The next day, Moon checked out of the hotel early and headed toward the Awakeners Association.

He needed to get himself registered as an awakener. Otherwise, under the current legal framework, he'd be in serious trouble, classified as a criminal awakener with hidden intentions, someone operating outside the system's oversight. That classification came with surveillance, restrictions, and in extreme cases, prison time.

More practically, no awakener could legally buy or sell sanctuary-related goods without proper registration and an awakener's badge. The body of the Winter Beast still sat in his storage ring, along with the body of the arctic wolf. Those represented significant value, enough to stabilise his financial situation, but they were worthless if he couldn't access legitimate trading channels.

Additionally, registered awakeners received a monthly allowance from the government, compensation for the role they played in humanity's defence and resource gathering. It wasn't extravagant, but it was a steady income. Something he needed, given his current circumstances.

So Moon made his way through the morning streets toward the Association headquarters, intent on getting himself properly registered as an awakener.

Not a null, like everyone at his school's awakening ceremony had assumed. An actual, legitimate awakener.

The Awakeners Association building came into view, a modern structure of glass and steel that stood out among the older architecture surrounding it. People in various states of equipment came and went through the main entrance.

Moon joined the flow of foot traffic, stepping through the automatic doors into a spacious lobby. The interior was rather well designed with registration desks along one wall, notice boards displaying guild recruitment offers and basic sanctuary information, and seating areas where small groups discussed strategy or negotiated deals.

He approached the main information desk, where a young woman in a professional uniform looked up from her terminal.

"Welcome to the Awakeners Association. How can I assist you today?"

"I need to register as a new awakener," Moon said.

The woman's eyes flicked over his appearance before nodding her head.

"Of course. Do you have your awakening certificate from your school or testing centre?"

Moon paused. "I awakened during my first sanctuary summoning. There was no official ceremony."

It was technically true. His Classless nature had manifested fully only after entering the First Sanctuary, even if the awakening orb had failed to detect it.

The woman looked surprised, her fingers pausing over her keyboard. "I see. That's... quite unusual."

Her professional demeanour remained intact, but Moon could see the gears turning behind her eyes. "Give me a moment."

She picked up her desk phone and pressed a few buttons, waiting for someone to answer on the other end.

"Yes, this is Reception Three. I have a situation that requires managerial approval. New awakener registration, but the circumstances are irregular."

She listened for a moment before nodding. "Understood. Thank you."

She hung up and turned back to Moon with an apologetic smile. "I need to call the new manager here to oversee your registration. This isn't standard procedure, so we need authorisation from someone higher up. It shouldn't take long."

Moon nodded, keeping his expression neutral, though he sighed internally.

He'd been hoping everything would go smoothly: quick registration, get his badge, sell his materials, and disappear.

His plan was simple: register as a rare-class Elemental Mage using the skills he'd legitimately acquired from Selene's class.

Three Element Affinity was rare but not unheard of. It would mark him as talented without painting a target on his back. He'd keep his epic-rank skills, his classless nature, his ability to copy classes, all of it hidden.

Revealing himself as an anomaly to a controlling association would be monumentally foolish. Not that the association was inherently bad, but he simply didn't want to be on any person's radar.

Moon had no intention of becoming anyone's research subject or strategic asset. Hence, the reason he had yet to sign to a guild, or even think about it.

The receptionist busied herself with paperwork while they waited.

Then he heard footsteps approaching from the hallway.

A woman emerged from the corridor, dressed in a well-tailored business suit, her dark hair pulled back in a neat ponytail.

When their eyes met, they widened at once.

"It's you!" they both said simultaneously.

It was the woman from his old apartment. The one in the towel, the one he'd accidentally seen naked less than twenty-four hours ago.

The receptionist looked between them, confusion evident on her face. "Do you perhaps know each other?"

Moon opened his mouth to speak, but Isabelle immediately interrupted him, her face flushing red as she spoke quickly.

"We're neighbours! Yes, neighbours. We ran into each other in the hallway yesterday. Very briefly, nothing worth mentioning."

Her eyes locked onto Moon's with an intensity that very clearly communicated: If you say one word about what actually happened, I will make your registration process a living nightmare.

Moon understood the message perfectly.

"Indeed," he said smoothly, playing along.

The receptionist looked between them with clear suspicion, her eyes narrowing slightly at the obvious tension and the manager's red face. But she was professional enough to recognise when something was above her pay grade.

"I see," she said neutrally, making a note on her terminal. "I'll leave you to handle the registration, Manager Isabelle."

Isabelle nodded curtly. "Thank you, Rebecca. I'll take it from here."

Without another word, she turned on her heel and strode toward the private offices. "Follow me," she said over her shoulder, not bothering to check if Moon was complying.

Moon followed, maintaining a respectful distance. He could see the tension in her shoulders, the way her hands clenched and unclenched at her sides as she walked. This was going to be a long conversation.

They passed through several corridors, moving deeper into the administrative section of the building. Other staff members they encountered gave Isabelle respectful nods, which she returned.

Finally, she stopped at a door marked "Private Office" and pushed it open, gesturing sharply for Moon to enter.

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