Normally, examiners possessed a certain level of authority to determine the rank a candidate would receive within the sect if they were accepted.
However, when talent surpassed a certain threshold… the decision was no longer theirs to make.
In such cases, someone of higher rank had to be summoned to personally conduct the negotiations and determine the appropriate position.
And sometimes…
those individuals selected rare talents for their own purposes.
For that reason, the examiner asked William and Victoria to wait to the side until that superior arrived.
Half an hour passed heavily.
Whispers filled the air, and curious gazes occasionally drifted toward the two siblings.
Then suddenly, a man appeared in the distance, walking with quick, confident steps.
His expression was rigid, and his elegant clothing clearly reflected his status.
But the moment he stopped before them, the look in his eyes felt entirely different.
He paused for a moment, studying their faces.
Yet when his gaze landed on Victoria, his expression shifted slightly.
It was only for a second—
but William did not miss it.
It was a look that made him deeply uncomfortable.
Without realizing it, William stepped slightly forward, as if drawing an invisible line between the man and his sister.
And yet the man seemed not to notice his movement at all.
He spoke briefly while facing the examiner.
"What is it?"
The examiner bowed lightly, the difference in rank between them unmistakable.
"These two… are siblings. Their talents are exceptional, sir."
The official took the records and slowly examined William's results, then Victoria's.
His face remained expressionless.
But his eyes narrowed slightly, as if a decision had already formed in his mind.
Then he raised his head and said with feigned indifference,
"Normally… talents like yours would qualify you to enter as inner disciples immediately."
His words paused briefly before he continued, this time directing his gaze specifically toward Victoria.
"But… if you accept my offer, I can guarantee you a position as the direct disciple of one of the elders."
This time his gaze was clearer.
More focused than it should have been.
A look William absolutely despised.
He couldn't hide the tightening of his expression when he saw it.
Victoria, meanwhile, looked confused.
She unconsciously stepped half a step back, her eyes widening slightly.
She didn't fully understand what this "offer" meant…
but a faint sense of unease crept into her chest.
William felt a cold shiver run down his spine.
A feeling of helplessness mixed with fear and anger—
emotions he didn't know how to deal with at that moment.
Especially since he had no idea how far he could go without putting both of them in danger.
The area around them had grown almost silent.
Only faint murmurs could be heard from the bystanders who had noticed the tension and were exchanging glances without daring to approach.
"He's making an offer to her…!"
"Just like they did with many girls before…"
"These sects show no mercy… poor girl."
"If she refuses, they might kill her… rare talents are not allowed to leave easily."
"This is the world now… the strong take whatever they want."
Their gazes were a mixture of pity, fear, anger…
and cowardice.
Their eyes remained fixed on Victoria, who was still trying to understand what was happening.
And on William—
who looked like a wolf trapped in a narrow corner,
knowing he could neither attack…
nor escape.
As for the man…
he stood there with complete confidence,
as if their answer did not matter.
As if the decision had already been written,
and he was merely waiting for the moment one of them would break.