The third-floor meeting area of the Ikelite Card Maker Association.
Even indoors, they could hear the twelve melodious chimes from the bell tower at Hutton Walking Plaza.
The dark-brown wooden floor gleamed beneath the glaring midday sunlight, while the lofty domed ceiling, supported by raw wooden beams, displayed the natural and primitive style unique to the Hutton Kingdom.
Beyond the leather sofas and coffee table on the carpet, the circular walls dividing the meeting area were projecting scenes from the Registered Card Maker Examination.
Two and a half hours had passed since the exam began.
Some examinees had already used up all five of their attempts and left regretfully.
Others had completed two or three finished cards and were still trying to create Magic Cards of higher quality to improve their scores.
Beside the coffee table, Sophia, the young lady of the count's family, was still sitting beside Prince Enoer. The two remained as close as ever, though they seemed to be sitting just a tiny bit closer than before.
Hughberlian, meanwhile, was sitting on a single-person sofa on the other side, looking relaxed and at ease.
The three of them had been watching the Registered Card Maker Examination here the whole time.
Since the broadcast was cycling through the examinees, they could only occasionally see Lanchi's scene.
The Card Maker Association's backstage staff would switch the broadcast to an examinee at crucial moments, such as when they were about to finish making a card.
After all, the most exciting moments were nothing more than the instant a card was completed—or blew up.
"If you're aiming for success, you can make three cards in five attempts by making them all White Common."
Sophia shook her head as she watched a card on the screen explode just moments ago.
"That's right.