Chapter 102: The Bet
Sophie Wexler looked at his bootlicking expression and laughed in exasperation. Her gaze then turned cold as she spoke slowly, "So, you’re saying right and wrong here are determined by Level? That whoever has a higher Level is automatically correct, regardless of who actually started the trouble?"
The staff member looked at Sophie Wexler with disdain. ’An F-level actually wants to argue right and wrong with an A-level.’
’If it weren’t for the Empire’s matching banquet, a low-level Healer-class like her would probably never get to set foot on the Capital Planet in her entire life.’
His tone was thick with impatience. "That’s right. A high Level is all that matters."
Sophie Wexler let out a soft laugh. "Fine."
Then she turned to Rosalind Rhodes and asked slowly, "Rosalind Rhodes, is that what you think, too?"
Rosalind Rhodes bit her lip and said hesitantly, "Sophie, I know you’re upset with me because of your family’s situation, but you can’t take that anger out on other people."
’Even though Jean Jennings was the one who started it, she didn’t actually do anything to her, just said a few words. On the other hand, who knows what Sophie Wexler did to Jean Jennings to make her so uncomfortable just now.’
"Just apologize to her, and this whole thing will be over. I..."
Sophie Wexler cut her off. "That’s enough. You don’t need to say any more."
"An apology, is it?" Sophie Wexler murmured to herself.
"Since in your eyes, a high Level is all that matters, does that mean as long as my Level is higher, then I’m the one who’s right?"
Hearing this, Jean Jennings immediately sneered, "You?"
Sophie Wexler ignored her, turning instead to Rosalind Rhodes. "You want an apology? Fine. Let’s make a bet."
Rosalind Rhodes didn’t respond, just watched Sophie Wexler.
Sophie Wexler continued, "When the Level test results are out, if yours is higher, I’ll apologize to you. But if mine is higher..."
"Then what?" Rosalind Rhodes took the bait and asked.
Things had already escalated this far; it wouldn’t end so easily. In truth, she could have stopped Jean Jennings right when she started, but she hadn’t.
’What was I thinking at that moment? Probably wondering why someone like Sophie Wexler—an F-level who used to have such a terrible reputation—was suddenly being liked and praised by everyone on Karath.’
’Why did even the people from the Seventh Legion treat her with such courtesy?’
’She used to bully me so badly, she even drugged me once. Everyone used to despise her. Her reputation was in tatters. On what grounds was she suddenly so admired?’
A sense of injustice festered within her. It was completely unfair.
That was why she hadn’t stopped Jean Jennings when she was slandering Sophie and causing trouble for her.
And now that things had come to this, she wouldn’t allow herself to be humiliated.
Besides, she was confident. Her current Level wasn’t A-level anymore. After her second growth, her Level had already reached S, and might even be S+. She wasn’t worried about losing.
Sophie Wexler looked at her and smiled. "Don’t worry, I don’t care about your apology. If my Level is higher, you will stay far away from me from now on. Don’t ever appear in my sight again."
’I’m sick of running into these disgusting people over and over again.’
Hearing this, Rosalind Rhodes agreed. "Fine."
"It’s a deal. If you lose, you will apologize to us—and it will be a public apology across the entire StarNet."
She wanted all the netizens to see what kind of person Sophie Wexler truly was.
The corners of Sophie Wexler’s lips curved into a smile as she readily agreed. "Fine."
’Who will win and who will lose is still up in the air.’
Just then, the shuttle that had come to pick her up arrived. Without another word, Sophie Wexler turned and left.
*
Meanwhile, the Level testing hadn’t even begun, but the Capital Planet’s StarNet was already buzzing with excitement.
The Level testing before the triennial matching banquet was always an exciting event.
[Finally, it’s time for the Level testing before the triennial matching banquet.]
[There are always a few surprises during the testing. I wonder what we’ll see this time.]
[I heard there are a lot of High-Rank Healer-class participants this time. I’m even more excited now.]
[Every time a High-Rank Healer-class appears, countless people send matching requests. It’s always a huge spectacle.]
[Does anyone know when the Level testing starts?]
Everyone was paying close attention, eager to see if any high-Level individuals would appear this time. A High-Rank Healer-class was a hot commodity that everyone vied for.
Everyone knew just how rare a High-Rank Healer-class was.
The major noble families, the military districts, the Council of Elders, and even the Royal Family and their relatives were all watching closely.
They had even received intel on some of the potential High-Rank Healer-class participants before the testing and were keeping a close eye on them.
Every testing site had dedicated supervisors to prevent any discrepancies, especially the site for Group One.
The testing equipment was top-of-the-line, and the staff was the best of the best. In addition, many nobles, military officers, and members of the Royal Family were present.
After all, this group was the most likely to produce a high-Level Healer-class.
There might even be an S-level Healer-class this time.
The crowd exchanged pleasantries, discussing the upcoming tests and the matching banquet that would follow. They chatted about which members of their families had submitted applications and so on.
Before them was a massive screen where the test values would be synchronized in real-time once the testing began.
Everything was ready, and the testing had begun. The first few were C- and B-levels, with the occasional A-level. Every time an A-level appeared, everyone’s eyes would light up.
They would immediately start discussing it. Then Rosalind Rhodes appeared. The numbers on the instrument began to jump, her spiritual power clearly stronger than anyone who had come before. The crowd instantly grew excited.
This was the one who had experienced a second growth in her spiritual power.
"I heard her spiritual power had already reached A-level during her first awakening. I wonder what Level she’ll reach after her second growth."
"If it’s S-level, she’ll be incredibly rare!"
Everyone was watching with rapt attention when, at that moment, a figure appeared in the observation room.
The crowd immediately rose to their feet, their voices respectful as they said in unison, "Marshal."
They had heard two days ago that the Marshal had returned, but he hadn’t made any public appearances.
However, rumors had been spreading from the First Legion that a major personnel adjustment was underway—a complete reshuffling. Many people had been ousted, causing widespread panic.
Everyone was saying it was a real shake-up. And with Cillian Forrest staying out of sight, people were speculating about his intentions and what his next move would be.
Although everyone was currently focused on the Level testing, there was no shortage of attention being paid to him behind the scenes.
They were all guessing who he would meet first when he finally appeared: Your Majesty, the Little Prince, the Council of Elders, or the various major families below them.
They had considered countless possibilities, but none of them imagined his first appearance would be at the testing site.
Cillian Forrest waved for them to sit, then asked, "What’s the status of the testing?"
"Marshal, you’ve arrived at the perfect time. The person being tested right now is from a subordinate planet, Karath. She’s actually undergone a second growth in spiritual power and is very likely to break through to S-level!"
Hearing the words "second growth," the harsh lines of Cillian Forrest’s eyes softened slightly. He said, "Higher than S-level."
Everyone: "!!!"
’Higher than S-level? Could it be that the Marshal knows this person and is aware of her Level?!’
Cillian Forrest walked over to the window and looked down at the testing area below.
His gaze then paused. "Who is this?"
The crowd: Huh?
’Marshal, don’t you know her?’
"That’s Rosalind Rhodes," someone next to him answered as if it were obvious.
’Rosalind Rhodes?’
Cillian Forrest’s eyes flickered. The name sounded vaguely familiar, but he had no interest in such things.
He asked directly, "Where is Sophie Wexler?"