Chapter 672: Chapter 419 The Ceremony Ends
Whoosh!
Carl suddenly appeared outside the Dueling Platform, yet he had not even reacted when, subconsciously, a new translucent Defensive Field quickly spread across his body, and he raised his arm to block.
"Hm?"
The next second, no attack came, and the raging flames had disappeared without a trace, Carl then finally realized what had happened, belatedly.
"Hiss..."
"What’s going on?"
"Carl... lost?"
At the same time, noisy voices came from the audience seats behind. All the Council members present, each and every one, even Nois and Titus, were stunned for a second before they reacted.
As for Nickler, the elder, his face was no longer calm, but dark as if the bottom of a pot.
’Carl actually lost?’
’No, that Colin was actually able to defeat an Intermediate Third Rank Wizard? Didn’t he just advance to Third Rank?’
Lanky Ryden looked at the projection of Colin in the center of the Dueling Platform and raised his eyebrows:
"This is interesting."
His voice was very unique, as if it were the clanging of metal or the crackling of electricity.
After a moment of uproar, the scene fell into an eerie silence.
Nois regained his calm expression, leapt to the Dueling Platform, and gestured to teleport Colin out as well.
"Well done."
He had many questions for Colin, but in the end, he just smiled and patted Colin on the shoulder—the badge awarding ceremony needed to continue.
Nois turned around, surveyed the circle of Council members, and said,
"The duel has ended, and Carl, due to the risk of severe injury, was teleported out by the Witch Array of the Dueling Platform. Therefore, according to the rules, the winner of this duel is Colin Leonard, who has proven himself capable of serving as a Council member!"
Nois revealed a smile, looked at Nickler, and continued, "I believe there should be no objections, right?"
The Council members shook their heads.
Clap.
Clap, clap, clap—
At that moment, Nickler suddenly raised his hand and led the applause.
"A hero emerges from the youth!" he said slowly, "Just newly advanced to Third Rank Wizard and already able to defeat the Intermediate Third Rank Carl, truly remarkable."
Many Council members nodded in agreement, looking at Nois, hoping to get more information from him.
The battle had been too fast, and since the duel was in another dimension, the transmissible Witch Array had limitations and couldn’t broadcast all the details.
Therefore, even though they were all High Rank Wizards, they had only a vague understanding of the battle.
But Nois narrowed his eyes and did not continue along Nickler’s line of discourse but instead told the Council members:
"Let us continue to the next step of the ceremony."
...
Soon, the Council members went back to the hall through the Transmission Array.
The second part of the badge awarding ceremony began.
Solemn music slowly played, and the Council members stood up one after another, watching as Colin slowly walked onto the awarding platform.
"Congratulations, Colin."
The bright smile on Nois’s face could not hide his exhilaration as he took a dark gold-colored badge from a wooden box held by a Wizard beside him.
Encircled by a ring of thorn-like flames was an eye that seemed both open and closed—this was the badge worn by regular members of the Supreme Council, one of the highest symbols of status on the Siya Continent!
As the music played, Nois personally pinned the badge on Colin’s white Wizard Robe, then turned around, his voice filled with pride:
"Let us congratulate the new Council member!"
Colin’s performance in the battle had truly surprised him. Seeing Nickler’s feigned casual expression, Nois couldn’t feel any more satisfied.
With that, Colin’s status as a Supreme Council Member became an established fact, a sealed deal.
Unless he betrayed the Wizards, or unless the six Supreme Council members decreed otherwise, no one could strip Colin of his position as a Supreme Council Member!
The music gradually quieted.
Nois began the last part of the badge awarding ceremony.
"Colin Leonard, congratulations on becoming a member of the Supreme Council today. But remember, with your newfound extraordinary powers, you also shoulder an equal responsibility..."
Nois spoke slowly, his eyes filled with high hopes as he looked at Colin.
This young Wizard had indeed brought him many surprises. Having just advanced to Third Rank Wizard, Nois was very much looking forward to the future surprises that might come from Colin!
"Next, like all other Council members, you will be assigned a territory which you will be responsible for managing in the days ahead."
Nois said lastly, just as a servant timely approached, holding a Witch Array-sealed wooden box, handing it to Nois.
Inside the box was a map of the region assigned to Colin and an object representing his ruling status.
Nois glanced at Colin, reached out, and opened the wooden box.
The new Council member’s territory was decided upon before the badge awarding ceremony, specifically by a vote from the Council members affiliated with the Wizard City.
The Supreme Council members would list suitable regions and send them to all the newly-advancing Wizards from the Wizard City for voting.
The deadline for voting was the night before the ceremony at 12:00, with the necessary attendance needing to reach at least eighty percent, otherwise, it would be postponed.
However, if a Council member did not participate in the voting and did not provide a valid explanation afterward, a certain amount of Council Points would be deducted from their account, hence typically, the attendance was at least ninety percent, and postponements were unlikely.
Inside the black wooden box were only two items, a crystal the size of a pigeon’s egg and a meticulously crafted silver ring set with a yellow gemstone.