The Most Arbitrary Wizard

How can 3 equal 8?

It was a question of just a few simple characters, yet it stumped all thousand-plus Wizards in the arena.

Including the audience, one could say Sean's question was testing hundreds of thousands of people at once.

Yet, the man himself seemed to have no self-awareness about the situation.

It was hard to tell if he genuinely thought the problem was easy or was just trying to stir the pot. Seeing everyone's strained expressions, he couldn't help but wear a puzzled look. "Hm? It seems none of you have solved the last problem?"

"Seriously?"

"Such a simple problem, and not a single one of you could successfully prove it?"

"Be honest with me, were you all just not paying attention in class?"

A wave of laughter erupted from the audience.

The Wizards: "???"

'Damn it, what is this sudden urge to punch someone??'

It was one thing to pose such a difficult problem, but to then deliberately mock them...

Was this really a matter of not paying attention in class?

This type of problem had never even been taught in class!

The Wizards were all grinding their teeth in frustration.

Laelando, the Lady, and the others had also fallen silent.

Besides Laelando, the Lady, the Poet, and the Pianist would occasionally take on promising Wizards to teach them Truth Techniques. But a problem like 3=8... not only had they never taught anything like it, they didn't even know how to prove it themselves...

So Sean's words weren't just a jab at the competing Wizards, but also at them, the Judges.

What was even more infuriating was that they couldn't get angry—or at least, they couldn't show it.

Otherwise, wouldn't that be admitting they couldn't solve it either?

Down in the audience, Elise covered her mouth, laughing uncontrollably. 'This guy is so wicked,' she thought.

With a single sentence, he had offended everyone at the Table of Truth, and yet no one could do a thing about it.

In fact, it didn't stop there.

Sean had always said he wasn't a petty man. He made a point of looking at Tony, a look of feigned surprise on his face. "Teacher Tony, how is it that even you can't figure it out? Aren't you the A+ honors student?"

At first, Tony hadn't thought much of it.

It was no disgrace not to be able to solve a problem that stumped everyone.

But then Sean had to single him out in front of everyone, putting heavy emphasis on the "A+." Tony's old face instantly flushed crimson. He lost his composure and cursed internally, 'Sean, you bastard!'

'This is a public vendetta!'

Furious as he was, Tony reacted quickly.

"Sir Sean," he replied, "my A+ grade was awarded by Mr. Scholar. You may question me, but I will not permit you to question Mr. Scholar!"

Laelando: "???"

'Damn it, this treacherous student!'

At first glance, his words sounded quite noble, as if he were defending his teacher. In reality, he had just thrown him under the bus.

It wasn't my fault I couldn't solve it; it was because my teacher never taught me.

Laelando's expression, like he had just eaten a turd, made the Lady and the others stifle their snickers.

But they didn't dare to laugh out loud.

One look was all it took to know that Laelando couldn't prove it either. If they provoked the old man and he lost his temper, Her Highness the Saintess might discover that even the Judges couldn't solve a problem meant for the contestants. If that happened, they would all be in hot water.

The Wizards in the audience, however, had no such concerns and began to heckle.

"Hey, what's wrong with you all?"

"Teacher Sean said the problem is simple, and you're supposed to be the honor students! How come not one of you has solved it?"

"Can you guys actually do this or not?"

"Are we going to finish this exam or what? Show a sign if you're still in!"

Nearby, Catherine was frantically trying to keep the corners of her mouth from turning up into a smile.

She really wanted to laugh, but in such a solemn setting, she, as a "proctor" responsible for maintaining order in the examination hall, could not.

Otherwise, Her Highness the Saintess would scold her.

But when she stole a glance back at Diana, she discovered that Her Highness the Saintess also seemed to be holding back a smile...

Finally, under the gazes and laughter of the hundreds of thousands of spectators who were loving the drama, someone couldn't take it anymore.

One Male Wizard decided to fall on his own sword. He shot to his feet, gritting his teeth. "I admit it, I'm an idiot! I can't solve this problem... I'll turn in my test. Deduct the point if you must, but..."

"As a participant of the Table of Truth, I have the right to question the topic!"

"May I ask Teacher Sean, isn't this problem a bit beyond the scope of what we've learned?"

"If it is not, then I ask that Teacher Sean enlighten us!"

His words were quite clever.

He didn't question whether the problem itself was flawed. Instead, he used the "beyond the scope" argument to excuse his own incompetence and, by extension, logically demand that Sean provide the correct solution.

Sean couldn't be bothered to explain.

He crossed his arms and gave the Wizard a strange look. "Are you confused about something?"

"You may be done with your test, but everyone else is still working. If I just give away the answer, what was the point of this problem?"

Giving away points would be a minor issue; the main problem is disrupting the "examination order."

Besides, where do you see a contestant who can't solve a problem demanding the answer from a Judge on the spot?

He wasn't these Wizards' teacher. What did it have to do with him?

His only job was to provide the questions.

According to the rules of the Table of Truth, Sean's reasoning was correct.

He couldn't be wrong.

After all, he himself was the founder of the Table of Truth. The rules were whatever he said they were. Even if he was wrong, he was right.

But he had forgotten one thing.

The Carl Black of the past was already "dead."

Now, the Table of Truth was Diana's responsibility.

If this had involved anyone else, Diana wouldn't have said much. If a Judge wished to explain, they could; if not, so be it. The Wizard's request was inappropriate to begin with. Under stricter circumstances, he could even be expelled from the Table of Truth for it.

But this just had to be about "Sean."

'Some guy who doesn't even recognize me wants to upstage the host at my own Table and talk like he owns the place?'

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