The Mercenary Queen Strikes Back (Lily Hastings) novel Chapter 112

Chapter 112

At that moment, everyone w Jeft absolutely stupned

Even though Nova’s character moved with such simple, casual action they could text winging word you do radiating from her gameplay!

Holden, who was totally hooked on this shooter game, was so blown away that his you begged t flopped out.

“Girl, how is this even possible…” Holden sputtered, eyes wide,

He was so shellshocked he almost bit his own tongue.

“You actually snagged first place!” he cried.

His whole body quivered, and his words bounced out like springs.

“This is literally your first time and you…

I’ve been grinding Battle for three years just to reach this level…

So that’s the gap between people? Is this what real talent looks like? Holden thought, absolutely Boored.

Just a moment ago, he’d played all his little tricks, trying to show off and spook Nova with his so–called els like he’d really impress the young girl.

But when all was said and done, the one who wound up shocked was him! He felt like the punchline to a bad pe clown.

Even Rhys, the department heartthrob who’s usually all cool and serious, looked genuinely shocked

With Holden and the whole crowd still in shock, Nova casually handed the phone back to him, dropping left everyone wondering what she really meant.

“Not bad for a game,” Nova said, her tone light.

“But honestly? It’s nothing like the real battlefield.”

Casey stood off to the side, watching it all go down. She figured, ‘If Nova wants to play a shooter gam some fun?*

But she totally didn’t see Nova coming in hot and nabbing first place on her very first wound

But still…

The real battlefield? What does she even mean by that? Casey thought, her mind reeling

“You’ve definitely got skills. Rhys said, his tone cool but firm. “But when you talk abou sounds like you’re overselling it. People can easily get the wrong idea

Td really appreciate it if you could be a bit more precise with what you say and do Avond ve misunderstand.

“Like earlier, when you used killing as an example–comments like that really

1057 am

wah had lab work and experiments—a straight–up genius. He wasn’t really targeting Nova specifically.

premise, and that’s exactly the sind of meticulous

“Seriously Rhys there you gragon” Canny shot bark rolling her eyes

from you on womething?

nter game for the first time and totally owned it! Don’t you think she deserves at least a cheer

nerve to say that

Casey immersatety wood up for Nova natycond

“Sorry, not happening, Rhys said coolly, glancing off to the side.

That was just how he was. Before walking off, he couldn’t resist taking one last shot at Holden.

“the factory said colhy, “You’re absolute trash at this game.

“Even a girl who just touched it for the first time mopped the floor with you.

“Seriously, give it up. This isn’t your vene–go prep for the competition instead.”

With that. Khys turned and walked away.

Casey booked her arm around Nova’s and glared at Rhys’s retreating back, so pissed off her jaw nearly hit the floor.

“You are literally the King of Savage Tonguest” she shouted after him.

“Get lost already!”

Then she turned to Nova, flashing her cute snaggletooth. “Isn’t that true, Nova?” she asked.

Nora dunt say and

She didn’t pay Khys’s words any mind–she could sense he didn’t mean her any harm.

Morently

Shuwangan opponent even more uncontrollable than before.

Nuevas soap gate spadenyrus larathing directly su Naiasandally on the far serie

bedd

disbud

Try out an

head all kind

An hour few by tha

By quanar purother

the page a referens truly and the

During live

competition, the whole event was totally open–the crowd cold some

fary pent

That meant anyone–whether from Kena University or another school me way–cold waply the gyms bleachers wo watch the showdown

The bleachers weren’t crowded, but a fair number of students had come to

Every student came to compete for one reason to win honor for their school

Nova was representing Saint Laurel Royal Academy, while Casey and her crew were flying the fag for the n

So during the competition, they wouldn’t be competing together they’d be on different wades of the beld

“Technically, we’re opponents here.

“But come on

“You’re

money, after all!*

Sig thumbs–up and a bright smile, then jogged back to her team.

Sind girl, Nova thought to herself

sn’t the kind of friend she could ever get costo

Carved in corpses.

Nova’s

win keep healing further down the road, there was

gback for her now.

on her head and made hei way toward the aromantisans Earl

craft

10:57 am

Chapter 112

We’re up against all sorts of challenges in this competition.” Zane said plainly.

“Stuff like computer science, scientific research, advanced math face–offs, self–defense… and the list goes on. Zane started acting all leader like, trying to play the role the way Maxwell always did.

But deep down, his reasons weren’t the same he just wanted Nova to notice how impressive he really was.

For every event, the five of us will compete together, but everyone’s got their own thing they’re good at. Zane said.

“The academy already figured out our roles before we even got here.

“Nova’s leading the self–defense event, and I’ll be there to back her up.

“And if it’s the science experiment round, just leave it to me.”

As he spoke, Zane shot Nova a look.

That look of his practically bragged, ‘See? Aren’t you glad to have me around? I can back you up in self–defense, and when it comes to research, I’m basically unstoppable.‘

Nova had already said her piece–Zane wasn’t even worth a second glance in her eyes.

Whether he lived or died, it had nothing to do with her.

But if…

If Zane ever crossed her, Nova would kill him without a second thought.

Nova always did what she said.

“All students, please head to the center of the gym as soon as you hear this announcement,” the referee called out, his voice ringing across the court.

“There are eleven tables laid out here, each one set up with a sheet of paper and a pen.

“Each table is designated for a team from one school.

“Today’s showdown only features two events: scientific research and self defense.”

The referee stood dead–center on what used to be the basketball court, his tone solemn and commanding

As soon as the announcement came through, all the contestants made their way over to their respective tables

The five from Saint Laurel Royal Academy were settled at a table tucked away in the very far corner of the venue Across the venue, Novagaught sight of Casey behind her team’s table, waving enthusiastically in her direction alongside her.

teammates.

Casey’s infectious excitement earned a slight nod from Nova–her way of acknowledging the support

As Nova scanned the room, she spotted Natasha leaning against her table, fixing her with a smokk ting, challenging stare

That look…

Nova’s gaze grew darker and more dangerous

10:57 am

Chapter 112-

down in calculations

this part

about flexing our science smarty-

verything comes

I seems lagi post let me take thing Zane declared, totally taking charge

up

Sure. Zane could be pretty full of himself, but no question–hn brains and skills put most people to share.

Honestly? When it came to Maxwell Zane was top dogs cach just a sharp as the other

And he was spot on

one guy who could actually go toe–to–toe with him. Those two were both

The referee stood at the center of the circle formed by the eleven tables, his voice tarrying to every corner of the room.

“For this round, we’re skipping the hands–on experiments–it’s all about solving written problems.

“Take a look. There’s a blank sheet of paper and a pen at each spot. That’s all fou’ve got to work with

“I’ll announce each question out loud. Pay close attention and make sure to write everything down.

“Show all your reasoning and calculations clearly on the

paper.

“The team that reports the correct answer and complete solution the fastest will claim victory for their school*

Zane, along with Rhys from Casey’s team, were both absolute prodigies when it came to research competitions.

They sat up straight, tuning out everything else as the referee began to announce the question.

hung in suspense until that moment.

stepped up and hit everyone with a seriously tough chemistry question.

ns of an oxide of some metal, let’s call it R, is dissolved in water and reacts to produce 100 grams of an alkaline

mass fraction of the solute ends up at 0.148%. R is from the first four periods of the periodic table, and its nucleus ains 20 protons.

Figure it out

-what element is R?”

The referee spoke up, his voice booming across the gym as he drew out every syllable, making sure not a single contestant missed a beat.

Since he was reading the question out loud, he actually repeated it three full times -40 excuses for missing anything.

By the end, everyone had more than enough time to scribble down all the details.

Zane and Rhys totally stood out from everyone else.

Their pens flew arross the page as they were the first to jump into solving the problem

“Nova, could you do these multiplications out loud for me?” Zane asked.

He scribbled several multiplication questions on the blank sheet, not even bothering to hide his eagerness

Deep down, he was totally playing out a fantasy—him as the CEO and Nova as the meticulous secretary, both working vide

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