NOVPUBLanci’s actions thrilled Rosalinda, but she also worried that Lockins’ face was going to turn dark.
"..."
Lockins had been silent for a long time.
Even through the screen, Rosalinda could feel the indignation between his brows.
Lockins’ artwork wasn’t bad in itself, within the ranks of the Sacred level, it could be considered acceptable.
The picture depicted a blurred study room with a vast ice field outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, the world outside blanketed in bright, white snow, and Lockins’ figure appeared both within this room and merged with the vast expanse of white snow, his eyes like frozen ice, his coldness mixed with a sense of disdain and pride that rejected and looked down upon the world.
[Portrait·Ice Field]
[Type: Artwork]
[Level: Sacred]
[Rank: 1]
[Beings who appreciate this painting may feel awe for the man within, consume some of their condition, and gain artistic insights.]
Unlike the paintings hastily made on-site in a few hours, this one by Lockins was prepared and created over a period of time before the exam to be submitted to the examination committee.
Its degree of completion was much higher than what most examinees could possibly achieve on-site during the exam.
Due to this, it was nearly impossible for anyone to produce a painting during the few hours on-site that could surpass the work that a current Platinum Level Card Maker had prepared in advance.
So, according to tradition, scores over 95 were basically unheard of in any of the four examination areas.
Of course, passing didn’t require such a high score,
one only needed to score higher than Countess Rosalinda’s on-site work for this test to pass.
"This examiner is even better than a Migaya person,"
"He really is too kind, some examinees torment him in the first round, and he still gives them high marks."
"The first round passed a large number of examinees and even a few got bonus points, now this guy’s in charge of the third round, and he’s giving such high artistic marks again."
"And isn’t he afraid of being rushed by Lockins’ fans? If he keeps this up, Lockins is going to have a dark mark under his forehead."
The audience periodically discussed this year’s mysterious examiner.
Ever since the first round, he had brought a bit of a show with him, and truly, in the third round, he remained unique in his approach.
He stood out for his leniency towards others, yet also his unyielding integrity.
"I feel like this mysterious examiner and Countess Rosalinda have a good relationship. Lockins disregarded Rosalinda, and as the branch president, she has to consider the bigger picture and cannot say much, but this guy obviously doesn’t care about anything and came directly to deal with Lockins."
Some newcomers indeed do not concern themselves with seniority, relationships, and social etiquette.
They do the business as it should be done.
"Keep it down, this is not the place for chit-chat."
Lockins’ voice came through, and the Sacred Silvervine Coliseum instantly quieted down a notch.
The common folk of Parriet didn’t fear him much, but some of the nobles didn’t want to speak anymore as it might involve their interests.
After all, Lockins was one of the management-level Platinum Level Card Makers from the Cardmaker’s Association Headquarters.
"Hahaha, this mysterious examiner is really fun, big brother, do you have a way to invite him over for dinner at our house? I want to host a banquet for him,"
Christina kicked her legs happily; she had been quite upset after getting a warning from Lockins in the second round.
The guy was a bit of a control freak; even through the screen, he bothered about the audience, not allowing any talk about him.
"Even though dad knows Countess Rosalinda, she wouldn’t reveal the examiner’s identity information."
Kyle shook his head.
"Useless big brother! Think of a way!"
Christina criticized without holding back.
"Meow..."
Cat Boss couldn’t tell her that the examiner was their family’s butler.
And she couldn’t stand him.
More than ten minutes later.
New examinees arrived at the holographic hall and submitted their work to the evaluation desk.
"Hey, Carlen has finally finished her painting."
Christina was excited as she urged Enon to look at their school’s senior,
"She’s one of the most famous magic artisans from the Royal Arolan Academy in recent years; she might even be comparable to Duke Migaya in his younger days!"
Christina believed she had good judgement in people,
like having Enon as a perfect personal maid and friend.
"She... Migaya..."
Enon seemed to have a fleeting glimpse of something in her vision and pressed her forehead. 𝚗𝚘v𝚙𝚞b.𝚌𝚘m
"You’ve certainly heard of Duke Migaya before, right?"
Christina, seeing Enon’s condition, immediately put her hand on her shoulder with concern,
Perhaps meeting Duke Migaya, even possibly, might awaken some of her forgotten memories.
"Back in the day, he really shone brightly in the Poseen Kingdom, the Gold-level Card Maker’s exam was as easy as pie for him."
Christina added information, hoping to help Enon.
"Migaya... he? Isn’t it the black-haired girl?"
Enon murmured blankly, as if her memory was confused.
"Sigh."
Christina could only sigh,
It seemed that Enon wouldn’t be able to regain her memory for a while; Migaya appeared to her as a female.
Enon, filled with confusion, shook her head and stopped dwelling on the elusive clue.
Christina looked back at the Artificial Shadow World.
At that moment, Carlen’s work was revealed.
Her self-portrait stood against a very simple background, just a pure white wall, her own image also dominated by light tones, as if she had torn a dazzling slit in the pristine canvas.
