Richard, Alice, and the rest of the elders returned to the estate after a hectic meeting with the World government to decide the Academic Convergence. They had to apply their guild members who wanted to participate and some other matters needed to be discussed.
"I'm tired…"
Said Alice as they were near the estate. The meeting, which lasted several hours and had powerful figures participating, had taken a toll on her.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, they saw the commotion in the Estate. There was an extensive line in the estate, and the end of the line was almost reaching the gate. Twilight members, even the ones who were higher in rank were patiently waiting in line. They entered the lobby periodically. Some members who exited were either extremely happy or on the verge of crying.
..?
What's going on?
"What's going on?"
An elder approached the member of Twilight last in line and questioned.
The awakened greeted the elder with respect and answered.
"We are having a talent evaluation?"
"..?"
Richard and the rest were all confused. The Twilight member explained further.
"Alan Peccator has returned and he has an artifact which can see the hidden talents of people…We are lining up to see our hidden talents."
"Alan is back?"
Richard questioned. That kid was finally back after being gone for half a year? Richard spread out his mana and his jaw dropped when he saw Alan.
"...On the brink of breaking through B+."
He muttered. The elders beside him had figured out what he meant.
Alan Peccator, at the age of 17 was on the brink of advancing to B+...
Their jaws dropped as they all rushed inside the lobby and checked it with their own eyes.
"..."
"He really is on the verge of breaking into B+..."
"What the fuck…"
Muttered the elders in amazement, Alice and Richard looked at Alan with amazement as well.
There was a fierce aura around him, he had a scarred face and his hair was a little dirty…but he was strong.
Very Strong. They could feel the waves of mana subconsciously emitted.
"Your hidden talent is spearmanship. Ditch the sword."
Revealed Alan to a Member of Twilight who had a longsword by his waist.
"Eh? Really? I've been using a sword as a weapon since I was a kid."
The member said in disbelief. He thought his hidden talent would be something else, like magic or something.
"Yep, and it's an amazing grade so ditch the sword and practice the spear."
The member's expression lit up the moment Alan mentioned the grade of the Hidden Talent. Only a few members had gotten that grade. So he was happy nonetheless. Besides, he was feeling he wasn't doing his best with the sword. But he was stubborn and unwilling to part with his dear sword. But now he would.
"Let's melt you down and make you a spear buddy."
He walked away and gave way to the next member. Who appeared in front with a smile, curious to know what Talent he would have. However, Alan noticed Richard and the rest.
"Are you back from that meeting?"
He asked. Richard took a while to respond because he was still in a state of shock from Alan's new strength.
"...Yes. What are you doing?"
He asked.
"Checking hidden talents, this was a reward from the Marquis quest in Aror."
"Oh…"
Alan redirected his attention to the awakened in front of him and checked his hidden talents.
"Blacksmithing, Great grade."
The awakened seemed satisfied and left.
"...Everyone go back to your duties, we will continue this tomorrow."
Suddenly, Richard dismissed everyone.
"Why?"
Alan inquired.
"We need to talk, that's why. Elder's and other members, please go back to your duties. This can continue another time."
Although the awakened who were waiting in line were displeased, They couldn't go against the order of the guildmaster after all. They went back to their duties without any complaints and Richard gestured to Alan to follow him to his office. Alice accompanied them.
*******
"When did you come back?"
Asked Richard. Him, Alice and Alan were the only one's in his expansive office.
"Today."
"You didn't take any rest? How did your training go? What kind of training did the sage give you?"
Asked Richard. He was curious as to what kind of training Alan had undergone for him to become this strong. The bloodlust he instinctively released was impressive, as well his mana emissions. He was doing it subconsciously, like a defense system.
Furthermore, the scars on his face and visible increase in his Physique intrigued him. Alan had a regeneration factor that was unbelievable, and his physique was already very impressive, but even that grew. He was curious what Hell he experienced.
"Didn't need rest, but I guess it went okay. I just had to slay demons and demonic beasts."
Alan severely underexplained his training. Well, he couldn't be blamed. To him, that was the extent of his training. He couldn't talk about the Sword Saint so…that was it.
It was actually facing entire hordes of thousands of demon and demonic beasts alone, for days and even weeks, raiding Obelisk bases and other Strongholds the demons had set up and also having duels with the Sword Saint, as well as rarely sleeping and just practicing the [HEAVENLY SKY SPEAR] art. Until he collapsed…But the thing was he never collapsed. Unlike Lucas, Olivia or Alex, who collapsed a few times. Alan barely collapsed, it had happened only once. Never again.
He was just built different.
"I see…"
Although Richard knew there was more to it, he decided to not pursue it any further. He thought that maybe the sage had told him to keep it a secret. So he stopped.
"Anyways, About the Convergence, What events do you wa-"
"The tower of trials."
Alan interrupted Richard, who smiled slightly after hearing Alan's response.
"Ha, I expected that."
Richard had an inkling that Alan would only be interested in the Tower of Trials because of the cure.
But…he didn't think Alan would pass. The tower supposedly had one hundred floors and Humanity was stuck at floor 30, The Trial of Honor.
He hoped that maybe one of the floors had a reward for curing Samantha…But who knows?
Nevertheless, he would support Alan no matter what. That was his duty as the Guild Leader.
"Well…At least that's one hurdle gone."
Alan was confused with Richard's words.
Alice explained in place of her father when she sensed his confusion.
"The troublemaker of the drakmor family wanted to fight you, and for you to lose on purpose."
"What?"
Richard sighed. Just thinking about that private discussion was hectic.
Alice explained further.
"He wanted to rig the matches so that he could face off against you, and then wanted you to lose."
"Ah, So he's just the typical arrogant rich young master?"
"Not exactly…"
Explained Richard.
"His situation is a little complicated…For his age his bloodline concentration is extremely high, which is why the characteristics of the bloodline of the Fire Drake that's the characteristic of the Drakmor family…And because of his age, his bloodline is proportional to it. So he displays the characteristic traits of a young fire drake. This has led him to be…a problem."
"Huh?"
Alan found it quite intriguing. This never happened with him, The phoenix bloodline never really had this kind of effect on him. He wondered why.
[Supreme Dragon of Chaos Suleras explains it is because you are a dragon and because the characteristic traits of a Phoenix are not like those of a fire drake, A phoenix is calm and collected, unlike a reckless and arrogant fire drake.]
Right on Cue, Suleras explained. However, this led Alan to ask.
"What about his siblings? Did they experience something similar?"
It couldn't just be him…On second thought Richard's expression revealed the opposite.
"No… he is the only unusual case."
"I see…"
Now Alan understood it. He was the oddball. Now, onto the next question.
"So, what did he offer?"
"Pardon?"
Richard was startled.
"What did he offer on the condition I lost purposefully to him?"
Richard was shocked. He thought that Alan's pride wouldn't let him lose on purpose…But this kid was actually interested?
Alan actually was. If something good was offered for Twilight, he would do it in a heartbeat. If it benefited Twilight greatly, he would do it.
He wasn't the brightest, but even he knew he couldn't do everything alone. He needed people beside him, and it was in his best interests to strengthen twilight.
"He offered land."
Alan didn't quite get it…He offered land? What?
"Among the top 10 guilds, only Titan And Behemoth have a base in the Capitol, which is also their headquarters. Twilight, despite being the number three guild, was denied access every time. So…it was quite a humiliation for us. He offered us a vast amount of land in the Capitol to build a base here."
"Oh."
Ah, now he got it. Twilight, despite being one of the top 3 guilds, wasn't allowed access even though number 1 and 2 were. It should have been quite a blow to their reputation. And the benefits of having their Headquarters in the Capitol were immense, the resources and trade benefits here were enormous.
"Enough of this now, Don't go check hidden talent's and go rest. You need to rest, the convergence is just around the corner. I'll fill out your participation form."
Richard dismissed Alan. In his mind Alan should go rest. He thought Alan was pushing himself even though the convergence was right around the corner.
Alan agreed. He didn't know why but his mind felt dull. Probably because of lack of sleep but who knows.
"Sure, Just one thing. Let me check Alice's hidden talent. She always whined about not being talented."
"What?"
"Huh?"
Alan used the Spectral Talentscope on Alice. She was well known as the useless heir of twilight…Maybe she actually had something to change that.
"Let's see what your hidden talent is…"
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