Versatile Mage (Web Novel)
chapter-1103

Translated by XephiZ

Edited by Aelryinth

“As usual, our chairman has a high notion of our duty as Mages, Mo Fan, did you hear that? Don’t you feel ashamed of yourself? You even said that you’re going to consider the invitation of other countries…” Zu Jiming really knew how to grab hold of the opportunity. He immediately used it to humiliate Mo Fan.

There were things that could be harmless if he was to say it at some other times.

However, in certain occasions, especially when great authorities were around, he could easily twist the truth behind Mo Fan’s words!

“I suddenly realize that my temper has seriously improved a lot compared to how I was before. The fact is I’ve allowed an idiot like you to be an eyesore for a whole year,” Mo Fan did not restrain himself either. He proceeded to scold Zu Jiming as he pleased.

“Who did you just call an idiot!?” Zu Jiming snapped furiously, “Don’t think you can act recklessly just because you’re stronger than us. I might be weaker than you, but at least I won’t commit treason, nor would I ask our superior for a reward shamelessly!”

“It’s necessary for a piece of trash to know their worth!” Mo Fan replied mercilessly.

Zu Jiming’s face darkened after being told that he was a piece of trash, not to mention that it happened right in front of the chairman. If he allowed Mo Fan the mad hound to humiliate him, how could he possibly face the people of his clan!?

That being said, Zu Jiming was smart enough to know that it was unwise to provoke Mo Fan any further. Even if he wanted to, he would have to pretend that he had a high notion of his duty, too! “If you think you’re so good, just go on and help the team place in the top three. As a matter of fact, I’ll be damn impressed if you can help the team defeat any of the four great nations!”

“I don’t need to impress you. You just have to admit that you’re a piece of trash, and stop oinking like a pig around my ears. To be honest, I’m already being very respectful to the country by behaving myself, or else, I would have long ago beat the crap out of you so you could just lie and rest on a sickbed. What renowned clan is it that raised a retard like you, and managed to put you on the national team to annoy other people and sow dissension among the members?” Mo Fan’s rebuttal was like a machine gun.

“Excuse me, did I hear that you have an opinion on the person that I recommended join the team?” a woman behind Shao Zheng suddenly said. She sounded quite stern and cold.

Zu Jiming was overjoyed when he heard his paternal aunt speaking up.

He knew Mo Fan was a powder keg that would explode with the slightest spark. Even though the woman behind Shao Zheng was only a secretary under the chairman, her status was basically comparable to a Councilman, and it was she that recommended Zu Jiming join the national team.

Secretary Zu Huiyin had a displeased look when Mo Fan kept scolding, and she finally ran out of patience.

“So this pig is one of yours? You should really teach him some manners, so he can stop being a troublemaker. The chairman already said that a single rank could make a difference to the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers. Let’s be honest, as long as he stops sowing discord between the members, we won’t have any trouble being placed in the top three,” Mo Fan replied. He had no intention to go easy on the secretary.

Zu Huiyin’s face darkened after hearing his words.

Where exactly did this disrespectful student come from, to say such a thing to the chairman’s secretary? Did he seriously think no one could teach him a lesson?

“Chairman, I seriously don’t understand. I know strength is important, but isn’t attitude the most important? Look at how disrespectful this student is, I bet he might actually accept the invitation of the other countries after the tournament! It’s meaningless for us to waste our resources on a person like him! I suggest we let him give away the resources he acquired from the treasure hunt, and distribute them evenly to the rest of the team!” Secretary Zu Huiyin was at the end of her patience. She even demanded Mo Fan give up on the resources he earned from the treasure hunt!

Shao Zheng did not stop the quarrel between Mo Fan and Zu Jiming. He even stopped Feng Li from interfering with a thoughtful look.

He had allowed the quarrel to happen, as he believed it was better to deal with the conflict than hiding it.

The finals consisted of team battles, and each team would have to send out eight members in every match. The teamwork and synergy between the members were extremely important. Without enough trust between the members, the team would soon be crushed by their opponents.

Shao Zheng did not want the members to pretend to be harmonious on the surface, but scheme against one another during the matches, as it would simply ruin the whole team!

It was obvious that the members of the team were not on peaceful terms with one another. Shao Zheng had noticed it during the treasure hunt. Zu Jiming, Mu Tingying, Nanrong Ni, and Li Kaifeng had basically formed their own group within the team, and they did not even try to lend Mo Fan and Mu Ningxue a hand when they were in a pinch!

It was definitely not something that Shao Zheng wanted to see. He knew it was impossible to resolve the conflict between the members, since the conflict was not just child’s play, nor was it as simple as envy or jealousy. After all, prior to representing the country, everyone was competing against each other, so the conflict had lasted for a long time.

Shao Zheng was planning to turn the conflict into a motivation, so the members would be holding one another accountable. He wanted to use the conflict to secure a higher rank for the team!

“Mo Fan did utter some rash comments, but Zu Huiyin, your suggestion isn’t appropriate either!” It was obvious that Shao Zheng had no intention to punish Mo Fan.

“I just think that a malevolent student like him might actually commit treason,” Zu Huiyin totally lost her calm.

Zu Huiyin felt like Mo Fan was basically scolding her when he called Zu Jiming a retard and a piece of trash, since she was the one that recommended Zu Jiming, not to mention that he was saying it right in front of the chairman. He was basically asking for death!

Since he was asking for trouble, she would make sure that he would never recover from it!

No one had dared to challenge her like that. Wouldn’t it be a piece of cake if she wanted to play the kid like a fiddle?

“Zu Huiyin, I don’t agree with what you said. I might be unfamiliar with other students, but I can guarantee you that Mo Fan will never do anything like that. I’m not too pleased with your suspicion and accusation. I’m asking you to apologize to Mo Fan!” Han Ji could not stand it any longer.

“Han Ji, did I just mishear it?” Zu Huiyin was startled.

Was the man serious? Did he just ask a secretary to apologize to a student? Was this Han Ji out of his mind?

“You heard it right, I’m asking you to apologize to Mo Fan.” Han Ji stepped forward, implying that he was not joking at all, displaying his stance.

“Han Ji, Zu Huiyin is just teaching the younger generation a lesson. You shouldn’t take it so seriously,” the leader of the Mu Clan, Mu Gong, said.

“I was wondering why this kid is so reckless, to even dare murder the successor of my Lu Clan. It looks like Han Ji here has got his back. Han Ji, are you that obsessed with your disciple, to even demand that the chairman’s secretary to apologize to a mere student?” Councilman Lu Xin, who had been silent all this time, finally spoke up.

The moment Lu Xin came into the room, he had been watching Mo Fan closely, as if he had the urge to burn him into ashes.

“We’ve confirmed the reason behind Lu Yilin’s death, it was Lu Yilin who tried to murder his teammate first…” Song He intervened.

“Even so, they should have handed him to the Enforcement Union. What right did he have to murder Lu Yilin? Besides, they could say whatever they wanted after the man was dead. How can I be sure that the members of the team weren’t crowding out my nephew?” Councilman Lu Xin lost his calm too. He would never forgive Mo Fan for what he had done!

“I already said it, we’ll discuss it after the World College Tournament. Lu Xin, that’s enough!” Feng Li snapped.

“Fine, I’ll be waiting for the Enforcement Union to give me a fair explanation. Otherwise, I’ll be taking the matter into my own hands instead!” Lu Xin replied threateningly.

Han Ji did not argue further on the topic, yet it did not mean he was done with Zu Huiyin, who tried to abuse her identity to defame Mo Fan.

“Old Han, we’ll just let Zu Jiming apologize to Mo Fan. Zu Huiyin is just warning Mo Fan, she didn’t really accuse Mo Fan of committing treason. Besides, Mo Fan was pretty harsh with his comments too,” Pang Lai said.

It was unreasonable to ask the chairman’s secretary to apologize to a student. Han Ji was asking too much. Even if he was trying to protect Mo Fan, he had to know the limits, too!

Zu Jiming was dumbfounded. Since when did he need to apologize to Mo Fan? Was this Pang Lai out of his mind? Couldn’t he tell who was in the wrong here?

“No way! They must hold someone responsible for the words they said. We all know that Mo Fan is just joking, yet someone purposely twisted the truth of his words and accused him of treason. Considering how young Zu Jiming is, he might be doing it out of jealousy, since he hasn’t been particularly outstanding on the team. However, as the chairman’s secretary, what were you thinking, to accuse the student in front of everyone else? Don’t you know how great an influence it would be on him?” Han Ji was extremely stubborn, and he sounded quite serious, too!

“What was I thinking? I’m just teaching him a lesson! You can easily tell a person’s attitude from their behavior! At least I can tell that there’s something wrong about him judging the way he acts. Besides, based on what he did to Lu Yilin, I can assure you that he is malevolent, and we can’t place our trust in him!” Zu Huiyin said.

“Malevolent? Very well, you better remember what you said today!” Han Ji burst out laughing.

“Did I say anything wrong?” Zu Huiyin retorted.

“The team will be taking part in the last match for the day. I am planning to reveal something to the public now that Mo Fan has made a name by himself. Zu Huiyin, you have three matches left to decide if you are going to apologize to him. Once the team is up, you won’t have any chance to take your words back, and it won’t be as simple as a little apology!”

“Take my words back? I, Zu Huiyin, have never regretted what I said. It’s normal for people to make a mistake and say the wrong things, but that has never happened in my case. Otherwise, how am I worthy to be the chairman’s secretary! He is malevolent!” Zu Huiyin was far too stubborn to compromise.

Zu Huiyin had been trying to win the Lu Clan over, and she had found herself the perfect opportunity today. It was obvious that the Lu Clan had hated Mo Fan for a long time, so they would surely appreciate what she had done today.

Most importantly, the kid was simply asking for it!