“What’s going on? The banquet is about to start, yet everyone is still lingering here!” Lance Lin took a couple of steps forward, standing in front of Colton, his expression dark as he glared at Shane Line.
The Robinson family had put a lot of effort into today’s banquet. If it weren’t for Colton’s connection to the Robinson family, they wouldn’t have been able to host the event ahead of so many other families.
A master-level alchemist is extremely important for the current situation of the Robinson family.
If things are handled well, it’s not impossible for the Robinson family to reach the same level of power as the Taylor family in the future!
Thinking of this, Lance Lin shot a sharp glance at Shane Line.
Shane Line hurriedly explained, “Head of the family, the reason so many people have gathered is all because of that brat Charles, who doesn’t know his place!”
Shane Line stepped in front of Lance Lin and laid out the entire sequence of events. Lance Lin clearly understood that it all started when Zane caused trouble, but he was still annoyed.
Even if Zane started it, couldn’t Charles just let it slide?
It was evident that he didn’t have a clear understanding of his own position. Could a commoner really be more important than Zane of the Genosha Taylor family?
Lance Lin had heard of Charles’s name, the genius forging alchemist. He remembered that he had once asked the steward to send an invitation, hoping to smooth things over in advance. However, one Charles clearly could not be compared to Colton!
Snowy Gao, standing nearby, was the first to react when Shane Line pointed the blame at Charles.
She immediately spoke up, “The esteemed Robinson family can’t distinguish right from wrong, it was Zane who was at fault first!”
Upon hearing this, Lance Lin became anxious. After all, Colton was right behind him, and if this master-level alchemist grew dissatisfied with the Robinson family, it could jeopardize future cooperation, which would be disastrous!
However, he couldn’t say much either, he knew Snowy Gao’s status. She came from beyond the Abyssal Depths and held an esteemed position, even the royal family respected her greatly.
“It’s a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding, it’s all a misunderstanding. Charles and Zane are both young, hot-headed, and competitive, which is understandable. Why don’t we just let it go for now and discuss it after the banquet?” Lance Lin, seeing things getting complicated, decided to smooth things over, thinking it best to let the banquet proceed normally first.
Colton, listening from behind, had gathered most of the details. He understood that this situation arose because Charles lacked a powerful background and was being looked down upon by the Robinson family, treated unjustly.
To be honest, Colton liked Charles as a disciple, he was calm and had terrifying talent in alchemy.
As Charles’s alchemy teacher, he certainly wanted to stand up for him.
But now was not the time, he could wait a little longer and give those who looked down on Charles a big lesson!
Thinking of this, Colton spoke up, “If there’s a misunderstanding, it’s better to clarify it now. I’ve heard of this Charles, he seems to be an advanced alchemist at just eighteen. He shouldn’t be so stubborn in his mistakes.”
Hearing Colton express some favor towards Charles, a few people in the crowd suddenly began to panic.
Especially Zane, who thought that if Charles got close to Colton, it would be troublesome for him in the future. He wouldn’t be able to deal with Charles anymore, and Charles might even come back to seek revenge on him.
Therefore, Zane immediately said, “Senior, you don’t know. This Charles is just a commoner, and he’s quite arrogant, looking down on others!”
Before Charles could respond, other young people, who didn’t like Charles, followed Zane’s lead and spoke up. “Yes, senior, Charles loves to show off and isn’t stable enough!”
“Moreover, he snatched love from others and insulted people, he doesn’t know any manners!”
“Senior, I also heard that Charles is dishonest and has poor character!”
Instantly, a chorus of voices came forth, belittling Charles, completely unaware that Colton’s expression was growing darker.
Zane and Grace were observant, they both thought that this master-level alchemist, Colton, was becoming increasingly displeased with Charles!
Grace continued, “Senior, this Charles even publicly said, ‘Do those gentry have blue blood, certainly!’ He’s simply arrogant beyond measure!”
As Charles listened to the slander and ridicule directed at him, he remained calm, feeling an unspoken sense of anticipation.
He realized something was off when Colton spoke, clearly, Colton knew him but was pretending not to recognize him. It seemed that the real show was yet to come!
However, Celestine and Catherine couldn’t hold back any longer. Listening to others speak ill of Charles filled them with anger. They were just about to step forward and refute everyone when Charles quietly pulled them back.
At that moment, Shane Line listened to the surrounding voices and said seriously, “Charles, this situation arose because of you. What else do you have to say?”
Charles shook his head and slowly replied, “It was Zane who challenged me first, mocking me for being a commoner. I am not at fault.”
“Oh? Charles, did I say something wrong? Aren’t you a commoner?” Zane immediately shouted.
“I am a commoner, but what of it?” Charles replied, his expression unreadable, calm as still water.
“A commoner should be looked down upon! You and your ancestors are all lowly ordinary people, completely unambitious, otherwise, you wouldn’t still be commoners!” Zane said proudly.
Upon hearing this, Charles’s eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, “So you think commoners are lowly?”
“Exactly! Commoners are lowly, narrow-minded, and utterly ignorant!” Zane saw no issue with his statement, that was just how he viewed it.
“Then let me ask you, who was the founding emperor of Genosha? What was his background?” After saying this, Charles smirked slightly, eager to see how Zane would respond!
“Our founding emperor is…” Zane began to speak but then realized that the founding emperor of Genosha was named Bai Bing, born a commoner, who fought all his life to establish Genosha.
Zane fell silent, sweat beading on his forehead. If he had continued, he would have indirectly implied that the emperor, who founded Genosha as a commoner, was a lowly person.
If this got out, Zane would be finished!
“Charles, you only know how to use your words to win! If you have the guts, accept the duel. I want to see just how strong you really are!” Zane quickly changed the subject, not wanting to dwell on the commoner issue any longer.
The royal members, the eldest princess Bai Rui and the second princess Camilla, had all been watching him closely. If he made another mistake, he would surely get a beating from his father, Benson, once they returned to the Taylor family!
“What are the stakes? If I win, what will happen to you?” Charles asked.
Hearing Charles’s words, Zane burst into laughter and said, “You win? That’s impossible! Do you even know who he is? He’s the warrior who’s slain a hundred enemies on the battlefield of Genosha! David Zheng!”
Zane’s brief introduction made those present who knew about David Zheng immediately explain to others.
“I’ve heard that name! He’s the one who broke through enemy encirclement by killing dozens!”
“Wasn’t it a hundred enemies?”
“It’s a cumulative total of a hundred! That’s quite impressive, Charles would never be his opponent!”
“Exactly! David Zheng has been tempered by blood and fire on the battlefield, dealing with Charles would be a piece of cake for him!”
“And David Zheng is a Level Four Beast Master, while Charles is only a Level Three Beast Master. He has no chance at all!”
Hearing the last words, Zane quickly said, “What’s with the Level Three and Level Four Beast Masters? Without summoning a mystical beast or using high-quality weapons, there won’t be a significant gap!”
“Charles, are you even capable? If not, just admit it early, I will definitely forgive you!” Zane placed his hands on his hips and tilted his head to look at Charles.
“I’ll say it again, what are the stakes? If I win, what will you pay?” Charles wasn’t interested in anything else, his physical abilities ranked him among the strong even within Level Four Beast Masters!
Zane looked at Charles’s calm demeanor and felt infuriated. He never expected that even after all this, Charles would still be foolishly thinking of winning?
That was simply impossible!
So Zane replied, “If you win, I’ll kneel and bow my head in apology!”
Charles couldn’t help but chuckle a bit. If he lost, not only would he have to bow and apologize, but he would also lose an arm. How could Zane just ignore the latter part of the price?
As things seemed to escalate, Lance Lin, not wanting to let it go further, tried to intervene. However, he still chose not to say anything to Zane and instead spoke to Charles, “Charles, today is a banquet of my Robinson family. Please show some restraint, or I’ll have to call someone to throw you out!”
Charles couldn’t be bothered to listen to Lance Lin’s words. It was always the same! From beginning to end, it was all about his actions, with no mention of Zane at all.
It was simply too much!
Just then, Colton cleared his throat and said, “An apology is fine, but let’s skip the rest. If you agree to the duel, Charles, I can give you a miracle drug that will temporarily boost you to Level Four Beast Master status, allowing you to fight better.”
“This? Senior Colton, that doesn’t seem right.” Lance Lin hesitated, surprised that Colton was interested in the matter between Charles and Zane.
“It’s no problem, these young men can use it as a performance before the banquet begins.” Colton said, stroking his beard as he looked at Charles.
Lance Lin nodded, about to say something, but was interrupted by Colton.
Colton’s ring flashed, and a bottle of miracle drug appeared in his hand. Those who recognized it immediately gasped, “That’s a blue-quality [Temporary Enhancement Potion]!”
“What? Blue quality?”
“That’s right, this potion can temporarily elevate the Beast Mastery level of any Beast Master below Level Six, and it has no side effects. It’s extremely valuable!”
“Truly worthy of a master-level alchemist, to produce a blue-quality miracle drug! Isn’t it a bit of a waste to give it to Charles, a Level Three Beast Master?”