Lysander turned to leave.
As he passed Baron, he whispered, "Mentor, rest assured. The family has sent word. They've found me a second contracted creature."
Baron's eyes lit up. His anger from moments ago vanished instantly.
Lysander and Kylen both had Ascension Realm spiritual power, qualifying them to contract a second creature.
But their situations were completely different.
Kylen came from an ordinary background. Finding a suitable high-tier contracted creature was as difficult as climbing a mountain.
Lysander, however, was backed by the Corvus family, one of the top Contract families in the Arcana Empire. They could secure a suitable contracted creature for him in a short time.
Two against one. The advantage would surely be on Lysander's side!
Seraphina walked over to the seven-member team and said in a deep voice, "Elara, it's your turn next. Hurry and prepare. Kylen, come with me."
"Understood."
The other five returned to the lounge. Kylen followed Seraphina out of the arena and toward a secret room in the administration building.
Seraphina stopped at the door and said softly, "Kylen, congratulations first — after defeating Thorne, you've been listed on the Arcana Empire's Potential Rankings. You may not know this, but any freshman on this list becomes a key training target of the empire."
"Inside are representatives of the Arcana Nine Holy Knights. They've come specifically to see you."
The Arcana Nine Holy Knights were elite troops stationed at the nine abyssal rifts within the empire. Each knight order corresponded to a rift frontline.
The Wailing Rift beneath Saint Laurent City was guarded by the Azure Dragon Knights, stationed in Redrock City, the foremost force against abyssal creatures.
Kylen looked confused. "Why do they want to see me?"
"It's just a routine inquiry. Don't worry, it's by no means a bad thing for you," Seraphina reassured him. "Just answer truthfully later. No need to be restrained."
Kylen nodded in agreement.
Pushing the door open, he saw a man and a woman sitting inside.
The man had a resolute face — a square jaw with a scar stretching from his eyebrow to his jawline, and a sturdy frame like an iron tower.
The woman was tall and graceful, with a sharp gaze like an eagle.
At a glance, Kylen noticed they shared a trait similar to Raviel, the coldness and calmness forged through battlefield killings.
The scarred man stood up and nodded. "Kylen, nice to meet you. I'm Major Garrick of the Azure Dragon Knights. We watched your duel in its entirety and have a few matters to discuss with you."
"Please have a seat."
Garrick handed over a document. The female secretary beside him took out a notepad to record.
"Kylen, 18 years old, newly promoted Contractor this year. No talent manifested during the Awakening Ritual, suspected of awakening an S-rank ability later.
Contracted creature: Avelia Selis, suspected of being Sequence No.99 Vampiric Slime, former captain of the Crimson Legion..."
"There are still many unclear points in your file."
"According to imperial regulations, all freshmen on the Potential Rankings are key training targets. Before that, we hope to obtain a detailed report — of course, this is entirely up to your willingness."
Kylen shook his head and refused. "I'm sorry, but I can't disclose the specifics of my talent for now."
Garrick laughed heartily. "I understand. Contractors always value keeping their trump cards secret. This is just a routine process.
For freshmen willing to trust the empire, we will directly invite them to join the Nine Holy Knights, receiving dual training from the academy and the military."
"Won't you reconsider?"
Kylen shook his head again.
In others' eyes, Avelia was just a high-tier Vampiric Slime, not the heir to the Origin Sequence 'Crimson Goo Throne.' This secret was related to Avelia's safety. He would never reveal it easily.
Though disappointed, Garrick did not press. "Very well. Let's change the subject."
He leaned forward slightly, his tone serious. "As a representative of the Azure Dragon Knights, I extend a formal invitation to you.
You should know that students of Contract Academies are essentially imperial reservists. Fighting in battles is your obligation, but you also have the right to choose your assigned frontline."
"You have a deep connection to Saint Laurent City, and our Azure Dragon Knights are in dire need of geniuses like you. If you agree to join, any conditions can be negotiated."
Kylen fell into deep thought.
As Seraphina had said, after the Nine-Academy Alliance Exchange Tournament, the academy would determine the order in which each department would garrison the rifts based on rankings.
By then, all Contractors would have to rush to the frontlines. This was the responsibility that came with enjoying the empire's resource tilt.
For most Contractors, choosing to defend the rift where their hometown was located was a matter of course.
"Major Garrick, I am willing to join the Azure Dragon Knights, but I have two conditions," Kylen looked up and said.
Garrick's eyes lit up with joy. "Please speak."
Kylen smiled bitterly. "First, regarding benefits. Contractor training is essentially a resource black hole. I have no family support, so resources have always been scarce for me."
"I will participate in the Nine-Academy Alliance Exchange Tournament later. By then, other Holy Knight orders will likely extend invitations to me as well. I hope my benefits will not be lower than those offered by any other Holy Knight order."
Garrick's lips twitched slightly.
Truly a young man who valued practical interests. But he fully understood — no powerful Contractor was ever forged without massive resources.
"I agree to this."
"Second, I hope the empire can ensure the safety of my family," Kylen said sincerely.
"That goes without saying," Garrick nodded. "As long as you join the Azure Dragon Knights, your relatives will be relocated to the knight order's exclusive family compound, with dedicated patrols and guards, enjoying Class A imperial security protection."
"Very well, I agree to join," Kylen nodded, then added, "Additionally, Major Garrick, I would like to advance some Life Marrow."
At the current rate, Avelia still needed ninety-seven days to advance to the peak of the Ascension Realm. He needed a large amount of Life Marrow to strengthen his physique and boost his blood energy, enabling Avelia to advance faster.
Garrick looked embarrassed. "Life Marrow? This item is extremely rare. Even the Azure Dragon Knights' stock is quite limited."
"According to imperial regulations, Contractors ranked in the top ten of the Potential Rankings who join the Nine Holy Knights can only receive one drop of Life Marrow per month."
"Any additional amount must be exchanged for military merits."
Kylen spoke directly, "I need to advance at least ten drops. If possible, preferably forty."
"What?" Garrick blurted out instinctively.
This was simply extortion! Forty drops of Life Marrow were worth four billion Imperial Coins at market price. Even with military subsidies, their actual value was immeasurable.
Kylen had long planned this; currently, only the frontline knight orders could obtain Life Marrow on a large scale. This was his best chance to rapidly increase his strength.
"After taking ten drops of Marrow, Avelia will still need a hundred days to advance. If I can get forty more, she can break through to the peak of the Ascension Realm within twenty days," Kylen explained. "Only with sufficient strength can I survive in the abyssal rifts and serve the empire for longer."
Garrick fell into deep thought, speaking cautiously. "This quantity is far too large. I need to consult my superiors."
He dared not make a hasty promise. After all, if other Holy Knight orders learned of Kylen's value, they might offer even better terms.
Kylen knew that to obtain excess resources, he had to demonstrate corresponding value.
"Major Garrick, I really need the Marrow urgently."
"How about this? In tomorrow's qualifying round, barring any accidents, I will face Lysander, who is ranked third on the Potential Rankings. If I can defeat him, will you help me apply for forty drops of Life Marrow?"
"With this Marrow, I am confident in winning the championship of the freshman group at the Nine-Academy Alliance Exchange Tournament."
Garrick's pupils contracted sharply.
If he won the freshman group championship at the Nine-Academy Alliance Tournament, Kylen's strategic value would be completely different!
"Deal! I agree!" Garrick stood up and held out his hand. "We look forward to your performance."
Kylen reached out and shook it firmly. "I'll wait for good news."
...
After seeing off the representatives of the Azure Dragon Knights, Seraphina teased, "You certainly dare to boast."
"Even with Avelia's help, the strength of the freshmen this year is far beyond previous batches."
Kylen shrugged helplessly. "Mentor, I have no family background and limited resources. I have no choice but to take a leap of faith."
Seraphina nodded, her expression turning serious. "This is the second reason I brought you here."
"The qualifying round is led by the Practical Combat Department. The result of tomorrow's draw has actually been determined."
"Your opponent will be Lysander."
"What I need to tell you is detailed information about Lysander, and the true strength of the Corvus family behind him."