Chapter 302: Reactions
"Dear Chief Lucas, this is Auric Elfe. I’d like to inform you that I’m planning to take the test for gold-grade evolution with my dark element. The test will be conducted normally alongside other people. However, I’m still troubled by the procedure, especially with the Europe Training Program just around the corner. I’d like to ask Chief Lucas for advice."
Chief Lucas, who received the news, couldn’t help but smile. "I knew it. This guy is really going to become a gold-grade evolution master. Right now, people will probably think that he has a good score, but he still doesn’t have the power to evolve his avatar, meaning there’s no Rank 3 element, which would prevent him from becoming a gold-grade evolution master..."
Chief Lucas smiled. He could already imagine the shock when they realized that Auric was the youngest gold-grade evolution master in history.
Chief Lucas replied, "You don’t have to worry about it. It doesn’t seem like the small branch over there can conduct your examination, right?"
"Yes, sir. I’ve consulted President Gunther. President Gunther didn’t allow the examination for a gold-grade evolution master because the standard procedure required a diamond-grade evolution master to be present for the examination."
"Correct decision. It’s good that he’s not greedy. In that case, come to the headquarters. We will conduct your examination there. If you register there, let the blonde staff take care of it. She will register you without raising any questions. Do you know how to apply makeup?"
"Not really, but I can ask someone."
"I’m talking about professional makeup. You will have to wear a mask. I want you to apply some kind of makeup resembling a burning wound underneath your mask, but make sure that it reaches high enough for people to briefly see it. This way, when people ask, you can answer them by telling them about the ’burning mark’ and refusing to explain further to avoid causing distractions."
"Understood. Thank you, sir."
"I’m looking forward to seeing you become a gold-grade evolution master. You need to prepare because it’s now becoming harder and harder to advance a rank. There will be more things that need to be tested."
"Yes, sir. I’ll prepare thoroughly. I won’t get overconfident just because I have the ability to do so."
"Very good. In that case, I’m waiting for your name to enter the system. I can’t observe the examination directly because it might raise suspicion."
"Yes, sir. Thank you very much."
"No problem."
Auric let out a long sigh of relief. He was done with all the matters, so he immediately returned to the room.
"Sorry, did I make you wait too long?" Auric smiled apologetically. "It took me longer than I imagined."
"It’s fine." Ellia could understand him, considering that she could also spend a long time on a call whenever she was working.
Even though Auric had spent a long time, Ellia actually stood up before he even returned to his seat. She casually put the food on his plate as though it were the natural thing to do.
"Here you go. Try this meat. It’s delicious."
"Thank you." Auric received the plate, feeling overwhelmed. Whenever Ellia encountered food, Auric felt like Ellia would spoil him.
They chatted for a while, talking about everything from important matters to daily things. With Katarina’s help, Auric wasn’t as obvious as before. His general knowledge might be lacking, such as his knowledge of the organizations and families all over the world, but whenever anything big happened, it would be reported by Katarina, so he could at least keep up with what was happening.
It was a simple yet warm atmosphere.
...
Meanwhile, Auric’s test score had caused an uproar outside the country.
Other countries were doing their best to figure out the extent of his exact power and potential, realizing that he might become the dark horse of this training program.
This wasn’t just about training after all. For the citizens, it would feel like the five countries were showing off their future generations to reassure them that their countries would remain strong in the future.
For the five countries, this was a chance to compete against each other. Some of them had Rank 7 humans, but some didn’t. They wanted to show that they might have people who had the potential to become Rank 7 humans.
After all, the world could be kind, but unfair at the same time.
...
Dermania.
"So, what do you think, Gloria?" The commander asked while showing Auric’s scores.
"The scores look fantastic, but he’s still hiding his power. As I reported, he could injure even a Rank 4 beast by amplifying his power to a certain degree. There will be approximately three and a half months between the hunting event and the training program. He might improve much more."
The officers in the army looked at each other. They were impressed by Auric’s results.
"So, what are we going to do with him?"
"Haven’t you received the report from Agent Dia? Auric Elfe wasn’t cooperative. No, he might actually hate us."
"According to the report, he disliked us because of Major Gloria Schaff’s actions."
"What?" Gloria was dumbfounded. She never thought that Auric would hate her. It was true that he might feel displeased at having a spy close to him, but he didn’t dislike her. In fact, he actually liked her.
Yet, why would the report tell them that Auric disliked Dermania because of her?
The Auric she knew never threw around words like that. If he had wanted the others to know, he would have told them point-blank.
When people heard her name, everyone’s eyes shifted toward her.
"There might be something wrong, sir. Auric would never do that." Gloria shook her head. "After spending a month in his group, I could at least learn that much about him. As someone with equivalent exchange as his principle, if Auric said it was done, then the matter was put to rest."
"That was the report. Major Gloria, do you have anything to say?"
Gloria looked down. "No, sir..."
"Tsk. She might be good at getting stronger, but she is quite useless in other things."
"Maybe I have too many expectations of her."
"Someone should take care of her in the training program, or else she will cause another mess for us."
Gloria couldn’t say anything. Even if she claimed it wasn’t true, no one was going to believe her.
She still believed there was a misunderstanding. She still believed that even if she met Auric now, they would get along pretty well.
Gloria didn’t know that the report was fabricated. It was true that Auric had grown to dislike Dermania, but not for the reason stated in the report.
In a way, he showed his displeasure while trying to help Gloria. If they knew that Gloria was the only one who could handle him, they would place more importance on Gloria.
Rather than dealing with unknown spies, it would be better to deal with Gloria, especially with the chance of recruiting her in the future.
However, Auric didn’t know about the relationship between the new spy and Gloria, nor did he know about Gloria’s relationship with the army.
If the report had been truthful, everything would have gone according to what he had envisioned.
Gloria could only hang her head low. Arguing here would just lower people’s opinion of her.
The only thing she could do was shut her mouth and take the loss before trying to make it up on another occasion, such as the training program.
As long as she managed to perform well in the training program, everything would be fine, she thought.
...
Granda.
"Look at this, Theressa. There is a powerful guy from Esfrata. He’s currently Rank 2, but his potential as an evolution master might surpass that guy."
"I don’t care." Theressa shrugged, replying in the middle of her training.
On the other side of the country, Nicholas’ teacher received the news as well. His expression turned grim as he said, "Nicholas, you might have a rival this time. He’s already a 3-star silver-grade evolution master at 17. His potential is extremely high that it wouldn’t be weird if he became a gold-grade evolution master.
"However, fret not. He’s only a Rank 2 human. He’s far from Rank 3, especially considering his age. So, he won’t be a rival in the training program, but he will become your rival in the near future.
"So, here is what we’re gonna do. In the training program, as a ’senior,’ you have to teach him a thorough lesson, understand? Make him understand the gap between you and him. It would be better if you could enter his mind and cause him to instinctively remain lower than you so that the two of you won’t be compared anymore."
"Master... I will do all that, but..." Nicholas looked at the old man with big bags under his eyes. "Can I sleep?"
"No. We’re not done yet! I’ll make sure that you are known as the most brilliant evolution master in the world."
"..."
...
United Kingdom.
"Miss Clarice. We’ve been spotting spies all over the area. It looks like they’re currently assessing you. However, after the announcement of Auric Elfe’s results, two-thirds of the spies have gone. It looks like this Auric Elfe has piqued their interest."
Clarice sheathed her sword. "I’ve seen his file. A pretty good-looking guy. But he and I are competing in two different fields. There is no need for me to focus on him. Rather, my goal is different."
"You have a goal?"
"Yeah. Ellia Stroph Astler. When I was rising in the past, she wasn’t there yet. But that woman became known as someone whose potential rivaled mine. I’m pretty sure that if you look at the spies hard enough, you will find one belonging to her. It looks like my real opponent has finally been identified." Clarice smiled.
"Then, about this Auric Elfe..."
"What about him? You’re not going to say that he’s my marriage prospect, right? First, you need to figure out how to get him naturalized before even discussing that."
"You’re not opposed to it? You usually disagree."
"From his file, he looks good, polite, and has manners. He doesn’t seem to be like most suitors who think with their lower bodies rather than their heads. Besides, we’re competing in two different fields, so it doesn’t matter. If you have nothing else to say, I want to get back to my training."
"It looks like this Ellia Stroph Astler bothered you that much. But don’t worry, Miss. You will definitely win."
"No. She might have only evolved not too long ago, but she has a unique element. Theoretically speaking, if she and I fight, it will be 3—7. No, it might be 4—6."
"You give your opponent too much credit."
"I have never underestimated my opponent. The moment I do that, I might lose the ability to wield my sword. Since the Round Table sent you to assist me, keep your mouth shut. You can report to me, but don’t you dare try to change my mindset with your arrogance. Know your place."
The servant turned pale and hurriedly bowed. "I’m sorry."
"Leave!"
"Yes, Miss."
...
Lech-Aistia.
"I see. This is interesting. I just hope that it won’t become dangerous, this training program."
"Miss Selena..."
"I know. My father is looking for me again? I’ve already seen the report." Selena showed the report about Auric.
"No, the patriarch actually wants to tell you that the one who is leading the group is that young conqueror. And he’s currently..." The maid scratched the back of her head.
"Conqueror? You mean that annoying man?"
"Y-Yeah."
"What is he doing right now?"
"He..."
In another corner of the country, a man and a Rank 3 bear stood in front of each other. They were glaring at each other as if they were waiting for the other to make the first move.
The young man had a muscular build, but he was actually wearing a white shirt and black pants. There was even a suit hanging from a tree.
He raised both arms and leaped toward the bear. "Hahaha. You’re mine!"
"Oi... What are you doing?!" Another man came and shook his head helplessly. "Seriously, what are you doing?"
"Me?" The man calmly put on his sunglasses. "Training."
"Sounds like you’re doing a bear rodeo to me..." The man looked annoyed. After all, what he was seeing was this guy calmly putting on his sunglasses while riding the bear, which was desperately trying to shake him off.