Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me Chapter 717: The Ceremony II

"A fake invitation? How can that be? That is the leader of the Everlight Moon Guild, surely he wouldn't stoop to using a forged document!"

"Are you suggesting the gatekeeper is lying? That seems impossible; he wouldn't jeopardize his entire career for such a ridiculous mistake!"

"Then what exactly is happening? Did Mr. Varnos actually try to pass off a fake invitation?"

As the crowd murmured with suspicion, Varnos’s expression darkened. He held absolute certainty that his invitation was authentic.

Regardless of the current predicament, this was the very invitation the Goblin Guild had dispatched to him personally. He could not grasp the reason for this turn of events.

"Are you certain you haven't made an error? This invitation was sent to me directly by your own guild leader," Varnos remarked.

"I do not make errors. This document lacks our guild leader’s official seal, which renders it a forgery. It would be wise for you to stop wasting time and depart immediately, or I will be forced to summon the guards to remove you by force."

"I am the leader of the Everlight Moon Guild. Why would I ever resort to using an invitation that wasn't legitimate?" Varnos questioned, his tone icy.

"And? Does being you put you above the rules? Regardless of who you are, the invitation is fake, and I really don't care about the details," the attendant replied. He remained completely unfazed, showing no sign of backing down.

Daniel frowned while observing their confrontation. He could already piece together the likely truth. Had the Goblin Guild really sunk to such petty, underhanded tactics?

Unless... their capacity for spite was truly bottomless?

"I honestly never thought I’d witness the day the Everlight Moon Guild leader showed up with a fake entry pass!"

"Perhaps he wasn't actually invited and used a fraud just to save his own pride?"

"That makes no sense, does it? It was bound to be discovered sooner or later."

"I don't know... maybe he hoped they wouldn't inspect the invitations that closely, or that the staff would be too intimidated by his status to call him out."

"But they let the leader of their rival, the White Stars, walk right in without checking anything. Damn... this is a complete slap in the face to them."

Varnos’s face grew colder as he listened to the onlookers. He was no fool. Observing the mocking gleam in the attendant’s eyes, he realized instantly that this was a premeditated trap.

'So, you want to humiliate me and my guild, do you?' He exhaled a cold snort.

His patience was reaching its absolute limit. If it snapped, the consequences would be severe.

Suddenly, a firm hand landed on his shoulder, jolting him out of his inner agitation. He turned to glance at his side.

"Let me handle this," Daniel noted as he stepped into the light.

He gestured with his hand, and the shredded fragments of the invitation coalesced back into a whole document. He held it up to examine it.

"This invitation was delivered to us by a courier from your own organization. We know the identity of that messenger. If I make one phone call, I can reveal his name. Shall we verify if that individual is truly employed by your guild?" he finished with a thin smile.

The attendant’s expression contorted in distress at these words. His superiors had demanded he stage this confrontation. Should the name of the messenger surface, it would be undeniably proven that the guild itself had provided the document.

What could he do now? If he declined the audit, everyone would assume they were lying. If he accepted, the charade would fall apart immediately.

However, before he had to commit further, his rescuer arrived.

"Is there some sort of trouble here?" A calm, resonant voice cut through the air. A man in a crisp navy blue suit walked out from the doorway, scanning the three of them.

"Greetings, Mr. Jason," the attendant said, bowing low the moment he spotted the newcomer.

Varnos shot the man a frosty glare. He knew exactly who he was and transmitted a quick warning to Daniel.

'He is the younger brother of the Goblin Guild leader.'

Daniel was not taken aback. Now that the tides had shifted and an arbiter had arrived to 'settle' the matter, he was intrigued to see how this man intended to play his cards.

He assessed the brother of the guild leader with a brief glance. He sensed no genuine threat from the man; in fact, he could likely incapacitate him in a single motion.

At best, this individual was an Early Rank S Awakened. He carried no signs of specialized talent or hidden secrets. Yet, his face radiated a familiar arrogance—the type of man who truly believes he is the most important person in the room.

Though he masked it well, Daniel detected a flicker of hostility, targeted not just at Varnos, but directly toward himself.

The grudge against Varnos was logical, but why did this man hold personal animosity toward Daniel? Being an associate of the Everlight Moon Guild hardly seemed sufficient motivation.

A moment later, the attendant finished detailing his fabricated accounts to Jason.

"I see, is that so?" Jason’s expression shifted to mild surprise, playing the role of someone completely unaware of the drama.

"I never expected such a mishap from Mr. Varnos, though I find it hard to believe he would do such a thing deliberately. Still, someone of your status shouldn't even require an invitation to enter," he added smoothly.

Varnos glanced at Daniel, silently seeking guidance on whether to press the issue or retreat.

Daniel responded by taking a small step back. The guild leader stepped forward with an indifferent mask.

"I certainly didn't expect your guild leader to forget to affix his own seal to my invitation. It seems his memory must be failing him as he ages," he retorted, before striding directly into the palace. Daniel followed in his wake.

Jason maintained the mask of a friendly smile until they had moved past, but his eyes betrayed hidden malice. He turned and departed without another word.

Once inside, Daniel and Varnos navigated to the main hall designated for the ceremony. They occupied an empty table. There were no chairs provided, leaving the guests standing.

"I didn't think they would stoop to such pathetic tactics," Daniel observed.

"Neither did I, but those vipers are even more wretched than I imagined," Varnos replied.

"That was likely just a small token of their 'hospitality.' They probably have even more twisted schemes waiting for us," Daniel noted.

He was now certain the Goblin Guild had designs against them. He increased his spiritual vigilance. The initial confrontation had ended without a physical brawl, but he surmised it was designed specifically to provoke them into striking first. It was a simple probe, and though it failed to escalate, it served as a clear warning of their intent.

Varnos started to reply, but felt a heavy arm drape across his shoulder. He sensed three figures closing in on them.

"Haha, Varnos! It has been far too long since we last crossed paths!"