Rozomius took a step forward and held his hand up. As he raised his hand, a powerful energy wave swept throughout the entire room.
In the blink of an eye, everyone fell silent as their gazes landed on Rozomius.
Rozomius lowered his hand and said as he looked at Konpel, "Apothecary Konpel, your words—are you willing to wager your reputation on them?"
"I am!" Konpel said confidently and without hesitation.
When Rozomius heard Konpel’s quick response, it made him inwardly furrow his brows. Why was he so certain that Izroth had used a backdoor to enter the promotion test unfairly?
"Are you certain? I am sure there is no need for to remind you of the consequences if you are incorrect. It will not end with you being disqualified from this promotion test." Rozomius stated firmly.
"Apothecary Rozomius, I won’t go back on my word. Since no one else is willing to speak up, I have no choice but to say a word or two. Of course, I don’t bla the Vice-Head for doing what he did. Apothecary Izroth helped the Vice-Head overco a lifeti problem. If such a person made a request, given the Vice-Head’s upright nature, how could he refuse? The Vice-Head was rely repaying a favor of life. It is Apothecary Izroth who took advantage of his kindness." Konpel said eloquently.
"As long as I shift all the bla to him and away from the Vice-Head, others will be more willing to see the whole picture. Heh, what an idiot. If he had just stayed quiet, he could’ve at least gotten his Natural Energy from the Guiding Light. Since he wants to offend , I won’t even give him scraps!" Konpel thought to himself with a smirk.
Konpel was soone who practically lived in the Apothecary District. As such, he had many connections—one of which was a group of lower grade Apothecaries specifically tasked with staying near the Wall of Pills. This was so that if any good requests ca in, Konpel and those Apothecaries who were in the sa influential group as him would be imdiately inford.
After Izroth left the grade four promotion test room, Konpel sent soone to deliver a ssage to his subordinate Apothecaries at the Wall of Pills to keep an eye out for Izroth.
Originally, Konpel planned to make things difficult for Izroth at the Wall of Pills by having his people snatch up any easy low star requests. However, he did not catch a single trace of Izroth at the Wall of Pills. Nor was he inford by any of his n stationed at the Wall of Pills.
Seeing as how Izroth had just beco a grade four Apothecary before his eyes and not having visited the Wall of Pills a single ti—when he did have ti to earn any achievent points from the Wall of Pills?
Once Konpel saw Izroth at the grade five promotion test, that is when it suddenly dawned on him. The reason Izroth did not have to visit the Wall of Pills was because he had the Vice-Head’s assistance bypassing the requirents under the radar.
"Now that he’s caught, he’ll probably try to use the Vice-Head’s na to get himself out of this. However, the Apothecary Guild won’t allow the Vice-Head’s na to be tarnished by so low grade Apothecary. Besides, now that the Vice-Head has repaid the favor he owes that guy, will he put his reputation on the line and risk being labeled as soone who goes against the rules of the Apothecary Guild?" Konpel thought to himself.
Konpel had pieced everything together perfectly in his mind. With just a few words, he could get Izroth kicked out the promotion test and possibly even the Apothecary Guild, leave a good impression on Pierce as well as the observers of the promotion test and have his reputation spread further throughout the Apothecary District. It was killing many birds with one stone!
Rozomius closed his eyes and released a small helpless sigh.
"Very well. Apothecary Izroth, Apothecary Konpel has made a rather bold accusation against you. That being said, there is a simple way to unveil the truth. Every request completed from the Wall of Pills is stored within an Apothecary’s badge. Let alone the Vice-Head, even soone who specializes in the technology used to create the Apothecary badge cannot tamper with it so easily without leaving obvious traces behind. However, before that, is there anything you wish to say?" Rozomius said unhurriedly.
"I have nothing to say to him." Izroth replied in a carefree manner.
"Palace Master, that guy...!" Celia started; however, she abruptly halted her words when she felt a hand on her shoulder. It belonged to Worldly Skies.
Worldly Skies shook her head, which caused Celia to take a step back. But, she could not hide her annoyance at Konpel’s antics.
Hearing Izroth’s words, many Apothecaries who were on the fence about whether or not to believe Konpel started to lean more in his favor.
"If he’s innocent, why isn’t he defending himself? Does he think the Vice-Head will get him out of any trouble? How arrogant...!" One of the Apothecaries comnted.
"Hmph! This guy wants to rely on the Vice-Head’s upright nature and take advantage of the good will of others! It’s a good thing Apothecary Konpel wasn’t afraid to speak up."
"I see. Since there is nothing that you wish to say, may I examine your Apothecary badge in front of everyone present?" Rozomius asked.
"Although I have nothing to hide—why should I? There is no rule in the Apothecary Guild that states that I must hand over my Apothecary badge every ti so random person accuses of sothing. Besides—as an Honorary Elder of the Apothecary Guild, does Apothecary Rozomius even have the authority to check my Apothecary badge?" Izroth said indifferently as a badge appeared in his hand.
What Izroth held was not his Apothecary badge, but a golden badge with three small violet gemstones embedded into its surface. At the badge’s center was the carving of a cauldron.
This badge was sothing that he received from Malric. With it, he could prove his identity as an Honorary Elder wherever he went in the Mortal Realm.
When everyone saw the badge in Izroth’s hands, they were dumbfounded. At first, they were shocked by the fact that Izroth would refuse to hand over his Apothecary badge. However, when he said he was an Honorary Elder and revealed the Honorary Elder badge—how could they not be shocked?
It had not been that long since Izroth beca an Honorary Elder. And, besides a select few like those close to Izroth, or those who were directly involved in the Right of Challenge, not many knew that he had beco an Honorary Elder.
That is because, for one, the Right of Challenge was already an extrely rare occurrence. On top of that, Izroth beca an Honorary Elder through a thod known probably to only a very select few individuals in the Mortal Realm. After all, even if one did undergo the Right of Challenge, what arrogant person would intentionally challenge an Apothecary one grade above what the requirent stated?
Rozomius furrowed his brows at Izroth’s statent. While he was a grade six proctor and a grade seven Apothecary, indeed, he did not have the right to check the badge of an Honorary Elder as they technically outranked him. It would be no different than asking an Elder of the Apothecary Guild to hand over their badge for him to examine!
"Apo- No, Honorary Elder Izroth is correct. I do not have the authority nor right to check your Apothecary badge. I was unaware and made a poor judgnt. I hope Honorary Elder Izroth does not think ill of ." Rozomius said respectfully.
"Greetings, Honorary Elder." Koralena and Po politely in unison.
Konpel’s expression turned pale when he saw the Honorary Elder badge in Izroth’s hand.
"F-fake...! That must be a fake! How could soone like him have an Honorary Elder badge?! That’s impossible...!" Konpel exclaid.
Even if Izroth helped Vice-Head Malric with his issue, it was nowhere near enough to beco an Honorary Elder of the Apothecary Guild.
The Honorary Elders of the Apothecary Guild were all notable figures. Any one of them would be treated with respect whenever they went in the Mortal Realm whether they had an Honorary Elder badge or not. It was not sothing given to so nobody who just recently got promoted to a grade four Apothecary!
Rozomius looked coldly at Konpel and said, "Are you saying that there is soone in this world brave enough to dare forge an Honorary Elder badge of the Apothecary Guild?"
"That’s...! That’s..." Konpel uttered as he felt the pressure of Rozomius gaze weigh down upon him.
Accusing Izroth of participating in the promotion test through unfair ans was one thing. But, openly calling into question the authenticity of an Honorary Elder badge of the Apothecary Guild was no different than publicly slapping the face of the Apothecary Guild itself.
Plus, it was just as Rozomius said. Even if one was a peak legendary realm powerhouse, they would not dare to casually wave around a fake Honorary Elder badge of the Apothecary Guild!
"If he’s an Honorary Elder, then... Well, it makes sense." One of the Apothecaries said.
"That’s right. How can an Honorary Elder not be allowed to take the promotion test?"
"Apothecary Konpel was too hasty."
In a single mont, everyone who was yelling to toss Izroth out had a sudden shift in attitude as they began to scold Konpel for being reckless.
’A simple badge and their behavior changes. Truly, it is amusing.’
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