168: Frank Otto Gathering

This plain statement, however, was like an invisible needle, gently piercing Little Princess Yaoyue's solidified pride.

She snapped back to her senses, a blush of annoyance instantly rising to her fair cheeks.

The words “continue to queue” sounded to her like silent mockery—mocking her for imperiously demanding a true Second-Rank Alchemist to queue for her just moments ago.

Her delicate chin subconsciously lifted again, trying to maintain the dignity of a royal princess.

But in her amethyst-like eyes, the condescending disdain had long vanished, replaced by a complex and hard-to-read emotion: shock, annoyance, and a strong sense of defiance and curiosity.

“Hmph!”

Little Princess Yaoyue let out acoquettish-tinged cold snort, turning her face away, no longer looking at Mo Yuhan, but the tips of her ears quietly turned red.

She said impatiently to the attendant beside her, “What are you still standing around for! This princess’s time is precious! Lead the way, quickly!”

Clearly, she no longer wanted to endure the comparative gazes focused on her there.

The attendant, as if granted a great pardon, immediately nodded and bowed, leading Little Princess Yaoyue and her accompanying Elder, almost fleeing as they hurried towards the VIP passage nearby.

As Little Princess Yaoyue passed Mo Yuhan, her footsteps paused imperceptibly, her peripheral vision quickly sweeping over him, then just as quickly retracting like a startled deer, and she sped up her pace to leave.

The surrounding whispers gradually subsided with Little Princess Yaoyue’s departure, but the gazes directed at Mo Yuhan became even more fervent and complex.

He seemed oblivious to this, merely calmly putting his badge back into his storage ring and continuing to stand at the end of the queue; his composed demeanor caused even the Alchemists around him, who were much older, to nod in approval.

The queue moved slowly.

About half an hour later, it was finally Mo Yuhan’s turn.

The one responsible for registration and confirmation was a stern-faced middle-aged attendant.

When he saw the identification Mo Yuhan presented, the Second-Rank certification from the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly returned to his professional rigor: “Mr. Mo Yuhan, Second-Rank Alchemist, confirmed. Please wait while we prepare your participation certificate and identity jade token.”

Just as the attendant was bowing his head to process the documents, a loud voice filled with surprise and disbelief came from the side: “Little Yuhan?! You’re already here?!”

Mo Yuhan turned his head at the sound, only to see two familiar figures rapidly approaching.

The one in the lead was tall, with a square face and sharp eyes; it was none other than his mentor, Frank, the President of the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild.

Beside him was Vice President Great Master Otto, whose face was also beaming with a joyful smile.

“Teacher! Great Master Otto!”

Mo Yuhan’s face finally broke into a genuine smile, and he quickly stepped forward a few paces, respectfully performing a disciple’s bow.

Frank steadied him, his large, fan-like hand vigorously patting his shoulder with such force that Mo Yuhan felt a slight numbness.

But this intimacy warmed his heart: “Good lad! Good lad! Just now I heard people discussing a young Second-Rank Alchemist arriving at the entrance, and I guessed it was you! Haha, Canaan Academy was definitely worth attending! Your physique is much sturdier too!”

He scrutinized Mo Yuhan from head to toe, his eyes filled with relief and pride.

Otto also stroked his beard with a chuckle: “Yu Han, you’ve truly given us a big surprise. That commotion just now, even Little Princess Yaoyue was stunned by you? Haha, well done! It’s about time these proud daughters of the Imperial Capital learned that those from our Black Rock City Alchemist Guild are no cowards!”

He had clearly heard about the recent commotion as well.

“Teacher, Great Master Otto, you flatter me. This student merely acted according to the rules,” Mo Yuhan said humbly.

“Rules? Yes, rules!”

Frank was in an excellent mood. He looked around and said in a loud voice, “See? This is my disciple, Mo Yuhan! He will represent our Black Rock City Alchemist Guild at the convention!”

His proud tone, as if Mo Yuhan had already won the championship, caused many Alchemists around to glance over, but upon seeing Frank’s Fourth-Rank Alchemist badge and Otto’s Fourth-Rank badge, they quickly averted their gazes.

At this moment, the attendant responsible for registration handed Mo Yuhan the completed participation certificate—a smooth, greenish jade token—and a detailed set of participation guidelines:

“Mr. Mo, your certificate is ready. Please keep the jade token safe; it is your sole proof of identity for participation and entering relevant areas. We wish you excellent results at the convention.”

Mo Yuhan took it and thanked him.

Frank looked at Mo Yuhan, growing more satisfied the more he looked, and suddenly remembered something, lowering his voice: “Yu Han, have your accommodations been arranged? Otherwise, you could stay at the headquarters arranged by the Alchemist Guild…”

Mo Yuhan hastily said, “Teacher, there’s no need to trouble yourself. This disciple already has a place to stay in the Imperial Capital; it was arranged by Sister Ya Fei of the Mittel Auction House. The environment is quiet, and it’s not far from the headquarters.”

“Mittel Auction House? Ya Fei?”

Frank and Otto exchanged glances, both seeing understanding and a hint of amusement in each other’s eyes.

Frank laughed heartily: “Good lad, you have quite the network. That woman Ya Fei is a prominent figure in the Imperial Capital. With her looking after you, it saves us a lot of worry.”

Mo Yuhan remembered Elder Teng Shan’s entrustment, took out the exquisite purple sandalwood box from his storage ring, and handed it to Frank with both hands: “Teacher, this is something Elder Teng Shan of the Mittel Family entrusted me to deliver to you and Great Master Otto before I left.”

Frank took it with some surprise, opened the box, and when he saw the four purple crystal cards inside, inlaid with gold edges and emitting faint energy fluctuations, his eyes sparkled: “Highest authority Mittel Auction House VIP crystal cards?”

He picked up one of them, carefully feeling the unique energy imprint and the Mittel Family emblem on the card, and his smile grew wider: “Haha, good! That old fox Teng Shan certainly knows how to conduct himself. We, the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild, accept this gift.

Yu Han, it seems the Mittel Family has placed a heavy bet on you!”

He understood that these crystal cards were not only given to show respect to the Black Rock City Alchemist Guild and the Fire Elder of Canaan Academy, but more importantly, they were an acknowledgment of Mo Yuhan’s own potential.

Otto also picked up a crystal card, exclaiming in wonder: “Highest authority, what a good item. It will be much more convenient to procure rare medicinal ingredients in the future. Yu Han, you are truly the lucky star of our Alchemist Guild this time!”

Frank put away the crystal cards belonging to himself and Otto, then returned the box along with the remaining two crystal cards to Mo Yuhan: “These are for you and the Fire Elder. Keep them safe. The resources of the Mittel Family will be of great benefit to you in preparing for the convention, so there’s no need to decline.”

Mo Yuhan accepted them as instructed.

At this moment, Otto took a rolled-up piece of parchment from a nearby table, his expression becoming a little more serious, and handed it to Mo Yuhan: “Yu Han, this is for you.

It’s a small internal benefit for the contestants recommended by our branch guilds, but according to the rules, it cannot be leaked.”

Mo Yuhan took it and unrolled it.