Zora smiled faintly. Back then, she had been confined to the General’s Estate and forbidden to step outside at will. How could she have had the chance to visit the rcenary Union?
"Zora, why don’t I accompany you to register?" Raphael suggested.
"It’s alright. Senior doesn’t need to trouble himself. I’ll go by myself," Zora replied calmly.
Seeing her firm tone, Raphael didn’t insist. He nodded and said, "Then you should register first. We’ll go choose a task. Since you don’t have any rcenary experience yet, this mission will be decided by the three of us. Is that alright?"
"No problem."
"Once the task is confird, we’ll inform you. You can also take this ti to purchase whatever supplies you’ll need. It’ll co in handy later."
"I understand."
After leaving the back mountain, Zora exited the academy alone. The rcenary Union had a branch in Heavenly City, and Raphael had already told her the exact location.
The rcenary Union was the most widespread organization on the Holy Mystic Continent, and rcenary work itself was an occupation that danced along the edge of danger.
Demonic beasts possessed hides, blood, bones, and demon crystals, all of which held various extraordinary uses for humans. Where there was demand, there would naturally be a profession to et it.
So cultivators lived by hunting demonic beasts, selling their remains for profit. Others issued bounties through the rcenary Union for specific materials they required.
rcenaries accepted these tasks and received rewards, often far higher than what they could earn by simply selling a beast’s corpse.
Weapon shops, potion makers, all had constant needs for demonic beast materials. Under such circumstances, the rcenary Union expanded rapidly.
Over ti, it beca the largest organization on the Holy Mystic Continent, rivaling even the great sects and powerful clans.
The reason was simple. Anyone could register as a rcenary, and anyone could leave at any ti. There were no bindings, no lifelong obligations.
Because of this freedom, almost all cultivators didn’t mind registering as rcenaries. Even children from wealthy families needed experience.
For ordinary rcenaries, tasks were a ans of survival. For academy students, however, tasks were a way to earn points.
This was the result of an agreent between the academy and the rcenary Union. Students completed missions and earned points to enter the cultivation tower, while the rewards were paid by the rcenary Union to the academy, helping it grow stronger.
Students paid no tuition to enter the academy, and this system eased the academy’s financial burden. It was a mutually beneficial arrangent, and naturally, no one objected.
The rcenary Union stood out clearly in Heavenly City.
When Zora saw the towering building roofed with glazed tiles, she imdiately recognized it.
At the very top of the structure stood a triangular emblem. Under the sunlight, the glazed tiles reflected dazzling brilliance, and the pyramid symbolized the rcenary ranking system.
By completing missions, rcenaries could raise their rank. The higher the rank, the smaller the cut taken by the rcenary Union.
The ranks were divided into five levels: yellow, green, blue, purple, and red. Yellow was the lowest, and red was the highest.
As Zora stepped into the rcenary Union, a wave of noise surged toward her, instantly filling her ears.
Most of the figures within her line of sight were male rcenaries.
So were academy students, but far more were rough, hardened n. On the exposed skin of nearly every one of them, scars could be seen clearly. These were people who lived with blades at their throats, never knowing if tomorrow would arrive.
As a result, they valued indulgence and imdiacy far more than restraint.
Such a scene was nothing unfamiliar to Zora, though. She had seen it many tis before.
The rcenary Union’s main hall was spacious, yet packed so densely with people that it felt cramped. Along the walls hung countless mission notices, layered one over another, waiting to be claid.
In front of the counter stretched a long queue. It was said that no place in Heavenly City was busier than the rcenary Union, and at this mont, that saying rang true.
As Zora lined up, she suddenly sensed a gaze fixed firmly on her.
Her brows drew together slightly. She turned toward the source of that stare, and a trace of cold disgust flashed through her eyes.
The owner of that gaze was none other than Silvan.
In the Life-and-Death Arena, Serestia had died by her hand. As Serestia’s long-ti admirer, Silvan’s hatred toward her was only natural.
"Zora," Silvan sneered coldly, malice filling his eyes. "I didn’t expect you’d actually dare to co to the academy. I really have to admire your courage."
That woman he had cherished for so long had died because of her. This hatred was sothing he would never forget.
Zora’s expression remained indifferent as she glanced at him lazily. "You still dare to show up here," she replied calmly.
The mockery in her words made Silvan’s face darken instantly. "You’ve co here only to walk a dead end," he said coldly.
"Oh?" Zora curved her lips faintly, folding her arms across her chest. Her eyes were filled with unconcealed disdain. "Silvan, with your strength, you think you can threaten ?"
Her gaze sharpened, her voice turning icy. "If you don’t want to die, get lost right now. Otherwise, bear the consequences yourself."
Being dismissed so openly made Silvan’s expression ugly to the extre.
His cultivation was only slightly stronger than Serestia’s. Since Zora had been able to kill Serestia, there was no doubt she could kill him as well.
He did not dare to confront her head-on.
"Zora," Silvan said through clenched teeth, his eyes dark and venomous, "Serestia was Gabriel’s younger sister, and you killed her. Gabriel will never let you go."
Gabriel was not a special enrollnt student, but after entering the academy, his strength had improved rapidly. He had already gained the qualifications to train alongside special enrollnt students.
In just two years, Gabriel’s reputation within the academy had beco extrely prominent. He simply had not yet returned.
Once he did, he would certainly co for her.
"Then, it is Gabriel’s business and mine. Our affairs don’t concern you," Zora replied coolly, her expression unchanged. "Now, get lost."
Silvan stared at her fiercely for a long mont before turning and storming out of the rcenary Union.
After he left, Zora raised her brows slightly.
She hadn’t known that Serestia had an older brother.
It seed that trouble would not be so easily avoided as she thought.
Still, soldiers would be blocked by generals, and water covered by earth. She had never regretted any decision she made.
The rcenary Union remained noisy as ever. Even with the brief confrontation between Zora and Silvan, few people paid it any attention.
Not far away, Adrian was in the midst of accepting a mission. He happened to catch sight of Silvan arguing with a woman and overheard the ntion of Gabriel’s na.
A glint of intrigue flickered through Adrian’s eyes.
Gabriel, a student of the academy, was soone countless people were eager to befriend.
Not only was his talent outstanding, but he was also rumored to be the general’s son. With such a background and ability combined, his future was practically limitless.
Many of the minor figures who had followed Gabriel from the beginning had already reaped enormous benefits. In just two short years, even those with average talent had made remarkable progress under his shadow.
Gabriel had been in the academy for two years. He had only recently gone out to train and had just returned to Heavenly City today.
Adrian had long been looking for an opportunity to get close to him. If he could beco one of Gabriel’s followers, the rewards would be imnse. Unfortunately, he had never found the right chance.
And now, that chance had appeared right in front of him.
Since this woman clearly had a grudge with Gabriel, if he dealt with her properly and offered her up as a "gift," Gabriel would surely look favorably upon him.
By then, wouldn’t he have secured an umbrella (protection) over him that would later shield him from the rains (troubles)?
Unaware, Zora continued waiting in line. Although the queue was long, the rcenary Union worked efficiently, and progress was steady.
Just as it was finally her turn and she was about to speak to the receptionist, a figure suddenly stepped directly in front of her.
Zora frowned slightly.
Cutting in line?
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