"If you want to execute me, then why do you need such an elaborate scheme? What’s with this fake righteousness?!"
Many people thought that Leo would try to offer an explanation, or call Anker a liar. Some even thought that he would burst into tears after being exposed and start begging for his life.
Unfortunately, Leo’s reaction shocked almost every single person there. Even Anker was staring at Leo like he was an idiot. The corner of his lips kept trying to creep up to form a smirk, but he controlled himself.
The more agitated Leo became, the easier it would be for him to execute Leo so that there wouldn’t be any chance of a turnaround.
Even a few heroes in the back stood up, and started clamoring for Leo to be published for such disrespect.
It was only when the Guild Master raised his left hand that the entire colosseum became pin drop silent.
"Before we reach a conclusion, shouldn’t we confirm the result first? Isn’t that why we gathered here?" The Guild Master spoke in a calm voice, yet his words fell in everyone’s ears like they were carried through the entire colosseum.
He lowered his hand, issuing instructions to Anker. "Young Alchemist, prove your analysis! Prove that your words are worth believing! Create the Elixir in front of us with just a single lemon and water!"
"If you prove that the composition is correct, we would be more prone to believe your words. But if you can’t prove your words, then you would be the one that will be punished. In any case, we will see at least one execution today. So try not to be that person!"
The Guild Master closed his eyes, and stopped paying attention to the situation. Even though he hadn’t outright said it, everyone understood his meaning.
If Anker could create a working mana overload elixir with just a lemon, then it would prove that he was telling the truth, and Leo had tricked them. In that case, Leo would be taken care of. Torture during interrogation would be the least of Leo’s worries.
But if Anker failed, then it would be Anker’s turn to feel the pain for accusing a Floor Lord, and guest of Hero Tower.
Normally, the Guild Master would have first tested the analysis before inviting Leo for a hearing. Unfortunately, Anker had sent this report to almost every executive in the guild.
There were many voices in support of Anker, and furious with Leo. Even as a Guild Master, he still had to consider the people around him, especially since Blaze wasn’t on earth anymore.
This was the best compromise he could come up with. Anker had to prove himself before everyone. If he was right, then it would prove that even if Leo didn’t steal the Elixir recipe, he was still just lucky to come up with it. He wasn’t a genius.
In that case, his death was a bearable sacrifice to calm the guild and protect its reputation. In any case, someone had to die today.
If the recipe was truly simple lemon water, then they had to at least make sure that the word that goes around would say that a Tower’s Alchemist came up with, instead of being known as fools that were stupid enough to not even know such a simple thing.
If the recipe was truly unique and Anker failed, it was even for the better since it would prove that they hadn’t been fooled.
In any case, the Guild didn’t lose anything. They just had to choose the most valuable person in this situation amongst the two.
"Right away!" Anker released Leo’s collars and rushed back to the table.
He used a sharp knife to cut the lemon and squeeze the drops into the water bottle in the same ratio as Leo did according to his analysis.
Leo saw the entire process, and knew that it was the correct process. It was the exact same one that he had proceeded.
’Looks like there is no way out. The entire Guild is gathered to watch my death. Can I at least count this as an achievement?’
Leo didn’t get to run away. In this dimension, where could he even run? That unknown force would simply drag him back. He could only wait as a countdown for his death started in his mind.
’What a pity... I won’t be able to enjoy any losses. Even after getting a system, I would die before I could even taste the system rewards. What a disappointment.’
Leo kept his hands behind his back, lost in his own thoughts. Those who watched him, wondered what he was thinking about. However, one thing no one could ignore. He truly looked surreal as he stood in silence, like a person that stood alone in this world.
There was no fear on his face. There was no anger. He was just existing as an entity that couldn’t care the least about his surroundings.
"I am done!" Anker raised the bottle in the air. "This is the Elixir that I had invented, before it was stolen! It’s an elixir that can heal Mana Overload, even and remove certain rare toxins from the body!"
"Test it," The Guild Master said, slowly opening his eyes. He crossed his arms around his chest, and watched a low ranking hero come down the steps, entering the field.
A woman, who was sitting behind the Guild Master, also stood up. Even amongst the people sitting in the front row right behind the Guild Master, the woman held a unique position.
She was Gaia. She wasn’t just a part of the top ten heroes of earth. She was in the top three, being ranked third. But if one was to rank based on charm alone, she would undoubtedly rank first, closely followed by Lancer.
Gaia stopped before the low ranking hero, who was almost shivering in her presence.
She raised her left hand, and lightly touched the low ranking hero’s forehead.
In that moment, the low ranking hero roared in pain, a strange energy invading his body, overwhelming his mana veins.
It was a sight that made even the other top ten heroes look with hesitation.
Amongst the Heroes, only Gaia was capable of Artificially forcing mana overload on a hero. And it wasn’t even her main ability. That’s why, she had firmly held the third position, being unshaken.