Dane shrugged and said, "He blew up a stove just a few days ago."


    Hearing this, Conrad thought about Devon''s messy appearance earlier, likely from pulling too many all-nighters. He chuckled and said, "Well, life isn''t always smooth sailing."


    Dane lowered his gaze slightly and smiled, agreeing, "True, it''s all about having real skills."


    Conrad found the underlying message quite insightful, and it lifted his spirits. "Once we''re done with the exams here, let''s find some time to hang out and swap some tips on pharmacology."


    Dane had been meaning to build a good rapport with Conrad, given that he was the vice president''s apprentice. He nodded and replied, "Sure, I''ve got some questions I''d love to ask you."


    Conrad, hands sped behind his back, nodded in agreement.


    The next day was the big exam for the pharmacists.


    The association''s annual assessment is a major event, reevaluating rankings and requiring thorough preparation from every pharmacist.


    Aside from specifying which ingredients to use, the exam had no strict rules, nor did it demand a specific medicine to be made, allowing for plenty of creativity.


    It was a bit like cooking, where you had to whip up different dishes from a set ingredient-same idea.


    This year''s exam ingredients were all organized by the vice president since David had been tied up with the medicinal nt basetely and couldn''t oversee it.


    On the spacious grounds of the pharmacists'' association, over a dozen stoves were set up, with all the necessary ingredients and equipment ready to go. The exam was done in batches.


    "Now it''s the junior pharmacists'' turn," David whispered to Paul as they arrived at the square. "The senior pharmacists will goter."


    Paul nodded, ncing at the pharmacists who looked quite professional as they prepared.


    The vice president, spotting David from afar, walked over, but frowned when he saw Paul.


    Bringing a farmer to such a serious exam seemed like a joke.


    "President," the vice president approached, not fully agreeing with David''s decision but holding back his criticism.


    David nodded, "You''ve been working hardtely."


    The vice president smiled politely, "Just doing my job." His eyes drifted back to Paul, and he asked casually, "By the way, have all the young Milran nts been saved?"


    David stroked his beard and nodded, "Yes, thanks to Paul. Without him, we would''ve faced a big loss."


    "I didn''t expect Paul to be so skilled in cultivating medicinal herbs," the vice president said, then asked, "Does Paul also know how to make medicine?"


    "I don''t," Paul shook his head, his eyes on the pharmacists at work.


    Watching their methods, he couldn''t help but grin, thinking that even ancient cooking wasn''t thisplicated.


    David, picking up on the vice president''s implication, looked at him and exined, "I invited Paul toe check it out. He''s never seen this before and is just curious."


    The vice president smirked, understanding David''s intent, "Alright, I''ll go see how everyone''s doing with their concoctions."


    "Go ahead," David waved him off. Once the vice president was out of earshot, David turned to Paul, who seemed captivated by the pharmacists, and called out, "Hey, you okay?"