Liam hurried back to the stall, his heart pounding with anxiety. He hoped William hadn't returned yet, or he'd surely catch him slacking off. To his relief, William was still nowhere in sight. He sighed, the tension in his shoulders easing as he waited for William's return.
A few minutes later, the teachers and professors from various schools and academies began to filter out of the conference hall. The crowd had thinned significantly, with only heroes, guards, management, school teachers, academy professors, guild representatives, and a handful of lingering vendors remaining. The atmosphere was subdued, the earlier chaos of the evaluation replaced by a quiet hum of activity.
As Liam waited, a group of guards approached him, their expressions stern and unyielding. They were accompanied by one of the shop owners Liam had messed with earlier. The guard turned to the shop owner, his voice firm and authoritative. "Is this the guy?"
