After Gwenneth returned to her seat, she pressed her earpiece and asked, "How was he, Master?"
ραпdα nᴏνɐ| сom On the other side of the earpiece, the Dragon Empress didn't immediately respond.
After a few seconds, she asked, "How was his testing?"
"He was indeed interesting," Gwen said. "He either knew the truth serum wasn't genuine, or is the perfect candidate because he not only answered each question honestly, but he answered "no" to the honorable question."
Inside her room, the Dragon Empress watched the Nova Ball game on a set of holograms. She shuddered as she thought of a man who could be loyal, kind, protective, and trustworthy while not being honorable.
'A true perfect bad boy,' the Dragon Empress thought.
After seeing her mother's downfall, the Dragon Empress knew that the right way was the good way, and that's why she insisted her first public harem member be loyal, kind, protective, and trustworthy.
But part of her craved the dark side and put in a condition that one could answer either yes or no to honorable.
All they had to do to pass was to answer yes while not lying on the first four questions, and they'd pass.
'I never expected someone like him actually to exist,' the Dragon Empress thought, watching the man with raven black locs on her screen.
As he turned toward the hidden camera, the Dragon Empress could see the sweat glistening off his silky smooth skin as his emerald eyes reflected the fading sunlight, giving him an almost divine look.
"He's good. Keep an eye on him," the Dragon Empress said, closing her communication link to Gwen.
===
"Blue Team, #7 substitution for #19," Lady Gwen yelled.
After the first round of rotations, it was Ryan's turn to return to the field.
So far, five people have scored: Blue Team's #4 and #6 and Red Team's #8, #11, and #12.
After his first pass and the criticism he received, everyone thought Ryan would have stopped passing the ball, but he did the opposite.
Every time Ryan had the ball, he would pass it to someone open, or if he were in the position of midfielder or forward, he would skilfully dribble the ball past some defenders and make space for someone to get open.
His antics got him the nickname 'the 7th angel' from his teammates and 'stupid moronic idiot' by the opposing team.
He ran on the field again, playing the forward position, and the jeers began.
"Hey, look, the moron's here."
"Yo, looser, why don't you walk the ball over to me? I'll help you out."
"Are you playing to lose? Meet me after for a great game of blackjack."
"Can you grab me some food while you are playing? It seems like you have a lot of time to waste."
Ryan chuckled. "I'm sure you can say those words now, but when you're no longer in the running for being a part of the beautiful Empress's harem, I'm sure those words will be harder to say."
Getting into position, Ryan caught the ball and passed it to his left.
His teammates had become accustomed to him passing, so they were always ready to receive.
As the game progressed, another goal was scored, but Ryan still had yet to get one in the back of the net.
By the time it was Ryan's turn to leave the field, the total goals were up to six.
'The next round should be the perfect time,' Ryan thought, preparing to set his plan's final part in motion.
As he sat on the bench, Ryan activated his bloodline to locate the hidden camera he knew monitored each of their moves.
After locating the nearest one to the Red Team's goal, he spent the remainder of his time coming up with the perfect line for his victory.
===
"Gwen, what is #7 doing?" the Dragon Empress asked. "Although I love his selflessness, one can sometimes be too selfless for their own good."
In the stands, watching the game, Gwen looked at Ryan sitting on the bench and smiled. "You mean participant #42, correct?" she asked teasingly.
"Gwenneth, even though I reprimanded you earlier, you still tease me… good. But yes, I do mean him," the Dragon Empress said, chuckling.
"Maybe he's showing us something besides selflessness. But for my hunch to be correct, we'll have to wait and see," Gwen said, narrowing her eyes at the sitting Ryan.
The Dragon Empress sighed. "Well, either way, I hope your right. It'd be a shame if he turned out to be too selfless."
After the Dragon Empress's words, they both fell silent, continuing to watch the game unfold.
===
"Here comes the bootlicker again!" came a shout from the Red Team.
"I think he can't score. He's too afraid," another yelled.
'You know, I wonder how these guys passed the test if they were all tested with the kindness characteristic.' Ryan thought. 'It doesn't make sense.'
After mulling it over, Ryan came up with two theories. " In this world, people might perceive kindness differently, or they have convinced themselves that they are kind; thus, when given truth serum, they told their truth."
In either case, it didn't matter to Ryan as he refocused on his test.
Eight goals had been scored, so only two more would complete the game.
To complete his plan, Ryan needed to participate in the last two scoring goals.
The Red Team started with the ball as Ryan and the opposing player's equivalent swapped in.
The ensuing dogpile surrounding the ball was fierce. Ryan could see a few lousy punches fly between players as their animalistic instincts took over in their craze to be one of the last to score.
Apparently, the Dragon Empress had anticipated the melee. No fouls were called. It was a free-for-all.
Deciding it was now or never, Ryan joined the fight for the ball. After a few shoves, he came out of the other side with the ball, his teammates happily shouting as they ran down the field, "Angel 7, over here!"
"I'm open, Angel 7!"
As he ran along the left side of the field, Ryan saw #9 open right next to the goal, and he booted the ball.
The ball arched through the air. Both the Dragon Empress and Gwen held their breath.
To their dismay, Ryan's teammate was able to tap in the oncoming ball to score the most straightforward goal of the night.
Ryan made a show of pumping his fists in celebration as he looked into the camera and muttered, "I always love bringing others pleasure."
The Dragon Empress felt a tingle run down her spine at Ryan's words and grew hotter as she scooted forward, now on the edge of her seat.
"This is it… only one more goal," she muttered.
Back on the field, the Red Team was the first to start with the ball, but it didn't matter because a second after #14 touched the ball, a Blue Team player slammed into him, taking him down like an American linebacker tackling a quarterback.
Ryan took advantage before anyone was the wiser and snatched the ball, staying clear of the pile-up.
Three of his Blue teammates noticed he had the ball and began frantically following him.
"I'm open, Angel!"
"I'm cutting to the right, Angel!"
"Pass it upfront Angel!"
The familiar calls echoed around him, but he ignored their pleas, unlike before.
Dribbling the ball toward the goal, Ryan came face to face with the goalkeeper, and while he could fake pass the ball and the goalie would most likely fall for it, Ryan didn't need to.
Ryan slammed the ball with all his might, spiraling end over end and arching into the top right corner of the net.
Ryan turned toward the camera as the ball stopped in the back of the net. "Don't worry, Empress," Ryan grinned. "Just like in the bedroom, I always finish last."
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