Pillar of Yita

Fang Hong looked somewhat surprised at the middle-aged craftsman.

The other likely would not be a prince. If he were a prince, he would refer to the Grand Princess as his sister, rather than ”Princess”.

However, a princess having a lover might not be such a big deal.

As long as the other party harbors no ill will towards them, that is enough.

The middle-aged man did not hear the conversation between the two, only interrupted to ask Fang Hong how he found the tea from yesterday and if there were any dissatisfactions.

Fang Hong knew nothing about local tea; neither in Tansnier nor his hometown. However, Hilveld had already answered:

”It’s quite authentic Golden Tea. Given the high quality, Istania Golden Tea is rare in the north, so please convey our gratitude to the Grand Princess.”

The middle-aged man looked at her with some surprise.

He then realized Hilveld was a native.

He nodded: ”Rich heritage, indeed.”

The three of them went upstairs, and the middle-aged craftsman turned back slightly embarrassed, saying to the two: ”I’m sorry, Mr. Ade, there’s something I need to mention in advance.

Initially, I wanted you to see the Tansnier Crafting Association’s Magic Guided Constructs, but there have been some unexpected issues.”

Fang Hong paused for a moment and asked, ”What’s wrong, is today not convenient for a visit?”

The middle-aged man shook his head: ”Not exactly, it’s just that the Lord Chairman returned earlier today, and upon hearing I’m bringing people to visit again, she... um, seemed a bit displeased.”

”Why?” Fang Hong asked in surprise, ”Isn’t the Artisan Association public? A simple visit shouldn’t be a problem, right...?”

Hilveld listened with a smile and couldn’t help but lower her head, covering her mouth with her hand at this point.

The middle-aged craftsman glanced at Fang Hong, worried about the young man’s innocence.

The Artisan Association is open to all association artisans; if a visit were so simple, would the Princess have arranged for him to come personally?

The situation was already clear, yet Fang Hong remained oblivious.

However, as the guest of the princess, being a bit naive wasn’t bad; he patiently continued: ”The Lord Chairman likely thinks I’m bringing those frivolous sons again for a visit, she has consistently frowned upon such matters.”

”Again?”

The middle-aged craftsman sighed with embarrassment, ”Indeed... The descendants of city nobles and royals are quite curious about Alchemy. The Princess also needs to win them over, and I can’t refuse their requests.”

Fang Hong finally understood.

Winning over the nobles; this Princess has quite some ambition.

He recalled the King of Sand Barbaltan had several sons, but the Desert People have no male priority in succession. This Princess seems to have some designs on the throne.

Might Istania have a queen in ten years’ time?

This was indeed an intriguing thought.

Even though the reputation of Barbaltan’s sons was unknown, the Princess was famous outside.

This spoke volumes.

Nevertheless, Fang Hong fully understood the dissatisfaction of the Artisan Association’s chairman.

After all, the Artisan Association was not accountable to the Istania Royal Family, and no one wanted such scandals to occur within their responsibilities—

So he replied understandingly: ”Then we’ll come back another time.”

But the middle-aged craftsman replied, ”No need for that.”

”Why?”

”I’ve explained to the Lord Chairman; she just remains skeptical. The Lord Chairman said visiting isn’t impossible, but it requires passing her examination.”

The middle-aged man looked at the two: ”For those unlearned individuals, the examination is indeed difficult, but for Mr. Ade, it should be relatively easy...”

”An examination?”

Fang Hong could roughly understand the chairman’s thoughts.

Regarding the nobles’ descendants, who aren’t Alchemists themselves, such words were just to set a threshold to deter them.

For him, it posed no real challenge.

Alchemy examinations are nothing more than some foundational requirements.

He noticed the middle-aged craftsman’s somewhat apprehensive gaze, perhaps fearing he would be offended and leave.

After all, he was an established craftsman, without reason to be subjected to apprentice tests. Especially for a reputable craftsman, such requests were unreasonable.

However, he was merely an Invoker, not known widely, and given his rapid level advancement, he still considered himself a novice.

So he harbored no resentment.

If he could visit the Tansnier Crafting Association’s inventory, a simple test was nothing; not only a test, but a match would suffice.

Thus, he readily nodded: ”Certainly, it’s not a problem.”

The middle-aged craftsman finally breathed a sigh of relief: ”Truly apologetic, the Princess had instructed me to prepare everything, yet the situation unfolded unexpectedly.”

Fang Hong scratched his head.

He suddenly realized that it wasn’t really the craftsman’s oversight.

The craftsman likely knew the chairman’s return schedule, arranging the time frame appropriately. If he and Hilveld had come in the morning, they probably would have visited and returned to their inn by now.

But coming at this moment hit the Lord Chairman’s crossfire.

In reality, it was him and Hilveld causing the craftsman difficulty.

The middle-aged man then led them inside, and upon reaching the third floor, Fang Hong immediately saw the chairman of the Artisan Association in the hall from the previous day.

He was surprised to find the seemingly taciturn Chairman of the Artisan Association was, in fact, a woman.

Yet, the woman did not resemble an Alchemist at all, being tall and robust, even surpassing him in height, resembling Mr. Kroid in impressiveness.

Despite her stature, she appeared neither brutish nor coarse; instead, her beauty was strikingly energetic.

Through the middle-aged craftsman’s introduction, Fang Hong learned this red-haired woman was a rare Giant Spirit.

Upon seeing him, a flash of surprise crossed her emerald eyes.

The Chairwoman glanced at Fang Hong’s collar, noticing the three Gold Stars, and said with some surprise: ”Alchemist?”

Faced with her question, Fang Hong nodded.

...