Chapter 1602: Honor and Bribes If Siz had gotten through the assessment along with the rest of the Rock Guild, Gary would have said nothing. After all, he thought even the other members of the Rock Guild had performed well enough to be considered for selection. However, having clearly overheard the despicable words spoken by the Rock Guild members, Gary wasn’t shy about calling out the injustice in front of everyone, demanding a public explanation. "What are you saying, young man? Do you really want to lose the place that you’ve just rightfully earned?" the assessor immediately snapped, attempting to intimidate Gary. Siz, heartbroken and terrified of the escalating situation, rushed over to Gary and tugged desperately on his arm. "It’s okay, you don’t have to do this, truly. It’s alright, I can just try again next time. There’s no need to cause trouble." "What do you mean, it’s alright?" Gary said, looking directly at Siz. "Anyone with eyeballs and half a brain cell could tell that you deserved to pass. You were the best performing person here, apart from us. I thought it was strange when you failed and was going to let it be, but then I clearly overheard what those guys said." Gary then pointed a trembling finger at the Rock Guild. "The Rock Guild just boasted about paying for you not to pass. So something is clearly going on. If the entire Rock Guild passed and Siz didn’t, then I’m highly inclined to believe this assessor really was paid off." "How dare you!" one of the knights standing by the assessor’s side charged forward, but the assessor quickly raised his hand to stop him. The reason for the assessor’s restraint was simple: it was the truth. The Rock Guild had indeed paid the assessor to ensure their own acceptance. They had also originally requested the assessor fail Gary and the other two, but due to the trio’s impossible performances, that part of the bribe had been impossible to fulfill. Everyone had been focused on the trio’s domination, but few had paid attention to Siz’s excellent, steady performance. This lack of attention was why even some of the other participants felt Gary was making a big deal over nothing. "You heard us! What, do you have special hearing or something, monster?" Oppo shot back, trying to regain the offensive. "Just because the three of you passed and your little friend didn’t, doesn’t mean you can just go around accusing honest people!" "Did I say I was speaking to you, you damned big-head pumpkin!" Gary snarled, his teeth almost bared. His eyes, suddenly filled with genuine, icy anger, caused Oppo to take an immediate, involuntary step backward. "I’m looking at him to answer," Gary said, his finger now stabbing the air toward the chief assessor. "If you really didn’t get paid, then you have to have a good, justifiable reason as to why you failed Siz. Tell us, why did they pass and he didn’t!" The silence from the assessor was immediate and heavy. None of the other knights dared to speak either, until the assessor finally gathered his words. "Do you think I need to tell you the reason?" the assessor said, his voice regaining its condescending tone. "If I spoke about our internal judging criteria, then it would make it easier for others to pass in the future, compromising the integrity of our selection process. And who are you? Who are you, an arrogant new recruit, that I have to explain myself about the decision that has been made?" The assessor paused, looking Gary up and down with obvious disdain. "It seems like, because of all of this disruption, I have decided that you are no longer one of the ones that have passed the assessment. You clearly do not have the fundamental quality of a knight." Siz was frantically shaking his head, tears welling up. This was exactly what he had feared. Now, because of his failure, Gary, who barely knew him outside of a few hours of interaction, was getting punished. It seemed like bad luck always happened around him, and now it had spread to these kind strangers who were sticking up for him. "Haha!" Gary smiled, but it was a cold, terrifying smile that did not reach his eyes. "I can tell by your awful answer just how guilty you are." He stepped closer to the head assessor. "You know, speaking to Siz, he told us a lot about you knights. We really didn’t know much about the process. He would tell us how honorable you guys were. Taking up a position to protect the people, putting other’s needs before yourselves... but this is nothing like that. This is clearly something completely different. Honor... what the heck honor is there in any of this?" Gary’s eyes widened with dark intensity. "Oh, and by the way, thank you for officially saying I failed the assessment. Now that I don’t have to please you or adhere to your corrupt rules, I guess I can just do my own thing." Gary then turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the relieved, smirking faces of the Rock Guild members. "The whole assessment, these guys were trying to f*ck around with us, and honestly, it was getting seriously on my nerves," Gary stated, pounding his fist into his open palm. "Since you won’t tell the truth about whether you’ve been bribed or not, I know these guys will. And I think just a little bit of beating will do the trick." "What are you doing? We can’t allow you to hurt regular citizens!" one of the standing knights shouted, charging forward. But before he could draw his sword, Kai was already in motion. He grabbed the knight by the wrist, stopping him mid-swing, then snapped his head forward, delivering a devastating head-butt that dropped the knight instantly. Kai finished the move by kicking the knight’s feet out from under him, sending him crashing to the floor. "I guess things are just never easy for us, are they?" Kai commented, flexing his wrist. "They just attacked a knight!" the assessor shrieked, pointing wildly. "Get all of them, and lock them up! Now!" That was when Lupus’s smile finally grew wide on his face, mirroring Gary’s terrifying expression. "I don’t care," Lupus admitted, dropping his shield and cracking his knuckles. "I wanted to beat these guys in the first place." ** For updates on MWS and future works, follow me on my social media below. Instagram: jksmanga P.a.t.r.e.o.n: jksmanga When news drops about My Vampire System, My Werewolf System, or any other series, you’ll hear it there first. Feel free to reach out, if I’m not too busy, I tend to reply.