Ande Ulriel listened to the other party's words and couldn't help but let out a cold laugh: "...your young people over there? Could they be contestants?"

He shook his head: "...Hmph, Copper Nose, you old thing, you're just as sly as ever. Since you're no match for me in chess, you're trying to find other ways to save face?"

A deep growling sound immediately came from within the crystal.

That nasal voice shouted hoarsely: "Never mind who I brought in, Old Blacksmith, I'm the Chairman of the Alchemist Alliance, and my students are spread all over the world. Unlike you, who can't even find a successor, you can't use that to limit my students, can you?"

"Who can't find a successor?" Ande Ulriel was taken aback for a moment, his face sinking. As the saying goes, don't hit someone in the face; was it his fault he hadn't found a student over the years? It was not for his lack of trying but rather the poor quality of those candidates.

The successors of the Southern Alchemist Alliance are getting worse with each generation.

Still, the voice from the crystal, seeing him furious, wasn't scared at all, but instead seemed quite proud: "So, Old Blacksmith, where is your student?"

"He—" Ande Ulriel glared with wide eyes, just about to speak, then remembered the two young people beside him weren't his students. But he glanced back at Fang Hong and Hilveld, still unwilling to concede: "My students are right here, aren't they?"

Copper Nose laughed heartily: "Since they're here, why not compete against the person I brought in?"

He deliberately answered in a high-pitched voice, "I think you're scared, Old Blacksmith. After all, there has never been mention of you having any students before. You didn't just find someone from somewhere to fill the numbers, did you? How about I do you a favor and find a weaker opponent for that youngster of yours?"

A low laugh echoed from the crystal.

Ande Ulriel took a deep breath, knowing it was a provocation, but still almost got half-dead with anger. His snowy white eyebrows shot up, flaring with rage: "What do you mean, I'm afraid? Copper Nose, haven't you got it wrong? Over the decades, when have you ever beaten me in a match?"

This jab evidently hit the mark, as there was a lot of stammering and no words for quite a while. Finally, reluctantly came the response: "...Just this once."

The laughter from the crystal grew even more, almost collapsing in stitches, clearly indicating that Ande Ulriel and Copper Nose weren't the only ones there, and there were plenty of others as well. Their laughter prompted Copper Nose to shout: "You all shut up."

Turning back angrily, he asked: "Old Blacksmith, are you going to compete or not?"

Ande Ulriel squinted, his silver-gray irises gleaming with a dangerous light: "Compete, why wouldn't I? No matter who you have, this time I'll make you truly concede!"

A voice from over there sneered: ... Hmph, a stubborn mule...

The old man squinted again, now turning to look at Hilveld and Fang Hong—

Fang Hong couldn't help wiping off a cold sweat, thinking that the artisans in that crystal must surely be significant figures, yet they bickered like children, comparing everything.

Hearing the address, he finally realized who the 'Copper Nose' on the other end was — the current Chairman of the Southern Alchemist Alliance. The name seemed to be Sonan Steelbrow. Being from the Steelbrow family must mean he's from the dwarven clan of Ishurian.

However, it's not surprising for a dwarf to hold a chairman position, given their tight collaboration with artisan guilds across the lands. After all, isn't the chairman of Elpaxin's Artisan Association also a dwarf, Rosetta, a Stone Mountain dwarf from the Spark clan.

The Southern Alchemist Alliance under Sonan Steelbrow isn't as renowned as it was during Ande Ulriel's tenure, but to become its head, one must at least be at the level of a Grand Artificer.

And yet, Mr. Ande Ulriel initially intended for him to compete against such an opponent? That was really underestimating him, no wonder 'Copper Nose' refused, Fang Hong couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

However, he didn't feel much unease. Rather, he was eager to try. After all, even opposing giants like the Descendants of Flor and the Dragon Worship Sect didn't leave him sleepless.

So what about a little chess game with an artisan chairman? At worst, he could concede a loss; it's not like the guy could reach through the internet and gobble him up. Really, there were only benefits, as he might personally experience the level of top artisans in this world.

Ande Ulriel turned back, just in time to see this young fellow beaming with excitement, feeling a bit puzzled—after all, when the young lass from the Albert family held this naive lad's hand earlier, he didn't seem as thrilled.

Having watched over the lass from the Albert family as she grew up, he naturally knew how outstanding this young lady was. Without mentioning her origins and background, she had grown into a tall and beautiful woman, just like her mother in her youth, with many admirers in Colin Ishurian.

He initially wanted to give this young lad some encouragement, but seeing Fang Hong's calm demeanor, he couldn't help but ask: "Little guy, aren't you worried?"

"Worried about what?" Fang Hong was a bit stunned: "...Mr. Ande Ulriel, you mean?"

Ande Ulriel was taken aback, feeling something was amiss:

He gestured, asking: "...for example, about losing or something?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Hong scratched his head and gave a shy smile.

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