CHAPTER 383: 0325 TRADITIONAL PROVOCATION_1

Compared to his casual remarks earlier, the Third Generation Director’s attitude seemed to be a lot more sincere this time...

Observing the expression on the square-headed old man, Leon couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow thoughtfully. Then he subconsciously glanced behind the square-headed old man.

The gaze that met his was none other than that of the Red-haired Director, with a mysterious smile and fox-like eyes.

"..."

*Hiss... Could it be that from stealing the coffin earlier to seeking guidance just now, all of this was part of your plan? But how did you know I would mention the Taurus Director, thus provoking the Third Generation Director’s competitive spirit?*

...

Whether or not it was the director’s arrangement, the guidance of a Forge Master was not something to miss.

In the arrangement of the square-headed old man... no, the Third Generation Director who liked guiding juniors, the perplexed Leon stood in front of the black, pitchy cauldron, picked up the rusty ladle, and took up a smithing stance. Then he looked at the Third Generation Director standing across the cauldron with his hands behind his back.

"..."

"?"

After waiting a while without seeing Leon start smithing, the square-headed old man silently asked in an exasperated voice, "You don’t even have any practice materials? Do I have to prepare those for you too?"

"I’m sorry..."

Leon nodded in response, somewhat sheepishly explaining, "Third Generation Sir, I’ve only been with the Purification Bureau for two months, so I really don’t have much on hand, so..."

"Huh?"

Hearing Leon’s words, the square-headed old man’s eyes widened in disbelief, "Olivia said you joined the Purification Bureau last year, so... so you’re not more than a year in, but only joined for just over two months?"

"..."

*Actually, it hasn’t even been two months...*

Watching the Third Generation Director’s face twitch repeatedly, seemingly about to lose it, Leon, worried that upsetting this big shot might result in him not teaching anymore, had no choice but to nod and accept the "just over two months" explanation, replying awkwardly, "I did join the Virgin Branch last year, but it was right at the year’s end when I joined, so..."

*So you’re just a beginner? And if you’ve only been with the Purification Bureau for over two months, how long could you have been practicing Anomaly Forge? Sixty days? So you just started learning Anomaly Forge and came to seek advice from me, the strongest Forge Master in history? What’s the difference between that and teaching an idiot to calculate the sun’s angle?*

Not willing to take on such an impossible task, but unable to back out after having made a promise, the Third Generation Director scratched his scalp in frustration, shedding dandruff as he asked with faint hope, "Then... how long has it been since you started with Anomaly Forge?"

Leon, upon hearing this, recalled for a moment, and then blushed slightly as he held up five fingers.

"Fifty days?"

"Last Friday..."

"..."

*Are you two here to mess with me?*

The psychological defense, already on edge, was shattered by Leon’s "last Friday," prompting the Third Generation Director of the Purification Bureau to take a deep breath. He stomped the ground forcefully, pointing towards the cemetery entrance while yelling angrily, "Go! You go! All of you go!!!"

...

"Third Generation Sir, there’s no need to rush~"

As if he’d anticipated this outcome, the Red-haired Director smiled and said, "Even though Leon hasn’t been with Anomaly Forge for long, his talent with the secret techniques is excellent. Besides the Taurus lineage’s Abnormal Forging Secret Technique, he’s also dabbled in the Aquarius lineage’s Abnormal Genesis Sorcery."

"What? He’s learned two secret techniques?"

"It might even be three. This generation’s Pisces Director seems to have taken an interest in Leon as well."

"..."

"In any case, Leon definitely has a talent for secret techniques."

Seeing the square-headed old man’s apparent interest, the Red-haired Director continued with a smile, "Plus, Taurus His Excellency once said that once she had ascended, Leon could attempt to succeed her as the next Taurus Director. If she weren’t currently in self-imposed isolation, she might have personally taught Leon.

You, being the world’s greatest in smithing, lack only the Taurus Star Palace’s recognition. As a result, you have always missed being the top Forge Master, becoming merely the second best. Don’t you regret it?

Third Generation Sir, just think about it; although you can’t become the first among the living, if you could train a Forge Master who becomes the next Taurus, then..."

"Stop, stop, stop! Don’t play tricks on me!"

Shaking his head vigorously, the Third Generation Director barely broke free from the brainwashing pitch and pouted, "You said all this just to persuade me to teach him, right? No way! Even if I wanted to train a Taurus, I wouldn’t choose leftovers!

This kid’s already been guided by Taurus, and if he does become the new Taurus, that credit might not even go to me... So I won’t teach! I definitely won’t teach!"

"Really not going to teach?"

"Absolutely not!"

"Third Generation Sir, could it be that you’re afraid?"

"???"

Glancing at the suspicion-filled face of the Red-haired Director, the square-headed old man burst into laughter, raising a hand to point at Leon, "Afraid of him? What’s there to be afraid of?"

"Afraid he might surpass you~"

The Red-haired Director slightly tilted her head, thoughtfully saying, "Leon, with two secret techniques under his belt, and favored by this generation’s Taurus, could push the limits of Secret Smithing Techniques further if he learned your smithing methods.

If that ever happened, you wouldn’t be the strongest Forge Master in history anymore. And if he were to die, and you ended up losing a match against Leon’s soul, then..."

"You’re talking nonsense!"

The square-headed old man retorted angrily, "Damn it, you’re deliberately trying to use words to provoke me, to make me teach him with all my might! Do you think I can’t see through this?"

"Yep, that’s exactly what I’m thinking."

Unashamedly admitting to his plan, the Red-haired Director mischievously asked, "So, will you teach him or not?"

"I..."

"You know, Leon’s exceptionally talented. Taurus His Excellency even once said that if she were to teach him, Leon’s future would at least..."

"Shut up! I’ll teach! Isn’t it enough if I teach him?!"

Exasperated, huffing and puffing, the Third Generation Director stomped his foot hard, then rushed back to his recently dug-up grave, scooped out a pile of stuff buried there, and casually tossed it at Leon’s feet.

"Take it! Use whichever one you want! Damn it, I’d really like to see what you can forge!"

"..."

*Got it, the Director brought me here to loot.*

Glancing down at the materials, which were piled like trash at his feet, exuding an aura almost as strong as Snake Tail, all of them at least of Holy Spirit level, and noting the Red-haired Director’s persistent winks at him, Leon quietly picked one up and tossed it into the cauldron, mimicking the movements of the square-headed old man before, stirring with the large ladle.

*Although it feels a bit wrong to mess with the old man... since the Director isn’t drunk right now, there must be a good reason for what she’s doing, so I can only choose to trust her!*