While all that was happening, Fang Li and Sylvia were chatting casually in a reception room at Hero Association headquarters.
"I never expected you'd suddenly ask for a rank promotion. Even I was surprised." Sylvia looked both amused and helpless.
She believed that no matter which world they were in, nobody understood Fang Li better than she did. She knew that he could be incredibly willful at times, always doing things his own way and completely ignoring common sense.
Even so, she hadn't expected that right after the test ended, Fang Li would suddenly say this to Sitch, who had come to congratulate him:
"I want to be promoted to S-Class. The sooner, the better."
Sylvia still remembered how stiff Sitch's expression had become at the time.
In contrast, Fang Li had only curled his lips into a grin.
"I never thought I'd become an S-Class Hero through the test alone," Fang Li said. "The physical exam wasn't a problem, but I wasn't confident about getting a perfect score on the written test."
Only a perfect score gave someone a chance to be directly evaluated as S-Class. That had been mentioned in the original story as well.
There might be other considerations involved, but as far as Fang Li was concerned, passing the test alone definitely wouldn't make him an S-Class Hero.
That wasn't really a problem, though.
Hero ranks could be raised gradually through achievements and contributions. Given enough strength, he would eventually reach S-Class anyway. The problem was that Fang Li didn't have the patience to wait that long.
Since Sylvia's background had prompted the Hero Association to personally approach and recruit them, there was no reason not to take advantage of it. As Fang Li had put it:
"If there's an advantage to be taken, you take it."
Hearing him emphasize that point, Sylvia suddenly remembered the intense battle in the villa's hall the previous day. Her beautiful face reddened slightly, and she couldn't help smacking him lightly.
Fang Li raised an eyebrow and was just about to retaliate when the reception room door opened.
A smooth, Playboy-like voice came from outside.
"Sorry to keep you waiting."
A dazzlingly handsome man walked in. Sitch accompanied him, respectfully bowing toward Fang Li and Sylvia.
The gorgeous man first glanced at Fang Li before turning his attention to Sylvia.
"I've heard much about you, Diva." The famous idol known as Sweet Mask smiled at her. "This is our first face-to-face conversation, isn't it?"
His voice and expression could only be described as flawless. There wasn't a single fault to be found in his demeanor. Faced with a prince-like handsome man like him, most women would probably blush.
Sylvia, however, merely chuckled.
In that instant, it almost felt as if the air itself had become sweeter. If Sweet Mask's strikingly handsome appearance made people stare in admiration, then Sylvia's smile was enough to leave them utterly dazzled.
"So you're Sweet Mask?" Sylvia said with a smile. "You're just as handsome as people say online."
"You're flattering me, Diva." Sweet Mask shrugged and laughed. "You're every bit as beautiful as the rumors claim. What people see on television can't compare to meeting you in person. For a moment, I almost thought I'd encountered a goddess."
"A goddess wouldn't become a Hero, you know." Sylvia smiled meaningfully. "I'm just an ordinary girl who can't escape worldly things."
"If there were more girls like you in this world, then even if they were ordinary, the world would become a much better place."
Sweet Mask greeted her warmly before continuing,
"If I get the chance, I'd love to share a stage with you. I happen to have an idol drama in preparation. Would I have the honor of inviting the world's first Diva to be its female lead?"
"Unfortunately, I don't have acting skills as good as yours. Singing is the only thing I know how to do, and the only thing I want to do." The smile never left Sylvia's face, but her refusal couldn't have been more obvious. "Besides, for my entire life, I'll only ever be one person's female lead. It seems I won't have that honor."
"Oh?" Sweet Mask showed no disappointment at all. Instead, he turned toward Fang Li. "Then I suppose this Mr. Fang Li must be that fortunate male lead?"
Only then did Fang Li lift his gaze and look directly at Sweet Mask.
Looking at the idol's handsome, prince-like appearance, Fang Li could sense something unusual. There was an extraordinary presence hidden within him. It proved that this famous idol wasn't just a pretty face, he possessed remarkable strength as well.
A Hero with S-Class-level power who remained at Rank 1 in A-Class. At the very least, he was probably a Third-Rank expert.
People in this world really were powerful. Not only could some Demon-level Mysterious Beings appear out of nowhere with Third-Rank strength, but even a public celebrity like Sweet Mask possessed power on that level.
Perhaps Fang Li's earlier guess had been correct. A Disaster Level Demon was equivalent to the Third Rank. Likewise, S-Class Heroes capable of defeating Demon-level threats could also reach that level. Sweet Mask was one such example.
Still, besides his strength, Fang Li sensed something else from him. Of course, there was no need to expose that just yet.
The thing Fang Li wanted to bring up was something else entirely.
"I've long heard that the A-Class Rank 1 famous idol isn't just a Hero, but also an advisor to the Association, with tremendous influence over Hero management and evaluations." Meeting Sweet Mask's gaze, Fang Li smiled faintly. "So, Mr. Advisor, you came here to see whether the two of us are qualified to become S-Class Heroes, correct?"
Sweet Mask's purpose was exposed in an instant. Yet, he showed no sign of being shaken.
"So I was found out?" Spreading his hands helplessly, Sweet Mask smiled. "As expected of the man chosen by the Diva. It seems you're more than just a lucky guy. Thinking about it carefully, someone who questions the Association's ranking decision right after receiving their test results is either a fool or someone confident in their own abilities. You don't look like the former, Mr. Fang Li, so you must be the latter."
As he spoke, Sweet Mask's expression changed. The smile disappeared, replaced by a faintly chilling look.
"In that case, allow me to be direct." He stared straight at Fang Li and calmly said, "You are not qualified to be a Hero."
(End Of This Chapter)
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