589: I choose to abandon the mission

Chapter 588: I Choose to Abandon the Mission

Next, time passed quickly, at least that's how it seemed to Ania.

Dick Grudia's answering time was incredibly outrageous, counted in 'seconds', and often the announcement that the answering had finished would sound even before the invigilators had 'finished reading' the question.

Among them, the shortest time taken was for the sixth question, which was a very complex judgment question, but Dick Grudia gave the answer in just one second.

This was a 'one-second kill' in the true sense.

In fact, if the minimum unit for counting answering time wasn't seconds, Dick Grudia might have completed the sixth question even faster.

As for the most difficult tenth question, despite being the last to appear, it still didn't put too much pressure on Dick Grudia, not even lasting a minute.

It should be noted that the content of the tenth question was a proper battle.

In the illusion, Dick Grudia played the role of a captain of an S-rank adventure team, not only having to fight against a large number of Beasts and ghosts but also having to manage team command.

To achieve perfection, Dick Grudia needed to lead his team members to defeat all enemies with zero casualties!

This was an ultimate trial, with far too many assessment points; even an active S-rank adventure team captain would surely be drenched in sweat coming here.

According to the Guild's requirements, to become an S-rank Elite, one's abilities in all aspects must be perfect, without any flaws.

Even if one's personal ability is top-notch but slightly inferior in teamwork or overall coordination, they cannot become an S-rank Elite.

In the tenth question, although Dick Grudia's team members were all S-rank adventurers, they were facing Beasts and ghosts above level 90.

This was an absolutely difficult team battle.

Dick Grudia had to achieve an effect where "1+1" was far greater than "2" to have a chance of winning, and passing with zero casualties was almost impossible.

Any slight oversight, any detail not done well, could lead to neglecting one thing for another, causing the situation to collapse.

Normal people should be cautious, wishing time would slow down, experiencing seconds like years, fearing they might miss a step.

However, in the final question, Dick Grudia even requested hundreds of times the illusion acceleration, maximizing the compression of his thinking time.

【Congratulations to the candidate for perfectly passing the tenth question. Illusion time: five hours and twenty-three minutes. Actual time: 58 seconds... This S-rank Elite theoretical exam is concluded. Please report to the invigilator to verify your results.】

It wasn't until the voice broadcast sounded again that Ania finally came back to her senses. Not just her, but all the invigilators also looked as if they had just woken from a dream.

The constantly fast-forwarding projection just now, Dick Grudia's dazzling operational commands, couldn't be described as pleasing to the eye, only as... not understood at all.

This S-rank Elite theoretical assessment finished in less than ten minutes in total. Dick Grudia arrived at the examination hall after twelve o'clock, and it wasn't even one o'clock yet.

The door to the secret room slowly opened, and Ania walked in with a complicated expression. She looked at Dick Grudia, who was as calm as ever, and for a moment didn't know what to say.

Should she congratulate Dick Grudia on successfully passing the theoretical assessment...

Or exclaim that Dick Grudia had set the answering record of the past million years...

Or offer a sincere apology for her previous doubts...

Just as Ania was hesitating, Dick Grudia spoke.

"Where should I sign?"

"Sign, sign what..."

"The document for result verification, of course. Three copies. Without it, I won't be able to participate in the S-rank Elite practical assessment later."

Dick Grudia was a bit speechless. This kind of procedural matter, Ania, as the person in charge, actually needed him to remind her.

"Oh, oh," Ania responded awkwardly, quickly handing over a document she held, "Please confirm it first, then sign..."

Dick Grudia nodded slightly, took the document, and began to read it carefully. Only after seeing the 'Perfect' rating did he sign his name with satisfaction.

"The Dida Li'an Family's prodigy assessment starts tomorrow and is expected to finish in three days. You can start preparing for the S-rank Elite practical assessment now."

After saying this, Dick Grudia walked away with a confident stride.

Unlike before, Ania didn't raise any more doubts, nor did she make any sarcastic remarks.

Because after today's theoretical assessment, she completely understood Dick Grudia's level, which was even somewhat frighteningly high.

If Dick Grudia failed tomorrow, it could only mean that the Dida Li'an Family was short-sighted and unworthy of recruiting this top talent.

At that time, Ania would step forward to guarantee Dick Grudia, allowing him to participate in the S-rank Elite practical assessment.

However, unfortunately, Ania was clearly overthinking. In terms of recruiting talent, no force in the world could surpass the Dida Li'an Family.

After all, the so-called assessment is merely a means to filter out inferior products.

And for top prodigies like Dick Grudia and Isurna, there's naturally no need for filtering; just recruit them without hesitation.

Soon, Dick Grudia quickly walked out of the Guild gate, got into the car without any delay, and left.

The dinner party later was very important. Isurna had arranged it, bringing in the Warden of Suweier Magic Academy!

He was a Wood Elf over nine thousand years old, who had served as Warden for over a thousand years, and held high prestige throughout the Central Region.

For the mission to proceed smoothly, Dick Grudia had to build good relationships with the Academy's leadership, and this Warden was the most crucial person.

If he were to target Dick Grudia, even if Luka III intervened, it wouldn't be effective, and he would face difficulties at the Academy.

Conversely, if Dick Grudia could gain the favor of this esteemed Warden, he would have a very comfortable time at the Academy.

Besides this, Dick Grudia had one more thing he was very concerned about.

This morning by Anling Lake, the second before Dick Grudia lost consciousness, this esteemed Warden just happened to descend from the sky, a coincidence that was thought-provoking.

According to Isurna, the Warden had a habit of taking morning walks.

He just happened to come near Anling Lake, just happened to meet Isurna and wanted to chat, and then Dick Grudia just happened to faint...

So many "just happeneds" made the already suspicious Dick Grudia even more convinced that there must be something fishy going on!

And most importantly, when Dick Grudia heard that strange sigh, he had cast a spell to sense the surroundings within a radius of over ten kilometers.

He didn't detect the Warden walking nearby at all!

It should be known that the current Warden of Suweier Magic Academy is incredibly powerful, rumored to have broken through level 90.

With such a powerful figure nearby, would Dick Grudia not sense him?

Of course, there is another possibility: the esteemed Warden deliberately cast a spell to shield his aura, evading Dick Grudia's perception.

But for a simple morning walk, was it necessary to do that?

And if the Warden didn't shield his aura, it means he wasn't near Anling Lake at that time, and the so-called chance encounter was a lie!

The more he analyzed, the more Dick Grudia felt that the Warden had a big problem. Perhaps the old man was one of the key clues to the mission!

...

Meanwhile, in Suweier Magic Academy, on the second floor of a newly opened Courtesan House on the commercial street.

Leon was in disguise, and opposite him sat Robinson.

On the surface, the two were chatting and laughing, but in reality, they were secretly communicating telepathically, discussing matters related to the bounty mission.

"When are you going to blow up the classroom? I'm in a hurry for vacation..."

"Tonight at midnight."

"Excellent, make sure to make a big commotion!"

"How big?"

"Blow up the entire teaching building, I can pay extra!"

"No problem, after evening self-study ends, wait for the students to leave, then proceed."

"Hehe, no early class tomorrow, so I can stay up all night at the Courtesan House again..."

The negotiation went very smoothly. One dared to hire a bounty hunter, and the other dared to blow up the Academy.

After several rounds of drinks, Robinson, with a drunken haze in his eyes, started chatting with Leon.

"Speaking of which, a transfer student is coming to our class in a few days. Like you, he's a Swordsman from the Northern Region..."

"Oh?"

Leon casually inquired, "What's his name? To be able to enroll in your Academy, he must be very strong, right?"

"His name is something like Rudia..."

"Dick Grudia?"

"Yes, yes, that's the name. You can tell it's not a noble name just by hearing it. The Suweier Royal Family is even promoting him. I think he's just the Stupid Son (silly son) of some Northern Region nouveau riche..."

Suddenly, Leon abruptly stood up, saying with a serious face, "I choose to abandon the mission. Please find someone else."

"???"

Why were things going so well just a moment ago, and suddenly the cooperation fell through? Could it be that the legendary mysterious power protecting the Academy was at work?