Charlie found himself unsure of the expression he had shown to Nanako Ito at that moment. Without a mirror, he couldn’t see his own eyes, but he vividly recalled his emotions.


    At that time, witnessing her being overwhelmed by her opponents filled him with genuine concern. Reflecting on this, he realized that Nanako must have seen his worried expression, right?


    With this thought in mind, he felt a twinge of embarrassment. He sighed and earnestly advised, “Don’t be reckless in the future. While it’s great to give your all in the game, don’t endanger yourself just for the sake of a little obsession.”


    When Nanako Ito heard Charlie’s caring words, her heart raced with excitement, and she nodded, responding, “I understand!”


    Charlie looked at her closely, noting the bruises and scars at the corners of her eyes. He couldn’t help but stress, “In your next match against Aurora, please prioritize your safety. If you feel you can’tpete with her, don’t hesitate to admit defeat. There’s no shame in that. Aurora’s strength has indeed surpassed yours significantly, and being overly aggressive could lead to serious injury.”<h3 style="background-color:DodgerBlue">


    Nanako Ito listened intently and gently nodded, then asked, “Charlie, I have a question that’s been weighing on my mind for a while. I’d really like to rify something with you.”


    Charlie replied casually, “Go ahead and ask. If I can answer, I won’t keep any information from you.”


    Nanako Ito quickly said, “My teacher and I have been studying Aurora’s matches closely. I’ve watched numerous videos of her past performances, and it seems like her strength has suddenly skyrocketed, far beyond what typical training can achieve. So, I need to know—what caused this rapid improvement? Is it linked to you in any way?”


    Charlie smiled and teased, “What if I told you it has nothing to do with me?”


    Nanako Ito shook her head, insisting, “I’m sorry for being blunt, but if you im it has nothing to do with you, I can’t believe that!”


    Charlie nodded, admitting, “You’re correct; it is indeed rted to me.”


    Nanako Ito expressed her gratitude, saying, “Thank you for your honesty!”


    As they conversed, they had already reached the entrance of Thompson First. Charlie looked at her and said, “Alright, make sure to get some rest and prepare for your uing match.”<fn5b01> ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find~Novel</fn5b01>


    Though a bit reluctant, Nanako nodded obediently, cing her hands together and bowing deeply, “Thank you for your guidance tonight!”


    Charlie smiled, nodded, and waved goodbye, saying, “Thanks for the milk tea; I’m heading in now.”


    With that, he stepped through the doorway of Thompson First.


    Nanako Ito lingered for a moment, watching until his figure disappearedpletely, then sighed and turned to leave.


    ……


    Meanwhile, at the Aurous Hill International Hotel,


    Jiro Kobayashi had just finished a shower in his room. He poured himself a ss of whiskey and settled onto the sofa in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows, taking in the night view of Aurous Hill with satisfaction.


    The source of his good mood stemmed from the record-breaking attention the Aurous Hill International Sandapetition had garnered in China, which, in turn, had caused Niranex’s poprity to soar.<h3 ss="has-text-align-center" id="chapter-list"><strong></strong>