Chapter 1262: Have You Gone Senile?!

The old man carried a stern look. He had neatly kept ashen hair and a beard to match along with a pair of sharp eyes that resembled burning embers. He wore the robes of a Formation Master and on his sleeve was the emblem of a circle that held eight stars. This revealed his identity as an Elder of the Formation Master Guild and a Grade Eight Formation Master.

Even without having to use his Divine Appraisal, Izroth could tell at a glance that the old man must be Elder Arden.

"With all due respect, Interim Elder Rionso, I fear you are bringing your personal matters into the Formation Master Guild. If you truly had the Formation Master Guild’s best interests at heart, you would not have turned away an Honorary Elder of the Apothecary Guild in such an overbearing manner." Haku spoke calmly with an unfaltering look in his eyes.

"You...! How dare a mere guard speak out of place! Could it be that you’ve forgotten how this world works?" Rionso said with a cold gaze as he glared at Haku angrily.

Earlier, Haku would not dare to utter a word of retaliation against him. Yet, for some reason, the guard who usually took a step back with his mouth and eyes closed had chosen to speak up so clearly.

Naturally, this infuriated Rionso; however, since he was still only an Interim Elder, he could not directly dismiss a guard while an acting Elder was still in charge. In this case, Arden was the active Elder in charge of the Formation Master Guild for the day. As a result, Rionso had no choice but to answer to his summons alongside Haku.

As for Haku, he paid no mind to Rionso’s death glares. Since he already made up his mind to leave the guards of the Formation Master Guild and join the War Brigade, he no longer cared about Rionso or the Enrhivers family retaliating. After all, even the more powerful noble families in Amaharpe’s true capital city could not carelessly mess with the War Brigade or any of the war branches, yet alone a mere Rionso or Enrhivers family.

Since there was no longer any reason to swallow his pride, Haku stood proud and relayed the truth of the entire situation to Elder Arden.

"Enough." Arden said as he released a small sigh. His gaze traveled to Izroth, who had just entered the room.

Arden stood to his feet and walked over toward Izroth with a limp in his step. He stopped a few steps short of Izroth as he placed his right hand over his chest.

"You must be Honorary Elder Izroth from the Apothecary Guild. I am Arden Oras." Arden said as he introduced himself.

’Oh? Oras? Is he related to the Oras family of Proximus?’

Oras was a powerful noble family of Proximus who specialized in water-type magic.

While the Aragon, Rutazou and Jestal families were publicly known as the three most powerful and influential noble families of the Proximus kingdom, there were whispers that the Oras family was on equal footing with them in recent years.

Though, even if the two were allied kingdoms, for a member of that famed Oras family to be an Elder of the Formation Master Guild located in an Amaharpe city—there would have to be a deeper reason behind it. Of course, Izroth had no intention of senselessly prying into Arden’s past, even if he did turn out to be a member of the Oras family.

"Since you already know who I am, I will skip introductions. I’m sure you can understand given the circumstances." Izroth said indifferently.

Arden furrowed his brows before he lightly cleared his throat.

"Given the hospitality we have shown you, it is understandable. First, allow me to offer my apologies at the poor reception you’ve received from our Formation Master Guild. The Apothecary Guild and Formation Master Guild have always been friends. We do not wish for anything to interfere with the friendship among our two guilds." Arden said.

He then continued, "That is why I invited you here. I want to clear up any potential misunderstandings that have occurred."

"I’m afraid that there isn’t much to clear up. I came to visit the Formation Master Guild and was turned away. Naturally, I understand that entry into another profession’s guild building is uncommon. If I were turned away because of the rules, I would not find fault with the Formation Master Guild. However, even after revealing my identity as an Honorary Elder of the Apothecary Guild and showing proof of that identity, I was verbally insulted and sent away in a humiliating manner. I was also told that I would no longer allowed to set foot inside the Formation Master District. Tell me, Elder Arden, what would you do if you were in my place? Would you be able to write it off as a simple misunderstanding?" Izroth spoke with a cold and distant gaze.

"I have no words to say." Arden said with a heavy sigh.

In truth, Arden knew that if he were treated that way, he would have cut all ties with that person and the power behind them. Not only that, he would have made sure to report the matter to the Head of the Formation Master Guild. After all, to show that level of disrespect and discourtesy to him was no different than slapping the face of the Formation Master Guild. As a result, the Formation Master Guild would have blacklisted that person and the power behind them.

In other words, as long as a Formation Master was from their Formation Master Guild, the perpetrator would never be able to enlist their services.

"Elder Arden, I can’t stand to listen to this nonsense any longer! It’s my word versus the word of a guard and outsider! It’s clear who’s in the right here! Hurry up and toss that brat out!" Rionso scowled.

"Silence! You’ve caused enough damage!" Arden snapped.

"Elder Arden, I urge you to consider our positions." Rionso said with a darkened expression.

"You dare to threaten me?" Arden responded.

"Threaten? I would not dream of it. I am simply offering some friendly advice. That’s all." Rionso stated without hesitation.

’It would seem that the Apothecary Guild is not the only profession guild with an internal power struggle. Should I give a small push?’

"How interesting. In the Apothecary Guild, an Interim Elder is ranked lower than an Elder. Yet, it would seem that the two titles hold the same meaning in the Formation Master Guild. Or, perhaps, those of the Formation Master Guild are all close like family and see no meaning to respecting the difference in titles. Either way, today, my eyes have been opened." Izroth said nonchalantly.

The look on Arden’s face darkened as he listened to Izroth’s words. At the same time, a small smirk found its way onto Rionso’s face.

When Izroth spoke of everyone in the Formation Master Guild being "close like family", naturally, he was referring to how the Enrhivers family held a lot of power in the Formation Master Guild. As a result, they treated it no different than they did their own home and walked around as if they ruled the place.

To Rionso, this was something to take pride in. However, for someone others considered to be upright like Arden, it was probably no different than poking at an open wound.

"Interim Elder Rionso, it would seem that you believe the Formation Master Guild to be your personal playground. You cannot treat this place as if it is your home and do as you please. It is clear to me that the decision of the Elder Council to grant you the title of Interim Elder was incorrect. That is why, effective immediately, you are hereby stripped of your title of Interim Elder. Furthermore, I will be submitting an official protest to the Elder’s Council regarding your recent behavior." Arden stated sternly.

Rionso’s eyes widened in shock. And, he was not the only one. Haku, who was only a few steps away from Rionso, also seemed taken aback by Arden’s decision.

The Enrhivers family would not take this insult and humiliation lying down. Even for someone in Arden’s position as an Elder, they would place an immense amount of pressure on him for his decision.

’I didn’t expect him to go this far. I suppose what they said about him being an upright person is not without merit. Still, the Enrhivers family is sure to kick up a fuss over this. With the Duvelle family backing them, it won’t be a small matter. Well, at least that would be the case if I weren’t involved.’

Rionso’s shocked expression quickly turned into anger. He was a Grade Seven Formation Master and a member of the esteemed Enrhivers family. Yet, he was being stripped of his title as Interim Elder in deference to an outsider?

"Old man! Have you finally gone senile?! Do you think I will allow this?!" Rionso shouted.

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