Third... Third-Rank?! (Please Vote)

"Hehe."

At Lei Luo's words, the veins on Frank and Otto's aged faces bulged. If not for the sake of their dignity, they would have already given him a sharp knock on the head.

Looking at the round, smooth Strength Accumulation Pill, with even a pill pattern etched upon it, both Xue Mei and Lin Fei wore defeated expressions.

"What the heck? So you, you bad guy, were pretending to be weak while hiding your strength!" Lin Fei said to Lei Luo resentfully.

Meanwhile, Xue Mei's expression as she looked at Lei Luo was somewhat subtle.

"Pretending to be weak while hiding my strength? My beautiful Miss Lin Fei, where is this tiger you speak of?"

Lei Luo's half-joking words left the two girls stunned for a moment before their faces darkened.

Just as the lively Lin Fei was about to bare her teeth and pounce, Master Otto finally could not keep up appearances any longer and hurriedly coughed a few times to stop her.

After the assessment was completed, the people who had come to take the test gradually left the hall, leaving only Otto, Frank, the two girls, and Lei Luo behind.

However, when those young people departed, the looks they gave him seemed to be full of hostility.

If looks could kill, Lei Luo believed he would have been sliced into a thousand pieces by now.

"Hehe, little Lei Luo, your talent truly is beyond anyone's expectations. An eighteen-year-old First-Rank Alchemist... tsk tsk..."

Hearing Otto's praise, Xue Mei's red lips curled slightly as she muttered, "Say, shouldn't you introduce him to me first?"

Hearing the faintly coquettish tone in Xue Mei's voice, Master Otto slapped his forehead. "Heh, Xue Mei, you're right to scold me."

Then he pointed at Lei Luo and said, "This handsome young fellow has quite an extraordinary background. You know the Mite'er Family, right?"

"This kid is their young clan leader."

At those words, Xue Mei's eyes lit up, and the way she looked at Lei Luo gained an indescribable hint of meaning.

However, she was naturally cool and reserved. Though surprised, she was not overly shocked, and she greeted Lei Luo with perfect courtesy.

Only after everyone had become acquainted did Master Otto ask curiously,

"Lei Luo, how long are you planning to stay in our Black Rock City this time? If you can stay a few days, let Lin Fei and Xue Mei show you around."

Hearing this, Lei Luo thought for a moment before saying, "I should be staying for a few more days, but before that, there's something else I haven't finished."

"Oh? What is it? Why not tell us, Young Clan Leader Lei Luo? Perhaps we can help," guild president Frank said with a hearty laugh.

"This matter... you two seniors really can help," Lei Luo said mysteriously.

"Stop keeping us in suspense, kid. Just say what you want to say!" Otto teased.

Seeing this, Lei Luo rubbed the tip of his nose and said to the two of them, "I would like to continue and take the assessment for the next rank."

"Pfft!"

Frank, who had somehow gotten hold of a palm-sized teapot and was pouring tea into his mouth, immediately sprayed the entire mouthful onto Otto's face.

The scene was exceptionally awkward.

Yet Otto had no mind to get angry at the moment. His eyes were wide as saucers as he asked in disbelief,

"You mean you want to continue with another assessment? Lei Luo, this isn't something to joke about."

"Though a Second-Rank Alchemist is only one rank above a First-Rank Alchemist, the gap between them is like a chasm. Don't toy with us."

But Lei Luo said nothing.

Looking at the four people's strange expressions, he could not help licking his lips before tentatively raising three fingers.

"Um, Master Otto, what I mean is, I want to complete the rank assessment for a Third-Rank Alchemist."

"Ah, I know, it's only Third... Third-Rank?"

"Third-Rank? Old Otto, am I dreaming right now?" Frank asked blankly.

"You're asking me? Who the hell am I supposed to ask?"

Seeing the two masters cursing so frequently, Lei Luo felt a little embarrassed as well.

"Then should I take the Second-Rank assessment first?"

At that, Otto and Frank completely gave up.

"No. We'll go straight to the Third-Rank assessment. Adding the Second-Rank one would be meaningless."

Frank shook his head with a bitter smile.

After having servants prepare the ingredients for a Third-Rank pill, Lei Luo, Otto, and Frank entered a separate alchemy room together.

However, so as not to disturb Lei Luo, Xue Mei and Lin Fei were not allowed inside.

"Sigh, I thought becoming First-Rank Alchemists in two years was already pretty impressive.

Who would have thought there was such a freak in this world? This is way too discouraging."

At those words, an unusual look appeared on Xue Mei's face as well. She sighed softly and murmured, "It really is discouraging."

"By the way, didn't you say that no one among Black Rock City's younger generation could surpass you?

Now someone has appeared. I remember you said that if there was someone, you seemed to say you'd accompany him..." Her dark eyes rolling, Lin Fei suddenly said.

For some reason, Lei Luo's impossibly handsome face flashed through Xue Mei's mind.

A barely noticeable blush immediately appeared on her face.

"What nonsense are you talking about? He isn't from Black Rock City, so it... it doesn't count..." Xue Mei muttered softly.

"Tsk tsk, then why are you blushing?"

Teased by Lin Fei like that, Xue Mei grew flustered.

"You only know how to talk about me. I don't believe you aren't tempted either, you brat. After all, he's far more outstanding than those lackeys of yours."

Lin Fei pursed her lips. "What good would it do even if I liked him? Didn't you see that he's taking the Third-Rank Alchemist assessment right now?

If he succeeds, wouldn't he shock the entire empire?"

"People like us, who barely managed even the First-Rank assessment, seem to be..."

As they spoke, an inexplicable sense of loss appeared in both girls' eyes.

But as rivals for so many years, Xue Mei would not pass up any opportunity to mock her.

"Tsk tsk, so even the precious daughter of our city lord can feel inferior?"

The moment she heard that, Lin Fei exploded. The two girls began fooling around right there in the hall.

If they had not been the only two left in the assessment hall, the sight would probably have made every man's eyes go wide.

Just as the two girls were laughing and tussling wildly, an awkward cough sounded from behind them.

"Young ladies, how can you behave so improperly, fighting and fooling around like this?"

Hearing that, their movements froze for a moment before they hurriedly turned around and asked in unison, "Did he pass?"

Looking at the two girls, Otto and Frank could not help smiling bitterly as they nodded.

"Teacher, Master Otto, this is Third-Rank! An eighteen-year-old Third-Rank Alchemist, and you're both this calm?" Xue Mei cried out in astonishment.

Then Lin Fei hooked an arm around Xue Mei's slender, fair neck. "They must have already finished being shocked inside and are putting on airs in front of us!"

Having been exposed, Otto and Frank found it difficult to maintain their composure.

Frank in particular felt extremely awkward under the disdainful gaze of his own student.

"Xue Mei, Lin Fei, you two little girls should learn properly from Lei Luo! All you do every day is bicker and compete with each other, yet your alchemy skills haven't improved all that much!"

The two girls' eyes widened at Frank's rebuke, and they immediately looked at Lei Luo resentfully.

Lei Luo: "??? How did I get dragged into this?"