The bearded master was already in a foul mood, and the mocking words from Instructor Charles only made things worse. His temper flared, but instead of arguing further, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and tapped a few times. With a flick of his wrist, he shoved the screen in Charles' face.
"See for yourself. Is this the kid you're talking about?"
On the glowing screen was a neatly prepared file. The bearded master had already gathered detailed information about Ethan. He hadn't done this out of idle curiosity. No, his intent was to introduce Ethan to his own leader, to recommend the boy as a potential recruit into their hidden organization.
But Instructor Charles didn't focus on why the bearded master had Ethan's profile. Instead, his eyes widened, his lips curling into a look of disbelief.
"What—he's actually a freshman in this very class?"
A newcomer?
That changed everything. If Ethan was still a first-year, then Charles had a chance—at least in his own mind—to recruit him into Ravenshade University.
The three students who stood beside Charles leaned closer, peering over his shoulder at the glowing screen. Their jaws dropped as they muttered among themselves.
"No way, he's just a newcomer?" one said, eyes wide with disbelief. "Does that mean he's only been awakened for less than a month?"
Another added, "I haven't heard of any SSS-level talents this year. But even if there were, no one's supposed to grow that fast. This is insane!"
"Are all newbies this monstrous now?" a third whispered.
"With power like this, wouldn't he already be handpicked by one of the top universities?"
The murmurs only fueled Charles' frustration. He realized what he had forgotten in his moment of jealousy. Ethan was already too strong, too talented. Someone like him would never give a second thought to a mid-tier place like Ravenshade University.
That was the brutal truth—Ethan's future had already soared beyond their grasp.
Even if the bearded master truly knew Ethan, what difference would it make? There was no way Ethan would lower himself to attend Ravenshade.
Still, Charles squinted at the bearded master, suspicion curling in his eyes. With feigned casualness, he asked, "Are you… familiar with him?"
The words struck a raw nerve. The bearded master's expression twitched. Was he familiar? Was he not familiar? The truth was awkward—his contact with Ethan was limited, and he knew full well Ethan wasn't going to acknowledge him as some guiding mentor. Yet here he was, using Ethan's name as though it were his own shield.
The realization stung. Was he really borrowing Ethan's name, like a weakling borrowing the power of a tiger?
The thought was humiliating. He was a three-turn professional, an expert in his own right. And yet, here he stood, propping himself up by leaning on the reputation of a boy who had only awakened weeks ago.
But the sting of Charles' earlier ridicule hadn't faded. The bearded master clenched his teeth, straightened his back, and forced himself to answer with confidence.
"Of course I'm familiar," he snapped. "But it's none of your business."
Charles sneered under his breath, the corners of his lips curling into a mocking smile. His tone was dripping with disbelief. "Yeah, right. With your teaching level? As if he'd give you the time of day."
But even Charles didn't dare push further. Ethan's terrifying strength was no secret. It wasn't worth the risk to openly antagonize someone who might actually be close to him. With a final huff, Charles turned and began to leave, the three students trailing behind. Still, he couldn't resist throwing a few parting words over his shoulder.
"No matter how strong he is, it has nothing to do with us. He'd never look twice at Ravenshade University. As for you three," he told the students, "as long as you work hard, I can at least make sure you graduate. That much, I can still guarantee."
The words seemed harmless, but everyone knew the undertone. It was a mockery—a sharp jab at the bearded master, who hadn't managed to graduate a single successful student under his name.
The bearded master's jaw tightened. Rage flared in his chest, but he swallowed it down.
If not for the organization's orders to keep his true strength hidden, he would have struck Charles down with a single palm.
He ground his teeth as Charles' group disappeared from view. Ravenshade was suffocating him. His talents, his skills, his knowledge—none of it could be displayed here. He was a caged predator forced to act like a harmless old mutt.
"When this alien mess is over," he muttered to himself, "I'm applying for a transfer. Another university, anywhere but here. I'll show them I can raise an exceptional student."
His dark thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a firm hand landed on his shoulder. The sudden touch made him jolt, his body stiffening.
"Damn it!" he swore. "Gatekeeper, could you stop sneaking up on me like that?"
Only one person could approach him so quietly: the Gatekeeper, his direct superior.
The man's voice was casual, almost lazy. "Hey, are you the main tutor of this place now? What are you scheming at?"
The bearded master turned, his annoyance melting into weary resignation. The Gatekeeper wore nothing but a tattered vest and a pair of flip-flops. His eyes weren't on him at all—they were locked shamelessly on the black-silk stockings of a few female students passing in the distance.
The bearded master's face twitched. "I'm running around cleaning up messes every day while you're out here ogling girls. Maybe I'll write a report when we get back—say you've damaged the organization's image, mocking your subordinates while chasing skirts."
The Gatekeeper's eyes widened. "What? When did I damage the organization's image? And who taught you to slander your boss like that?"
He puffed up indignantly. "Besides, I've hardly been idle. You think destroying that drop of Evil God's blood was easy? I'm still injured from that fight."
Watching his superior sputter defensively, the bearded master felt a strange satisfaction. For the first time, he understood why Ethan seemed to enjoy turning the tables on others. It was oddly refreshing.
With a sigh, he reported the recent movements he had observed on campus.
The moment he mentioned the strangers lurking in the shadows, the Gatekeeper's lazy demeanor vanished. His posture stiffened, his voice dropping into a grim register.
"They still haven't given up," he muttered. "That blood is dangerous—too dangerous. We'll need to work with the Lord of Ravenshade to ensure it's destroyed once and for all. As for you, keep a close eye on those strangers. They're your responsibility."
Then his gaze softened again. "Anything else?"
The bearded master hesitated, then pulled Ethan's file from his pocket. "This is the newcomer I told you about before. His potential is off the charts—sharp mind, clean background. I'd like to bring him into the organization."
The Gatekeeper raised an eyebrow. "Recruiting someone? That's your decision, not mine. Why bring it up?"
The bearded master's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "The problem is… he doesn't want to."
The Gatekeeper waved it off. "Then let it be. If he refuses, he refuses. Just make sure he signs a non-disclosure agreement to keep our secrets. A twisted melon isn't sweet."
But the bearded master's expression shifted, a sly smile creeping onto his face. "Boss, I wasn't holding out much hope. But I stumbled onto something interesting while digging through his file."
The Gatekeeper's eyes narrowed. "What did you find?"
The bearded master leaned closer, lowering his voice as though sharing a forbidden secret. "Ethan was adopted. His personal background is spotless. But the couple who adopted him? They're far from ordinary. I couldn't trace the principal of No. 3 Middle School where Ethan studied—but recently, I discovered the principal's grandmother. Do you know who she is?"
The Gatekeeper frowned. "Spit it out already. Don't dangle it like bait."
With visible relish, the bearded master finally revealed it. "She's a close friend of one of the Four Legends. In fact, she's tied directly to someone even above you."
The Gatekeeper froze, genuine shock flashing in his eyes. "What???"
The bearded master grinned, savoring his superior's reaction. But the Gatekeeper's frown deepened.
"If it's truly her," he muttered, "then the principal of No. 3 Middle School must be connected as well. And you should know—the relationship between those two and our upper echelons is… tense. If Ethan is their grandson, there's no chance he'll ever join us."
The bearded master shook his head quickly. "You don't understand. Ethan doesn't know. They've deliberately hidden their identities from him. He's completely in the dark."
The Gatekeeper blinked. "So what?"
"So what?" the bearded master echoed with excitement. "Think about it! If we bring Ethan into the organization without his knowledge of who his grandparents really are, we could use him as a bridge. Maybe, just maybe, it could ease the friction between our leaders and those two legends."
The Gatekeeper's eyes narrowed, suspicion clouding his face. "Are you sure he doesn't know?"
"Positive. If he did, he wouldn't be so clueless about the existence of foreigners. And he wouldn't have panicked about joining us for the sake of his safety."
The Gatekeeper studied him for a long moment, then let out a low chuckle. "I'll be damned. Since when did you grow a brain? Are you still the same reckless brat I used to know? Or did some stranger steal your body?"
The bearded master flushed. "Don't think that just because you're my boss I won't deck you. I'm still me."
"Good," the Gatekeeper smirked. Then his expression turned serious again. "But if he refuses outright, what's your plan for recruiting him?"
The bearded master fell silent for a long moment. His lips curved into a grin, a glint of determination in his eyes.
"Leave that to me."
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