As Jadiel spoke, a wave of astonishment swept over everyone in the room.

Huh? Maria wasn't spouting nonsense after all?

The ten-year-old Palm Mustar, the three-foot-long Vermilion Grass, and the half-pound Knife-Shaped Core actually existed?

Jadiel's revelation indicated that these were not only real but precious and rare herbs, not accessible to the regular staff of the association.

So, Maria wasn't the one who was ignorant, but all of them were?

A palpable sense of embarrassment immediately hushed the crowd.

At this point, Barbara was even more infuriated.

Just a few moments ago, she was laughing her ass off. And now, she was feeling mortified.

“So, is acquiring these herbs going to be a problem?" Maria asked, her brow furrowed.

To be honest, she didn't think she was making an unreasonable request.

And as a matter of fact, she had frequently used these herbs since childhood. Clark and Denis, back in Jenkins Village, had often supplied her with them.

As she got older, her go-to source became Goodwin, who always had these herbs in stock.

In the past few days at the Lemna Yard, these very herbs had been among the jumble that Isla sorted under Maria's watchful eye.

If it weren't for the Pill Alchemist Association's rule to ensure fairness by banning candidates from using their own herbs, Maria would have no need to ask anyone else for hers.

Jadiel paused for a moment before speaking.

"Those eligible for this major exam are from families that have made sizable charitable donations during the charity auction. Your families have been generous. Rest assured, the association acknowledges this generosity and will reciprocate in kind."

He then took a silver card from his pocket and gave it to the young staff member.

“Use my card to get the herbs this young lady needs from the herb store."

The young staffer looked surprised.

“Are those herbs really available in the store?" he asked, stammering.

Jadiel frowned.

"Your regular access wouldn't let you know this, but the association actually has two types of herb storages: the standard one and a special one. You'll find the herbs she needs in the special storage."

The young staffer nodded quickly, carefully took the silver card, and rushed off toward the herb storage.

Jadiel then looked seriously at Maria.