"I am also withdrawing!" Liam declared.
After witnessing Felix's use of the Pierce of Trinity firsthand, Liam had no objections to his skill, so he saw no point in continuing the competition.
With Liam and Zara withdrawing, the other eager participants hesitated. After a moment, they each followed suit and withdrew as well. After all, if they couldn't even defeat Zara, they stood no chance against Felix. It was better to step back than risk embarrassment in such a crowd.
The turn of events didn't surprise William. He then turned his attention to the burly man who had initially voiced objections.
"What do you think?" William asked.
The man had a displeased expression. "Hmph! I seriously question the intentions behind
these nominations! How can you expect such a bunch of weaklings to represent our country?noveldrama
"It's laughable that they lack even the courage to compete, yet they dare to call themselves the best young practitioners in traditional medicine!"
Liam was irritated by the remark. While they might not be the absolute best, they were certainly recognized figures in the field of traditional medicine-far from amateurs. It was one thing to hear criticism from fellow practitioners, but for an outsider to insult them like this? "And who are you, exactly? How much do you even know about traditional medicine?" Liam asked.
Narrowing his eyes, the man responded coldly, "I am Timothy Hunter, an admiral under the Warlord of Thunder's command. Are you implying I have no right to speak?"
At that, Liam quickly shut his mouth. He wasn't foolish enough to provoke someone of Timothy's rank, especially an admiral of the Warlord of Thunder.
"Contact each recommender and have them call in person. This competition must proceed.
After speaking, Timothy glared at Felix with evident displeasure. He suspected that Felix had manipulated the situation to gain the spotlight for the event on the next day, seeing it as a ploy for personal gain rather than a matter of national pride. Timothy had the same concept on the battlefield wherever he went-only true skill mattered. He had little respect for those he perceived as lacking responsibility or concern for the nation's honor.
"Felix Zeller, is it? Who recommended you?"
Felix frowned, feeling annoyed by Timothy's hostility. He sensed that this wasn't just about the importance of the event. Frankly, if Zara had been the one chosen, Timothy probably wouldn't have said a word. It boiled down to Felix's lack of reputation. "My recommender? It's Ernest Holt," Felix responded.
Timothy, who seemed ready to retort, froze at the name. Even with all his bravado, he wouldn't dare question Ernest Holt's judgment or accuse him of poor decision-making.
After all, Ernest was a revered elder, respected even by the Warlord of Thunder himself. He was someone who would even pay his respects if they met. Timothy certainly couldn't afford to be disrespectful.
As Timothy awkwardly found himself at a loss for words, someone whispered into William's ear, prompting him to say, "Ladies and gentlemen, while your private competition didn't break any rules, it's not enough to satisfy everyone's concerns. "Since you agreed to participate initially, you should follow the official process. Isn't that right, Zara?"
Zara had clearly been the leader of the group, and if she agreed, the others would follow. After a brief hesitation, she reluctantly said, "Alright, Mr. Ziegler, let's follow the formal procedure."
With a small smile, William continued, "Perfect timing, as Dr. Fielding has also arrived. He will serve as the judge for this competition. Let's begin the preparations."