Inside a vast hall, a group of people sat around a beautiful marble table, polished until it gleamed. There were about ten of them in total, each looking dignified and influential. They were dressed in expensive armor, formal uniforms, and lavish clothing, men and women alike, most appearing to be in their middle ages.

The table was the only object in the room.

Beyond it, the hall was empty, its white marble walls pristine, crystal lamps hanging quietly and casting soft light across the space.

At the head of the table sat a man with white hair. Middle-aged, imposing, and powerful, he wore black-and-gold armor that radiated authority. His sharp gaze swept across everyone present before he spoke.

"It seems the First Trial is coming to an end," he said calmly. "Which means the survivors, a new generation of Awakened, will soon emerge. As we all know, this marks the beginning of the scouting phase. Every one of your organizations will be seeking talent."

He paused briefly.

"Raven City is no exception. As one of the largest major cities in the habitable regions of God's Domain, it will inevitably become the center of chaos during scouting. So before that begins, certain matters must be made clear."

When he finished, a man seated near the corner of the table spoke up.

He was noticeably younger than most of the others, broad-shouldered, muscular, wearing a tight tank top and combat-style pants. His hair was cut short into a buzz cut, his posture relaxed but dangerous.

"I don't really care what the rest of you do," he said bluntly, "as long as the rule still stands that every Awakened is allowed to join the Adventurers Guild, even if they later join sects or other organizations."

This was Legion.

The leader of the Adventurers Guild in Raven City, and one of the most powerful Awakened in the city.

The man at the head of the table frowned slightly. "Legion. Control yourself."

"Tsk." Legion clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.

He already knew how this always went. When scouting began, everyone wanted exclusive ownership of talent. The Adventurers Guild was different. It was meant to be neutral ground. A place where Awakened from all sects, factions, and cities could coexist.

The man Legion had spoken to was Gordon.

The acting ruler of Raven City.

A powerful Awakened tasked with maintaining order and balance. Due to his position, he was forbidden from leading any sect or organization. His role was not to claim power, but to regulate it.

"We're not trying to cause unnecessary chaos," a middle-aged woman spoke next. She wore elegant mage robes, her long black hair flowing neatly down her back. "We simply offer what we have. Pressure only begins when the Black Dragon Sect and the Floating Palace decide to leave their territories and scout here."

She folded her hands. "They both control multiple cities. Yet they always choose Raven City."

"We can't complain about that now," Gordon replied. "The Black Dragon Sect and the Floating Palace are the two dominant powers in this region. If they decide to scout here, we cannot stop them."

He continued, "Only the Thousand Sword Guild could oppose them, but they've been inactive for years. As you all know, they prefer to remain silent and observe."

"What about the Secret Palace?" another man asked.

He was dressed in priestly robes, his voice calm but cautious.

"You all know the Secret Palace operates above the rest."

"The Sacred Palace does not concern itself with matters like scouting," Gordon said calmly. "Nor do they involve themselves with anything other than the Floating Palace or the Black Dragon Sect. Those two are under their authority. They act on its behalf. The Sacred Palace would support them, not us."

The doors to the hall suddenly swung open.

A slow, deliberate clap echoed through the room.

Clap. Clap. Clap.

A tall, slim man stepped inside, dressed in an immaculate white suit trimmed with gold. His pristine shoes clicked sharply against the marble floor as he walked in, a faint smile resting on his face.

"Well," he said smoothly, "thank goodness you already knew the Floating Palace would be coming."

Gordon's expression darkened. "Louis. You aren't meant to be here."

"Oh, don't be like that," Louis replied lightly. "The Floating Palace is already here. And since we've arrived, are you really going to stop us from attending your little meeting?"

Gordon frowned. He knew better than anyone that there was no stopping the Floating Palace, especially not in matters like this.

"Either way," Louis continued, waving a hand dismissively, "I didn't come to listen to whatever concerns you all have."

He looked around the table, his gaze sharp beneath the smile.

"I came to make one thing clear. The Floating Palace will be searching for the individual known as Shadow."

The room went silent.

"The system announcements made it obvious," Louis said. "Someone dominated the Trials completely. That hasn't happened in a hundred years. And we want him, before the Black Dragon Sect gets their hands on him."

He leaned slightly forward. "This will be a competition between the Floating Palace and the Black Dragon Sect. Every other organization here is to stand down. Remove yourselves from anything related to the figure known as Shadow."

His smile widened. "We want him."

Gordon clenched his jaw but remained silent. He couldn't afford to offend a high-ranking member of the Floating Palace, especially not someone like Louis.

Finally, he spoke. "Fine. None of us at this table will pursue any matter related to Shadow."

"Good," Louis said pleasantly.

He pulled out a chair at the far end of the table and sat down with ease.

"Now that that's settled," he continued, crossing his legs, "I'd very much like to hear what the rest of you have to say about scouting."

He smiled again.

"This should be entertaining."

His presence here clearly made the air tense, but no one could say anything.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.