Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1550 - 534: Battle Challenge

"Currently, no proof exists to confirm it's the avatar of the Evil God. I'm not even sure I could handle one such avatar, much less two. That's why I believe it's probably just a projection from the Evil God."

"If it's only a projection of the Evil God, there's some credit to that, but it falls short of removing the probation period," Pantoscoke declared with full confidence.

"Your Excellency Pantoscoke, just because you can't do it doesn't mean I can't," Rein shot back coolly, glancing at him.

"Oh? Is Lord Rein claiming his power exceeds mine? Excellent!" Pantoscoke burst into laughter rather than rage; he'd been eager for Rein to say exactly that.

"What if we settle this with a duel at the Empire Royal Arena in one week's time? Based on what you just said, you wouldn't back down, right?"

"A duel?" Rein eyed Pantoscoke with a puzzled look.

The foe's power sat at the Middle Stage of Dawn. From where did his boldness come? Or perhaps the Donok poison had thrown off his sense of my abilities?

Besides, Rein weighed whether to crush this 'Storm Cloud' figure right here and now or hold off for a week to triumph over him in the Royal Arena before a massive crowd.

Even with the Donok poison coursing through him, Rein could dispatch the opponent in under a minute.

After mulling it over, Rein decided to probe what tricks Pantoscoke might have hidden. Did he really trust in his Middle-Stage Dawn level that much?

Even more crucially, Rein aimed to smash Pantoscoke completely in view of the Empire's top officials and expose the shady schemes of the Drum Family, sending a stark message to the Conservative Party.

Yet Rein's brief pause led Pantoscoke to assume he was getting cold feet.

And Rein's following words only solidified Pantoscoke's assumption.

Rein thought it through for a second, then shook his head and replied, "If a duel is required just to show my worth, that doesn't seem right."

"Oh? So what does Lord Rein consider fair?"

"It's straightforward. Should I lose, I'll accept your verdict, Your Excellency Pantoscoke. But should I prevail, Your Excellency Pantoscoke must face a fitting consequence."

"I recall the Drum Family holds thirty percent of the shares in the Axon Auction House headquarters?"

"Fine! I accept!" Pantoscoke didn't entertain the idea of defeat and nodded right away.

Elder Ivan intended to talk them out of it, but seeing Rein's determined face and Alfred's clear faith in him, he held his tongue.

"Elder Ivan, now that Lord Rein has consented to the duel, I'll head out," Pantoscoke told Elder Ivan, offering a slight bow.

"Storm Cloud Crown, I'll accompany you," Army Marshal Mayer chimed in, ready to depart alongside Pantoscoke.

Under the present situation, sticking around served no purpose. The duel would sort everything out.

"Well, truthfully... we're all fellow servants of the Empire, no need to take it so gravely," Elder Ivan remarked, observing their exit with a gentle sigh.

....

Late into the night.

Bixiu Mechanization School.

Moria, who had aimed to advance to Dawn but received counsel against it, was conferring with Deputy Sect Leader Bradley and Rein's teacher Mogaro about the school's elevation during a gathering.

"So, thanks to Lord Rein's safe comeback, the Isodre School no longer blocks our path and has quickly consented?" Moria inquired, stunned.

"From trustworthy reports, yes," Bradley confirmed, grinning as he nodded.

"What spineless opportunists they are," Moria chuckled in frustration.

At those words, Mogaro ran his fingers through his fiery beard, smiling broadly, as if reveling in the triumph.

For Mogaro, Rein's trouble-free return brought immense delight, and on top of that, his institution leveraged the glory of this exceptional pupil to ace the promotion review.

"Have they fixed the date for the promotion evaluation?" Moria questioned.

"Indeed, one week from now."

"That quick? Mogaro, looks like we ought to reach out to Lord Rein," Moria suggested to Mogaro with a grin.

Before Mogaro could respond, frantic knocks echoed at the door!

"Knock, knock, knock!"

This intrusion irked Moria, who had ordered no disturbances amid the discussion. Still, with the interruption already in motion, they had to welcome the visitor.

"Enter!"

It was Audrey, her cheeks tinged with red and excitement, who announced:

"Sect Leader, Lord Bradley, Mentor, Lord Rein has dispatched an urgent note, requesting you to assemble a group and rush to the Shirendil Plateau at once. The Isodre School plans to merge with our Construction School-led Mechanical Association. Also, Lord Rein wants you to carry the 'Destroyer' Demon Statue."

Audrey's announcement stunned the trio in the chamber, leaving them exchanging wide-eyed glances!

Moria suspected he was imagining things. Had he caught the name Isodre School? And a Mechanical Association?

But glancing at Bradley and Mogaro nearby, whose faces mirrored pure shock with jaws hanging slightly open, confirmed he'd heard correctly.

"Er... Audrey, could you repeat what you said?" Moria urged, steadying his nerves to uphold his sect leader poise, and asked her politely.

"Of course, Sect Leader..." Once Audrey restated it, the three struggled to regain their composure for quite a while.