Chapter 1342
In front of Andrew was a pile of various items. At a quick glance, there were pieces of horn, bones, and some dark, lumpy objects. He immediately understood that this round was testing a doctor’s ability to identify medicinal substances and distinguish toxic materials. It was not exactly difficult, but it was definitely designed to be tricky and misleading.
After a brief inspection, Andrew picked out a bone and a dark, knobbly lump. While unremarkable at first glance, this lump was actually a highly toxic tree root.
The examiner standing in front of him raised his eyebrows, clearly surprised at Andrew’s speed. He had barely paused before picking out the correct items.
The old, bald examiner let out a low whistle and gave Andrew a thumbs-up. “Not bad, kid. One word—impressive!”
Andrew smiled, replying modestly, “Thanks, it’s just a bit of good luck.”
The examiner muttered to himself as he scribbled on his clipboard. "This kid had seemed cocky earlier, but maybe he actually has some real skill after all."
Around him, the other contestants also began selecting the toxic items from their piles.
Francesca’s face was tight with concentration, and she could not help but glance nervously in Andrew’s direction. When she saw him flash her a reassuring wink, she let out a long breath, relief flooding her face. She was glad she had picked the right items.
Not far away, Jared’s expression was growing darker by the second. Lowering his head, he muttered, “Damn it, this is just a guessing game at this point. Who the hell can tell which of these things is toxic and which isn’t?”
He glanced toward Thomas, hoping for a hint. However, his mentor did not even spare him a glance.
Jared’s heart sank further, the bitter taste of frustration rising in his throat. As much as Thomas appreciated his talent, he was also a strict perfectionist—there was no way he would break the rules to help him here.
Seeing that both Andrew and Francesca had already passed the round, Jared’s anxiety only grew.
The examiner leaned in, asking, “Have you finished identifying the toxic items?”
Jared’s heart skipped a beat, and he forced a strained smile. “Uh, sir, would you mind giving me a little hint? This round is a bit tricky, you know?”
The examiner, clearly someone from the Advanced Medical Institute, responded curtly, “Scram.”
Jared’s face fell, and for a moment, he nearly cursed out loud. Naturally, asking someone from the Advanced Medical Institute to help out was foolish—it was like sticking his head in a lion’s mouth.
Seeing the examiner glaring at him with disdain, Jared had no choice but to grit his teeth and push through.
“Fine. I’ve made my selections,” he said.
Just then, eight contestants were eliminated on the spot for failing to identify all the toxic substances correctly. Jared felt a cold sweat trickling down his back. He wondered if he would be the next to fall. If he got knocked out here in the fifth round, he would not even be able to keep up with Francesca, let alone challenge Andrew.
The examiner finally looked at him, his expression as cold as ever. “Unfortunately, you missed one toxic item among the eight in front of you.”
Jared’s heart plummeted, his pulse hammering in his ears. He started to panic, wondering if he was really about to fail here.
Had he really slipped up so badly that he would be eliminated in the fifth round?
Suddenly, the examiner continued, his tone still flat. “However, according to the judges’ rules, a single oversight is allowed. So, I have to say that you got lucky this time.”
Jared’s face lit up with sudden relief. He had scraped through the fifth round by the skin of his teeth.
Thomas finally chimed in, “This is what happens when your fundamentals are weak. If you had failed just now, I would have had to reconsider whether you were still worth my mentorship.”
Jared’s face flushed bright red, and he gritted his teeth. “Don’t worry, Dr. Bozzelli. That was just a momentary slip. From now on, no matter how tough the challenge, I’ll make sure I push through! I’ll be unstoppable.”