As I entered the dining hall, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The tension in the air was palpable, and I knew that Liam was already seated, waiting for me. I grabbed a chair and sat down, trying to ignore him, but he wouldn't let me.
"So, you're as well shameless?" Liam sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You cheated your way into getting here, and you're comfortably sticking around?"
I felt a surge of anger at his words, but I tried to keep my cool. "Don't fool yourself, Liam," I replied, my voice even but firm. "I wasn't the one who called the result. If you have a problem with anyone, maybe you should go to the Boss."
Liam snorted, his expression twisting in disgust. "We all know that everyone is backing you up to win," he said, his voice rising. "Even the princess herself, she wants you to win. And you sure can't expect me to give up easily."
I stood up, my chair scraping against the floor. "I believe in myself, and I am sure going to win," I said, my eyes locked on Liam's. "But maybe they'll still find some reason to place you ahead of me."
Liam stood up too, his face red with anger. "You think you're so special, don't you?" he spat. "You think you can just waltz in here and steal the win from me?"
I took a step closer to him, my heart pounding in my chest. "I'm not trying to steal anything from you, Liam," I said, my voice low and even. "I'm just trying to win fair and square."
Liam sneered again. "Fair and square?" he repeated. "You don't even know the meaning of those words."
We were standing face to face now, our noses almost touching. The air was thick with tension, and I could feel the anger and resentment emanating from Liam. The guards around were watching us, their eyes wide with excitement.
"Maybe we should just let the competition decide who wins," I said, trying to defuse the situation.
Liam snorted again. "Oh, I'm shaking in my boots," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
The princess walked into the room, a look of concern on her face. "What's going on here?" she asked, her voice firm.
Liam and I just stared at each other, our anger and resentment still simmering just below the surface. The princess looked at us, her eyes narrowing. "I don't want to see any more of this," she said. "We're all here to compete, not to fight."
Liam and I slowly sat down, our eyes still locked on each other. The tension in the room was still palpable, but at least the confrontation had been averted. For now.
The Boss stepped in, a sly grin spreading across his face as if he had been enjoying the argument from the sidelines. He was chuckling to himself, clearly amused by the exchange between Liam and me. He whispered something in the princess's ear, and she nodded before taking a seat at the head of the dining table, her expression stern and authoritative.
The Boss cleared his throat, his voice booming through the room, commanding everyone's attention. "Ah, now that we've got that little disagreement out of the way, let's talk about the challenge after lunch," he said, his eyes twinkling with excitement.
He paused for dramatic effect, surveying the room with a keen eye, making sure everyone was paying attention. "Phillips was eliminated, not because he didn't hit the target, but because of his careless mistake with the remaining three shots," he explained, his voice firm and authoritative.
Liam snorted, a triumphant look on his face, clearly pleased that Phillips was out of the competition. "I knew he was a sloppy shooter," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head in disgust.
The Boss continued, his voice emphasizing the gravity of Phillips' mistake. "Phillips got two random hits on the board, but the three other shots never left the chamber. He didn't set his bullets right, making it a danger to himself and those around him," he said, his expression serious.
I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized the gravity of Phillips' mistake. It was a rookie error, one that could have had disastrous consequences. I couldn't help but think about how close we had all been to disaster.
"That's why we have rules, people," the Boss emphasized, his voice firm. "Safety first, always. And that's why Phillips is no longer with us."
The princess nodded in agreement, her expression stern. "We can't have contestants putting themselves and others at risk. It's just not worth it," she said, her voice firm.
Liam smirked, clearly pleased with himself. "I guess that's what happens when you're not as skilled as some of us," he said, glancing at me with a condescending smile, trying to provoke me.
I ignored him, focusing on the Boss's words. "So, what's the plan for the next challenge?" I asked, eager to move forward, eager to know what lay ahead.
The Boss grinned, his eyes glinting with excitement. "Ah, that's the best part. We've got a real treat in store for you all. But for now, let's just say it involves speed, agility, and a healthy dose of strategy," he said, his voice tantalizing.
The room fell silent, everyone's minds racing with possibilities. I couldn't help but feel a thrill of anticipation. What did the Boss have in store for us? Only time would tell.