Apollo wiped his hand on his robe. As silence lingered in the air, he returned to his seat, passing by the shocked Michael, who stood with his mouth wide open.
"Scram if you don't belong in this room," Apollo said, his eyes closed, leaning back comfortably in his chair.
The onlookers stared at him in surprise. What he had just displayed was outright disrespect to Michael, a noble and one of the top students in the Great Serpent Cultivation School. Michael was a popular student with a high chance of reaching the top spot in this year's Advancement Examination.
Making an enemy of him was definitely not a good idea, especially for a nobody.
Michael stared at his goon, now passed out on the floor. He waved his hand, and his other men immediately moved to carry the thin man. "Send him to the Healers; he will no longer participate in this exam."
Hearing this, the people present were surprised, especially Michael's men, who turned to look at the masked man with anger in their eyes. They were about to protest, but when they noticed the look on their leader's face, they knew better than to push him further.
"I was about to make you an offer to join the school, be my right-hand man, and I would have given you a generous reward in return," Michael said, turning to the masked man. That had been his main purpose in coming to this room, but because of that fool, he didn't achieve his plan.
This masked man had displayed a spectacular performance during the second test, and as a Great Serpent Martial Student, Michael knew how hard it was to create ten clones with Hydra Mirage. From what he knew, only the Headmaster could do that, which showed just how talented the man in front of him was.
But it seemed Michael had still underestimated the Beggar. Completely disregarding him and even punching one of his men, Michael was angry, though he chose not to show it, especially after witnessing what the masked man had just done.
Although he couldn't explain how or when the swap happened, one thing was certain: the masked man had held back that punch. Otherwise, more than just teeth would have flown out.
Hearing Michael's words, the students in the room were even more surprised. But considering what the masked man had just shown, it was no wonder Michael wanted such a person on his side.
"Though it seems you don't need that," Michael continued before he began walking away. "But I'll make sure I get my revenge."
The entire exchange had been so brief that it didn't even take five minutes.
Apollo opened his eyes once he felt Michael's presence disappear. Shaking his head, he reached for another piece of fruit and started eating. "Enemies from here and there. Ah, life is great," Apollo muttered, though he wasn't too worried about these arrogant young masters.
His mind drifted back to the previous scene, a smile forming on his lips. It seems like I can also use the Swap Ability, which is only accessible when one reaches the Intermediate stage. It was a surprise to him, as at first, he only felt that he could do it when he thought about the Hydra Mirage.
But my energy drained so fast, Apollo massaged his forehead. Besides the fatigue, he could also feel a headache coming on. I should only use that when necessary. If he wants to surpass this hurdle, he'll have to reach the Qi Condensation stage, though he still doesn't know when that will be.
Furthermore, there are still more techniques in his head that he hasn't tried yet. Apollo decided to find some time to use them on stage, just to see their effects and if they're worth using in the long term. Having many 'arsenals' is great, but it's only useful if he knows his 'guns' well. Otherwise, he might end up shooting himself in the foot.
"Father," Bel said with a wide smile.
"I knew you would pass," Mathias stood up from his seat upon hearing his daughter's call.
"It was a piece of cake. I thought you wouldn't be able to come," Bel looked at her father from head to toe to check for injuries. "You seem okay?"
"Haha, just a minor injury," Mathias chuckled, pointing at his chest. Seeing the worry on his daughter's face, he immediately reassured her. "Don't worry, it doesn't hurt."
They were on a platform connected by a bridge to the mountain wall entrance. The area was covered by a translucent dome, protecting them from prying ears in case someone was listening from the audience. Tables and comfortable chairs decorated the platform, while important figures from the city talked among themselves.
Bel recognized some of them—the greedy noble families. Their fake smiles were as usual, which no longer surprised her.
"I hate them. They tore apart what was left of the Leone business, which was meant for the heir," Bel muttered, her eyes cold and her fists clenched as she remembered that the Leone family was now nothing more than history.
Mathias waved his hand, covering them in a translucent dome. Inside, they were the only ones who could hear each other.
"Business is business. There's nothing we can do," Mathias smiled bitterly. "And I want you to stop looking for the kid."
"It's dangerous. Besides, we're not even sure if he's still alive. And even if he is, he's probably in another city, a slave," Mathias said, voicing the harsh truth.
"Father, I won't give up," Bel stared at her father with great determination.
Seeing her , he could only sigh. "Alright, alright. Just so you know, I've already given you my advice, so don't expect too much."
"I know," Bel smiled before changing the topic. "So, you managed to kill it, right?"
Mathias looked around and saw that some were glancing in their direction. With a wave, the translucent dome became cloudy, making it hard for others to see what was happening.
"Yes, we did, though it took us two and a half days," Mathias said, his voice low.
"That's great!" The smile on Bel's face widened. "So, it means he's alive?"
"That—" Mathias opened his mouth before closing it.
"He's dead," Bel concluded, her smile fading and replaced by a solemn sigh.
"It was inevitable. We tried to protect him as much as we could, but that Alpha was very persistent. She managed to get past our defenses and killed him with her tail."