The most shameless alchemist in history

"Okay, okay, I got it. I'm definitely the best, so I'll go first." Du Lei smiled and patted her head. The entrance test was about to begin, and through the window, they could see many people already walking up the stairs toward the academy. The test location was inside the academy.

"Will Brother Du Lei still come looking for me?" Sherry asked, blinking her eyes with a hint of anticipation.

"Of course I will. Once I finish the test, no matter what the result is, I will definitely come to see you, Sherry." Du Lei nodded.

“Then it’s a deal.” Sherry said seriously.

"Yes, we've agreed." Du Lei turned to look at the location of Maple Leaf Academy. Sunlight was pouring down from the sky; it was a rare beautiful day.

He said goodbye to Sherry at the blacksmith's shop and walked towards the steps. The street was bustling with people, mostly students preparing for the academy test and their accompanying parents. Dure walked for more than ten minutes and soon stopped at the steps. There were just too many people around.

According to the college's regulations, parents must stop accompanying their children on the steps, which has become the place where parents say goodbye to their children.

"Son, the hope of revitalizing our family rests on your shoulders. Don't worry, I've taken care of everything for you. The test will be fine."

"Ms. Charlotte has taken our money, so she'll definitely do a great job. This test is just a formality."

“With the mayor’s letter of recommendation, Charlotte won’t refuse to give me face. I spent a lot of money on that letter, so you’d better make me proud.”

Near the steps, many parents were giving instructions to their children. These people were all rich and powerful, and they had already arranged everything. For them, getting their children into Maple Leaf Academy was a sure thing. On the other hand, the situation was quite different.

"I'm so nervous! Is the test finally coming? What will it test? Will it test theoretical knowledge? I've been studying every day for the past two months, and I know all about magic power by heart. Oh no, I suddenly can't remember a few concepts. Where are my books? Where are my books?"

"Waaaaah, I heard that Charlotte is the examiner for this test. If I don't give her money, I definitely won't pass. I'm so unlucky. What should I do? Should I give up or leave? Otherwise, it would be too awful to lose face in front of everyone."

"Looks like I need to make plans for the next step after failing the test. Maybe going to another college would be a good choice. Why bother with Maple Leaf College? There are so many people and so much pressure. I guess I'm not suited for this kind of place." Many students felt relieved after the test.

Du Lei slowly walked over and saw the noisy crowd. Near the steps, there were academy staff maintaining order. They were responsible for taking the candidates to the examination room to take the test. Before that, all the candidates had to gather here and wait for the designated time to go to the examination room.

"This is really ridiculous." Just as Du Lei was waiting patiently, a mocking voice came from beside him. Du Lei turned his head in confusion and found that the speaker was a boy who was about fourteen or fifteen years old. He was thin, with delicate features and a very determined look between his brows.

"Don't you think so?" the boy asked again after noticing Du Lei's gaze.

"What do you mean by 'funny'?" Du Lei asked suspiciously, not quite understanding his meaning.

"Those of noble birth disregard the rules; they bribe examiners and can easily send their children to the academy, breaking the principle of fairness. Meanwhile, those of humble origins, who have already arrived here—this is a crucial moment for them to change their destiny"

"But they got stage fright at this moment, and many even had the idea of ​​backing out. Don't you find it ridiculous that such people and such a scene are like this?" The boy's gaze swept across the crowd, his eyes full of disdain, clearly looking down on these people.

“Your background is not something you can decide, and you can’t judge someone based on that.” Du Lei shook his head; he didn’t agree with him.

"While one's birth is indeed beyond their control, those born into noble families can completely reject the conveniences offered by their families and rely solely on their own abilities to pass the tests and gain admission to Maple Leaf Academy. Those born into humble circumstances can also have more backbone. Isn't being timid just laughable?"

The boy persisted in his opinion, shaking his head repeatedly, filled with an indescribable hatred for what he was witnessing.

“What you’re saying makes some sense, but everyone’s upbringing and personality are different. You can’t judge others just because of your position. You think others are ridiculous, but don’t they think the same way about you?” Du Lei retorted.

"So, in your eyes, do you think I'm ridiculous?" The boy glared at Du Lei, looking angry.

“I didn’t mean that, I was just giving an example.” Du Lei shook his head, having no intention of getting into a conflict with him here.

"Really? You dare to question me? You've got guts. My name is Sterling, and I'm the man who will enter Maple Leaf Academy as the top student in this test. What's your name?" the boy said approvingly, revealing his arrogance as he introduced himself.

111 Nobody

If others heard this guy who called himself Sterling say this, they would probably think he was talking nonsense, because he looked thin and weak, only about 1.65 meters tall, not much taller than Dure, and his clothes were also very ordinary, not at all like someone from a wealthy family.

But Dure clearly saw a rare determination in Sterling's eyes for his age. He knew that Sterling was not exaggerating, which made him seriously examine Sterling. In that instant, he even sensed a danger emanating from the other man, which made him subconsciously move away.

"What, are you backing down? Are you like those guys, stage fright?" Sterling keenly caught Dure's subtle reaction. He was young, but had a strong presence. He took a step towards Dure with an aggressive stance, his words carrying a clear sense of disdain.

"When a hunter faces a ferocious prey, what do you think he will do?" Dure steadied himself and asked Sterling a question. There was still some time before the entrance exam officially began, and the surroundings were still noisy and chaotic, but Dure focused all his attention on Sterling.

“If I were a hunter, I would never confront my prey head-on. I would retreat step by step, patiently waiting for the moment it relaxes its guard, and then launch a fatal blow to completely defeat it.” Sterling gave his answer. He pressed forward step by step, and his innate powerful aura made him stand out from his surroundings.

“So what you call retreating isn’t a real retreat,” Dure affirmed, still scrutinizing Sterling’s eyes.

"So you think you're the hunter and I'm the prey?" Sterling suddenly laughed, as if he had heard the most absurd joke in the world.

“I didn’t say that, I just thought it was a possibility.” Dure didn’t deny it, and he stood firm against Sterling.

“You’re quite an interesting fellow. So, could you tell me the hunter’s name? I’ll remember you,” Sterling pressed.

“Maybe I’m just a nobody who couldn’t even pass the entrance exam. Wouldn’t it be redundant for you to remember my name?” Dure shook his head. Even though Sterling pressed him repeatedly, he didn’t tell him, because his intuition told him that Sterling was a dangerous person.

It is unwise to keep your distance from dangerous people, or to get involved with them rashly.

“A nobody? I won’t waste my breath on a nobody. Even if you’re not going to say it now, I believe that someone like you will become famous soon. I’m patient. The test is about to begin, and I look forward to seeing you again,” Sterling said.

He looked to his right, where all the students who had taken the entrance exam had gathered and were preparing to depart under the guidance of their teachers.

"I think it's better if we don't run into each other." Dure shook his head. At this moment, Sterling had already turned and left, disappearing into the crowd.

"Tch, what an arrogant guy, acting like he's invincible. Who does he think he is? He's so annoying. I hope I don't run into him during the test, or I'll definitely teach him a lesson." At this moment, a voice came from behind Du Lei, and Du Lei looked over.

The speaker was a boy of the same age, around fourteen or fifteen, but much stronger than Sterling. He was nearly 1.75 meters tall, with blond hair and handsome features, but his expression was somewhat lazy. He stared at Sterling's back, looking at him with disdain.

"That person's magical energy fluctuations are quite strong. If we actually meet in the test, who knows who will teach whom a lesson?" Next to the boy, there was a blonde girl who was slightly younger than him, probably around thirteen or fourteen years old, who spoke. The girl had a graceful figure, a beautiful face, and a dignified demeanor.

"Huh? Magic energy fluctuations? But why can't I sense them?" The boy was taken aback. He wanted to look for Sterling's figure and try to get a closer look, but at this moment Sterling had already disappeared into the crowd and vanished completely.

"That's because you only know how to solve problems with your fists, but you don't know how to investigate the other party's background before solving the problem. To put it simply..." The girl, who looked seven or eight parts like the boy, sighed and scolded him. It seemed that the two were siblings.

"Was it too reckless?" Du Lei asked, picking up the conversation after seeing this scene. This was also his first impression of the dashing young man.

"What did you say? And who are you? Take back what you just said right now, or even if I'm good-natured, I can't pretend I didn't hear you." The boy finally turned his gaze to Du Lei, staring angrily at the person who was about the same age as his sister.

"That's right, you were too reckless. Can't others criticize your recklessness? Besides, brother, you were the one who started the conversation first, and now you're blaming others. That's really unreasonable." The girl glared at her brother, very dissatisfied with his reckless behavior.

"Ugh, I tried to talk to him first. When did I talk to him? I didn't even notice him! Who is he?" The blond boy rubbed his head, his head spinning. He was completely bewildered, staring blankly at his sister, utterly confused.

"He's the guy you were talking to who thinks he's invincible. Brother, is it really okay for you to ignore him like that? You're such an idiot. I'm so sorry, I've caused you trouble." The blonde girl smiled apologetically at Dure. Although she was young, she was well-versed in etiquette.

"It's alright," Du Lei said, somewhat surprised by the two men's appearance, but not wanting to cause any trouble, he waved his hand to indicate that it was fine.

"Kelly, why are you apologizing to him? What's wrong with you? So you're the kid who was bullied earlier but didn't fight back. Hey, that arrogant brat bullied you, and you actually put up with it? Are you even a man?" The boy looked at Du Lei with disdain.

"Brother, how can you talk to others like that? I'm going to get angry if you keep doing that!" The girl called Kelly was a little angry. She looked at her brother with annoyance. Although she was the younger sister, she had been taking care of him since they were very young. He was always causing trouble.

"Okay, okay, I apologize. I shouldn't have said that. I take back what I just said. My name is Keita, and this is my sister Kelly. What's your name? As an apology, I'll take care of you once you get into the academy." Keita introduced himself, speaking weakly.

It was as if nothing in the world concerned him.

112 Bored

Although the blond boy named Keita was even more arrogant and rude than Sterling, Dure was not angry. Sterling's arrogance stemmed from his deep-seated contempt for others, and he had an air of looking down on the world. Keita, on the other hand, was the type to act rashly and without guile.

With his sister Kelly constantly apologizing, Dureh was completely relieved. Moreover, compared to his avoidance when facing Sterling, he directly told Keita and Kelly his name, because these siblings did not pose the same danger to him as Sterling.

"Oh, so your name is Dure. It's a very ordinary name, not very impressive either. But it suits you quite well." Keita, upon learning Dure's name, couldn't resist making a sarcastic remark. To those around him, this remark was sure to anger them, and he had gotten into many conflicts with people because of it.

"Brother, you should at least consider the other person's feelings before you speak. You can't speak without thinking. Haven't you caused enough trouble because of this?" Kelly scolded her brother repeatedly. Keita's old habit was something she could never correct, and she, as his sister, was really worried sick about it.

“It’s alright, Keita is just telling the truth, and I won’t be angry about it.” Dure shook his head. He knew that Keita was just being sarcastic. Although what he said wasn’t pleasant to hear, it was still much better than hypocrites.

"You're quite self-aware, kid. Hahaha, it's alright, it's alright. Although you look weak and are easily bullied, you're lucky to have met me. From now on, I'll protect you, and no one will bully you. Just follow me, Uncle Keita." Keita laughed heartily.

The more he looked at Du Lei, the more pleasing he became. He patted Du Lei on the shoulder, as if he wanted to take the latter as his subordinate, and his mood improved greatly.

“It’s so good that you’re not holding a grudge against my brother, Dure. Don’t take his words to heart. That’s just how he is; he often offends people because of that.” Kelly kept apologizing to Dure. She was also glad that she had met a reasonable person, otherwise, they would definitely have started fighting.

"What? A real man never gets angry over such trivial matters. And even if he offends someone, he just beats them into submission. Like that arrogant brat from earlier. Oh right, what was his name again?" Keita was still holding a grudge against the person who had spoken to Dure earlier.

“Sterling,” Durrell repeated the name.

“Yes, yes, that’s Sterling. I need to find a piece of paper to write down this name, otherwise I’ll forget it in a bit. Kelly, where’s the paper and pen? And how do you spell Sterling?” Keita asked her sister behind her earnestly, and actually picked up a piece of paper and pen to write it down.

"Can't you think of anything other than fighting? It's driving me crazy." Kelly was at her wits' end with her brother. She had tried everything—talking, scolding, you name it—but Keita just kept getting into trouble whenever he wanted.

"Having a sister like you is truly reliable," Du Lei said with a gentle smile as he observed the brother and sister.

"It's truly unfortunate to have an older brother like this. By the way, Dure, did you come to take the test alone?" Kelly sighed deeply, then quickly changed the subject and looked at Dure, quite curious about this peer.

"Yes, he came alone. I heard that this test is being conducted by Professor Charlotte, and his assessment is quite strict." Du Lei glanced around but didn't see Charlotte. However, based on his impression of Charlotte, she didn't seem like the kind of nice guy.

"To be precise, Charlotte's assessment is directly linked to bribery. If you give enough bribes or have a strong letter of recommendation, you can easily gain admission. But if you don't have either of these, he will make things difficult for you in every way, and it will be extremely difficult to enter the gates of Maple Leaf Academy."

Kelly directly stated what Dure had meant in a roundabout way, clearly indicating that everyone who came to Maple Leaf Academy had some understanding of Charlotte.

"That's about right. So, which category do you two fall into?" Dure nodded and asked Kelly in return.

"Then, Dure, which category do you think we belong to?" Kelly didn't answer directly, but blinked.

“I think you belong to the latter category,” Dure thought for a moment and gave his answer.

"Is it the kind that can provide a strong letter of recommendation?" Kelly confirmed the answer.

“That’s right.” Du Lei nodded affirmatively.

"Why would you guess that, Durex?" Kelly asked, intrigued.

"Would you believe me if I said I was just guessing?" Dure remained noncommittal when asked this question.

“That’s a cunning answer, but you guessed right, Durei. We do have letters of recommendation, but as you can see, my brother’s attitude is like this.” Kelly turned around and glanced at Keita, who was writing her name on paper against the wall.

“Who else is in Sterling Lowry? Write down all their names,” Keita said, oblivious to his sister’s conversation with Dure. He was writing diligently on the paper.

“He definitely won’t use a letter of recommendation, right?” Dure could tell too; Kelly’s face was full of helplessness.

“He could have skipped the test with just the recommendation letter, but knowing my brother’s temperament, how could he possibly take advantage of that? So he still has to take the test.” Kelly recalled the scene when she and her brother had just received the recommendation letter, and Keita turned around and tore it up.

"That's just like him. But with your abilities, no matter how much Charlotte tries to make things difficult for you, it shouldn't be too hard for you." Although it was his first time meeting Keita and her brother, Dure could already tell that they were no ordinary people and that both siblings possessed extraordinary talents.

"The test hasn't started yet, so it's not certain. And you, Dure, don't you have a letter of recommendation or offer any bribes?" Kelly said, though her tone was confident.

“Someone like me, a nobody, comes from a poor background and has no connections. Even if I wanted to bribe someone, I wouldn’t have the money, so I can only leave it to fate.” Du Lei seemed very pessimistic at first glance. There were hundreds of students taking the test nearby.

“Durey, you’re really joking. If you were really a nobody, why would someone as talented as Sterling talk to you?” Kelly shook her head; she didn’t believe it.

"Maybe he's just bored," Du Lei thought seriously for a moment and gave an answer.

"So, am I just bored and talking to you, Dure?" Kelly smiled and looked at Dure with a grin.

"Well, I don't know about that." Du Lei shook his head.

"Attention all students participating in the entrance examination: The first task of this test is to reach the back mountain of the academy within one hour. Failure to arrive within the stipulated time will result in elimination. Therefore, the entrance examination will now officially begin."

113 Climbing the steps

Everyone, including Du Lei, thought the test would start after arriving at Maple Leaf Academy. Gathering them now was just to make it seem more formal. However, to their surprise, the test was announced to have started, which shocked many people, and they looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a brief silence, someone finally reacted and stepped onto the stairs. At this point, the staff stopped them. The students, full of energy, rushed forward like wild horses, hundreds of them exerting all their strength, afraid of being left behind.