Chapter 143

"Next, we have Elena, performing the song 'Deep Sea.'" Following the emcee's introduction, the stage lights dimmed. A soft blue glow slowly bathed the hall, revealing a woman in a cerulean gown. With a slim waist and skin that seemed to shimmer, she was a vision of aquatic elegance. The mask she wore, adorned with glistening scales, added an alluring layer of mystery. Every eye in the audience was fixed on her. From her judge's seat, Alyssa glared at Elena, confidently waiting for the technical sabotage she had orchestrated to take effect. A hush fell over the crowd. Even those unfamiliar with her previous performances found the sight utterly ethereal. Howard frowned; that nagging sense of familiarity he felt around Elena stirred within him once more. Simultaneously, countless viewers watched the live stream. Initially, the stage setup seemed mediocre—a generic deep-sea mermaid theme where the lighting even appeared a little cheap and plasticky. But a moment later, the entire