Chapter 135: 134 Examination Exemption Certificate

Early morning.In the yard where Richard lived, the collapsed wall had been quickly repaired by hurried craftsmen, and the collapsed side rooms had been cleared away. However, building new ones would take some more time; Richard had no such plans, making the yard seem somewhat empty and exceptionally quiet.

In the silence, Richard sat in the study, writing on a papyrus scroll with a quill. Meanwhile, in the living room, Pandora curled up on a chair, sleeping in. Suddenly, a frantic knocking erupted from the outside of the courtyard door, sounding as if someone was being chased.

“Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang!”

“Lord Richard, open the door quickly!”

Richard recognized Gro’s voice and raised his eyebrows slightly.

What could be so urgent? Was there some important matter? But… what could it be?

As Richard wondered, his gaze landed on the nearly finished papyrus scroll. He pondered whether to finish the remaining content before opening the door, to avoid the effort of regathering his thoughts later.

“Bang bang bang! Bang bang bang! Lord Richard, please open the door!”

Outside, Gro’s voice continued.

Richard hesitated, and at that moment, Pandora, who had been sleeping in the chair, suddenly opened her eyes, leaped off the chair, and dashed out of the house.

Richard then heard a “creak,” as the courtyard door was swiftly opened. Gro’s surprised voice followed, “Uh, Ri… you? I’m looking for Lord Richard, I…”

Immediately after, Gro’s voice cut off with a yelp, “Ah!”

As if he had been grabbed by his clothes and hoisted into the air.

The guards’ voices erupted, “Protect the prince!”

“Put our prince down, or we won’t be nice.”

“You… ow, ow!”

Gro’s voice faltered, and he shouted loudly, “Everyone stop, she means no harm to me, and you can’t defeat her… Also, would you put me down? I just came to see Lord Richard, I haven’t bothered you, I… hey hey…”

Gro’s voice grew nearer, and Richard, having finished the last section of the scroll, walked out of the study to the living room, just in time to see Pandora walk in with one hand holding Gro as if he were a child weighing over a hundred pounds.

After entering the living room, Pandora set Gro down on the floor, her brow furrowed as she returned to her chair and curled up again.

Gro struggled to his feet and met Richard’s eyes, showing an awkward yet polite smile.

“Are you alright?” Richard asked.

“Uh, yes, yes.” Gro glanced sideways at Pandora on the chair, shaking his head a bit fearfully.

“So what brings you here so early?” asked Richard.

“Uh,” Gro suddenly remembered his purpose, quickly speaking up, “Hua’er is dead.”

“Hmm?” Richard raised an eyebrow, “The Third-level Wizard Apprentice Hua’er at White Stone Tower?”

“Yes, who else?”

“How did he die? What happened?”

“I’m not sure of the details. It was only after the girls he was with ran out that the news spread. I only found out at dawn. I went to the inn and saw it in the room, Hua’er had turned into a statue, likely from a spell, but I don’t know who did it.”

“Turned into a statue?” Richard’s eyes flickered, musing to himself, “Similar to a petrification spell? That would be… a transfiguration spell…”

Suddenly, Gro seemed to realize something and looked intently at Richard.

Noticing Gro’s gaze, Richard spoke, “What?”

“Well…” Gro blinked, asking tentatively, “you didn’t do it, did you, Lord Richard?”

“Hmm?” Richard was slightly startled, then chuckled as he looked at Gro, “What’s this? A speculation? But shouldn’t it be logical? Why would I kill him? Not to mention, whether I have the capability. But what would be the motive? What benefit would I gain from killing him?”

“Of course, there’s a benefit,” Gro replied earnestly, “a huge benefit. Otherwise, why do you think I would come knocking on your door so early, nearly getting beaten up?” As he spoke, Gro cautiously glanced at Pandora, noticing she wasn’t paying any attention to him, and relaxed.

Hearing Gro’s words, Richard asked, “So what’s the benefit? Let’s hear it.”

“The most obvious, with Hua’er dead, the records of talent he was testing are gone too. You and I won’t have to worry about being judged unqualified and unable to board the ship to White Stone Tower,” Gro said.

“But…” Richard slightly furrowed his brow, “when the wizards from White Stone Tower Academy arrive, if we want to board the ship, won’t the talents still need to be tested? Are you saying you have a way to change your talents in a short amount of time?”

“Uh, this… I don’t have that, but…” Gro scratched his head, trying to explain, “at least it gives us some buffer time, at least a second chance. Maybe if we make some effort, we might change the outcome.”

“So, you still believe in effort, then? Shall I repeat what I said yesterday?” Richard asked.

“Uh, never mind,” Gro quickly waved his hand, becoming serious, “But really, I did hear a rumor, about the White Stone Tower. It’s said that to board the ship and go to White Stone Tower Academy on the mainland, you don’t necessarily need to pass the talent test, there’s another way.”

“What is it?”

“It’s said that a long time ago, the wizards issued some Examination Exemption Certificates. If someone can get these certificates, they can be accepted unconditionally by White Stone Tower or any other Wizard Organization, and they would receive special treatment and care, different from normal students.”

“Hmm? Is that the rumor? Are you sure it’s true? And are you certain these Examination Exemption Certificates exist?”

“I’m not entirely sure about its truth, but I think it’s likely. As for the Examination Exemption Certificates, whether they exist or not, I don’t know, but if they do, I’ll definitely try to get one. It’s said that the certificate is circular, made of a crystal-like material with complex patterns unable to be replicated. Also…”

After a while, Gro left, asserting before he left that he would definitely try to get the Examination Exemption Certificate, and if he got the chance, he would get one for Richard too.

Richard shook his head at this and said nothing.

After sending Gro away, Richard walked back into the living room, his eyes flickered, and he flicked his hand to retrieve an item from the Iron Ring, which he had obtained after killing the Mysterious Wizard.

Circular, crystal-like material, with intricate patterns, impossible to replicate…

Completely matching everything Gro had described.

But…

“Examination Exemption Certificate?” Richard looked at the object in his palm, gently shook his head, and couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “Interesting…”