Pillar of Yita

”Why does it feel like this boy is actually the leader of the Kapuka Artisan Association team?”

”Yeah, I thought it was that Big Cat, isn’t he a bit too young?”

”How come that Papalarian just sat down and started eating, wait, where did he get that apple from?”

”Speaking of which, I’ve been wondering, didn’t you notice they only have three people?”

The wandering horse was curious too.

He had now recognized the trio as Fang Hong and company, the odd group he had encountered before in the middle district of Elpaxin. However, he couldn’t help thinking, hadn’t these people been in Elpaxin for a while now? Why did they only show up now?

And this competition was a five-person format, and although it wasn’t explicitly stated that a full team was necessary to compete, how could three people complete it?

He couldn’t help but look toward Lady Aisha beside him.

But the Dwarf Lady was just as puzzled: ”Why did he go up there alone, where are the others? I thought two more of them hadn’t arrived yet, does this little guy not plan to wait for the others?”

The horse subconsciously glanced at the live broadcast room, knowing that there might be professionals among his fans. But this time, he was disappointed; his audience knew even less about the competition’s format than he did.

Instead, the focus of the discussion in the barrage was on Fang Hong’s gloves—

This was normal, since Combat Artisan was a very popular topic on Earth. Most followers of the New World, who were ordinary viewers, would talk enthusiastically about this profession and could list famous Invokers like collectors.

”That guy is a Combat Artisan too, huh? So young, is he also an Invoker?” someone asked.

”That’s for sure,” a barrage message quickly replied. ”A common knowledge is that native Alchemists tend to be older. And that’s the fourth-generation Omnimeter from the Emerald Bird Workshop, Mai from the Dragonai Wine Guild uses these exact gloves, identical, Invokers really like this model of gloves, including those from the Osh Empire—”

”Ha, then he’s a Combat Artisan too. Earlier they said that busty but brainless stick girl contestant was a Combat Artisan, I thought that was so amazing, but look, we have one too.”

”Yeah, the host absolutely can’t boost others’ morale and undermine his own confidence.”

Seeing the audience’s lively debate, the wandering horse couldn’t help shaking his head.

Even though he was a landscape broadcaster, having mingled in Eteliria he at least had a broader vision than these people. A control glove makes you a Combat Artisan? That’s not necessarily the case, as most crafters carry a control glove or a Clockwork Fairy even if they aren’t Combat Artisans.

After all, it’s not only Combat Artisans who can control Flexible Constructs. A Clockwork Fairy doesn’t have high requirements for Magical Adaptability, and it’s not particularly difficult to control solo. With enough practice, this can become a convenient skill to use—

However, Alchemy was a very time-consuming profession, with each specialty being a field to master. For an Invoker, it takes a massive amount of experience to build up—rare are Alchemists like Vikki who dual-specialize and excel in both domains, which can truly be said to be a talent.

No wonder MVP considered her an ace to nurture.

But as he was about to explain this to his audience, at that moment on the projection, Fang Hong said something to Reed. After entrusting his glove to the Big Cat, he turned to the latter and the Papalarian saying, ”Wait here for me, I’ll be right back.”

Then he turned alone and walked toward the control panel—

Wait here for me, I’ll be right back?

Lady Aisha opened her mouth in surprise and looked at the wandering horse beside her.

And the wandering horse had almost the same expression, as he looked back at her.

The competition venue burst into an uproar in an instant.

It seemed the audience finally realized, Reed hadn’t been joking earlier—turns out he really was a Holy Temple Knight, and that Papalarian—he was truly just a draftsman, a Thief, and as for his so-called Alchemy.

Heaven knows what kind of freakish Alchemy that was, probably Stomach Alchemy—look at that bulging belly of his.

When the Dwarf Chairman of the Elpaxin Artisan Association, Dwarf Rosetta, saw this, she nearly jerked and pulled off a fistful of her black beard. In pain, she clutched her chin and yelled, ”What are they doing, what in the world are they doing?”

She was so frantic she almost jumped up and stormed in to confront Fang Hong—if it weren’t for the staff surrounding her tightly.

Having no other option, the Dwarf Chairman turned to find Jenny, who was nodding off on a flowerbed, pecking like a little chicken. She yanked the girl up and roared at her like thunder, ”Where on earth did you find these people? We sent a Holy Temple Knight and a Thief to an Alchemy competition? This is great, our association has truly made a name for itself—by next month, there won’t be anyone in Eteliria who doesn’t know us, how marvelous!”

Jenny was terrified by the Dwarf and trembled, not knowing what to say.

”Where’s Ottolos, where are the other Kapukas, bring those godforsaken fellows to see me!”

”I don’t know, I don’t know, Lord Rosetta,” the little girl nearly cried, shaking her head like a rattle drum. ”It was Lord Aquitez and Lord Merrifin who told me to send him, I don’t know anything, I don’t know where Lord Ottolos is.”