Although Azrael couldn't understand why he had to fight after simply following Jin to observe the gathering, since he was already here, eliminating a Gold-level demon shouldn't require much effort. Perhaps he could even earn so additional compensation.
"Quick battle, decisive victory."
Thinking about the morning work schedule awaiting him, Azrael sighed and prepared to have Zoro and the others swiftly resolve this confrontation.
It was rely a demon, nothing particularly challenging, surely?
In the elevated viewing area, Jin's three Master-level Lore Cardians fought as a coordinated unit while lower-tier practitioners like mphis maintained respectful distance behind them.
The Skinner, wearing her characteristic nonchalant expression, asked with a faint smile, "Where did Master Jin discover such exceptional talent? These summoned cards demonstrate remarkable power."
Jin chuckled, then posed a pointed question in return, "If you abandoned those so-called principles, the Indo-Arican Federation would offer you abundant skilled individuals to recruit."
As an ally, Jin naturally understood the bronze-skinned woman beside him. Despite her outwardly benevolent appearance, she harbored sothing far more dangerous beneath that amiable facade.
"Absurd persistence," he thought dismissively.
After hearing Jin's observation, the Skinner's smile remained unchanged, but the atmosphere in the chamber plumted to its lowest point. The Lore Cardians behind her didn't dare breathe audibly.
"Oh, relying on those pale devils and mongrels?"
"They're unworthy of consideration."
The Skinner stared at Azrael in the arena below and continued, "Do you genuinely believe I'm ignorant about their historical intentions?"
"A bounty system targeting our scalps."
"They only cooperated with us because circumstances left them no alternatives."
At this mont, Chris interjected with obvious irritation, "Hey, Skinner, you've included in that condemnation."
The Skinner turned toward Chris, displaying a hint of contrition, "My apologies, I didn't intend to offend you personally."
Seeing this, Chris chose not to provoke the volatile woman further. Instead, he addressed Jin with unmistakable sarcasm, "Old Dog Jin, you must have provided that boy with intelligence information, correct?"
"Otherwise, how could he have released such a creature?"
But Jin displayed a peculiar smile at this accusation, "No, I revealed nothing to him."
"If I had, would this still constitute a legitimate test?"
Chris appeared stunned, then shook his head, "That's insane."
"With talent of this caliber, aren't you concerned he'll perish imdiately?"
"Or..."
Are you truly that confident in his abilities?
The delicate-featured boy didn't voice this final question, rely observing the young man below with evident regret.
But everyone present qualified as a lunatic to varying degrees.
Compared to the two extremists beside him, one obsessed with power to the point of madness, the other representing radical ideological fanaticism, he was simply less unhinged.
Not to ntion the absent mber, that cannibalistic monstrosity.
Jin, however, ignored Chris's assessnt entirely.
He simply stared down at Azrael, his thoughts tinged with malicious anticipation, "Let witness your true capabilities."
Beyond wanting to dissuade the young man from certain thoughts, Jin harbored a vague sense of apprehension.
But rembering that the other party had already signed the binding contract, the elderly man couldn't help but laugh at his own concerns.
Regarding Azrael's potential to reach Master level and escape the Crimson Oath Society's control, throughout all these years, only one Master-level Lore Cardian had ever achieved such independence.
Down in the arena, as Armant Haki gradually spread across Zoro's hands, the battle officially comnced.
Frieren, functioning as ranged support, took the initiative, her jet-black magical beam instantly piercing through the floating demon's form.
However, the unnad demon identified as "Wu" in the analytical information simply lowered its head, staring vacantly at the massive hollow that had appeared within its body, showing no other reaction whatsoever.
Zoro regarded Wu with a stern expression. Although he couldn't comprehend why Wu remained passive, he had already approached the entity under Shiraori and Frieren's protective coverage.
As Zoro's pitch-black blade slashed across Wu's form, Azrael couldn't help wondering, "What's happening here?"
"A training dummy?"
He found it impossible to believe the situation was this straightforward; otherwise, the young Master-level Lore Cardian wouldn't have bothered ntioning such a test.
Just as Azrael contemplated this, a piercing shriek suddenly erupted.
"Ahhhh!"
The sharp sound threatened to rupture eardrums.
Azrael, displaying slight discomfort, covered his ears while staring intently at Wu in the distance.
Before his eyes, the first person affected by the scream was Zoro, who stood closest to the creature.
The green-haired swordsman stared blankly at Wu before him.
The next mont, three long swords clattered to the ground in succession. Zoro sat motionless, hands clasped around his knees.
"???"
Azrael was montarily bewildered by this sudden transformation.
"Impossible."
He perceived Zoro as being in perfect physical condition, clearly unhard, yet the swordsman had lost all will to fight.
The next person affected was Frieren.
The white-haired elf's performance proved even more dramatic than Zoro's.
She had fallen asleep while leaning against her staff.
Azrael was about to wake her when a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him.
He found himself in a state of despair, muttering, "I'm so tired."
"I don't want to work."
Seeing that the summoned creatures in the arena had apparently lost their fighting spirit, Wu slowly drifted toward Azrael.
Jin, perched on the elevated platform, watched the scene below with fascination, "Co now, let observe."
Beside him, Chris hesitated, "Hey, aren't you going to intervene?"
"This experint remains sowhat unstable."
"I'd suggest attempting sothing simpler. Your judgnt is definitely sound, Old Dog Jin."
But Jin ignored his concerns completely.
Seeing this, Chris ceased his persuasion attempts, rely shaking his head slightly while regarding the young man below with sympathy.
The Skinner simply smiled at the scene before her, saying nothing.
Just as everyone present was lost in their respective thoughts, a terrifying hissing noise suddenly interrupted them.
But while it registered as a hissing noise to them, it sounded like music to Azrael's ears.
"Iron Man..."
Seeing this developnt, Chris's expression darkened in the stands, and with a twitching eye, he glanced at Jin beside him, "As long as you're satisfied."
He'd just believed that old bastard's claim about not revealing any information.
The target already possessed countering cards, yet Jin claid he hadn't revealed anything? He'd be damned if he trusted that conniving elder again.
Jin's expression remained unchanged upon hearing Chris's words, though a trace of regret lingered in his heart, "I never anticipated such a coincidence!"
As one of the few Lore Cardians present who understood the demon's characteristics, he knew that with the young man possessing corresponding counterasures, Wu would no longer pose any threat.
What followed proceeded exactly as Jin had anticipated.
As Zoro and Frieren returned to normal, Wu quickly lost all resistance.
Azrael also realized what had transpired.
The situation was particularly easy to deduce since only Shiraori remained unaffected.
Shiraori's [Ruler: Patience] ability's Outer Path Negation effect rendered her immune to Soul Damage of Gold rank and below.
From the description alone, this effect was undeniably top-tier at Gold level.
"I nearly got completely screwed."
Wu's unknown abilities clearly ranked among the finest at the Gold level.
Without Shiraori, Azrael might have been utterly defeated today.
"Jin."
Azrael's mind flashed with the image of the hook-nosed elder. This was undoubtedly no ordinary test. Azrael doubted that a typical Gold-level Lore Cardian could survive Wu's assault.
At that mont, he was absolutely certain that the hook-nosed elder had grown wary of him.
But there was little he could do about it. His advancent had been extraordinarily rapid, and he had only joined the Crimson Oath Society under pressure from mphis.
"Tsk, I suppose I need to inquire about the specifics beforehand."
Azrael didn't want to lose his life without understanding the reasons. What if Jin suddenly decided to eliminate the entire operation?
He sensed the old man might actually attempt such a thing.
But considering the substantial investnt the Crimson Oath Society had made in him, at least his life should remain safe until Jin launched whatever long-hidden sche he was planning. This thought provided Azrael with modest reassurance.
Even as his mind churned with these concerns, the battle in the arena was drawing to its conclusion.
"Thud."
As Zoro slowly sheathed his blade, the floating Wu instantly dissipated, only to reveal a humanoid figure falling from within it.
Azrael stepped forward to collect the materials, but was stunned to discover none existed.
"How is that possible?"
Azrael froze in his tracks.
Shiraori had previously identified Wu as dropping a material called [Void Soul].
He carefully examined the corpse on the ground, realizing it wasn't actually a demon at all, but rather a human being.
Azrael imdiately recalled the demonized Lore Cardian he'd encountered in his first secret realm during his junior year of high school.
The two situations were remarkably similar, except that previous encounter had yielded materials.
Just as Azrael began wondering about this discrepancy, a hoarse voice echoed nearby, "Don't bother looking! There won't be any."
It was Jin.
Azrael replied calmly, "President."
He longed to inquire about the situation, but the other party didn't seem inclined to provide explanations.
Jin continued, "Let's go, the test is complete."
Without another word, he turned and led Azrael back to the platform.
Only mphis remained on the platform. Chris and the Skinner had already departed when Azrael passed the test.
While the young man's cards had impressed them, that was the extent of their interest.
He was, after all, rely a Gold-level Lore Cardian.
Even if they wanted to recruit him, they couldn't accomplish this in Jin's presence. No one wanted to antagonize this old lunatic.
Not to ntion they were supposed allies.
Jin wasn't surprised to find his group alone. He simply gestured for Azrael and the others to follow.
Their objective today was informing the others about Antarctica, and it was ti to return.
Regarding the test?
It was simply a test. Failure ant death, and success offered no reward.
However, just as they left the castle, Azrael suddenly looked out at the bustling crowd on the street and said, "President, I have so Gold-level materials I'd like to trade."
"Is there an appropriate venue nearby?"
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