On the 55th floor,
Jacob was waiting in a luxurious room.
It's been five hours since he had passed the Grandmaster Gunsmith test without breaking a sweat.
Actually, he wanted to apply for the Elder Grandmaster Gunsmith Rank test directly, but when he discovered from a loss mouth participant that there wasn't even a single Elder Grandmaster present of any profession in the entire rare plains, he decided against it.
So, he applied for the Senior Grandmaster Rank test, but to his disappointment, it also can't be done without being a Grandmaster Rank first.
But this didn't stop him from applying, and after paying the test fee of 100,000 gold coins, he successfully passed the test on his very first try, making the invigilator dumbstruck.
After that, an old elf approached him, who was a Senior Grandmaster Pill Alchemist, started to poke around his past.
Jacob knew the fact that he being from the common plains, couldn't be hidden forever, and he didn't plan on hiding it either. He simply made up a story and to quench the old elf's curiosity.
He had already known about the rules of the Alchemy Guild, so he wasn't in any kind of danger, neither they could pose any danger to him even if they wanted to.
So, after the discussion with the old elf, he directly used his chance to apply for the Senior Grandmaster Rank. But if he failed, he won't get any chance at it again for another ten years. This was a rule which everyone had to follow.
But Jacob knew he was more than capable of passing the test beyond the rank of Elder Grandmaster.
Still, the Senior Grandmaster title was enough to earn him a respectable status in the whole Alchemy Guild in the Dark City or anywhere in the rare plains, as a matter of fact.
So, he settled with it. He had already drawn some attention to himself after revealing he was from the common plains as well as his blood force was also measured when he took the Grandmaster Rank test to see his talent and actual age.
He even suspected they might have already known about the commotion he caused in the Freedom Rare Plains when he escaped by pinning the blame on the Killer Skull Society.
But according to Star News, the Freedom Rare Plains are completely occupied with the all-out war with the Wild Nation at the moment, so they might not be free enough to notice him in the dark city right in the middle of Magic Beast Forest.
Nevertheless, as long as he was in the Rare Plains, Jacob wasn't afraid of getting scheme against, especially in the Dark City.
Furthermore, the status of a Senior Grandmaster means he would have access to the organization's storage facilities and can buy anything as long as he can pay for it.
He had already joined their private server as a Grandmaster and earned another identity badge with 100 ZC for passing the test.
As for any mission application like the alliance, he didn't get any. He mused it might only be available for permanent members.
Whichever the case was, he was satisfied with where things were going right now.
At this moment, Jacob's eyes sprang open when he heard footsteps approaching the door. Thereupon a light knock rang on the door.
He coldly said, "It's open."
A Gnome appeared wearing a bronze gunsmith sigil on his chest, and he respectfully bowed before Jacob before he stated, "Sir Grandmaster, the Branch Master has summoned you."
Jacob naturally knew just who this Gnome was referring to as 'Branch Master.'
Any Senior Grandmaster will have the title of Branch Master, and they also oversee their respective floors. Floor 51st to 55th belonged to the Gunsmith Branch.
There was only a single Senior Grandmaster of this Branch as well, and she controlled the entire five floors alone.
So, Jacob was quite vigilant of her since she might be some petty person who was too absorbed in used to authority that she might feel threatened by a newcomer like Jacob.
Still, he had to go since this exam would be personally conducted by her, and it was also in her hand to decide the theme of this test.
"Lead the way." Jacob coolly stated as he stood up.
The Gnome didn't delay and quickly started to lead the way, he had already got wind of this person's status and what he was going to do, so he was extremely careful not to offend him.
Soon, they reached a big hallway, and at the end of this hallway was a large metal door.
The Gnome stopped right at the entrance of this hallway as he respectfully said, "Sir Grandmaster, I can't go any further. This is the private workshop of Senior Grandmaster Lady Rita. Please go ahead."
Jacob dismissively nodded and walked toward the doors.
However, when he was only a meter away, the metal door started to open automatically, revealing a large workshop filled with all kinds of gunsmithing equipment and high-tech machines.
Jacob's eyes instantly glowed when he saw all those familiar machines. A hint of reminiscing flashed in his eyes, 'Although this place is not at the level of my lab at my very peak, it's already better than the one when I first joined that prick's company.'
While indulging in his bitter yet precious memories, Jacob didn't pay much attention to those five figures standing on the platform at the end of this workshop.
Rita was closely watching Jacob with her scrutinous eyes and couldn't help but narrow them slightly. He simply didn't even look at her graceful face or mesmerized by her elvish charm.
On the contrary, he was admiring those soulless machines around him, completely ignoring the five Senior Grandmasters as if they were just extras.
Lastly, he was still wearing his black mask, which was a blunt disrespect toward them.
The old elf also noticed Jacob's disrespectful conduct and his masked face. He couldn't help but smile wryly as he remembered the exact words when he asked Jacob to take off his mask, which left him speechless and without any refute.
Jacob cold stated at that time, 'According to the Dark City Rule Number 29: As long as the 'Guest' or 'Noble' does not willingly reveal their facial features, no one can force them to reveal it.
'Not even the three hegemonies!'