Inside the Village Head's mansion, the guest hall was large enough to accommodate 200 people.
It was a room built to impress visitors.
In the large Hall, three men stood in a loose row before a single high-backed chair, their postures stiff, trying very hard not to look nervous.
The thre people were The Village Head, Vice Principal Henry and Head Hunter Klein, who stood slightly apart from the other two with his arms folded.
Between the three of them, they represented the better part of a century's combined experience, authority, and martial cultivation.
None of that seemed to matter much in the presence of the young man seated before them.
He looked barely twenty. Pure white hair, handsome features, and pale white skin
The young man sat with one leg crossed over the other, watching the three men with the flat expression on his face.
On the breast pocket of his jacket, two golden tornado sigil gleamed.
Golden Storm University. Second year.
That detail alone explained the postures of the three men in front of him.
A second-year student at Golden Storm meant Lifebound Realm at minimum — the realm of man and beast.
It was a threshold that most cultivators would never cross.
Beside the young man was his Symbiote, a Four-Armed Sacred Ape.
The ape stood nearly 5 metres tall.
Each of its four arms was thick as a tree trunk.
Steam surged out from its nose with every slow breath, dispersing in faint wisps into the air.
Two golden rings of energy circled beneath its feet.
Two rings: Infant Realm, Lifebound Realm. Gold rings: Eternal Stage — the ninth and highest stage within that realm.
And the ape itself — anyone with an eye for these things could see it immediately. The density of its aura, the quality of its presence, the way the air seemed slightly heavier within a metre of its body. This was no ordinary Lifebound beast.
It was a Three stars beast, Tyrant Grade.
1★ Beast — Trooper Grade
2★ Beast — Elite Grade
3★ Beast — Tyrant Grade
4★ Beast — Overlord Grade
5★ Beast — Legendary Grade
6 ★ Beast — Mythic Grade
As a Tyrant beast, Every single star meant it could cross a level to battle.
A 2-star Elite beast at the Spark level could fight evenly with a 1-star Trooper beast Cinder level beast.
A 3-star Tyrant at the Spark level could fight evenly with a 1-star Trooper grade, level-3 Ember stage beast.
The higher their potential, the stronger they are compared to those of the same level. A 5-star legendary Grade beast at the Infant-Star realm and Level-1 Spark stage could easily kill those of the same realm.
Head Hunter Klein, Vice Principal Henry, and Village Head John each were 1-star talent here their Symbiote is 1-star too.
The young man's name was Nicholas Holt and he came here for particular reason.
"They didn't just vanish into thin air." His voice was calm, which somehow made it worse. "Grant came to this village out of generosity — to offer the students here an opportunity they certainly didn't deserve.
But not only might he be dead, his corpse couldn't be found! I suspect one of you might be behind this matter."
The young man slapped the chair he was sitting on hard and it revealed cracks as it spread across the golden chair.
The Village Head flinched. Vice Principal Henry took a haff step backward before catching himself.
Head Hunter Klein eyes narrowed.
The vice principal and the Village Head body trembled. The didn't dare offend this young man. He could kill them easily and blame it to the beasts in Gorge Forest.
Village head gritted his teeth, he showed a pitiful expression on his face as tears streamed down his face.
"Y-young master Nicholas, Grant was my son, my only son. Harming him is like shooting one's foot." The village head knelt down and sobbed.
Nichola's face softened when he heard this.
The Village Head pressed forward, sensing the opening. "This entire village revered him. He was our pride — the one who made it out, who climbed high enough to make us all look better by association. We searched everywhere after he disappeared. Everywhere."
He wiped his face roughly, though his eyes remained red. "We even went to the Maxwell property the family of that traitor called Drogonaire and tore the place apart looking for a trace. Nothing. The only location we haven't been able to search is Dark Gorge Forest itself." He looked up, letting the grief on his face do the work. "But now that you're here, Young Master, I can finally rest easy. Justice for my son is in capable hands."
Nicholas had gone quiet. His gaze had sharpened.
"The Maxwell family," he repeated.
Vice Principal Henry stepped forward, unwilling to let the Village Head monopolise the moment. "Yes. The wife and child of the traitor known as Drogonaire. They settled here roughly a decade ago — we took them in out of mercy, which may have been our first mistake." He spread his hands. "A report came in just this morning, actually. The woman's raw physical strength has been measured at the Ninth Stage of the Infant Realm. No active symbiote bond. Just… personal strength."
Nicholas went still as he went deep in thought.
The Sacred Ape behind him shifted slightly, sensing its summoner's change in attention.
Head Hunter Klein's jaw tightened as his brows furrowed.
"Think carefully about what you're saying, Henry"
"Grant was Lifebound Realm. Even if he stood still to let 10 of Mrs. Maxwell strike him, they couldn't have broken through a Lifebound barrier. The math doesn't work and you know it."
The Village Head let out a short, contemptuous sound. "Always so quick to defend the Maxwell woman, Klein. Makes a man wonder where your loyalties actually sit. Wouldn't be the first time a traitor had friends in useful positions."
Klein turned to look at him with flat expression.
"Watch what you say old man John. The wall have ears. Not to mention my strength isn't nearly enough to battle in the frontlines. When will I have the opportunity to be a traitor."
"Enough."
Nicholas frowned in irritation. The Sacred Ape's chest rumbled and its four eyes swept across the room, and all three men went quiet simultaneously.
The young man uncrossed his legs and leaned forward.
"Vice Principal Henry." He paused.
"Organise a mandatory competition. If anyone fails to attend, then I believe you have the power to revoke their Graduation Certificate." He turned and glanced at Vice-Principal Henry.
Vice-Principal Henry nodded his head eagerly. If the young master said this, it meant there would be rewards for it.
If his son can get first place in the competition, then maybe their might be hope in getting into Golden Storm University.
Vive principal Henry had already gifted Grant the Twin-Star Herb and now Grant was missing and presumed dead with the Grade-2 Herb lost!
It was a truly painful loss as he wanted to use the Herb to secure his son's place into one of the top Monster Trainer University in the city. But now it was all gone.
However, with young master Nicholas words, their might still be hope.
"Of course young master Nicholas. I will make sure everyone attend and if they don't, they can forget about entering a university without their Secondary School Certificate!" Vice-Principal Henry thumped his chest with confidence.
Nicholas smiled as he gazed outshone the window, into the distant treeline.
"The venue will be Dark Gorge Forest."
Henry's face went pale immediately. "Young Master, with respect — these are children. Most of them barely past their first summoning. Sending them into that forest—"
Nicholas's face turned cold. "How else can I weed out the trash without proper trial?"
Vice principal Henry gritted his teeth and he shook his head. "Young master Nicholas. They are still kids regardless. I-I can't…"
Nicholas fists clenched as he glared at the three people before him. His face turned indifferent as he leaned back and waved his hand.
His beast settled back to the ground.
"There's no need to worry about ther safety. I will hire four squads to protect the students. As long as they don't stray far from their protectors, they would be fine even if they go deeper into the forest."
A thin smile formed on his lips. "For the top three performers, I'll personally guarantee admission into Golden Storm University."
The colour came back into Henry's face. The Village Head, who had been watching carefully, also sighed in relief.
They were crooked but not so crooked as to send children to their death.
"Young Master Nicholas's generosity is beyond what this village deserves," Henry said, bowing his head. "We'll begin preparations immediately."
"Good."
Klein said nothing. He bowed a fraction, turned, and followed the other two out of the hall.
The door closed.
Nicholas's expression changed. His bored indifference replaced by a sinister expression.
"Using the kids as bait," He said it quietly, almost thoughtfully.
"It should be able to confuse the dungeon's Intelligence." He licked his lips in excitement.
"And if I can clear it the dungeon crystal myself, my Symbiotes should evolve another grade." His eyes lit with joy.
The Sacred Ape panted as it sensed its master's excitement.
***
"I heard your mother threatened my mother."