Chapter 103: Stand Farther Away
The scene went quiet for two seconds. Everyone looked at each other, their faces filled with confusion.
’Who is Sophie Wexler?’
Was she some kind of High Rank Healer-class? Why else would the Marshal mention her by name?
But after racking their brains, they couldn’t recall a High Rank Healer-class named Sophie Wexler in this group.
They could only reluctantly answer, "Marshal, we haven’t detected anyone named Sophie Wexler yet."
Cillian Forrest assumed it just wasn’t her turn yet. He had no interest in watching the people below, so he turned, returned to his seat at the side, and said to the others, "Sit."
"Continue with your work. Don’t mind me."
Seeing this, the others began to speculate. Why had he really come here this time?
Could it really be for a single Healer-class named Sophie Wexler?
But that seemed impossible. This was Cillian Forrest; nothing that caught his eye was ever a trivial matter.
His first public appearance wasn’t with The Royal Family, but here. There had to be another reason.
Could it be that the Marshal was finally considering matching with a Healer-class? How else could one explain his behavior?
For a moment, a thousand thoughts raced through their minds as wild speculations flew.
But no matter what they were thinking, they didn’t let a hint of it show on their faces.
One by one, they turned their gazes back to the testing area, though their attention would frequently drift to observe Cillian Forrest’s expression.
Just then, a gasp of astonishment pulled all their attention away. "My heavens!"
The speaker’s eyes were wide with disbelief as they stared at the data displayed on the detector.
Everyone followed his gaze and was similarly stunned. Finally, someone snapped out of it. "An S+ Healer-class!"
His tone was filled with utter shock!
You have to understand, The Empire hadn’t produced an S-Level Healer-class in years, let alone an S+.
They could only imagine the waves that would be created if the news of an S+ Healer-class was announced.
They had expected Rosalind Rhodes from Karath to have a high Level, but they never imagined it would be this high. She was just a hair’s breadth away from reaching the SS threshold.
This meant she could likely soothe an SS-level spiritual power rampage.
They instantly understood why Cillian Forrest had come. He must have known about this in advance.
At this moment, they had completely forgotten about the Sophie Wexler that Cillian Forrest had mentioned. Their minds were entirely filled with the S+ Rosalind Rhodes; they had no capacity to think of anything else.
Someone, already proving quite perceptive, quietly instructed a subordinate below, "Go, bring that Healer-class, Rosalind Rhodes, up here."
After giving the order, he felt immensely pleased with himself.
’Who else could read the situation better than me? The Marshal definitely didn’t come here just to watch the tests.’
’If I have this Rosalind Rhodes brought over now, she can meet the Marshal. Then, at the matching banquet, they can choose each other directly.’
Everyone had noticed the shift in the political landscape over the past two days. Ever since Cillian Forrest returned, the winds of politics had changed direction entirely. If he got on the Marshal’s good side now, it would make things easier for him later.
When Rosalind Rhodes’s test results came out, the staff below were also stunned, and then they received the notification from above.
Rosalind Rhodes hadn’t expected to actually reach S+, and to be on the verge of SS at that. This was a result unprecedented in The Empire’s history.
Then she remembered the bet she’d made with Sophie Wexler not long ago.
She felt a sense of relief. Her Level was something The Empire had never seen before. There was no way Sophie Wexler, a mere F-level, could possibly surpass her.
Sophie Wexler had really gotten under her skin these past few days. ’What threat could an F-level possibly pose to me? In the future, I probably won’t even have to associate with low-level people.’
’I’ll just let the matter drop after she apologizes to me. There’s no need for me to lower myself by arguing with someone so insignificant.’
Just as she was thinking this, a staff member beside her spoke up, their tone respectful, "Miss Rhodes, the Marshal requests your presence."
This was an S+ Healer-class, someone who might become an even more revered existence in the future. It never hurt to be polite.
"The Marshal?" Rosalind Rhodes looked up in surprise.
In the two days since she’d arrived on The Capital Planet, she’d heard many rumors about this Marshal. There wasn’t a single person on The Capital Planet who didn’t admire the Imperial Marshal.
She never thought he would summon her.
’Could it be that because of my Level, I’ve caught his attention too?’
’But I already agreed to match with Howard Sharp.’
Despite this thought, a ripple of excitement stirred in her heart.
"Please lead the way," she said, turning to the person beside her.
The testing continued in the background. Cillian Forrest still hadn’t heard the name he was waiting for and was starting to zone out, leaning back in his chair.
Suddenly, someone spoke to him, "Marshal, Rosalind Rhodes is here."
Immediately after, a gentle female voice sounded, "Marshal."
Cillian Forrest’s fingers paused. He looked up, his gaze cold, and when he saw the person standing there, he suddenly remembered something.
Rosalind Rhodes.
He recognized that face. This was the person the old Sophie Wexler had drugged and thrown him together with.
He had been in a state of amnesia at the time, but recalling the scene, it felt as vivid as if it had just happened.
Back then, the amnesiac him had genuinely wanted to kill the Sophie Wexler who had drugged them.
He never expected that after Sophie Wexler woke up, she would be like a completely different person.
Thinking back on it now, it felt like a lifetime ago. It was as if that malicious Sophie Wexler had never existed.
’However, Rosalind Rhodes...’
Hadn’t Sophie Wexler mentioned her again later? He remembered Sophie adamantly saying he was a lovestruck fool who would fall for someone named Rosalind Rhodes.
They had only met that one time when they were drugged. Why was Sophie Wexler so certain he would fall for her?
Considering all of Sophie Wexler’s strange behavior, ’Could she think that I would fall for this Rosalind Rhodes, and then... kill her?’
’Otherwise, in her world, she didn’t know me, we had no connection... why would she be so sure I would kill her?’
Now, with this Rosalind Rhodes appearing on The Capital Planet, everything was starting to fall into place.
As Cillian Forrest sorted through his thoughts, he found it rather amusing. ’What kind of brain does Sophie Wexler have, to think I would kill her for some irrelevant person?’
Cillian Forrest remained silent. The official beside him thought he had done something wrong, but then, to his surprise, he saw the corner of the Marshal’s mouth curve into a smile.
He instantly straightened his back. ’I knew I couldn’t have guessed wrong! The Marshal is indeed pleased with this Healer-class.’
He then started frantically signaling to Rosalind Rhodes with his eyes. ’Say his name again!’
Rosalind Rhodes’s expression faltered for a moment before she spoke again, her voice carrying its usual gentleness. "Marshal."
The official immediately added fawningly, "Marshal, you see, Miss Rhodes is here. We’ll just head out first and let you two talk."
Cillian Forrest snapped back to the present. Seeing the scene before him, his brow furrowed, and he spoke in a cold voice, "Halt!"
Then he turned to Rosalind Rhodes beside him. "Stand further away."
[P.S. To explain, some people might be confused as to why Rosalind Rhodes doesn’t recognize Cillian Forrest. It’s because she was unconscious at the time.]