Carlotta's Daily Report

There were still many familiar names on the rankings. Carlotta had interacted with some of these people before and felt the rankings were relatively accurate.

Of course, that wasn't how other celebrities saw it. Many would undoubtedly feel upon seeing this ranking, believing they should be ranked even higher.

Just the appearance of this ranking alone was enough for Carlotta to know that a storm was unavoidable.

After reading through the newspaper, Carlotta continued her date with Amelia. After all, she didn't have anything else to do.

They had already visited Island No.9 many times. Even though it was the ninth largest island in the Bass Archipelago, they had already been to all the places worth visiting. So next, they moved on to explore other islands.

Around Island No.9, there were numerous islands, and plenty of places to visit.

On the island filled with turtles, they played with the turtles and watched the ocean waves rise and fall.

On the island covered with lush vegetation, they sat in huts built atop thick trees, gazing at the stars above.

On the island rich with artistic atmosphere, they strolled through art galleries, walked past sculpture halls, and even watched an opera performance together.

Unconsciously, an entire night slowly passed by.

When dawn broke, Carlotta and Amelia headed toward Island No.1. This was the largest and most bustling island among the Bass Archipelago. If something exists, it could be found here. And if it couldn't be found here, it was probably impossible to locate even after searching the entire northern and southern continents.

This place was extremely prosperous, rivaling or even surpassing the imperial capitals of several mainland empires.

When Carlotta and Amelia flew onto this dazzlingly vibrant island, they felt a sense of anticipation.

'Information, information, better give me some suitable spots to check out. Later I'll take my Amelia to have fun.'

Carlotta thought inwardly.

After arriving on the island, they wandered around for a bit to get acquainted, then simply found a hotel to stay at.

As for Island No.9, it didn't matter. If they don't renew their stay, the inn will automatically reclaim the room. They could leave anytime.

Now all that remained was to wait for the gathering to begin.

...

In the afternoon, the weather was mild and sunny.

Island No.1, Seagull Street No.6, Sunrise Hotel.

This was the hotel where Carlotta had checked in. It was also the venue for the celebrity gathering, and coincidentally, the place where the mermaid princess would celebrate her birthday.

Precisely because of these two latter reasons, Carlotta had chosen to stay at this hotel.

The buildings here weren't particularly tall, but there were several of them, with dining and lodging in separate structures. So after going downstairs, Carlotta still had to walk next door to reach her destination, but it was very close.

At the entrance of a grand hall, even before approaching, the lively atmosphere could already be felt.

"Why can't I go in? If Melissa Harris can attend this gathering, how come my credentials aren't higher than this person's?"

"Right, right! Why is Melissa Harris allowed in?"

"If even a fake celebrity can participate in this gathering, doesn't that mean this event lacks authority?"

"Come to think of it, the Bass Conference rankings are also problematic. How could they put Melissa Harris in the top 20? It's outrageous."

The entrance to the hall was filled with.

As Carlotta approached, she couldn't help but show a strange expression. People were actually questioning Melissa Harris's legitimacy, with many believing she was a fraud.

Carlotta couldn't help but found it amusing and stood aside to watch.

She didn't realize that the reason Melissa was considered a fraud was deeply connected to her.

In the past, Melissa did stage some fake battles, but the problem was nobody could tell they were staged. As a result, her reputation was actually decent. Everything changed after the incident at Swan Harbor.

Before Carlotta appeared as the Moon, Melissa had been engaged in a staged battle with an early tier Resonator, back and forth, putting on a reasonably lively show. But then the Moon appeared, and everything changed.

To everyone's eyes, the Moon's battle was filled with tension and excitement. In comparison, Melissa's earlier fight seemed trivial and unimpressive.

If these two battles hadn't happened in the same location and in immediate succession, people wouldn't have felt such a stark contrast. But precisely because they occurred one right after the other, it was hard not to compare them. No deliberate effort was needed; instinctively, people sensed something was off.

Then many realise that Melissa had been faking her fights!

Once it was confirmed that Melissa had staged her battles, her reputation collapsed completely and utterly. Everything from her past was now believed to be fake. Even though she actually had some legitimate and solid achievements, no one believed her anymore. Everyone assumed every single one of her past matches had been staged.

Furthermore, Melissa had some hidden enemies who deliberately slandered her and spread rumors. Over time, she became widely regarded as a fraud, a person with absolutely no credibility.

When someone like this appeared and gained entry into the celebrity gathering, who will accept it? No one would.

At this moment, Melissa stood at the entrance of the hall. She could feel pair after pair of eyes fixed on her, clearly sensing the scorn in their gazes.

Such a situation was something Melissa had never imagined in the past. She never expected that one day she'd fall into such a humiliating state. It made her breath quicken, her body tremble, she simply couldn't accept it.

'I'm not a fraud!'

Taking a deep breath, Melissa stepped forward. Her card battle art activated, and concentric circles of blue light began to appear.

"Anyone who thinks I'm a fraud, any person below Resonator level, step forward! I'd like to see what you so-called people are really capable of."

Melissa was truly angry now. At this moment, she was ready to challenge anyone.

"I'll go!"

From within the crowd, those who doubted Melissa naturally weren't lacking in courage. Immediately, someone stepped forward.

"It's him, Host Downs!"

Dozens of eyes instantly turned toward the young man. He was a peak tier listener, fairly well-known, and a genuine celebrity.

On the rankings established by the Bass Conference, Host ranked 30st, a position even higher than Carlotta's fake identity.

When people saw that it was Host who had stepped forward, many were surprised.

Melissa's expression darkened. "If I'm not mistaken, you were invited to this gathering, weren't you? Why are you challenging me?"

Host folded his hands behind his back and replied calmly, "Indeed, I don't need to compete with you for anything. I'm not fighting for a spot in the gathering. I simply believe you're a fraud, unworthy of participating alongside me. A fraud... should leave this place."

After Host's words dropped, a noticeable commotion arose, and Melissa became especially enraged.

"Then let's try it!"

Melissa stepped forward.

A confrontation had become unavoidable.

Carlotta pulled Amelia's hand and mingled into the crowd, watching with great interest.

They were now considered celebrities themselves. If they walked down the street, being recognized would inevitably cause a minor crowd. However, today was a gathering of celebrities, with many famous individuals present, all gathered around. This actually made them appear less conspicuous.

In the open area outside the hotel, a group swarmed in, witnessing the showdown between Melissa and Host. Thus erupted a battle that could be called exceptionally spectacular.

As the fight unfolded, many people's eyes couldn't help but reveal surprise, seeing a scene they hadn't anticipated.

Melissa, who in everyone's eyes had been considered a fraud, actually took the lead from the very beginning. Her card magic flowed with supernatural mastery, overwhelming Host with such intensity that he could barely keep up.

Host followed the knight's path, wielding a long spear. In past battles, he always relied on overwhelming, aggressive attacks, fierce and powerful, enough to draw stares from many.

Yet now, against Melissa's card-based magical assaults, he appeared barely able to defend himself. He resorted entirely to defensive maneuvers, struggling to launch any effective offense.

At this moment, Host was even more shocked than the onlookers. He never expected Melissa could demonstrate such combat prowess. After the initial shock, his scalp began to tingle.

If he were to suffer a humiliating defeat before everyone's eyes, how utterly disgraceful would that be?

Host desperately wanted to turn the tide, but even to the keen-eyed observers, it was obvious he simply couldn't hold out.

"Melissa Harris isn't as weak as everyone said."

Many celebrities murmured in low voices, changing their opinion of Melissa.

"It's not that Melissa is weak. It's just that the Moon is too strong, making Melissa seem weak by comparison."

Others commented likewise.

Just how strong Moon truly was, not every celebrity had the chance to testify. But now, Melissa's strength lies clearly before everyone, plain for all to see.

Soon, Melissa decisively defeated Host, sending shockwaves through the crowd. Those who previously thought of her as a fraud no longer dared to voice any opposition.

"Anyone who still thinks I'm a fraud can step forward. As long as you're not a Resonator, I'll accept your challenge."

Melissa declared in a deep, steady voice.

No one spoke.

The silence now was as profound as the earlier criticism had been loud.

Shortly after, Sandra Sanchez, the organizer of the celebrity gathering, appeared before the crowd.

She was a Resonator, ranked third on the Bass Conference's celebrity rankings. Her strength was unquestionable. Upon her arrival, many eyes inevitably turned towards her.

She didn't appear particularly old, long green hair, amber-colored eyes, dressed in a black evening gown, exuding an aura of noble elegance that made others hesitate to underestimate her.

"Ladies and gentlemen, since you've all arrived, please come inside. We can chat more as we mingle during the gathering."

Sandra smiled warmly, inviting everyone into the hotel.

She also mentioned that she had only invited those ranked within the top forty on the celebrity list. Those outside the top forty weren't invited, not because she considered them frauds, but because she strictly followed the rankings provided by the Bass Conference.

Clearly, some celebrities who hadn't received invitations were deeply dissatisfied. After hearing Sandra's explanation, their resentment naturally shifted toward the Bass Archipelago.

Why were they ranked outside the top forty?

What exactly did the Bass Conference mean by this?

While different celebrities harbored different thoughts, the group began entering the gathering hall.

Carlotta and Amelia walked in as well.

"It's Layla and Mary, the sisters."

Many noticed Carlotta and Amelia, and some even came over to greet them.

Their accomplishments were earned through genuine battles, no one could overlook that.

Additionally, several of those who had lost to them were also within the top forty and had arrived here. Seeing them, they naturally approached to exchange words, curious about their situation.

"Are you really sisters?"

Sienna Reeves asked curiously. She was currently ranked thirty-sixth on the celebrity rankings.

Others around, hearing Sienna's question, cast odd glances toward Carlotta and Amelia.

Because the two were holding hands, their gestures were unusually intimate. No matter how you looked at it, they didn't seem like ordinary sisters, rather, it appeared as if there were some peculiar relationship between them.

In response, Carlotta smiled gently. "Of course. We're wonderful sisters."

The gathering hall was arranged with tables and chairs placed in a circle around the edges, with a space in the center resembling a dance floor, specifically designed for combat practice. Thanks to special chemical materials used in its construction, the floor was extremely durable, and no one had to worry about it being damaged during fights.

Upon realizing the material used, many were astonished. They hadn't expected Sandra to prepare a space for actual combat. Wasn't the main purpose of this gathering supposed to be trading?

As if sensing the thoughts of others, Sandra promptly added, "We're all geniuses here, and naturally, none of us easily acknowledge superiority in others. In the past, that was surprising. But now that the Bass Conference has established a celebrity ranking, many of you probably feel dissatisfied with your placements. Conflicts and clashes are unavoidable. So I've specially arranged this space to provide a proper battlefield. If anyone truly wishes to test themselves against each other, there won't be any problems."

Sandra spoke directly and clearly.

The crowd listened thoughtfully. For a moment, the glances exchanged among them seemed to spark with hidden tension.

Still, no one immediately initiated a fight. Everyone calmly took their seats around the perimeter, composed and unhurried.

Seeing this, Sandra smiled, then began arranging the trading portion. She pulled out numerous items from her spatial tool, announced they were for sale, instantly drawing the attention of many.

The items she presented were truly valuable, finished alchemical artifacts, alchemical medicines, and rare materials, all impressive enough to make people's eyes light up, attracting many to come closer for inspection.