The tension from Robert's furious grounding of Hazel slowly subsided, but the air remained thick. Robert sat back down, his expression still dark and contemplative over the scandalous concept of his daughter giving kisses to a boy.

It was Emi who broke the silence, her voice calm but loaded. "What about Jake?".

The previous gloating vanished from Jake's face; he instantly tensed up. If his father was a strong, loud thunderstorm, his mother was his calm, inevitable Kryptonite.

Robert looked genuinely stunned. He glanced at his son, then back at his wife. "What about him?"

"He was trying to get a girlfriend". Emi stated simply. "Where's his punishment? I distinctly remember telling him he needed to focus on his studies."

Emi reminded Robert that because Jake was a sorcerer, a genuine genius who had awakened his Avatar at age ten and possessed his father's bloodline ability.

Furthermore his school attendance was already limited to two or three days a week for training. He had to focus on academics when he was there.

"Jake's a good kid". Robert mumbled, trying to wave off the issue. "He can't possibly be thinking about... those adult things. He would hold hands at best, Emi."

Emi's face, however, clearly signaled one word to Robert: Hypocrite. Even the downcast Hazel looked up, directing a glare of pure resentment at her father.

Wasn't this exactly what she did and got severely punished for? Well what she lied she was doing.

Levi, who had been quietly observing, had to pretend to take a long drink of water to conceal the massive smile threatening to break out.

Robert hurriedly tried to clear himself. "We all know Jake". He insisted, pointing to his son. "But we don't know this... kid Hazel was involved with."

"But Hazel said he's nice". Emi replied innocently, clearly drawing Robert into a trap.

Robert seized the point. "What if he is pretending?".

Emi countered instantly "What if *Jake* is pretending?".

Robert looked from Emi to his now twitching son. He defended his position with frantic certainty.

"Between his tight training schedule and his constant attempts to not fail out of school, where does he get the chance to do anything? He's just attracted to a cute girl, Emi! Attraction is a biological function, not a crime! He hasn't even talked to her yet!".

Emi tilted her head. "So, Jake is allowed the biological function of attraction, but Hazel is forbidden the biological function of attraction?"

Robert threw his hands up in mock surrender. "No, no! Hazel is forbidden the logistical nightmare of a boy distracting her from her studies! What if he gets her pregnant? Then she has to drop out of school".

"What if Jake get the girl pregnant?". Emi countered.

Robert was stumped for a moment before countering. "He is a man, he can take care of her and his baby. But Hazel would have to live with us".

"Isn't Tom a man? Can't he take care of Hazel?".

Robert paused, the silence stretching out. This time, he had no quick defense to counter Emi's final logical trap.

The pressure built until Levi could no longer contain himself, he disguised his laugh as a sudden, loud cough, which successfully cleared the awkward tension in the dining hall.

Robert's eyes lit up with relief. He stood up with feigned confidence and declared. "We have a guest here, and we will continue this matter later."

He then walked away with a rapid stride, his hurried movement betraying his desperation to escape the argument.

The dining room was quiet for a moment before Vivian gracefully excused herself.

Emi then gave Levi a warm smile. "Please pardon our rudeness, Ted." She glanced at Hazel and Jake, who instantly stiffened and echoed their mother simultaneously.

"Pardon our rudeness!"

Levi gave a short laugh in response. "I didn't mind at all. I actually appreciated your family banter". He said honestly. He then excused himself. As he walked away, the last thing he heard was Hazel and Jake immediately starting to explain themselves to their mother.

Entering his bed, Levi was immediately overcome by exhaustion, although the Blood Rigorous Pill enhanced his body and granted immense vitality, the sheer effort of the non-stop cultivation left him with a fatigue so deep that only sleep could cure it.

*****

The next day, Levi woke up early. Jake was already there, bringing him necessary utilities like a toothbrush.

With an embarrassed smile Levi remembered he actually forgot to brush yesterday.

After a quick shower, Levi meticulously made the bed and carefully removed any hair he found on the sheets or floor.

He was operating with extreme caution, he had confirmed that both Robert and Emi were Grade 3 Sorcerers. This meant that getting their hands on the special website was nearer then he thought.

And by taking a sample of his hair and using the specialized Sorcerer's Website, they could access his information from the Northern data base.

If they searched his profile and found that his information was heavily shielded by the Clans, they would instantly become suspicious.

Why would a member of a Northern Clan be all the way down here? That small piece of information could easily lead them to dangerous speculations, such as whether he had run away from his Clan or, worse, was curerently being pursued.

He needed to be extra careful to maintain his cover.

Levi enjoyed a light breakfast upstairs, maintaining a polite but distant demeanor with the family members present. Once finished, he headed down to the Training Hall.

Inside the main hall, he found Jake and his father, Robert, Jake was already deep in a meditative pose, sitting perfectly still, while Robert stood behind his son with one hand placed gently against the center of Jake's spine.

This was one of Jake's day of school and Robert was clearly assisting Jake with his cultivation.

"Good morning, Mr. Robert". Levi greeted him quietly.

Robert returned the greeting with a nod. "Ted, you should sit down and relax a bit for the rest to come."

Levi relaxed into a comfortable position near the Technique Training Pit and entered his soul canvas to resume cultivating. He continued the slow, steady work of refining energy and fortifying his new Life Star

After some time, Robert stirred him awake. Levi blinked, seeing that the rest of the new recruits—Chloe, Jillian and Judith— were all present and waiting.

Robert addressed the group, his voice firm and instructive. "Now that you all have successfully opened your second Node, it's time to condition the third."

He paced slowly. "The second Node, the Pulse Gate, was opened with the aid of the Blood Rigorous Pill to wear down its defenses. That was a cheat".

He continued. "The third Node requires a different approach: it must be conditioned through physical exercises".

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