The room fell silent after Ethan's firm refusal. The janitor, who had just spent several minutes listing impressive salaries, rare rewards, and promises of stability, felt his words bounce off like pebbles against a stone wall. He had even exaggerated some of the rhetoric—painting the job in brighter colors than it truly was. And yet, Ethan still wasn't tempted.
The air grew awkward.
The bearded master fidgeted, watching Ethan closely. He thought the promises of wealth would move him. After all, they had offered him the chance to skip the lowest ranks and step directly into a high position. But Ethan didn't seem interested in money. He wasn't dazzled by bonuses or pensions.
Ethan's gaze stayed cool. In truth, he didn't hate the offer. The idea that "all mission income belongs to you" sounded decent. Yet what puzzled him was the way they placed such high value on him. Why were they so eager, almost desperate, to pull him in? Why offer him authority straight away?
Ethan's instincts whispered that there was a deeper scheme behind their smiles. Still, conspiracies didn't matter much to him. What mattered was simple: what he could gain.
"I'm not interested in being tied down," Ethan said flatly. "And I have even less interest in leading a team. If that's all this is, then I'll be leaving."
The bearded master winced. The janitor, however, didn't panic. He had been warned Ethan would be difficult. And now, staring at the boy, he realized force would not work. If they tried to leash him too tightly, he'd simply bite through the chain.
The janitor thought carefully. Then he shifted tactics.
"All right," he said at last, "since you dislike trouble, let's do it this way. You'll become non-staff personnel. Your authority and benefits will match those of a third-level Black Dragon Guard, but until you graduate from Ravenshade University, you won't be forced into any missions."
Ethan's eyes narrowed.
Authority.
That was the word that mattered. Salary and rewards were nice, but information—access to knowledge—was priceless. With authority came freedom to explore archives, to uncover secrets about the abyss, about the alien dungeons, about materials no one else could teach him about.
"Level three isn't enough," Ethan said calmly. "I want Level Four information authority. Treatment doesn't matter much. As for missions—if they come with worthwhile rewards, I'll consider them. But what I'm truly interested in are skills and precious materials."
The bearded master nearly choked on his breath. The audacity! Who negotiated like this?
But before he could speak, the janitor gave a slow nod. "Good."
He reached into his coat and produced a sealed package. "Then this is for you. These are your office items, as well as the reward for stopping the Alien Project back at the City Lord's Mansion. From here on, Xiao Tu will contact you if anything arises."
Ethan accepted the package without hesitation. "No need to see me out. I'll leave on my own." He turned and walked away, his figure disappearing steadily down the corridor.
The bearded master stared after him in disbelief. "No way… Did he just accept all this only to end up on the same level as me?"
His chest tightened with bitter frustration. He had sold his life to the organization for over ten years—risking death countless times—only to climb up to this point. Yet Ethan, barely out of his teens, had stepped in fresh and been handed an equal rank.
It was enough to make anyone's heart sour.
Worse still, he had originally hoped to recruit Ethan as a follower, someone to humble and mold. Instead, things had reversed completely.
The janitor, however, looked pleased. "Don't get twisted. He asked for Level Four information authority, not functional authority. He isn't truly on your level."
The bearded master's expression softened slightly, but not much.
"Our goal isn't to enslave him," the janitor continued. "And don't forget who stands behind him. Even if he were one step below you, would you really dare to control him? Would you even survive the attempt?"
The words struck home. The bearded master's mouth shut tight. He truly didn't dare.
"Besides," the janitor added smoothly, "he's non-staff personnel. Even if those two guardians hear of it, they won't take offense."
The bearded master swallowed his pride. Still, a shadow lingered in his chest. His chance to play superior over Ethan had vanished forever.
But the janitor wasn't finished. Leaning closer, he whispered with an almost conspiratorial air, "Do you even know this boy's true level?"
The bearded master frowned. "What do you mean?"
"You've seen him always keeping a summoned beast by his side, haven't you? Yet you don't actually know what that beast can do."
"Of course I know!" the bearded master snapped. "He showed it to me before. It didn't attack me, so its killing intent wasn't detectable. But I know its strength!"
The janitor shook his head. "No, you don't. That summoned beast of his… on its strength alone, it could already qualify Ethan as a third-level Black Dragon Guard."
"!?"
The bearded master's eyes went wide. His mind reeled back to the image of Ethan's mantis—the one wielding that massive blade-like arm. He knew it was strong, but strong enough to qualify for such a rank? That kind of power was what he had clawed his way toward for years after graduation.
And Ethan had reached it already?
A cold weight pressed against his chest. The realization made his breath catch. If Ethan could raise a seemingly ordinary Big Sword Mantis to that level already, what would happen in two more years? Would he surpass him completely?
The thought filled him with the same pressure he had felt before the entrance examination, when the gap between him and stronger peers had seemed like a mountain.
He clenched his fists, unable to shake the rising dread.
---
Meanwhile, Ethan walked calmly down the path, package in hand. He opened it once outside. Inside lay two items:
A mask
A skill book
The mask was identical in design to the one the bearded master had worn earlier, but this one gleamed with a distinct mark: a small silver horn etched on the forehead—the insignia of the Silver Dragon Guard, a Level Four authority badge.
It was crafted from an unknown material, smooth to the touch, with a faint blue sheen. It looked delicate, yet Ethan suspected its durability was far from ordinary.
This mask was more than just a disguise. It functioned as a communicator, information hub, positioning tool, and advanced scanner—all in one. Like the helmets worn by superheroes in films, it was a complete system of its own. By simply wearing it, Ethan could access archives, retrieve restricted data, and stay linked to the organization's network.
Then his gaze fell to the second item: the skill book.
He hadn't expected this. If he hadn't agreed to their offer—even as non-staff personnel—he would never have received it. This was a clear signal: the organization truly valued him.
The cover glowed faintly as Ethan flipped it open.
"Shared Line of Sight (Blue): You can share the vision of your summoned beast, and control it regardless of distance."
Ethan's breath quickened. It was only a blue-rated skill, not golden or even purple, but for a beast master like him, it was rare and precious.
With this ability, he could extend his eyes across the battlefield, spy on distant areas, or even coordinate strategies in ways impossible before.
It was a practical treasure.
A faint smile curved his lips. Perhaps the organization wasn't entirely useless after all.
Without hesitation, Ethan clapped the book between his hands, absorbing the skill. A new surge of knowledge bloomed in his mind.
He activated it instantly, testing.
In a blink, his vision split. Thousands of tiny images filled his eyes—the overwhelming compound sight of the Big Sword Mantis.
"Ah!" Ethan flinched, staggering. He had forgotten one critical detail: mantises had compound eyes. Thousands upon thousands of them.
The world became a dizzying kaleidoscope of angles, shapes, and colors.
Clutching his head, Ethan groaned. "Ugh… note to self—adjust slowly next time."
Yet even through the disorientation, excitement pulsed in his chest. This skill, once mastered, would change everything.
For the first time, Ethan felt he had taken a step closer to true power—on his own terms.
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