Chapter 224: Assessing the Second Layer???
The Second Layer. Ever since he arrived at the First Shelter, he had heard many things about the Second Layer.
One of the primary reasons the five major races of the First Layer fought for rankings in the Chosen Tournament was to obtain more resources and available places from the higher regions.
For an ordinary player to enter the Second Layer, they not only needed to reach the corresponding level but also had to complete certain extremely dangerous advancement missions.
Yet the City Lord’s Estate could directly provide the qualifications to enter.
This condition alone was enough to drive countless young players completely insane.
Evelyn saw the change in his eyes.
"In addition, we can provide you with a piece of epic grade equipment suitable for a summoning class."
"Long term usage rights to an independent secret realm. One hundred thousand soul stones every month. And three opportunities to enter the Central Treasury and select an item."
With every condition she stated, the surrounding air seemed to become even quieter.
Any one of those benefits would be enough to cause top families to fight until blood flowed.
Especially the epic grade equipment.
That was already beyond the reach of ordinary players on the First Layer.
Even whether the Chosen Tournament’s champion rewards contained an epic grade item was still unknown.
"The conditions are good," Zich said.
"So, what is your decision?"
"I won’t join."
Evelyn’s fingers paused slightly.
Although she had already known that Zich would most likely refuse, a trace of surprise still flashed through her eyes when he remained completely unmoved after hearing the full conditions.
"Aren’t you worried you will regret it later?"
"I’ll deal with it when I regret it."
Zich’s answer was entirely natural.
Evelyn looked at him. Then she suddenly laughed softly.
"Interesting. Father’s judgment was indeed correct."
Hearing this, Zich’s brows moved slightly.
"The City Lord noticed me as well?"
"From the moment you defeated that member of the Nullborn Race."
Evelyn did not hide it.
"To be precise, after that battle ended, Father ordered all of your publicly available information to be delivered to us."
"Your class. Your summons. Some of the battles you experienced after entering the First Layer. Including your experience inside the Golden Secret Realm."
Zich’s eyes narrowed slightly.
The Golden Secret Realm.
Those words already touched upon matters he did not want outsiders to know.
Iron. The devouring of the Bone Giant. The dragon soul, Tiamant.
If any one of those things became known to the outside world, it could invite unpredictable trouble.
"How much do you know?"
Zich’s voice remained calm.
However, Evelyn clearly sensed that the aura surrounding the young man before her had changed at that instant.
There was no intense killing intent or any obvious hostility. But the warmth within those pale golden eyes seemed to vanish completely in an instant.
Slimy, lying on his shoulder, also stopped moving.
It slowly turned around, its two black eyes silently watching Evelyn.
If an ordinary young player had been facing the City Lord’s daughter and learned that their secrets might already have been exposed, they would most likely have lost their composure.
Evelyn watched his reaction, and the interest in her eyes became even more obvious.
"Do not be nervous. We do not know what you obtained inside the Golden Secret Realm."
"After the secret realm collapsed, most of its internal data could no longer be restored. We can only confirm that an energy fluctuation far beyond the normal range of a golden grade secret realm appeared in the final region. And you were one of those who contributed the most to the survival of the other players."
Zich did not lower his guard.
"So you suspect I obtained something."
"It is not suspicion."
Evelyn gently shook her head.
"It is certainty. Someone capable of leaving a place like that alive could not possibly have obtained nothing. However, Father does not intend to investigate your fortuitous encounter," she said.
"The Mountain of Ascension has never lacked secrets. Every truly powerful player possesses trump cards they do not wish the outside world to know about."
"If we insisted on investigating every such matter to the very end, we would have become the enemy of every genius long ago."
She lifted her teacup and took a gentle sip.
"My father once said that every true genius who is capable of reaching great heights deeply hates having others pry into their secrets. Forcefully investigating them may reveal something in advance."
"But it may also create a future enemy with your own hands. For the City Lord’s Estate, the latter is far more dangerous than the former."
"So long as you do nothing that harms Stoneheart City or the human race, the City Lord will not continue investigating what you obtained within the Golden Secret Realm, nor will we force you to reveal your class abilities."
Zich quietly studied her.
He could not determine how much of what she had said was trustworthy.
But at least for now, they truly had not crossed any boundaries.
"In that case, why did you still invite me to join?" Zich asked.
"Because my father holds you in very high regard," Evelyn replied calmly. "He believes your true value does not lie in winning this Chosen Tournament. It lies in the fact that no one can determine how far your class will ultimately go."
"For geniuses whose limits can already be seen, their current strength often represents most of what they will eventually achieve."
"But you’re different. You’re only Level 18."
"Most of your class’s potential has yet to unfold. Your summons are still growing. And yet, you’ve already reached the very peak of the younger generation within the First Layer."
Evelyn set down her teacup.
"Only those whose limits cannot be seen are truly worth investing in ahead of time."
Had such praise come from anyone else, it might have sounded like nothing more than the usual flattery used during recruitment.
But coming from the daughter of the Stoneheart City Lord, its meaning was entirely different.
Even so, Zich showed no sign of wavering.
"So your father wants me to serve the City Lord’s Estate."
"What my father truly wants is not another subordinate who simply follows orders."
Evelyn shook her head.
"We have never lacked subordinates. What he hopes is that when certain truly important events occur in the future, you will not stand against Stoneheart City."
Zich narrowed his eyes when he heard that.
"What important events?"
"You don’t need to know yet."
A faint change appeared in Zich’s eyes.
Evelyn had clearly anticipated his dissatisfaction with such an answer.
"This isn’t deliberate concealment. It’s simply that some information, once learned, means you’ve officially entered the sight of a certain level. At your current level, coming into contact with it too early would not be beneficial."
"Again with levels," Zich suddenly said.
"You mentioned earlier that entering the Second Layer directly requires reaching the corresponding level."
"And now you’re telling me certain information also requires a sufficient level. You people seem to care about levels quite a lot."
"Because levels are not merely numbers."
Evelyn replied slowly.
"In the First Layer, most young players understand levels as improvements to attributes, skills, and combat power."
"That understanding isn’t wrong. But neither is it complete. When you truly complete your First Layer advancement, you’ll naturally understand."
Zich did not continue asking.
He could tell that Evelyn had no intention of revealing any more.
Further questioning would only earn him equally meaningless answers.
"Is there anything else?" he asked directly.
Evelyn looked at him for a while.
"Are you always in such a hurry to end conversations?"
"Someone is waiting for me downstairs."
"Helen Magnus?"
Zich did not answer.
The smile on Evelyn’s face became slightly more obvious.
"So it really is her."
"That has nothing to do with our conversation."
"I’m simply curious."
She gently folded her hands together.
"During the Chosen Tournament, she voluntarily gave up competing further so that you could conserve your strength."
"And inside the Golden Secret Realm, you protected her multiple times."
"Many people now believe that the relationship between the two of you is more than ordinary friendship."
"Many people also believe I’m the heir of some hidden ancient family," Zich replied calmly. "People believe a lot of things."
Evelyn laughed softly.
"So are you really just friends?"
"Mm."
"And what about the kiss she promised you?"
Zich’s movement paused ever so slightly.
Evelyn missed no detail.
The smile in her eyes deepened further.
"So she still hasn’t fulfilled it."
"Why are you investigating this?"
Zich frowned slightly.
"Investigating the personal relationships of a young champion is also an important part of determining whether someone is stable."
Evelyn answered with complete seriousness.
If not for the trace of amusement still lingering in her eyes, those words might actually have sounded convincing.
Zich clearly did not believe her.
He stood up directly after that.
"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving."
"Wait."