you disrupt the other competitors for a second time, I will hit you with an immediate disciplinary violation!"

Without wasting another breath on The Dreamscape Initiative, Graves turned on his heel and hobbled away alongside the heavily armed security operatives holding the writhing bags.

Bianca and Isabella collapsed against each other, sobbing uncontrollably in the freezing dark.

Even though the security team had physically removed the predators, they didn't have a shred of courage left to step foot inside that suite. Who knew what was still lurking under the furniture?

As the remaining security personnel, officials, and competitors finally cleared the area, the night went quiet once again.

The only people left standing in the shadows, quietly observing the absolute wreckage of their enemies, were Lydia and the rest of The Hope Initiative.