Chapter 167: Rating

Chapter 167: Rating



The explosion that split the 'Shipwreck' in two was witnessed by all the new knights participating in the Ennoblement Examination, and they all heard the deafening blast. Among them, only the red-haired girl, Evelyn, knew that Rain was responsible for this act, while the others merely saw the burning and severed halves of the ship.

Naturally, they assumed that the Imperial Navy was behind this, and no one would have imagined that a young examinee had caused such destruction.

On the other hand, perhaps due to confidentiality regulations, the members of the assessment team and the naval officers who witnessed Rain's actions remained silent, not uttering a word about what had happened.

The only other witness to Rain's actions, the red-haired girl Evelyn, was introverted and a bit proud, and she had no desire to spread the word about what she had seen.

As a result, none of the other young examinees knew that Rain was responsible for the ship-bombing incident.

Rain himself, of course, would not proactively boast about his actions.

At this moment, Rain was in the ship's cabin, reviewing the entire battle, seemingly unaffected by the surrounding noise.

If the seer Mara's thin protective film had blocked his 'Earth-Splitting Hammer,' then in the subsequent battle, the first mate and chief mate of the 'Shipwreck,' both senior knights, would have inevitably joined the fight.

However, Rain had released a 'Heat Field' that lasted for about a minute, and the enclosed captain's cabin gave him a significant advantage.

Defeating a few more opponents would only require a bit more effort. The only scenario in which Rain could fail was if Mara, after blocking his attack, immediately chose to flee.

If that happened, Rain's chances of success would be greatly reduced, as Mara would escape, and the entire record of the battle would be significantly discounted.

However, upon further reflection, Rain realized that this possibility was not very high.

After all, the 'Shipwreck' was Mara's stronghold, and he had a collection of treasures in his captain's cabin. Additionally, they had never fought each other before.

Putting himself in Mara's shoes, Rain knew that he would not abandon his cherished treasures and quickly flee his stronghold after a single encounter.

Speaking of cherished treasures, Rain glanced down at the black bag at his feet, which contained the spoils of war from the seer Mara.

In fact, the black bag only held a small iron box.

Rain had considered carrying the small iron box directly, but he found a black bag to put it in to make it less conspicuous.

Many of the new knights had made some gains during this Ennoblement Examination, and they all carried their spoils in large and small black bags.

In the captain's cabin of the 'Shipwreck,' under the bed, Rain found a small box containing a fish scale scroll. On it was recorded a water-based magic called 'Water Therapy.'

Combining this with the information provided by the Imperial Navy, Rain guessed that this was Mara's signature water-based magic.

For other wizard apprentices, obtaining an opponent's magic would be a cause for great joy. However, for Rain, who already had access to various magics, including Adams' two curses that he hadn't learned yet, acquiring 'Water Therapy' was slightly disappointing. He was hoping for something more aligned with his fire-based magic.

Although these magics could be learned, their power or effectiveness would be significantly reduced. This was why the concept of affinity existed.

Next, in Mara's iron box, there was a letter, which wasn't particularly important in itself. It was a letter Mara had written to a friend, but it contained a piece of valuable information.

In Rain's opinion, this information was as valuable as the water-based magic 'Water Therapy' he had just obtained.

The letter mentioned a mysterious market in Rosby City called the 'Nightingale Market.'

This immediately reminded Rain of the 'Bat Market' in Meyster.

Perhaps in this mysterious market in Rosby City, Rain might find something useful for himself.

Lastly, the small iron box contained a fascinating item—half of a treasure map.

At first glance, Rain was surprised to have found a treasure map, as he wasn't particularly interested in such things. Pirates' hidden treasures didn't hold much allure for him.

However, when Rain read the notes Mara had written on the back of the treasure map, he changed his mind.

Mara's thorough investigation revealed that the treasure map originated from a pirate king named Vincent Samborne, a fire-based wizard and Grand Knight who lived hundreds of years ago and was renowned for his fireball magic, which was said to be more powerful than a thirty-two-pound cannon.

Especially when used against wooden ships, a fireball could shatter the hull and set the entire vessel ablaze. Thus, Vincent Samborne earned the title of "Shipburner."

Fireball magic!

Rain couldn't help but feel a sense of longing.

Although he currently had no leads to the other half of the treasure map, he already possessed one half.

What if he found the remaining half one day?

Once he acquired the fireball magic, he would undoubtedly add five skill points to it! Three points wouldn't do justice to the word 'fireball!'

Half a day later, after a night of fighting and tension, the naval officers who participated in the raid on Mortre Island and the members of the Imperial Ennoblement Examination team gathered in the conference room of the Imperial South Sea Fleet's Sixth Division Fleet, located across from the Navy Home Inn.

A clear female voice was heard reporting data.

The speaker was a female officer wearing a naval uniform, similar to Second Lieutenant Marica, but with three stars on her shoulders, indicating the rank of captain.

".

"Bridger Sanchez, killed Captain Bilgir Jamal of the Hooked Blade, five Bloodsail pirate leaders, and three ordinary pirates. Score: six hundred and fifteen points."

As this was announced, whispers filled the conference room.

"Damn, if not for that Reyn, this would've been the top score in the Ennoblement Examination, right?"

"Exactly! If not for that Reyn blowing up the ship, this would've been the top score!"

"This score would've easily been the top in the previous two examinations. I can't believe it's only second place this time." A member of the assessment team, dressed in noble hunter attire, chimed in.

"Reyn Calan, killed Captain Mallar Nasar of the Shipwreck, the first mate, the chief mate, twenty-two Bloodsail pirate leaders, and one hundred and forty-nine ordinary pirates. Score: two thousand two hundred and eighty-five points!"

As the female captain reached the score, she paused, then continued with a heightened voice, "Two thousand two hundred and eighty-five points!"

The high score seemed to be the reason for her raised voice.

"Wow!" A collective gasp filled the room.

"Tsk!" Many others expressed their astonishment.

The news of someone blowing up a ship had spread among the naval officers and the assessment team the night before.

At that time, many had guessed that the new knight who blew up the ship would receive an exceptionally high score.

But even with that expectation, the actual score of over two thousand points was still shocking, leaving many with their mouths agape.

It wasn't just the score itself that was astonishing; it was also the fact that it more than tripled the score of the second-place finisher. Moreover, the second-place score would have easily been the top score in previous examinations! This fact left everyone in awe.

"When was the last time such an outrageous score was achieved in the Ennoblement Examination?" Theo, Viscount Theodorus, dressed in noble hunter attire, found himself reminiscing.

Even for someone who had been in charge of the Ennoblement Examination for five years, this situation seemed unprecedented.

Such an exaggerated score hadn't been seen in the records of the Ennoblement Examination in Myester Province for a long time!

"Ladies and gentlemen, the score reporting is complete!" The female captain declared with a firm voice.

"Excellent. Everyone has heard the scores, and I believe there are no objections from the examiners," Admiral Silva said with a smile, gesturing for the female captain to take her seat.

"No objections!"

"None," the examiners replied as Admiral Silva's gaze moved from one examiner to the next.

However, a male naval officer who served as an examiner furrowed his brows and voiced a dissenting opinion: "Regarding Reyn's score, I have a question. His act of blowing up the ship, to some extent, interfered with the Imperial Navy's raid on the Bloodsail pirates' flagship, the Bloodsail."

"Therefore, I believe his actions were problematic and should result in a deduction of points."

As the officer finished speaking, some people nodded slightly and whispered among themselves.

"That does make sense."

"Reyn's act of blowing up the ship did involve some cleverness, and a deduction of points is justified."

"Indeed, while he is strong, it doesn't warrant such a significant lead over the second-place finisher."

". . ."

"I object!" At that moment, a voice as clear as a yellow oriole rang out. A female naval officer with a graceful figure stood up; it was Second Lieutenant Marika.

As everyone's attention turned to her, she spoke with confidence: "I believe we must first clarify whether participants in the Ennoblement Examination are required to report their personal action plans in advance."

"I think this point has never been emphasized, neither in the instructions nor during the actual examination."

"Since this is the case, from the perspective of the examinees, making the most of the available conditions to increase the number of kills is perfectly reasonable." As Marika spoke, her beautiful eyes swept across the room.

Many people thought for a moment and then nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Marika smiled and continued, "Additionally, Knight Reyn's ability to combine information from the materials with the actual situation on the field and execute his plan effectively is, I believe, the key to his score surpassing everyone else's."

Upon hearing this, Admiral Silva also looked at Marika with appreciation.

This was the very reason he valued Reyn so highly.

Aside from Reyn's exceptional strength, his ability to grasp the critical issue and act swiftly was of utmost importance. Young people possessing both these qualities were rare in the entire Imperial Navy, let alone the Sixth Division Fleet of the South Sea Fleet.

Seeing that no one else had any further comments, Admiral Silva turned to Viscount Theodorus, who was sitting beside him, and said, "Viscount, as the person in charge of the Ennoblement Examination, the decision is up to you."

Viscount Theodorus smiled and nodded. "Admiral Silva, you're too kind. In my opinion, Reyn's current score is perfectly valid. However, according to the rules, we should still hold a vote."

"Of course, it's a necessary procedure. Those who agree with Reyn's current score, please raise your hands," Admiral Silva said with a smile, raising his right hand.

Viscount Theodorus, sitting next to him, also raised his right hand.

Seeing the agreement between the two respected figures, the others quickly followed suit, raising their right hands!

The male naval officer's mouth twitched slightly, and he, too, raised his right hand.

"Unanimous decision!"

After the meeting concluded and the room emptied, Admiral Silva turned to Viscount Theodorus and smiled. "Viscount, do you remember me mentioning last night that I needed your help?"

"Of course, Admiral Silva. What can I do for you?" Viscount Theodorus asked with a smile.

"After reviewing Reyn's resume, I never imagined that such a talented young man in the Empire would only hold the position of Deputy Sheriff of Shangjin Town. It's such a waste of talent."

"Viscount Theodorus, I'd like to ask a favor. When the examination results are delivered, I'd also like to deliver the transfer order to Reyn."

"I believe that such a driven young man should serve the Imperial Navy. It would be a waste of talent otherwise!"

Viscount Theodorus smiled after hearing this.

He had a hunch that Admiral Silva's request for help might be related to Reyn, and he was right.

Normally, after participating in the Ennoblement Examination, it would take around a month for the results to be announced, including whether the new knights would pass and what titles they would receive.

(End of Chapter)The process of bestowing a title upon a noble, known as the knighting ceremony, typically took a leisurely pace, often spanning a couple of months or even longer. According to regulations, the ceremony's conclusion triggered a three-month countdown, within which the newly ennobled individuals would be informed of their new status.

For Viscount Theo, an early conferment posed no issues. All he needed was to notify the Imperial Senate, and within three days, he could expect a response, officially granting Reyn the title of Baron.

Such an arrangement was well within the Empire's regulations, a matter of personal discretion.

"Of course, General Silva, I agree with your suggestion. These young talents with drive and ability should be placed in positions befitting their capabilities," Theo responded with a mischievous smile.

'What do you mean by "positions befitting their capabilities"?' Admiral Silva couldn't help but inwardly scoff at this convoluted phrasing.

'What kind of person talks like that?' he thought to himself, feeling like a fox had just walked by.

Not long after returning to the Navy Home Hotel, Reyn's room echoed with a series of hurried knocks.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Reyn opened the door to find a delighted Hass, gripping his arms excitedly.

"Reyn! I passed! Haha!" Hass exclaimed, jumping with joy.

"Hass, I thought you were on a solo mission. But isn't the result of the knighting ceremony only revealed a month later?" Reyn asked, slightly puzzled.

"My test required me to kill five Inkfish Men, but I managed to take down six. Those damn deep-sea fishmen are much stronger than regular fishmen! Each one of them was no less than a squire!" Hass continued, unable to contain his excitement.

"And their cursed ink abilities are not only toxic but also obscure vision. It's easy to get caught off guard!" Hass went on, sharing his experiences.

Reyn could tell that Hass was simply overjoyed and wanted to share his joy with someone.

After chatting for a while, Hass suddenly remembered something and asked, "Reyn, I'm sorry, I forgot to ask about your test. With your skills, you should have a good chance of achieving a 'Good' evaluation, right?"

Hass looked at Reyn with a serious expression, genuinely seeking an answer.

Previously, Reyn had rescued Hass from a group of knights, so Hass knew that Reyn's abilities surpassed his own. However, he wasn't entirely clear about the extent of Reyn's skills.

Hass had invited Reyn to the training grounds a few times, but Reyn had politely declined each time.

In Hass's estimation, Reyn was likely close to the skill level of a senior knight. After all, among that group, there were two full knights, and a common knight would struggle to handle them.

"This... shouldn't be a problem," Reyn thought for a moment and nodded.

Directly claiming that he should achieve an 'Excellent' evaluation felt too boastful to Reyn.

Additionally, he didn't want to dampen the spirits of this new friend who was currently so happy.

"You truly are remarkable! Achieving a 'Good' evaluation is no small feat!" Hass exclaimed, patting Reyn on the shoulder.

At that moment, the sound of boots clacking down the corridor drew their attention. A curvaceous figure, Second Lieutenant Marika, clad in a brand-new naval uniform, approached them.

As she reached their side, Hass, uncharacteristically, blushed slightly, lowered his head, and fell silent.

Marika turned to Hass and said, "Knight, may I have a moment alone with Knight Reyn?"

"Oh, of course, of course!" Hass scratched his head, a bit flustered.

After Hass left, Marika smiled at Reyn and said, "Knight Reyn, I just received a notification from my superiors. You are required to stay at the Navy Home Hotel for three more days. Is that okay with you?"

"Sure, no problem," Reyn hesitated for a moment but quickly agreed.

He didn't ask any questions.

Three days should be enough time for him to locate the mysterious marketplace, the 'Nightingale Market.'

Additionally, staying in Rosby City would provide him with a better understanding of the outside world.

After all, he had been confined to Shangjin Town, with limited opportunities to learn about external affairs.

Seeing Reyn's agreement, Marika's beautiful eyes glanced at him with an odd expression, and she smiled, "Knight Reyn, you're doing quite well for yourself!"

With that, Lieutenant Marika turned and left.

Reyn was a bit puzzled by this. Just five or six hours ago, this beautiful second lieutenant had angrily complained to him, but now she was praising him.

Nevertheless, the feeling of being complimented was quite pleasant.

That afternoon, while most of the newly appointed knights, including Hass, were packing their bags to return home, Reyn, having received the notification, remained at the Navy Home Hotel.

Meanwhile, in an underground hall within a mansion in Myester County Town...

"High Priest, after several days of investigation, the Druid that injured Giovanni is likely no longer in Shangjin Town," the Flame Priest, Larimar, reported respectfully to the obese figure seated before him.

"Hmm? You mean the Druid who suddenly appeared was just passing through?" The High Priest's tone carried a hint of surprise.

Seven or eight days ago, when he heard the news of Giovanni's severe injury, he was shocked.

He hadn't expected a new knight from a small town to have any connection with a Druid.

If that were the case, it would require further investigation.

"Well, that can't be confirmed. Reyn is no longer in Shangjin Town, so I can't determine if there's a connection between them based on Reyn's actions,"

The High Priest's question prompted Flame Priest Larimar to think for a moment before he cautiously replied.

"What do you mean?"

"High Priest, according to reliable information, Reyn went to Rosby City several days ago to participate in the noble knighting ceremony. Therefore, there's no way to confirm a connection between Reyn and the Druid who injured Giovanni."

"Additionally, we have no leads on the Druid's background," Flame Priest Larimar added, feeling a bit tongue-tied himself.

His entire response, even to himself, seemed a bit perfunctory.

But he had done his best!

On the day Giovanni returned injured, he was tasked with investigating the Druid.

He had been deeply concerned at the time because even Giovanni couldn't handle him, so he certainly wouldn't be able to. After several days of careful investigation, he confirmed that the Druid was no longer in Shangjin Town.

But at that time, he also discovered that Reyn was no longer in Shangjin Town.

End of Chapter 1

Chapter end