Later that evening, Vicente would finish his third test at the new blacksmith's testing area at the Association's post in Millfall.
As he used his hammer for the last time that evening, Vicente was once again exhausted, but this time, he felt a perfect sensation in his being.
It was always great to finish a job well done. But to achieve 100% efficiency in the forging art without even using his unique skill was incredible!
After almost 30 minutes of hard work, after hours in this Association building, Vicente had finished producing a sword with 100% efficiency.
Even his master was dumbfounded to see his student reach this level while being only a 1st-stage magician.
On the other hand, even though Isaac was angry with Benson and Vicente, he couldn't help but be less grumpy when he saw this result.
Whether Vice accepted Isaac's proposal, Vicente could still help this Association post with his phenomenal skills.
With this in mind, as he watched the evaluator of Vicente's test staring wide-eyed at that sword, he said to Benson. "Even if he doesn't want to be firmly supported by the Council and the Association, he will still be important for our post. I'm going to release some benefits for your student."
"Oh? I appreciate that. That will help a lot." Benson was sincere.
As much as he was a Council Elder, he wouldn't have been able to give Vicente the benefits Vice needed to access some of the possibilities of this Association post on his own. But with Isaac's support, he had enough to help his disciple!
Vicente probably wouldn't have access to the best there was, as the others, including Isaac, would undoubtedly have higher requirements for him to access such opportunities. But even so, Vice could begin his journey with more rights than his peers would have by joining this organization.
As the men left, Vicente received congratulations from the examiner, who didn't hesitate to take the sword with him as he left.
Vicente knew that the items produced in such exams belonged to the Association. After breathing more calmly, he left the room where he had taken his last test.
When he reached the waiting area in that part of the Association, he ignored the ranking and went to the staff counter.
The previous examiner had told him to pick up his identification as a 1st stage blacksmith and the gifts the Association gave its new members in such an area.
Vicente quickly received a black bag containing an identification crystal, an overcoat with the Association's symbol of a star on the left chest, and some pills and metal bars.
But as he rummaged through these things and put them away in his storage item, a scream suddenly alerted Vice and everyone else in the area.
"Impossible!"
Eli shouted as he saw the results of this exam and noticed Vicente's name in first place and his in second.
He scored an incredible 91 points on his last test. But he still hadn't managed to pass Vicente!
Thinking that there was something wrong with this, given Vicente's level of talent, he shouted in an unjustified manner. "There's something wrong with this rank. It's not possible that this person beat me!"
Vicente looked at Eli and remembered his bet with this guy over two hours ago.
Noticing that this person didn't seem willing to accept his defeat, Vicente looked at Eli contemptuously and said. "Now that you've lost, will you use that excuse not to pay for your promises?"
"Tsk! You bastard! I'm sure you bribed your examiners, and your ranking is wrong!"
The Association officials in the surrounding area heard this and gave Eli ugly looks.
The Association was very strict with its employees and had stringent rules against such acts, especially regarding the examinations for blacksmiths to advance in rank. If even one of them were accused of corruption, they would have a lot of problems in their lives.
"You damned brat! Our association is sacred and does not allow this kind of shameful act! Take back your words!" An Acolyte shouted, extremely offended.
Nate was impressed by Vicente's result, but unlike Eli, he had seen how much support Elder Isaac had given the young black-haired man. So he couldn't believe that something was wrong. "Eli, don't be a coward. You have lost. Vice is better than you.
Accept your defeat, and don't dishonor the name of your masters. Pay the you promised Perpetual Tear to Vicente!" He said the last part out loud so that everyone in the area could hear it.
"What?"
"He wagered something so valuable?"
"What a fool! Who took this idiot as a student? I'm sure he'll have a bad reputation in Millfall after today."
"Hey, keep your voice down, he's Master Landon's disciple!"
Several people commented on Eli's foolishness, causing him to turn red with anger.
But some advised him to pay what he owed.
"Young man, pay what you owe. Not keeping such a promise could even harm your magical progress..."
Vicente remained silent as he looked at Eli, seeing that this young man looked like a pressure cooker about to explode.
He wouldn't stay still if this person moved, so he was on guard.
But just as the tension in the room was about to reach its limit and one of them was about to turn on the other, another of Henry's students came out of one of the evaluation rooms.
"Eli, did you make that bet?" That person, who was of the same generation as Landon, asked as he looked thoughtfully at Eli.
Eli recognized the voice of one of Henry's few disciples, someone whom his master, Landon, respected greatly.
He changed his expression and said in a hurt tone. "I did it, but something's wrong. I'm sure of it!"
Henry's student closed his eyes and shook his head negatively. "There is nothing wrong. Pay the young man what you owe him. You've lost."
Hearing that from the man was like getting punched in the stomach. But Eli remained silent, understanding the meaning of it all.
He had lost to Vicente, a young beginner in the forging art!
Unable to argue with his superior, Eli took the one kilo of Perpetual Tear from his stash and quickly threw it in Vicente's direction.
Not wanting to be humiliated any further, he quickly made his way to the exit, following the level 5 Acolyte.
"How is that possible, Mr. Kaleb? I thought I was going to get a first place after my seclusion!" He said as he walked briskly alongside the man.
"This young man is a monster. I examined him in one of his tests, and he scored over 95 points in making a weapon!" Kaleb said quietly, knowing that he couldn't tell what Vicente's score was, but sure Eli would understand why he had lost.
"Over 95?" Eli turned pale when he heard that.
...
Meanwhile, Vicente had stored the one kilo of Perpetual Tear in his storage item. He was soon moving around the Association building after leaving the previous area.
With his 1st-stage forging license, he could now buy and trade several resources in this establishment. Not only that, but he could also get in touch with many of the books in this place and learn a bit more about this craft.
It was evening, so most of the places he could benefit from within this Association were closed. However, he still decided to look around and familiarize himself with where he would be in the next few days.
He couldn't act until Casey returned, so until then, he would focus on the forge and this place.
But on his way to the Association's library, Vicente ran into his master.
Seeing Vice, Benson smiled and said. "Congratulations on your results. I'm sure you'll have your 2nd stage license in a few months.
But now I have to take you somewhere."
"Where?" Vicente asked as he frowned.
"As I told you, joining the Association like this would benefit you. And in fact, you'll get some unique opportunities, even without committing to representing the Association."
"Oh? What exactly will I gain from these benefits?" Vicente wondered.
"Access to the highest level and rarest resources, priority delivery of materials, access to special techniques, and access to the training and study area for 2nd-stage blacksmiths," Benson explained the main point.
Part of the reason why 2nd-stage magicians were better at what they did was because of their mana, extra pentagram, and greater understanding of the world. But in institutions like this, there were techniques you normally only had access to when you reached a particular stage.
However, that didn't mean that these techniques couldn't be learned by those of a lower magical level!
Even without having to earn any merit or pass the 2nd-stage blacksmith's exam, Vicente had earned the right to learn some of these techniques and spells.
"Perfect."
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