"Vivian, Grade Five."

“Maria... Grade Nine and Above? This can't be right... Right?"

Doris shook her head and said in horror, “Ma'am, I've never heard of or seen anyone so talented before in the clan."

The matriarch didn't say anything for three full minutes. Then, she said slowly, clearly impressed, “Grade Nine is the highest talent that has ever been acknowledged by the Jenkins family. A hundred years ago, an ancient member of the Jenkins family reached beyond this level. It was actually because of that genius that this new level was added.

They called it the Grade Nine and Above."

Doris was stunned into silence.

However, a reverence for Maria was creeping upon her at the moment.

It was like a seed that was quietly sprouting in the bottom of her heart.

“Ma'am, what are you going to do about Maria..." Doris began.

But before she could finish, the matriarch of the Jenkins family scratched Maria's test result from the report.

Doris' eyes widened in shock, and for a moment, she didn't even dare to breathe.

Grade Nine and above?

The Jenkins family... No... ALL the ancient families in Broome might never see another talent Like Maria for centuries to come.

How could the matriarch just erase the test result as if it was nothing?

Still holding her breath, Doris silently observed as the matriarch lifted her pen up to Maria's report and wrote "Grade One Minus."

It was bad enough to Lower her grade by a little, but to give her a grade that was even Lower than Grade One?

“Ma'am, would that really be okay?" Doris asked nervously.

The matriarch didn't answer Doris' question, but just calmly folded up the paper in front of her, as if she had everything under control.

“Take these reports and announce the results to the contestants,” she said slowly.

“Yes, ma'am."

Pressing her lips together, Doris obediently picked up the identification reports of the ten contestants who had been called back for the talent test and left the room.

The next part was to go through the process. Even without explicit instructions from the matriarch, Doris knew the drill.

In the square, the young fellows were mingling with one another except for Maria, who stood aside on her own as if she had been excluded from the group.

Shaun did accost her, but he failed to get a reaction from Maria, which made everyone believe that she was a haughty woman who didn't take them seriously.