Chapter 150: Chapter 149: The Prince’s Anger
“Uh…” After a moment of silence and a flash of understanding, Richard suddenly looked up with some suspicion and inquired, “What about the special treatment mentioned in the rumors…”
“Special treatment certainly does exist,” Richard said, “but it’s not the good kind; it’s the bad kind. You see, we got on board with an Examination Exemption Certificate. In a sense, we’re considered inferior, so the treatment we might encounter could be very poor. You’d better be mentally prepared.”
“This… okay,” Prince Gelo said, feeling his wonderful illusions shattering.
Richard had actually understood the matter of the Examination Exemption Certificate long ago. The main reason was that many of these certificates were found in the Space Iron Ring of the Mysterious Wizard they had killed, so they were directly classified as a form of currency.
Later, in Cuijin City, when Gelo described the appearance of the certificate, Richard grasped the intention of White Stone Tower regarding the Examination Exemption Certificate.
In a way, the Examination Exemption Certificate was akin to the school selection fees for students with poor academic performance on modern Earth. Those without Talent or with inferior Talent could enter the Wizard Organization by paying money, but they could face discrimination, cold treatment, or negligence afterward. However, this was what he wanted. To remain unnoticed and to secretly study everything would be much safer.
Otherwise, many things would require an explanation.
Thinking this, Richard noticed the deck growing slightly livelier.
As the last moments to board the ship came to an end, the last batch of passengers had boarded, the gangway was retracted, and many sailors were busy raising the anchor.
At this point, there were about thirty people on the deck. Nearly ten people wore lavish clothing, appearing to be either nobles or wealthy individuals, naturally congregating together and conversing. Occasionally, they cast disdainful glances around as if looking down on less fortunate individuals.
The majority of the remaining people were indeed the less fortunate or the children of poor families, clad in linen with some wearing torn garments. They looked around excitedly, but more with nervousness, occasionally casting wary glances at the wealthy children.
Richard shook his head slightly, knowing that many people had yet to realize that, at this moment, their previous statuses held no significance. Whether one was a noble or wealthy before, it didn’t elevate them anymore. Those who should stand out were the ones with extraordinary Talents. Such individuals would be favored and noticed in White Stone Tower.
With these thoughts, Richard turned his gaze toward a person in the corner, obviously dressed in a poor man’s attire, yet a small group of people had gathered around him.
This man was named John—John Calvin Qiao. Based on conversations around him, he was one of the two with High-level Talent detected on the way to White Stone Tower, a rare occurrence.
Yet, at the moment, he didn’t seem fully aware of the benefits his High-level Talent provided him. He sat cautiously in the corner, occasionally engaging in brief conversations with those who approached.
Richard withdrew his gaze and suddenly raised his eyebrows. Turning his head to Gelo beside him, he saw that Gelo’s expression was visibly upset, his fists clenched and eyes fierce as he glared at someone on the deck.
The person he was watching stood among the wealthy, engaging joyfully in conversation with others.
Richard’s eyes twinkled slightly as he asked Gelo, “What is it?”
“That’s Pompo Morton from the Pompo Family. I know him,” Gelo replied.
“He attended the Talent test at Hua’er with us, and he had no Talent. At the auction, besides the Examination Exemption Certificate I won, the other two went to Dean and the Lank Family respectively. His family didn’t get any.”
“And?” Richard prompted, knowing Gelo had more to disclose.
“He’s now on the ship, which is definitely suspicious. Either his family received special favors from the Master Wizards, or they acquired an Examination Exemption Certificate through some unscrupulous means. In fact, I just remembered that the Chief Maid in my palace is a distant relative of the Pompo Family.
Yesterday, I clearly remember placing my Examination Exemption Certificate in my Money Bag, but today it was replaced with Gold Coins. These series of events, I don’t believe, are unlinked.”
“So, you suspect that his family stole your Examination Exemption Certificate, enabling him to board this ship?”
“What are you planning to do?” Richard asked.
Gelo, with eyes flaming, stared at the other, not answering Richard’s question, because actions were the best response.
“Morton!” Gelo yelled out.
Morton, who was having a merry conversation, paused, looked through the crowd towards Gelo, then his expression froze, obviously not expecting Gelo to be on the ship.
The other party was clearly not good at hiding anything, and some answers were almost written on his face.
Gelo was now absolutely certain of his suspicion, and clenched his fist, “Come over here!”
“Pr… Prince Gelo…” the other party approached with a forced smile, his expression full of nervousness yet trying to remain calm as he greeted, “Pr… Prince Gelo, you are on the ship too, what… what a coincidence.”
If there had been guards, Gelo would have definitely ordered them to seize the man and beat him up to vent his anger.
But now, without his guards, he personally took action.
With a stern face, Gelo stepped forward, grabbed the man’s collar, and asked fiercely, “Morton, was it your family that stole my examination exemption certificate? Was it?”
“Pr… Prince Gelo…” the man tried to break free from Gelo’s grasp, unsuccessfully after several attempts, and thus let Gelo hold him, speaking out without admitting anything, “Prince Gelo, what… what are you talking about, how could my family possibly steal from you!”
“Don’t play dumb!” Gelo, full of anger, yanked the man’s collar, causing him to stagger, “If it wasn’t your family who stole it, how did the examination exemption certificate I put in my money bag suddenly turn into gold coins?”
“I don’t know about that,” the man said innocently, “Pr… Prince Gelo, you might be mistaken.”
“Mistaken? Doubt it!” Gelo yanked the man’s collar again, nearly pulling him down, “It was your family who stole my belongings. Now, I order you to return it to me!”
Onlookers had already gathered around, watching the spectacle and chattering.
“Is it true, he stole something?”
“No way, isn’t he a noble?”
“So what if he’s a noble? Maybe nobles are worse than us.”
“Uh, you may be right…”
Listening to the murmurs, Morton, under Gelo’s pull, managed to stabilize himself and hotly said, “I said I didn’t steal, and I mean it, Gelo, you need evidence to make such claims!”
“My word is evidence!” Gelo roared.
“Nonsense!” Morton forcefully broke free from Gelo’s grasp, fiercely saying, “You think you are still the Prince? I’ll tell you, on this ship, there’s no prince, and your word means nothing. I said I didn’t steal, and I mean it unless you can present proof. Otherwise, if you keep slandering me , I’ll not be nice to you.”
“Heh, you dare to not be nice to me!” Gelo laughed angrily, reaching out to grab the man’s collar again.