Ambergris Locakboxes Traveled Salt Routes by Hugh Calder 57

Chapter Fifty–Seven: I Quit.

Dreston was the kind of man who never showed his happiness, even when he truly felt it. At most, a small smile might appear on his lips, brief and controlled. Most people described him as cold, distant, and hard to read.

He doesn’t talk much. But when he chose to speak, his words often surprised people. They carried weight. Authority and so much meaning.

Since his divorce from Cassienne, a lot had changed in his life. Even Dreston could not fully explain it. It felt as if something important was missing, like a piece of him had been taken away and never returned. No matter how busy he became or how successful he was, the emptiness inside him remained.

Loving Tina was never a question. It was something he had grown up with, something that felt like duty–like a promise he could not afford to break. He kept telling himself that he loved her. He repeated it often, hoping the words would eventually feel real.

Yet, deep inside, he felt empty.

After confronting Tina earlier this morning about the broadcast, he felt even more confused. For the first time after his divorce, he did not understand himself. Every decision suddenly felt heavy, as though he needed approval before making it. As if he needed to explain himself to someone.

He did not even know why he had come to see Cassienne.

All he knew was that after that conversation with Cassienne, he needed to see her. He needed to be near her. So he used his old offer as an excuse to see her, convincing himself that this was business and nothing more.

But when Cassienne asked if that same offer was still available, it felt like the universe was suddenly working in his favor. His heart skipped. Truthfully, he would not have minded tripling the offer if it meant easing her pain or earning her trust again.

Now, he sat quietly at the corner of the development hall.

Some staff members stood, while others sat comfortably in their office chairs. The tension in the room was thick enough.

Cassienne stood facing the judges–Corren and Merrick. Her back was straight, her expression calm, but her eyes were sharp.

“Before we start,” she said firmly, “if I win, these two women will leave Coralreach immediately. You must agree to this. Otherwise, there is no point wasting each other’s time.”

Corren nodded without hesitation.

Merrick paused briefly, then replied, “Yes, Miss Rhodes. It’s a deal.”

Cassienne nodded once and took her seat.

Cassienne only said those words to make a point. She knew she would win, and once she did, she had already decided to leave Coralreach.

Corren had insulted her by asking her to take part in something so foolish.

There was nothing Cassienne valued more than respect. And the moment she was asked to prove herself, that respect was already gone.

Florence and Nate were already seated. Florence wore a confident smile. This was her moment- her chance to

Chapter Fifty Seven Quit

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prove herself. She never imagined Corren would fall for Nate’s trick, but since he had, she intended to take full advantage of it.

She was certain of her victory.

No one had ever beaten her except NULLWRAITH–and that player was not here.

This was her time to shine.

Merrick, however, felt uneasy. He was worried for Cassienne. He knew her brilliance when it came to software development. She was unmatched, precise, and brilliant.

But gaming?

He had never seen her play. And that uncertainty scared him.

Screens covered the walls, glowing with codes, maps, and countdown timers.

Everyone knew that this was not just a competition for an office. This was war disguised as a game.

Cassienne’s face was calm, almost bored.

As for Florence, confidence was written all over her face. She waved at a few people in the room and smiled when she noticed the cameras were rolling.

Nate sat stiffly beside her, her fingers tapping the desk repeatedly. Her jaw was tight. She had something to prove, and she couldn’t be distracted.

Corren sat at the front with Merrick and the technical team.

“This competition will be played in three rounds.” Corren announced. “Three different games would be played, and whoever wins two matches wins.”

Florence leaned back in her chair and smirked.

“Let’s make it interesting,” she said loudly. “I’m going live.”

Before anyone could stop her, she clicked a button.

The screen flashed.

LIVE STREAM CONNECTED.

Her followers poured in instantly. Comments flooded the screen.

[Azura is playing? This will be fun.]

[Who are the other two?]

[Someone is about to get embarrassed.]

Cassienne shook her head, what could she get from someone like Azura? So, Florence is Azura. Interesting. She quietly logged in.

She did not use her known used name, NULLWRAITH.

That name carried too much weight and history. Instead, she typed a simple unremarkable name.

OBSIDIAN_13, and no one noticed.

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As for Florence, she logged in as AZURA, and the room buzzed. That name was famous, feared and respected.

Nate also entered her username. VYREX.

When the signal flashed green, ROUND ONE STARTED.

The game dropped them into a digital battlefield of tight spaces, shifting terrain, and limited weapons.

Cassienne did not attack. She moved slowly, watching.

Florence played aggressively, fast and flashy. She attacked without hesitation. She was confident in her speed and aim. Nate followed a defensive pattern, hiding, striking only when necessary.

But Cassienne was only observing. She observed the timing, the routes, and the mistakes.

Florence eliminated Nate. Then she found Cassienne. Cassienne on the other hand didn’t resist. She let herself get taken out. The round ended, and results popped up on the screen.

AZURA came first, VYREX

me second, and OBSIDIAN_13 came third.

)

Laughter rippled through the hall. The comments online were not nice.

[Who involved OBSIDIAN?]

[She’s dead weight]

[AZURA finish this quickly]

Their comments made Florence smile wider, and fuel her desire to win. She leaned closer to her mic. “That was cute,” she said. “Let’s move on.”

Cassienne smirked and stretched her fingers calmly. She had seen enough.

ROUND TWO STARTED.

This time, the environment changed. It was an open field with fewer hiding places, and faster movement.

Cassienne moved differently this time with a purpose, confusing Florence.

Florence played the same pattern, the same route, and the same timing just like Cassienne had predicted, because she recognised it very well.

She went for Nate. Nate tried to hide, but Cassienne predicted her move before she made it. Just one strike, and she was eliminated.

The screen flashed. VYREX ELIMINATED.

Gaps echoed in the hall. Florence frowned, Cassienne didn’t rush her. She allowed Florence to believe that she was winning. She retreated, missed shots on purpose, and slowed her pace.

Florence grew careless, and she was cornered. Cassienne struck, it was fast and precise.

The screen flashed. AZURA ELIMINATED.

The room froze, the live chat exploded.

[What?]

Chapter Fifty–Seven: Quit

[Who is OBSIDIAN_13?]

[AZURA just lost?“]

Florence stared at her screen in disbelief and scoffed. “That was lucky.” She muttered.

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ROUND THREE.

Everything was on the line.

The final game was harder–limited amino, no respawns, with finish–line objective.

This time, Cassienne let them progress. She hid her strategy in the background.

Florence and Nate burned through their resources, attacking each other and the environment aggressively. And

Cassienne waited.

She watched carefully.

When they rushed towards the finish line, desperate and exposed. Cassienne moved.

One shot, Nate dropped.

Second shot, Florence dropped too.

GAME OVER.

WINNER

OBSIDIAN_13.

Silence followed. No cheers, no laughter. And no comments.

Even the live chat paused.

Everyone in Coralreach stared at Cassienne as if they were seeing a ghost,

Florence slowly removed her headset. Her face had gone pale.

Cassienne stood up calmly and removed hers too.

Dreston, who sat at the back of the hall, let out a low chuckle. He alone looked unsurprised.

Suddenly, the chat resumed, exploding faster than before.

[Who is she?“]

[Is this a pro player?]

[NULLWRAITH level skills.]

[Wait…. could it be-“]

The comments went on and on, people asking questions non–stop.

Cassienne stepped forward now. Her voice was calm and clear.

“I don’t belong here.” She said, and everyone leaned in.

“I quit.”

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Shock crashed through the room. Corren’s face was drained of colour.

Even both Florence and Nate were also shocked. Nate’s mouth fell. The live chat went wild.

Cassienne on the other hand turned and walked away without looking back. Her assistant followed behind her immediately.

Crown Imagination Author

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