The moment Zion's aura erupted, the atmosphere in the hall changed.
The young physician who had seemed harmless only a moment ago suddenly appeared to tower over Aurelius. A heavy pressure spread through the room, forcing several people to straighten instinctively as they struggled against the oppressive presence.
A wave of surprise swept through the gathered physicians.
This young man was no ordinary physician.
His aura alone was enough to make many of them feel suffocated.
"Who exactly is he?"
"His aura is incredible. It's so oppressive."
"I've never seen someone so young possess this kind of presence."
"The guards brought him in themselves. Perhaps he comes from some powerful background."
Others began whispering among themselves, their attention shifting between Zion and Aurelius.
"Aurelius has always wanted revenge after being expelled from the Imperial Hospital. He saw the palace physicians helpless and came here to show off."
"Well, he certainly picked the wrong person to provoke."
A few people struggled to suppress their laughter.
Aurelius heard them.
His face flushed a deep red.
Being mocked by the physicians was already enough to anger him. Being humiliated by a young man who looked barely old enough to establish a medical practice was worse.
But being insulted twice in front of everyone?
His pride could no longer tolerate it.
"You little bastard!"
With a furious snarl, Aurelius raised his hand and swung it toward Zion's face.
Zion's eyes narrowed.
He had been prepared to teach the arrogant man a lesson himself. He didn't expect Aurelius to actually lose control and attack him in front of everyone.
Before the palm could reach him, however, another hand shot forward.
Rolant seized Aurelius's wrist.
"Aurelius!"
The old physician's voice thundered through the hall.
His normally restrained expression had disappeared, replaced by genuine anger.
"You are still an elder, yet you intend to strike a junior in front of everyone? Have you completely forgotten yourself?"
Aurelius struggled against his grip.
The sight of Rolant defending Zion only made the resentment he had carried for years burn hotter.
His expulsion from the Imperial Hospital had never left his mind. He had considered Rolant one of the people responsible for ruining his career, and seeing the old physician standing in his way again was almost unbearable.
Aurelius violently jerked his arm free.
"I am no longer under that hospital's authority," he snapped. "You have no right to lecture me."
Rolant glared at him.
For a moment, the two men stood facing each other, their tempers threatening to ignite the already tense hall.
Zion, however, had no intention of letting the argument continue.
He stepped forward.
"You said I'm just a child who knows nothing about medicine."
His voice was calm again, almost indifferent.
"So answer one question. Can you cure the princess?"
Aurelius's expression changed.
The challenge was obvious.
He let out a low chuckle, quickly recovering some of his confidence.
"If I can't cure her, then you certainly can't."
"What if I do?"
Zion's lips curved slightly.
Aurelius's smile disappeared.
Zion continued looking directly at him.
"What if I cure the princess?"
The question was simple, but the confidence behind it made Aurelius uncomfortable.
He quickly covered that discomfort with a scoff.
"As if that's possible."
His eyes swept over Zion dismissively.
"You've learned a little medical knowledge and now think you're a physician? Unless the sun rises in the west, you have no chance of curing her."
Zion didn't argue.
Instead, he smiled.
"Since you're so certain, let's make a bet."
Aurelius narrowed his eyes.
"What bet?"
"If I cure the princess," Zion said, "you will pay me one hundred thousand gold coins."
The hall immediately went quiet.
But Zion wasn't finished.
"You will also apologize to every physician and pharmacist here."
Several people sucked in a breath.
One hundred thousand gold coins.
That wasn't an ordinary wager.
For most people, it was an unimaginable fortune. Even many nobles would hesitate before casually risking such a sum.
Yet Zion had stated the amount without hesitation.
He stood there as though he had already decided the outcome.
Aurelius's expression twitched.
He had wanted to accept immediately.
His pride demanded it.
But one hundred thousand gold coins was another matter entirely.
Even if he sold most of his possessions, gathering that much money would be extremely difficult.
For the first time since entering the hall, Aurelius hesitated.
And that hesitation irritated him even more.
'Why am I hesitating because of a boy?'
His eyes met Zion's.
The young man's gaze was steady and completely fearless.
That alone made Aurelius feel an inexplicable pressure.
Rolant, meanwhile, was equally stunned.
He had expected Zion to defend himself, perhaps even argue with Aurelius.
He hadn't expected him to propose a wager worth one hundred thousand gold coins.
"Little... Physician," Rolant said quickly, "one hundred thousand gold coins is not a small amount. Don't let this man provoke you into making a reckless promise."
His concern was genuine.
Rolant knew Aurelius's temperament better than most.
If Zion lost this wager, Aurelius would never let the matter go. He would seize the opportunity to humiliate the young physician and make him pay for today's insult.
But Zion simply gave Rolant a reassuring look.
"Mister, I know what I'm doing."
Rolant hesitated.
There was no arrogance in Zion's response this time, only certainty.
Before he could say anything else, Zion looked back at Aurelius.
"What is it? Are you afraid?"
Aurelius's pride immediately flared.
"I am not afraid!"
The answer came almost instinctively.
"How could I possibly be afraid of a little boy like you?"
His earlier hesitation vanished beneath his wounded pride.
If Zion wanted to lose so badly, Aurelius would happily accept.
He sneered.
"Fine. If you lose, you will kneel before me, kowtow with your forehead touching the floor, and apologize."
The surrounding physicians immediately sucked in their breath.
That was far beyond an ordinary apology.
Kneeling was already considered humiliating, but kowtowing at someone's feet carried an even deeper sense of submission. It was the sort of demand one might make of a servant or slave, not a fellow physician.
Several people looked at Aurelius with open disgust.
The man had clearly seized the opportunity to take revenge on someone much younger than himself.
Rolant's anger exploded.
"Aurelius! How shameless can you be?"
Aurelius merely snorted.
"Rolant, this has nothing to do with you. Instead of interfering in our wager, you should worry about keeping your position once I cure the princess."
Rolant's expression darkened, but before he could respond, Zion spoke.
"Fine."
He accepted so quickly that even Aurelius was caught off guard.
Zion's expression remained calm.
"I'll do whatever you asked if I lose."
He paused, then his lips curled upward.
"But don't worry. If you lose, I won't ask you to kowtow."
Aurelius frowned.
Zion's gaze dropped briefly toward the man's enormous belly before returning to his face.
"You see, I don't think that belly is flexible enough for you to manage it comfortably."
For a second, nobody reacted.
Then several people burst into laughter.
Even those who had been trying to maintain their composure couldn't help themselves.
Aurelius's face turned purple.
Zion hadn't merely accepted the wager. He had turned Aurelius's own demand back against him and made the entire hall laugh at his expense.
The physicians exchanged glances.
This young man was either unbelievably confident or completely reckless.
Perhaps both.
Aurelius clenched his fists.
"Prepare yourself," he growled. "You'll be kowtowing very soon."
Zion met his gaze without the slightest change in expression.
"We'll see."
His voice remained calm.
"Just make sure you don't choke when you kneel."
The laughter around them started again.
Aurelius's face became even darker.
But the bet had already been made.
Now there was only one thing left to determine.
Who would be kneeling when this was over?