An ethereal blue light flared from within the Crystal Ball, instantly filling Allen's vision.
An invisible, cold perception, like the finest of probes, gave him no time to react as it stabbed deep into his consciousness.
Allen's body remained perfectly still, but his heart plummeted.
'It's here.' The greatest original sin of a Transmigrator, and also their greatest flaw—the soul.
His brain went into overdrive, the data stream from DSeek refreshing at an unprecedented speed.
[Warning: Unknown scan detected.]
[Analyzing scan properties... Analysis complete: Non-aggressive, structural probe.]
[Simulating response protocol 1: Psychological suggestion... Failure rate: 99.9%.]
[Simulating response protocol 2: Allow probe... Risk: Unknown.]
After a split-second calculation, Allen chose the latter.
Any form of resistance, in the face of such an absolute power disparity, was tantamount to provocation.
He lowered his eyelids, hiding the turbulence in his eyes, and allowed that power to roam through the sea of his consciousness.
It didn't touch his memories. It was merely measuring and sensing, as if listening to the most fundamental "frequency" of his soul.
The Elder Wizard adjusted his monocle, his brow furrowing slightly as he carefully observed the shifting Runes inside the Crystal Ball.
"Interesting," he murmured to himself. "Your Soul Core's frequency... isn't perfectly in sync with the background rhythm of this world."
Allen's breath caught for a moment.
The Elder Wizard looked up, his eyes seeming to pierce through any and all pretense. "You're not a native soul of this world, are you, kid."
It wasn't a question, but a statement.
The air instantly grew heavy. A fine sheen of cold sweat broke out on Allen's back.
He didn't answer, merely meeting the Elder Wizard's gaze with a grave expression. In front of a being of this caliber, any lie would be pathetic and laughable.
The silence stretched for several seconds.
The Elder Wizard suddenly withdrew his hand, and the light in the Crystal Ball dimmed. He took off his monocle and began to wipe it unhurriedly with a velvet cloth.
"But, it doesn't matter."
Those light, airy words caused the tension coiling in Allen's gut to abruptly release.
"Your soul may be special, but it's 'clean.' The core is intact, uncontaminated, and not entangled in any pacts with other transcendent beings."
The Elder Wizard put his monocle back on, his tone as casual as if he were discussing the weather. "We at the 'Gate of Truth' only care if a 'tool' like you is useful. As for where the tool comes from..."
He glanced at Allen, a knowing smile playing on his lips.
"Every year, countless souls 'fall' into our universe from other worlds due to various accidents. Most are annihilated in the Sea of Magical Power, while a few lucky ones manage to find a body. You're not the first, and you won't be the last."
The Elder Wizard's words were like a boulder dropped into the lake of Allen's mind, creating massive waves.
'So, transmigration... isn't exactly a rare phenomenon here?'
"We even have a dedicated research project for it, codenamed 'Outlander'."
The Elder Wizard picked up the agreement. "To us, you outsiders are nothing more than batches of not-so-precious research material, each with the 'initial settings' of a different world."
The tips of Allen's fingers trembled imperceptibly at his side before he forcibly stilled them.
Only now did the cold sweat on his back truly soak through his shirt, bringing a chilling sensation.
His greatest secret was, in the other's eyes, nothing more than a commonplace research sample.
The so-called crisis stemmed from his own lack of information and limited perspective. This realization brought him a sense of relief, but also a deeper, more profound chill.
"Alright, the formalities are over." The Elder Wizard handed over a Feather Pen. "Sign it. From this day forward, you are a reserve member of the 'Gate of Truth'."
Allen took the pen, the slight tremor in his fingers now gone. Without further hesitation, he signed his name at the bottom of the agreement, stroke by deliberate stroke.
"Allen Wesren."
As the final stroke was laid down, his name seemed to come to life, emitting a faint, ethereal glow.
The ink didn't seep into the paper. Instead, it flowed across the surface like a living thing, connecting with the other Runes on the agreement.
The next moment, the entire agreement burst into flames, transforming into two distinct streams of light. One, a silver stream symbolizing knowledge, shot instantly into the space between Allen's eyebrows.
He felt a surge of information flood his mind—the rules of the "investment agreement," like an invisible shackle, but also an invisible coordinate.
The other stream, a golden light symbolizing the contract, let out a crisp chime and flew into a metal box at the Elder Wizard's side, which closed with a dull "CLACK," as if sealing the deal.
"Alright, go sit over there and wait." The Elder Wizard pointed to a row of empty chairs in the corner of the hall and picked up his manuscript again, as if nothing had just happened.
Allen did as he was told and sat down.
Vera, who had been watching from behind him with bated breath, finally dared to take small steps forward and hand over her own assessment report.
The Elder Wizard took the report and glanced at it. "Magic Power affinity A, Meditation aptitude S, concentration and memory both B. Barely passable, I suppose."
The same procedure, the same Crystal Ball test. Vera clearly didn't have Allen's secrets, and her test was over quickly.
"Soul is pure." The Elder Wizard nodded and held out another agreement. "Sign it."
After signing her name, Vera also timidly walked over to sit beside Allen, not daring to speak.
Time trickled by in the quiet atmosphere.
Outside the tower, people came and went in the plaza. New Guiding Ships landed from time to time, bringing batch after batch of hopeful youths.
Many were drawn to the ancient, simple tower of the "Gate of Truth" and came inside to try their luck.
"Two C ratings? Sorry, our minimum threshold here is B." A lavishly dressed youth was turned away directly, his face etched with indignation.
"Magic Power affinity S, but Meditation aptitude only C? Your ceiling is too low. We don't make short-term investments." A girl who looked exceptionally gifted also left in disappointment.
"Want to become a Bloodline Wizard? Go out and turn right. The Ring City Alliance might be more interested in your muscles." A powerful-looking young man didn't even manage to make the Elder Wizard put down his book.
Allen sat in the corner like an outsider, calmly observing it all.
He noticed that the Elder Wizard's reasons for rejection were varied and odd, but they all boiled down to one thing: the candidate didn't fit the "Gate of Truth's" investment model. They weren't looking for immediate combat strength or simply high stats, but for promising prospects.
Just like himself. His Magic Power aptitude was mediocre, but on the strength of two auxiliary S-rank mental talents, he had been judged "unique" and awarded this precious contract.
Over the course of the afternoon, at least thirty people came to inquire, but not a single one succeeded.
It wasn't until dusk that a thin, timid boy walked into the tower.
He wore old, faded clothes and clutched an assessment report tightly, his palms slick with nervous sweat.
He walked to the desk, not even daring to look up at the Elder Wizard, and said in a voice as quiet as a mosquito's buzz, "Hello, I... I'd like to try."
The Elder Wizard finally put his book down again. He sized up the boy for a few moments, then took the slightly crumpled report.
"Colin... Magic Power affinity A, Meditation aptitude B, concentration and memory both B. Suspected special talent." The Elder Wizard read aloud. These stats weren't quite enough to meet the Gate of Truth's threshold, but a special talent was a different matter.
The Elder Wizard showed a look of interest for the second time that day and had Colin undergo the soul test.
"Not bad. It seems you have an affinity for a certain special element," the Elder Wizard commented. "Although your report scores are average, the special talent is enough to compensate."
"Sign it. Your path is clear. Go to the Seven Towers Alliance and specialize in the Elemental School. In ten years, I want to see a master of Witchcraft who can independently control a special element."
The boy named Colin was so excited he nearly cried, signing his name with a trembling hand.
When he walked over to the waiting area and saw Allen and Vera, he was even more flustered, simply finding a distant corner to sit in, not daring to approach.
Night fell, and the bustle in the plaza gradually subsided. The Elder Wizard stood up and stretched. "Alright, the annual recruitment season is finally over."
He beckoned to the three of them—Allen, Vera, and Colin. "You three, follow me."
He led the trio past the bookshelves and deeper into the tower. A spiral staircase leading upward appeared before them.
"You'll stay here tonight. There are a few rooms on the top floor with food and water." The Elder Wizard pointed upstairs. "Gather in the main hall at dawn tomorrow. I'll take you to the teleportation point."
He paused, then added, "Remember, from the moment you signed that agreement, you are no longer rookies who need to be coddled. In the academy, you have to fight for everything yourselves. We only care about results."
With that, he turned and left, leaving the three of them to look at each other in dismay.
Allen was the first to start up the stairs. Vera hesitated for a moment before following. Colin brought up the rear, keeping a distance of three or four steps behind them.
The rooms on the top floor each had only one bed and a window with a view of the plaza's nightscape, where brilliant flashes of light occasionally streaked across the sky.
Just then, Vera seemed to summon all her courage. She leaned forward slightly and whispered to Allen, "You... Hello, my name is Vera. Thank you... I didn't know where to go before, but then I saw you walking this way, so I..."
Allen turned his head, gave her a calm look, and nodded slightly. "Allen Wesren. You made the right choice."
Allen showed no intention of continuing the conversation. He walked straight into the leftmost room and shut the door. 'It's clear neither of them has any information worth noting,' he thought.