Reborn as the General's Useless Daughter-Chapter 175: Zora’s Counterattack (Part-2)

Morgana’s silence was like a stone dropped into still water.

For anyone with half a brain, they could already see that if this girl were truly telling the truth, how could a certified alchemist, the disciple of a rank-3 alchemist, be rendered speechless by a single question?

Meanwhile, Clarissa and the others froze on the spot, their minds buzzing.

What was going on?

Why wasn’t Morgana saying anything?

The students who had rushed over after hearing the commotion exchanged glances. Even those who had been wavering earlier now wore expressions of realization.

Right then, Alistair and his group arrived just in time to witness the scene. They had hurried over, worried that Zora might be overwhelmed without support.

But now, it seemed their concern was unnecessary.

Even without producing evidence, she had already turned the tide.

This level of composure, this kind of control... it was terrifyingly impressive.

A glint of admiration flashed through the Prince’s eyes, and his lips curved into a smile, "My darling never disappoints..."

On the surface, it looked like Clarissa and the others had stirred up the storm. In reality, from beginning to end, everything had been dancing in the palm of Zora’s hand.

Their schemes, their reactions, even their current desperation... all of it matched her expectations perfectly.

At this point, her brilliance was impossible to ignore.

Just as Morgana stood there, trapped and flustered, a hoarse, low voice suddenly cut through the noise.

"Star grass... rootless wood... willow flower..."

The names of medicinal ingredients rolled out slowly.

The square fell into stunned silence. "Eh?" A collective surprise flashed through many eyes.

Those were materials commonly used by alchemists.

Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.

Cassian then emerged from the crowd, his expression dark and gloomy. Though he tried to appear composed, his face was unmistakably pale, his steps slightly unsteady.

The moment Morgana saw him, her eyes lit up with unrestrained joy.

Master had come!

She didn’t know why he was here, but right now, he was no different from a lifeline thrown into deep water.

"Master Cassian is here!"

"He personally came to the academy?"

"His expression doesn’t look good at all..."

"Could it be that he’s here to help Morgana identify Zora’s potion?"

Whispers spread like wildfire.

What had seemed like a settled matter suddenly showed signs of another twist.

Zora, however, showed no panic.

She was very familiar with the medicinal ingredients Cassian had just named. They were the basic components of a laxative. Of course, there were a few crucial additions he hadn’t mentioned yet.

Clearly, he hadn’t fully figured it out.

After all, the potions she made were never that easy to analyze.

Yet as her gaze lingered on Cassian, a trace of doubt flickered in her eyes.

She had expected him to discover that the potion wasn’t Elixir of Tranquility but a laxative. That was precisely why she had done it, just to give the old fox a taste of his own medicine.

But his pallor... the faint air of exhaustion around him...

That didn’t look like someone who had merely examined a potion.

Could it be—

Before she could finish the thought, Black’s excited voice echoed in her mind. "Master, you were spot on! Cassian’s cultivation really dropped by two whole levels. Hahaha!"

White snickered right after. "At his age, losing two realms? That’s enough to make him choke on regret for a long time."

Zora’s lips curved upward, her smile faint yet sharp.

She didn’t know why Cassian had actually taken the potion himself, but one thing was certain.

Watching that old man suffer like this?

It was deeply satisfying.

Reesa and the others stared at Zora in disbelief. They still hadn’t figured out when she had quietly cornered Morgana so completely.

And now, Cassian had stepped in... yet things somehow didn’t look any better for him.

Cassian’s turbid, gloomy eyes locked tightly onto Zora. The hostility in his gaze was almost tangible.

If circumstances allowed, he seemed like he truly wished he could crush this girl on the spot.

"You should be very familiar with these herbs," Cassian said coldly.

Zora’s expression remained calm as water. She nodded faintly. "As an alchemist, of course. These are common ingredients used in laxatives."

Black and White exchanged glances.

So this old fellow really did have some skill. He actually traced the ingredients.

"These herbs," Cassian continued grimly, "are what I identified from your so-called Elixir of Tranquility. Are you trying to say that Elixir of Tranquility is nothing more than a laxative?"

Though he forced himself to maintain the dignity of a master in front of so many students, the suppressed anger in his voice was unmistakable.

Zora smiled faintly.

Having his cultivation drop by two whole realms... no wonder he was furious.

As Cassian’s words fell, the expressions of the surrounding crowd shifted again.

Cassian was a highly respected second-grade alchemist in Heavenly City. With his status, there was no reason for him to deliberately slander a junior.

Since he had personally stepped forward, did that mean Zora’s potion was truly fake?

Reesa and the others felt their hearts sink. They had just regained the upper hand, only for the situation to flip again with Cassian’s arrival.

Zora glanced at Cassian. "I don’t understand how Mister Cassian concluded that Elixir of Tranquility and laxatives are the same thing," she said slowly.

"But using your seniority to pressure a junior like this... isn’t that a little rude?"

Rude.

The moment that word left her lips, the crowd went completely still.

Rude?

She had just called Master Cassian Rude?

For a moment, everyone stared at Zora as if she’d grown another head.

Reesa broke the silence with an uncontrollable laugh, giving Zora a thumbs-up.

"Domineering! That was seriously domineering!"

Cassian nearly choked with rage. "You dare call me rude?"

He met many people in his life, but never met a shameless girl like this, who not only harmed his cultivation and almost destroyed his prosperous future in alchemy, but now slanders him instead?

Zora merely shrugged, utterly uninterested in soothing his temper.

"The potion was auctioned to Morgana yesterday," she said lightly. "So how did it end up in Mister Cassian’s hands, if I may ask?"

Cassian’s expression flickered. "I only examined it to see if there was a problem."

"Oh?" Zora’s posture was lazy, her tone indifferent. "And your conclusion is that it’s a laxative?"

"That’s right."

"Without taking the potion," she continued calmly, "how can you be certain it’s a laxative? The same herbs, when combined differently, can produce entirely different effects. Surely A rank-3 Alchemist knows such a basic fact, right?"

"Hmph! Zora, don’t try to argue. I’ve concocted potions for decades. These herbs are unmistakably used for laxatives!"

"Even if it were a laxative," Zora sneered, "what does that have to do with me?"

"What proof do you have that the laxative you’re talking about is the very Elixir of Tranquility I auctioned?"

Her smile turned sharp, her confidence unwavering.

She had prepared for this outcome long ago.

Once the potion left her hands, no one could prove anything.

Cassian, Morgana, Clarissa, and the others all narrowed their eyes at Zora.

Her expression, calm and unyielding, made it seem as though she truly felt no guilt at all, and that only stoked the anger burning in their hearts.

Yet frustratingly, every word Zora had spoken left them with no immediate way to refute her.

"With my status," Cassian said heavily, "what reason would I have to frame you?"

His tone carried unquestionable authority. His identity and reputation alone were meant to be proof enough.

As those words fell, the Morning Square grew silent.

Cassian was right about one thing. His standing was indeed enough to sway many people.

"This isn’t looking good," Alaric Von Seraph murmured, his brows knitting almost imperceptibly.

Raphael nodded slightly. Cassian’s sudden appearance had truly been unexpected.

No matter how high Zora’s reputation was within the academy, she had only been here a short time. Compared to Cassian, who had been renowned throughout Heavenly City for decades, she was clearly at a disadvantage.

"We can testify for her," Raphael said quietly, "but who the students choose to believe... that’s another matter."

Prince Kael’s gaze swept coldly across Cassian and his group, a dangerous glint flashing in his eyes.

A mere rank-3 alchemist daring to slander his wife by using his position... he is courting death.

Just as Prince Kael was about to move, a calm, aged voice echoed across the square.

"The Morning Assembly Square is unusually lively today."

Everyone turned.

Vice Principal Gerrad was slowly approaching.

"Vice Principal!" The crowd immediately bowed in respect.

Gerrad had already heard of the commotion. He hadn’t expected that the aftermath of the Elixir of Tranquility auction would escalate to this point.

"Master Cassian," Gerrad said evenly, "without concrete evidence, I cannot allow accusations against a student of this academy."

With that single sentence, his stance was clear.

Here, he was first and foremost the vice principal of the academy. Only after that was he the head of the Yancheng Alchemists Association.

Cassian’s face darkened.