he'll be at a disadvantage. After all, it's hard for a gentleman to deal with someone who plays manipulative games."Rest assured, face any hardship with a sincere heart."Lance replied with ease."An ho...Chapter 266: Ranch Killed the Final Assessment

Keus's eyes darted between Lance and the statue.

Even the priests of their resurrection cult knew that the Goddess of Fate was utterly incapable of making such an obscene gesture of flipping someone off.

The one who could carve this out seems to be representing the goddess scolding them, the Resurrectionists and the Extinguishment sect!

Caius' fingers lightly tapped the table, making a "tap tap" sound, as if weighing something or judging it.

Ranch stood calmly in place, his face devoid of any expression, only a glimmer of amusement twinkling in his eyes.

Caius' eyebrows were furrowed in confusion, a rare display of complex emotions on his usually cold and hard face.

It wasn't until he got up close and personal with the young man that Kaeus realized this person was just as abstract as his works, utterly inscrutable in terms of whether his mind was simple or fathomless.

Caius hesitated for a moment, staring at the statue, but ultimately couldn't bear to discard it as a failed work. He placed it on the side with the acceptable pieces.

The copyright of these qualified works belongs to him.

It was originally intended for internal display.

But now he has decided to put this stone sculpture in storage.

This young man will surely become the most outstanding sculptor in the Protoss Empire.

At that time, the value of this work will also be immeasurable.

He was very sure that this young man's artistic talent far surpassed his imagination, and his own abilities were equally excellent as the exam results.

You did a great job.

Kaelus nodded slowly, approvingly. "You passed."

Lan Qi smiled faintly, knowing that Kaeus wouldn't be willing to destroy this work of art.

He then walked off the stage and back to his seat, waiting for the end of the second round.

Many qualified candidates have their eyes on Lanchi, each with different thoughts.

Some admire, some envy greed, and there are others like West Germany who do not show any thoughts in their hearts, they just look at Lynch simply.

In the corner of the hall, accumulated debris fragments resembled a small hill.

The last submitter walked nervously up to Kaeus, his hands trembling slightly. The statue of the Goddess of Fate he was holding seemed to sense his anxiety too.

If time wasn't running out, he wouldn't have submitted the half-finished work. His face was pale, his eyes filled with pleading, hoping that Kaeus could see through his intentions.

However, Kaeus's eyes seemed not to favor such weakness. He glared coldly at the submitter and then turned his gaze towards the statue.

After a moment, he sighed and shook his head.

Next, two towering heavily armored clerics stepped forward and swiftly grabbed the student's arms.

"My stance is fine! Cardinal Kaeus!"

He struggled in vain, but to no avail. In the end, he was dragged out of the hall screaming alone.

As the heavy door leading to parts unknown slowly closed, the clock ticked past half-past, signaling that thirty minutes had passed since the scheduled start time.

"Congratulations on successfully passing both the first and second interviews. Regardless of whether you pass the final assessment, you are all eligible to become colleagues of the Annihilation Branch. However, those who achieve outstanding results in the final assessment will have the opportunity for rapid promotion directly granted by the Annihilation Bishop."

Finally, Kaeus stood up and swept his gaze over each candidate's face, saying.

His voice was a little more mellow than before, but still carried an air of authority.

All the candidates looked at Caius, waiting for him to announce the contents of the final exam.

They know the final exam is the most important.

Compared to becoming a white commoner acolyte with only a "Rebirth Certificate - Oblivion," they aspire to quickly ascend to the ranks of elite and grand acolytes, gaining recognition from the Bishop of Oblivion and becoming direct disciples, even potentially achieving further advancement in the future.

The final assessment will allow me to see your value, and that value is the best reflection of your overall capabilities.

Kaeus lightly raised his palm and pointed to the people in the audience,

One day's time, you can challenge any **** cleric of the Desolation Division. Within the bounds of the law, you can use schemes or any means necessary. I want to see how much trouble your schemes can cause them.

This is a process of adapting to current circumstances and policies.

They can also select the individuals most needed in the process of electing a bishop within the Protoss Empire.

If even the existing elite priests are unable to cope in the Protos Empire, then it can only be said that they are not the talents urgently needed.

But you should also carefully choose your opponents and be prepared to be counter-killed.

In the hall, as Kaelus' voice faded, his figure gradually vanished into the corridor inside the hall.

At the same time, the main entrance of the hall opened again, as if signaling that this group of examinees could leave, or perhaps, it was the beginning of the final, formal assessment.

They will have 24 hours to choose, investigate their opponents, and set up, implement, and complete the plan.

"……"

Inside the hall, the flickering candle flames cast the shadows of the examinees onto the cold stone wall paintings, creating distorted black shapes that seemed to hint at demons breaking free.

Every crystal in the wrought iron ceiling reflects a faint light, illuminating their diverse expressions.

While savoring Kaeus' words.

Gradually, candidates began to look at each other. There was no communication between them, but a clear understanding shone in their eyes.

Having understood the rules, they quickly grasped the most crucial thing—

Compared to competitive relationships, examinees can cooperate with each other.

They can take on one elite priest together, and then go after another elite priest.

Perhaps this is what Kaeus wanted to convey, the Extinction Branch is an organization that emphasizes collaborative hunting of enemies.

However.

As one of the more notable candidates, Lance rose to his feet and gave a long, lazy stretch before nonchalantly turning back and walking out of the hall.

It seems to have no intention of cooperating with anyone at all.

Is this guy so proud

"I was even thinking of inviting him along, having a few more people try to take on a high priest."

In a hushed voice, Lan Chi's figure slowly disappeared at the end of the corridor.

Only West Germany was like him. She didn't care about anyone and left the hall alone.

……

The Temple of the Silent Knights is majestic and mysterious, its towering spires and frost-covered walls gleaming in the sunlight.

Lance walked out of the main gate of the Silent Knights' Order, facing a cold and deserted town street.

The cold wind still blew in gusts.

He walked into the middle of the road, and the sunlight happened to slant down from his left side, making his shadow stretch straight out to his right.

The cobblestone streets of the town gradually stretched from before the gate of the silent Knights' Temple, and the low buildings on both sides were covered with white frost.

After turning several corners leisurely, the little black cat in Lance's shadow popped out again and burrowed into his arms.

"Meow meow meow! Lanchi! You can't escape the Branch of Extinction now, no matter how hard you try!"

The cat boss was almost scared out of his wits in that exam hall that was barely passable.

This organization, even if it doesn't let you through, will destroy you!

Now that it has come to this, Lance has to finish the third round no matter what.

"Since I'm already here, I definitely have to finish the exam."

Lan Qi's footsteps did not stop, gently stroking the black cat's head and said.

His bearing was composed, his steps light as if walking on a soft carpet. In the wind, his hair gently brushed against his white shirt, making the trim of his waistcoat faintly visible. Leaving the desolate Knights' Order, he remained untouched, just as he had been upon arrival, like a lotus emerging from mud without stain.

He had clear goals and seemed confident facing the upcoming assessment.

"You... then which elite priest are you going to confront What's your plan for the final assessment"

In the cat boss's view, Lance wasn't the type to harm people in secret.

He has always been open and honest in his dealings, and if you really want to say it, his style is more like that of the Baitian branch's clergy.

They cooperated seamlessly, subduing an elite priest with brute force was no problem, but to orchestrate a covert assassination, it was beyond its comprehension how Lance would pull it off.

It's over now.

Lanci smiled and said.

The cat boss: ""

……

That evening, the Protoss Empire received an anonymous report – Kaius, the High Priest of the Annihilation Branch, was privately hoarding a statue of the Goddess of Fate. The amount involved was enormous, and there were suspicions that he was a cult member of the Goddess of Fate who had infiltrated the high ranks of the Resurgence Church. His faith was considered shaky and unorthodox.

Although the Extinction branch held a press conference at the first opportunity to clarify, under the consistent condemnation and suppression of the Overlord branch and the Mourning branch, the Extinction branch was forced to investigate the matter and removed Kaeus the Arch Priest from his post.

Wrote more than ten thousand words, the evening glow fades.

[ ] are essentially pacifists.""...""I don't want to deal with those high-ranking nobles, so I'd rather choose the conservative faction in the south who are more determined."Sigrid clearly looked down on...