Chapter 922: Under Investigation
Half an hour later, they arrived at the Talisman Hall. It occupied quite a large area with mountains and several large buildings where disciples and Elder of the hall cultivated, lived, traded or did other things.
Ryuna led him to one building where disciples could apply to join the Hall.
Normally, it was mandatory for a disciple to take two exams, one where the disciples’ theoretical knowledge would be tested and in the other, the disciples had to show their talisman making abilities. Only when they passed both tests, especially the latter, would they be admitted into the Talisman Hall.
However, there was an exception. Tier 5 or above Talisman Master of the Talisman Hall had a single opportunity to let someone join the hall without taking the exams.
Ryuna was a Tier 5 Talisman Master and she was going to use her opportunity to let him join the hall directly. Of course, since she was recommending him, if he couldn’t reach the minimum required standard of the hall, which was a Tier 4 Talisman Master, within the specified time, she would be punished and he would be expelled.
When Max heard this, he couldn’t help but ask, "Why are you willing to take this risk for me?"
This was a genuine question. Not only was he a complete novice in this field, he had a large target on his back. Those associated with him would most likely end up suffering. Therefore, logically, she would be running away from him.
Her response to the question was this:
"Everyone knows you are a monstrous genius who almost killed Isolde Grimheart despite having broken through to the Five Star realm recently. People like you can do well in most of the fields as long as you put your heart into it.
Since you chose to learn talisman making, there must be a reason behind it. Therefore, you won’t do it half-heartedly and will most likely succeed. Even if you don’t, I just wouldn’t receive any support for a while. No big deal.
As for your enmity with the Grimheart Faction, well, they haven’t forbidden anyone from interacting with you. Besides, as long as my Hall Master is here, I’ll be safe as long as I’m not at fault."
After hearing this, his impression of her became better.
"Wait here for a bit. Let me go talk to him." Ryuna said after entering the building. Max nodded in understanding and began looking around.
There weren’t many people here, just some staff members and them. Therefore, as soon as they had entered, they had become the center of everyone’s attention. A moment later, some refocused on their work, but others who recognised him didn’t and instead began talking among themselves.
Max noted that everyone had different expressions on their faces, but most looked as if they were looking forward to an interesting show.
This made him sigh.
’It seems they aren’t going to give me a breather. How troublesome!’ he thought, suppressing his killing intent. It wasn’t time to go all out.
"Mr. Maxwell. Come over here." Just then, Ryuna called him.
She had already informed the receptionist about everything and had put down her name as her recommender. All that was left to do was to register him and he would become the Talisman Hall’s disciple.
"Give your identity badge to him quickly." Ryuna urged while glancing toward the entrance of the building.
Max nodded and handed it over to the receptionist.
Just as he was about to register him...
"Stop right there."
Swoosh!
A voice echoed from outside and the next instant, someone entered, their aura spreading out and freezing the receptionist.
Ryuna’s eyes narrowed. Glancing at the entrance, she recognised the person and coldly said, "What’s the meaning of this, Elder Shu?"
Max also looked over and saw a middle-aged man with oriental features and a goatee striding into the building with two disciples following after him. Coincidently, he knew one of them—the guy who prevented him from claiming the Comprehension Room earlier today.
Elder Shu fixed his gaze on Max for a moment before he looked at Ryuna and coldly said, "You were going to let him join without taking the exams? Do you have no respect for my Talisman Hall’s rules?"
Ryuna’s pretty face frosted over, "Your? Since when did you become the leader of the Talisman Hall? And how come I didn’t know about it?"
"Hmph!" Elder Shu snorted, "Don’t twist my words, girl. You know very well what I meant. Now, answer."
Ryuna put her hands on her hips and sneered, "What’s there to answer? I am using my recommendation opportunity. Don’t tell me you are going to stop me from doing so?"
"You used to be such a well-mannered child. Now... sigh." Elder Shu shook his head and sighed which made Ryuna scoff. "Just spit it out if you have anything to say."
Elder Shu’s eyelids twitched, anger flickering in his eyes. But then he shook his head, "I won’t bicker with you. Just know that you can’t recommend him to the hall."
Ryuna’s gaze turned cold.
"You going to stop me forcefully?" She asked, but then sneered, "I doubt you have the guts to do it. So, I’m curious. What makes you say that?"
Elder Shu put his hands behind his back and smiled, "You remember the time when you tried to create the High Stage Tier 5 Earth Talisman and ended up destroying the crafting room?"
Ryuna’s brows furrowed.
Hadn’t she already settled that mattered already? But his expression told him this wasn’t the case.
And indeed, a moment later, he revealed, "The supervisor of that crafting building has lodged a complaint against you, saying that you didn’t pay for damages and instead threatened him to pay it himself and settle the matter."
Ryuna stared at him, her expression growing colder by the second.
After a while, she said, "You do realize what you are doing, right?"
Elder Shu’s eyes flickered with hesitation. He understood her implied meaning, but he was from Grimheart Faction and had to do things for them when ordered, even if they were dangerous.
"I’m not doing anything wrong." He shook his head, calmly saying, "Just letting you know that since you are now under investigation, your privileges, including the privilege to recommend someone to the hall, have been suspended."
"Good. Very good." Ryuna nodded. Then she turned to Max and bent her waist in a deep bow, "Mr. Maxwell. I’m really sorry for wasting your time. But as you can see, I can no longer recommend you to the hall."
She then stood up, and continued, "To compensate you, I’m willing to teach you everything I know about Talisman Making."
Max watched her in silence for a moment, then shook his head, "You don’t need to apologize, Miss Ryuna. And thank you for your offer. I’ll be sure to ask you for your guidance whenever needed. But for now, I’m going to try joining the Talisman Hall through official means."
Before Ryuna could react, he turned to the receptionist and said, "Please arrange the things for my entrance exams."
The receptionist was still frozen as Elder Shu hadn’t retrieved his aura, but when everyone’s attention shifted to him and they saw this, Elder Shu apologetically said, "Oh, my apologies, little fellow. I completely forgot about you. Here, take this talisman for the discomfort I caused you."
With a wave of his hand, he sent a talisman flying toward him.
The receptionist took it, bowed to him before quickly responding to Max, "Yes. Please wait a moment. I’ll put in a request for one of the seniors to come over."
"No need. Since I’m here, I’ll take his exams." Elder Shu interjected.