Chapter 358

Lily turned to look out the window, unable to continue the conversation. A short time later, they arrived at the venue for the final round of the competition. She wore a tailored suit for ease of movement. Lily felt no nervousness about the competition; perhaps the recent kidnapping had relieved her tension. She was more concerned about her health. Lately, she'd noticed changes in her body, as if some inner power had been unlocked, threatening to break free, especially after the kidnapping. She wondered if this was due to neglecting her work or leaving Nathaniel and MN Inc. Growing up in the Lodge family, she'd learned some combat skills. While not exceptionally talented, she could easily defend herself against untrained individuals. However, effortlessly overpowering three internationally wanted criminals was inexplicable. The incident baffled her, but she had no time to investigate.

Perhaps due to the kidnapping, all eyes were on her as she entered the venue. Giselle, her assistant, was unable to enter the competition hall and waited outside. Entering the venue, Lily straightened, walked to her seat, and surveyed her surroundings. All finalists possessed a significant level of skill. Besides Lily and Melanie, no other participants were from Hyderland. Frank, and indeed other foreign perfumers, looked down on Hyderland for a reason: the nation, despite its size, had relatively few renowned perfumers. While some were talented, their skills didn't compare to international competitors. Many successful Hyderland perfumers had emigrated or joined foreign research labs, depleting the nation's talent pool.

This bothered Lily. While not intensely patriotic, representing Hyderland abroad, with her unmistakably Hyderland appearance, stirred a sense of national pride. She felt partly responsible for Hyderland's perceived inferiority. She had to win to prove everyone wrong! However, Melanie was nowhere to be seen. Lily had expected another heated argument, with Melanie's usual insults. Surprisingly, Melanie wasn't present. She wasn't late; she was prevented from attending. Police officers stopped her at her doorstep as she was leaving, dressed for the competition, hoping for fame and glory.