Chapter 99: Entrance Exam: Cedric's Sword

It wasn't just the participants or the common folk who were watching the entrance exam closely.

Some of the Academy's staff were watching as well, they're just in a different area. They're also accompanied by a few important figures like City Lords and people from the Royal Lineage as well.

"Ah, so this is the lass that got your attention, City Lordess! I must admit, she's quite formidable!" One of the City Lords remarked upon witnessing Isabella's performance.

City Lordess Anastasia, Isabella's guarantor, smiled while shaking her head: "It's a pity that I discovered her too late. If I had more time with her, I believe she'd display a more impressive performance."

"It is already impressive that she grew to this extent this fast. Besides, the instructors here would be better suited to look after her studies." Another City Lord stated.

"I can't even be mad at that since that's the truth." Anastasia chuckled. "Anyways, I'm also looking forward to Young Garrick's performance. I believe City Lord Silva raised him quite well, even going as far as adopting him."

Saying that, the attention was now passed to City Lord Silva who laughed uproariously at her words:

"Well, he was an adorable kid after all." He said with a hearty smile, "Besides, I would've never thought he would grow this much. I adopted him before he awakened so I was surprised too!"

"He reminds me of your youthful days, City Lord Silva. He talks and acts just like you that I'm this close to thinking that he might be your illegitimate son or something." Another City Lord teased.

"You and I both, actually." Silva laughed, "The resemblance gives me a whiplash sometimes...but I've tested it before, and the results were negative. Either way doesn't make a difference. That's my kid and I love him to pieces."

The City Lords grinned at his admission. They continued watching the exams until it was Garrick's turn.

Sufficed to say, everybody was struck dumb when Garrick made his move. Shattering 200 layers of barriers was a result that's currently unmatched in this batch of participants.

"HAHAHAHAHA! That's my kid alright!!" Silva's uproarious laughter sounded amongst the crowd once more. His face was beaming with pride and joy at the results of his adopted son.

He received plenty of congratulations from his folks which greatly stroked his ego. But beyond that, even if Garrick were to have a less impressive result than this, Silva's opinion of him wouldn't change. He's still proud of him nonetheless.

On the corner of the room, the City Lord of Black Thread City - Reiner Braveheart, was also present. But unlike other City Lords, he didn't join in the festivities. He opted to just watch on the sidelines, waiting for Cedric's turn.

Unlike other City Lords here who cultivated a close relationship with their chosen representatives, Reiner and Cedric were civil to each other at most. The fact that Cedric even showed up despite the risks was already stretching the limits of their relationship...at least that's what the City Lord thinks, which shows that he really didn't know Cedric at all.

Because of this, Reiner didn't dare to get his hopes up. At the very least, he'd be more than happy if Cedric could pass the test and become a student of the Academy. That alone will already bring in a lot of benefits to him and the city.

"Next, Cedric Stormrider."

"While that might be true, the speed of his attack compensates for it. No ordinary Tier 5 Superhuman will be able to react to that attack just now."

"That's right. Besides, according to what I saw, the child just reached Tier 3 Lv.1, and he still has a lot of growing to do. Additionally, he used a rather lousy weapon just now."

"Hey Reiner, you ass! This kid comes from your city, why do you look shocked!?" One of the City Lord's remarks caught the attention of the rest.

"Don't look at me! I didn't teach him that! In fact, I didn't even know that kid has Sword Intent!" Reiner groaned as he got woken up from his stupor.

Cedric's results truly floored him. He wasn't expecting much to begin with so his surprise this time was truly refreshing. That said, he also felt guilty.

"The fuck, man!? Seriously, what are you doing? At least give the kid a proper sword! What's a guy like him waving trash like that? It's a waste, really!"

"Don't blame me, asshole! The kid never asked me for anything! Even I didn't know he could do something like that!" Reiner huffed in anger.

"Are you not close with your representative, City Lord Reiner?"

"Didn't have much time to do so." Reiner snorted in reply, but deep down he was feeling guilty about this. "I only knew of him during the Cult's Incident. I have been busy since. We also just recently experienced a Black Sky and I'm swamped with paperwork. Everything he does is all him."

His statement brought a myriad of reactions from the listeners.

On one hand, they sympathize with Reiner about the paperwork. As fellow City Lords, they all knew how dreadful those papers were. Even with the advancement of technology, humans just can't escape that horrible thing.

On the other hand, Reiner's final words were nothing short of incredible and unbelievable. The fact that his representative was able to achieve that much on his own, trusting nothing but his instincts, skills, and hard work, was nothing short of a miracle.

Reiner himself was still shocked. He still thinks that Cedric will truly shine once the 3rd Test begins. If his results were already this impressive at this stage, who knows what kind of surprises he will bring once he gets on that stage?

Just what kind of talent did Reiner unknowingly come across?

With this feat, Cedric certainly made his way towards the upper list of the geniuses of this batch. Everybody, even the academy's staff, looks at him differently now.

In their eyes, his figure became more refreshing. Half of his face might be covered with a mask but that didn't matter to delusional fools who are left to make up the rest with their imagination.

Of course, there are also people who are now eyeing him warily. The majority of these gazes come from Swordsmen who were greatly rattled by his display of Sword Intent.

Nevertheless, neither Cedric nor the Instructors up the stage were bothered by this shift. The exam continued until the last participant qualified.

And with that done, they move on to the 2nd Test of the Practical Exams.