Chapter 57: How Can This Be?

                                    

                                          
  'Let's see who'll embarrass who?'
  The man's face suddenly turned sour.
  "Are you challenging my judgement, young lady?"
  I gave a curtsey then said, "I'm very sure I can recognise this beast. It's a rare specie, so you people could most likely have mistaken it for the Copper-winged Eagle, right?"
  "This... so you know it's a Copper-winged Eagel?" he asked.
  "I know it's NOT a Copper-winged Eagel due to the visible characteristics of this bird. According to 'Ancient Savage Beasts, Volume II,' on the 26th shelve, on the first row of the 2-star Book Collection Vault, the 465th chapter, paragraph three, makes mention that the Copper-winged Eagle is widely known for its extremely sharp wings, and soft, or you can say 'blunt', claws. Yet, what I see before me is a very normal russet-coloured winged bed, and extremely sharp claws. Just by looking at the depression on the foot of the cage, you'll understand what I mean.
  "It's also identified by its cold aura. However, the only thing I can sense about this eagle before me is poison. If a poison master was here, he'd understand what I mean. I have a roommate who has the Innate Poison bloodline, so I'm used to this poisonous vibe." My voice was very composed and my expression very casual.
  The other old man who hadn't spoken throughout suddenly stood up and said, "I might not know too much about beasts, but I am a poison master. I'll verify if there's really a poison aura now."
  He walked with long strides towards the cage and let out his aura to sense the resonance with the bird's. After a while, he paused, then nodded.
  "The young girl is right. It really is a poison-type beast."
  "Huhn?" the man who'd first spoken was astonished.
  Taking this opening, I said, "If you still doubt me, then you really shouldn't be blamed. The Russet Poison-type Eagel is an ancient beast hard to come by. Even I am surprise to see it here. Plus, it's my first time. For perfect reference, see the same 'Ancient Savage Beasts, Volume II,' and consider the heading, 'The Russet Poison-type Eagel', in chapter 760, first to twelfth paragraphs."
  The poison master gestured to the beast tamer to go and confirm it from the book I'd made reference to. The latter quickly moved at an incredible speed, such that all I saw was his figure blurring before he disappeared.
  In truth, they actually we're under a disguise. I recognised them the moment I entered the room because they were under a disguise... nothing of which could even be compared to my disguise skill. Using the Eye of Insight and a disguise skill to cover the streaks of light in my eyes, I was able to look at the faces behind the disguises.
  The two men were none other than the Principal of the Beast Guild, Principal Dongwu; and the Principal of the Poison Guild, Principal Buneng!
  After the first elder left, Principal Buneng could not help but ask, "Lass, it seems you're really sensitive to poisons. It took me a moment there to confirm those poisonous wings, while all it took you was a glance!"
  I blushed. "You're flattering, Elder."
  He smiled and waved it off. "Say, how would you like to also join the Poison Guild?"
  I gave it a thought. Jaded and Xueyi had suggested the same thing before, and even Jessica supported that it's good to have multiple careers.
  "Can I give it a thought, Sir?" I asked politely.
  "Yes. Yes, of course!" he laughed. He was excited that I didn't turn it down abruptly. He flicked his hand and a card appeared in-between his thumb and forefinger.
  "Take this. Whenever you pass the 1-star Poison Masters' Examination, come and find me with this card."
  "Thank you, Elder," I curtseyed, once again, then kept the card in my ring.
  Just then, a figure appeared in the room. He had eyes wide in surprise, and in his hands was a big book.
  "Impossible! Every single thing she said was correct! How can I not know this ever existed?! How can this be?!"
  Yes. It was the Principal Dongwu in disguise.
  "May I continue the examination?" I asked, politely.
  He stared at me like I was a monster then quickly composed himself, nodding, as if to avoid saying rubbish.
  "This is a Viridescent Vulture!"
  "This is a... haha... a Copper-fur Wolf!"
  "This is a Dusk-glow Bear!"
  "This is the Ultimate Yin Panda!"
  "This is the..."
  I kept ranting on and on, until the Principal couldn't help but stop ticking his check boxes and look at me in astonished. Ignoring this, I continued naming each beast with each step I took. With his previous experience, he definitely wouldn't dare to question my answers, despite how much he'd been trying to search for flaws.
  Principal Buneng couldn't help but ask Principal Dongwu, "Were you this good in your youth?"
  He quickly coughed and adjusted his cloth, "If not that we're unrelated, I'd have said she took after me. Cough cough."
  "It's hard to get a compliment from you. I've barely seen even your direct disciple gaining such compliments, so it means she's really, really good!" the poison master exclaimed.
  "Cough cough. Lass, no need to go on!"
  I turned around with a smile. "But I'm barely done."
  He waved his hand.
  "Just go. No matter which one you take, you'll make a pass, so no need to continue."
  I frowned. "Won't I lose points?"
  "Hahaha! This old man here isn't bias. You'll surely get your perfect result. I learnt from the invigilators of your previous stage that you'd gotten a perfect result there, so I think it'll obviously be the same in all."
  He flicked his finger, ignoring my surprised expression. An emblem appeared in his hand.
  "Take this. This is a quasi 2-star beast tamer emblem. It's only a quasi, which mean you're a half 2-star beast tamer. After completing the second part of your examination, which is the Beast Taming, you'll be given a real 2-star emblem if you pass! Congratulations to you!"
  They suddenly waved their right hands at the same time, causing the whole scene to change and return to the Wall of Puzzlement room. I saw the exit door and walked out, after putting on my badge.
  Stepping out, I was dazzled.
  'Why does this have to happen all the time?! Can't someone be low profile?!'
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Author's Note: We've come to the end of the first arc of the book "BUTTERFLIES" which is titled, "Becoming a Gifted." I hope you've all enjoyed this book so far. Please, for further encouragement to your dear author and to his Stephanie, send us a mail at [email protected]. The second arc of the book is titled, "The Undefeatable Class 192." Please watch out for this arc! Your comments and sharing of this book would do me much good. See you in Planet Arerat!
PS, I can finally stretch my back a li'l'.