"Are we Ishurians actually going to endure the ridicule of these savages this year?"

"Wait, what are you doing?" Aquitez was about to scold them, but when he pushed through the crowd and got a closer look, he swallowed the rest of his words and burst out with a mix of shock and anger, "What's going on here?"

"A mistake? Hmph, I knew those little rascals couldn't be relied upon!"

"And the Otalos people, what, they haven't arrived yet?"

"Ancient Tower people not giving us time, bullshit, these savages don't play by the rules!"

In just a moment, Aquitez had become a typical Dwarf spectator, mingling with the others, crowded around the projection device, waving his fist and shouting angrily.

Fang Hong stared dumbfounded at the scene. It was only when Merrifin, clearly unable to stand it any longer, stepped forward to drag the fellow out that the other Dwarfs finally took notice of Fang Hong.

Only then did they remember who had repaired their projector, and they began to sheepishly thank Fang Hong. A few Dwarf Artisans even assured him with a discount promise—that with his skills, he didn't need any assessments; he could directly become a formal craftsman.

"Hold on!" At that moment, Aquitez seemed to suddenly think of something. He stretched out his hand to stop the others and announced loudly, "What nonsense are you all talking about, becoming a formal craftsman directly, where do you think the Artisan Association stands in this?"

He blinked rapidly and turned to Fang Hong, "Kid, did you mention something earlier?"

"Ah? Did I say something?" Fang Hong was puzzled.

"The earliest thing."

"Helping you repair the Crystal? I did it."

"No, no, no," Aquitez shook his head vehemently, "Even earlier."

Frowning, Fang Hong thought hard for a moment before it finally dawned on him—wasn't that precisely his purpose here? He answered, "I said I was an Apprentice Alchemist registered in Kapuka, hoping to complete the formal craftsman examination here?"

After he spoke those words, suddenly, it went quiet around him.

All the Dwarfs were looking at him with a very strange expression and simultaneously let out, "Oh—"

Fang Hong looked at these fellows somewhat confusedly, wondering if he had stumbled into a Cult ceremony if he wasn't certain he had entered the Elpaxin Artisan Association.

The Dwarfs were circling around him, casting spells.

"Do you have a brooch then, something to prove your origin?" Aquitez's eyes were spinning, as if he was plotting something, while he asked.

Unfortunately, Fang Hong was filled with the stereotype that Dwarfs were a straightforward and stubborn race and nodded subconsciously, "Of course." He even took the brooch out of his pocket and hung it on his chest.

When Aquitez saw that brooch, his eyes lit up. He hurriedly waved to a companion not far away, "Quick, what are you waiting for, go get a number plate for our future outstanding formal craftsman Mister!"

The Dwarf exchanged a secretive look with Aquitez and quickly ran off, fetching a silver metallic plate with the name of Kapuka and a number etched on it from a drawer.

When Fang Hong received the plate, he still felt it strange, "Is this the examination certificate? But I remember it should be black, shouldn't it?"

"Kapuka's plates are black, but this is Elpaxin," Aquitez replied matter-of-factly. Merrifin seemed poised to say something but was muffled by his hand.

"Keep it a secret!" Aquitez said loudly.

Fang Hong watched the peculiar pair of Old Dwarfs and couldn't help but suspiciously check the number plate in his hand, but for the life of him, he couldn't spot any issues.

At that moment, Aquitez was already beckoning and shouting to someone behind the counter, "Jenny, Jenny, come out, your work is up!"

A young girl in an apron with messy hair and a slight frame scrambled out from behind. Wiping away drool, she shouted, "I'm here, I'm here, Mr. Aquitez, I wasn't sleeping!"

"Lazy girl, I don't care if you—," Aquitez glanced at her dismissively. "Take this Mister..." he looked at Fang Hong.

"Ade." Fang Hong replied.

"Take this Mr. Ade to room number 5144."

"Room number 5144?" Although the girl was drowsy, her mind wasn't foggy. She asked doubtfully, "Isn't that...?"

Aquitez coughed loudly, "I know it's Kapuka's room, and this gentleman is indeed from Kapuka, if you don't believe it, look at his brooch."

The girl rubbed her eyes.

Looking at Fang Hong curiously again, not until she saw his brooch did she exclaim, "Ah, so you finally came, but why are you alone?"

Fang Hong was also surprised as he didn't see himself as a particularly significant person, wondering why it seemed like these people knew he was coming. He thought of the owner of Traveler's Rest or maybe Wu Di and his group; they were about the only prominent people he knew here.

Could it be their doing?

In the meantime, he responded, "My friends are outside."

By then, the girl had spotted the towering Lion People and the Papalarian's distinct hair bobbing above the counter. Although bewildered by the unique Alchemists of Kapuka, she nodded, "Ah, I see, Mr. Ade—and your companions, please follow me."

"They're coming too?" Fang Hong looked at the Lion People unsurely as the latter filled his pipe.

"Of course," the girl replied, looking at Fang Hong with a sort of pitiable expression, as if this was the most natural thing in the world.

This contender from Kapuka, though he seemed pleasant enough, appeared a bit slow-witted.

...

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