Pillar of Yita

Ande was looking at his embarrassing student with disdain, while the latter seemed so ashamed that he wanted to find a hole on the ground to bury himself.

In fact, after getting the answer he wanted from Fang Hong, with his insight, Ande immediately understood the crux of the issue. Thinking of this, he glanced at Phales with displeasure.

No wonder, that old fellow has been acting so mysteriously.

Given how the legend of the Silver Tower was widely spread in Colin Ishurian, Ande naturally had a deep understanding.

And as long as one understood the fact of the Dragon Soul’s existence.

The other party could easily deduce that conclusion—the Fairy Dragon Soul—because only the Non-Attribute Fairy Gem could allow ordinary people to bear the Dragon Soul Contract.

It’s just that his old friend clearly got one thing wrong—

And that name...

Is indeed too embarrassing.

He couldn’t help but shake his head and sigh.

Ande knew his old friend had always been pursuing the unfinished path of the Silver Tower, and his student was unquestionably seen as the heir of the Silver Tower in the other’s eyes. Therefore, it’s not surprising that such a misunderstanding occurred.

If he hadn’t personally heard the whole story from that little girl from the Albert Family and Fang Hong, he might have thought so himself.

But he shook his head again, not planning to clear up this misunderstanding. Since Phales mistook that nascent Dragon Soul for Fang Hong’s Main Dragon Soul, others might completely think so in the future too—

In his eyes, this is even a good thing because the Fairy Dragon Soul is indeed too conspicuous, and he could deduce the result, so naturally, others could as well.

And the Zero-Type Crystal, it is indeed too subversive in the Alchemy Realm.

However, thinking of this, Ande couldn’t help but glance at his embarrassing student once more.

There is nothing else.

Because the name of that Main Construct—

Is really too embarrassing.

He patted Fang Hong on the shoulder, comforting his student a bit.

”Alright, don’t think about it, let’s talk about these later,” he just said: ”For now, let’s get through this hurdle first.”

Hearing this, Phales also nodded.

This hurdle, naturally, refers to the praetor with a keen eye on the side.

But he still had to announce the results of the contest, Phales pondered for a moment before bidding farewell to the two and turning to the stage to prepare to announce that final answer.

He had a draft ready long ago—

And after the laughter from the contest field, it returned to silence.

People seemed to sense something from this heavy atmosphere, with not the slightest joy after the contest ended, instead, the arena was nearly frozen in silence.

The air was thick with a sense of impending conflict.

Fang Hong seeing this stepped back, ready for combat.

He was no longer naive, naturally aware that what Rolin said earlier might be true, regardless of victory or defeat, the other side wouldn’t let him off easily.

The ground began to tremble slightly.

The crowd looked back, only to find that at some unknown time two giant constructs had appeared by the street.

They were as tall as two-story buildings, standing on crab-like four legs on the ground, with a giant gear disc providing mobility for the upper platform.

Rows of pipes dripped water, releasing cooling white steam, causing this gigantic machine to rumble slowly into the square.

There was some commotion among the people.

Above the giant construct was a hemispherical armor densely packed with shooting apertures, from which muskets protruded in unison aiming at the square.

That was Colin Ishurian’s war machine, the Giant Flexible Construct—Iron Curtain, eight meters tall, weighing seventy-seven tons, and carrying nineteen crew members.

It required three skilled combat artisans to operate, to ensure it could move.

Phales seeing this scene also stopped his actions, turned back to look at Count Roniel, seemingly waiting for an explanation.

John Roniel, however, gestured for him to continue, calmly replied: ”Mr. Chairman can proceed, I’m merely taking precautions.”

Phales glanced at him, noncommittal.

Facing the audience in the square, he then began to speak: ”Dear friends from afar, as this competition has reached this moment, I think you might already have an idea of today’s winner.”

”But unfortunately, in today’s kingdom, people seem to have forgotten the reason for its foundation. And forgotten the inclusiveness of Colin Ishurian, and the justice in our hearts.”

”Here, today, we cannot even send forth a champion to fight for our glory, but instead have to watch as he gets dragged into some inexplicable circumstances.”

”Today, they plan to arrest an excellent young man, just because of some annoying reasons.”

”You all know, it involves a high-ranking official, so I will not discuss anything about it.”

The crowd emitted an understanding low laughter, in the south, not many people respected the Prime Minister.

But after the laughter, there was an even more suffocating stillness.

A pin-drop silence.

Phales paused for a moment, then looked at the crowd continuing: ”So today, I will not grant anyone the championship.”

”Not because our contestants are not outstanding, but because Colin Ishurian does not deserve this champion, remember this moment, everyone—” he said blandly: ”It will be a disgrace to this kingdom, and the disgrace belongs to each of us.”

Count Roniel, who was initially calm and composed, turned purplish-red, he released his hand, and a sense of fury mixed with panic swept over him.