The King of the Ergen Kingdom was the first to break the silence. "What was his score?"
The Imperial Scholar responded instantly. "Adjusted for age, 83."
"And the talent score?" The Emperor asked.
The Imperial Scholar smiled. "Out of 100, 97."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
"Did you not say that there was a margin of error of five points?" The King of the Ergen Kingdom asked.
"Of course. So either he could be a little worse, which is still incredible, or he could be even better."
The test taken at the noble gathering was not only to compete in intelligence, but for first tirs, to test their ntal talents.
Intelligence could be obscure and in many different forms. Soone considered a genius may not learn things the fastest, but their speed of understanding could be terrifying if in the right situation.
A score of 97, though with a margin of error of 5, had never once been seen before since the test was developed 400 years ago.
The current Imperial Scholar, Fei Luzi, had set the record at 96. This was also with a margin of error of five. However, Skynder had even surpassed that.
"So what do you think should be done?" The Emperor asked the Imperial Scholar.
The Imperial Scholar only thought for a mont before responding. "I won't be around forever. If nothing goes wrong, perhaps you'll have a new Imperial Scholar."
Him saying these words would be shocking to anyone who heard them. He had never genuinely praised a person's intelligence before, much less suggesting a successor.
"Then should he be let in on the plans?" The King of the Ergen Kingdom asked.
"No. Not yet. It is unknown where his loyalties truly lie as of now. Besides, he does not need to know such a thing for now." The Emperor said without hesitation.
The room fell into a silent agreent.
Sword Master Shang broke it. "And what if he is not deed fit to be the Imperial Scholar."
He understood that with Skynder's talent score, they would not let him live freely.
"If he simply has no interest in involving himself with politics and focuses solely on sothing such as research, or perhaps wastes his talent, then he can live freely while monitored."
Sword Master Shang did not need to ask a follow up question. Nor did anyone else
If he were to show signs of betraying the Empire or even just leaving it, his fate would not be a good one.
The only variable was his sister, a potential Sword Master.
However, as long as Sword Master Shang took action, even the sun and moon would pale in comparison.
Skynder left the throne room looking at the card. There seed to be nothing special about it. It was pure white with only a few words written on it.
"Scholar Ticket."
Whatever this was supposed to an, he did not understand it.
Skynder soon returned to the ballroom. It was slowly emptying, but Li Youcai and his aunt's family were waiting for him.
Li Youcai bowed upon seeing him.
"Congratulations, Master Skynder."
Servants had not been a big part of the noble gathering, only showing up in between events.
At other tis, they simply stood off to the side, patiently waiting.
"Thank you." Skynder responded.
He then received congratulations from his aunt and her family.
Afterwards, people ca up and congratulated him further. Skynder gave a polite thank you to everyone. By the ti 11 pm rolled around, he was back in his carriage and on the way back.
Upon returning, he entered his room and fell asleep.
The next morning, he woke up refreshed.
Instead of relaxing all day, he took Li Youcai and returned to the research institute.
Now that the noble gathering had passed, his reputation had soared. It would be difficult to grow it any further at his current age.
There was no future event to wait for, and it was not necessary to take actions around the Imperial Capital.
He had firmly planted his feet within these grounds.
Skynder knocked on the door and the old man from before answered.
Seeing Skynder, he was surprised. "Welco back Young Master Skynder. Congratulations on your victory in the intelligence test, as well as your showing in the Sword event."
Skynder thanked him.
"I'll go see old Lee now." Skynder said.
The old man nodded and let Skynder in.
Skynder did not need to be accompanied, soon returning to the familiar division of research.
Old Lee and his apprentice, Tara, were still here, doing the sa thing as always.
Hearing footsteps, they turned around and were equally surprised at Skynder's presence.
They bowed and spoke words similar to the old man's. Skynder did not care about their praise and soon found himself in the basent, reading books. He studied and studied, and the day soon passed.
He found enjoynt in studying, though he was not sure why.
Perhaps seeing his results on the intelligence test had made him appreciate his own talent more. It would be a pity to see it wasted.
Between the hours of studying, he would also continue to read fantasy books, his still favorite form of entertainnt.
As night fell, he returned to his aunt's house and slept.
Upon waking, he planned to once again return to the research institute, but found that his aunt had a letter for him.
He looked at it, and saw it signed by the Crown Prince of the Ergen Kingdom.
He sighed, wondering if he was going to have to deal with annoyances after besting the Crown Prince.
He opened up the letter and read it.
"Hello, Skynder. eting you has caused to be interested in hearing more about you. Tomorrow, I invite you to attend a small gathering with so of my fellow nobles. Please, feel free to co or not. Signed, Crown Prince of the Ergen Kingdom."
Although giving room for refusal, the fact that it was signed by the title of the Crown Prince, instead of his na, showed that he was more or less required to attend.
It was a distraction, but perhaps not that bad of one.
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