Stellarburg now felt like a melting pot of influences.
The Goldworth conglomerate, House Carter, Stellarburg's own House Winters... and now, individuals from the Federal authority.
One formidable power after another was converging in this otherwise unremarkable city.
John couldn't believe they were all just here to enjoy Stellarburg's sights.
What secrets did Stellarburg hold to warrant such attention from so many factions?
A shadow of unease cloaked John's heart, this ignorance an unwelcome companion.
Behind the bar, upon hearing John's query, the bearded man, taking a drag on his cigarette, responded indifferently, "The boss isn't in. If you've got business, come back tomorrow."
John could sense the man's wariness.
He understood that at this moment, all the various powers in Stellarburg were likely on edge.
His presence could easily be misconstrued.
With this realization, John decided it was time to leave.
Given his situation, it was wise not to get too entangled with official figures.
Just then, a familiar and gentle voice broke through.
"Let him through, Captain Victor," she said.
The voice belonged to Scarlett, seemingly emanating from nowhere, yet distinctly audible to both John and the bearded man.
Victor, the bearded man with the cigarette, furrowed his brows, appearing to want to protest.
But Scarlett's voice prevailed, "John is no stranger; he can be trusted."
This time, John located the source of the voice.
Unnoticed before, a tiny creature with butterfly wings had appeared beside them.
No larger than a palm, she wore a delicate green dress and held a little horn in her arms, from which Scarlett's voice was projected.
At that moment, the tiny being gazed at John with large, curious eyes, her appearance strikingly endearing.
[Name: Echo Sprite (Summon)]
[Level: lv1]
[HP: 150]
[Spirit: 12]
[Stamina: 1]
[Defense: 1]
[Speed: 10]
[Skill: Sound Transmission]
...
Scarlett is a rare class "stellar summoner," capable of calling forth a variety of "stellar sprites" from the sprite realm for combat or assistance.
This little creature must be one of her summoned stellar sprites, a magical being existing only within the sprite realm.
Hearing Scarlett's words, Victor exhaled a cloud of smoke and shook his head, saying, "She's in the office on the third floor, go on up yourself." With that, Victor disengaged from John.
John glanced at Victor, piecing together from Scarlett's reference to him that this man was likely the official awakener in charge of this area, and a captain at that.
Though John was unclear about his department, anyone daring to stand toe-to-toe with the likes of the Baron and House Carter had to be at least a transcendent-tier force to be reckoned with!
John averted his gaze; such powerhouses were still far beyond his reach.
Without further ado, he rose and made his way to the office on the third floor of the bar.
After John had left, Victor, while pouring himself a drink, remarked, "Scarlett, your little boyfriend is quite interesting. When you have a moment, ask him if he'd be interested in joining 'Hidden Stars' to work for us."
Scarlett's voice, tinged with surprise, emanated from the tiny sprite's horn, "You want to invite John to join Hidden Stars?"
"Hidden Stars" is a specialized division within the Federal authority, dedicated to handling extraordinary incidents and secret realms.
It holds a pivotal yet unique position within the Federal hierarchy, making it quite distinctive.
Both Scarlett and Victor are members of Hidden Stars, albeit with different roles and responsibilities.
Scarlett is part of the "White Gloves," stationed in Stellarburg for the long haul to gather intelligence and information.
On the other hand, Victor serves as one of the "Red Gloves," frontline warriors tasked with managing various special incidents within the safe zones.
Joining Hidden Stars means having access to both cultivation resources and wealth, along with a significant status at one's fingertips.
However, this comes with the trade-off of a high mortality rate.
Operating perennially on the brink of danger is an unavoidable aspect of the job.
Victor nodded, adding, "The kid is sharp and cautious. From the moment he walked in, he's been on guard against me. Moreover, his aura is well-contained and refined, suggesting he's practiced in concealing it, possibly through some advanced technique or secret skill. He's a promising talent."
Scarlett was inwardly surprised; Victor was renowned within Hidden Stars not just for his prowess but also for his discerning eye.
It was unexpected for him to hold John in such high regard, especially considering John had only awakened a few days ago.
Scarlett mused, "I'll mention this to him later. But whether he's willing to join Hidden Stars ultimately depends on him."
Victor hummed in acknowledgment, leaving the conversation at that.
Meanwhile, John had reached the third floor.
The third floor of the Dark Forest bar served as Scarlett's living and working space, where she spent most of her time, off-limits to the general public.
John, however, frequented this area and made his way to the office door with ease.
He knocked lightly, and soon Scarlett's sultry voice came from within, "Just come in, the door's unlocked."
Hearing this, John pushed the door open and entered.
Inside the office, Scarlett was seated behind her desk, sorting through documents.
She wore only a black slip dress, her long hair casually draped over her shoulders, revealing a hint of her alluring figure beneath the sheer fabric.
Her effortless poise exuded the charm of a mature woman, tempting beyond measure.
Upon John's entrance, a captivating smile graced her exquisite face, her beauty accentuated by a beauty mark, lending her an even more enchanting aura.
Scarlett sized up John and said with a smile, "You've changed quite a bit in just two days, becoming even more handsome."
Her words were genuine.
John, already striking in appearance, had his physique and skin further enhanced after becoming an awakener.
Not only did his looks become more remarkable, but his eyes also gained the depth and brilliance of the starry sky, adding a unique charisma to his presence.
John spread his hands in a gesture of mock resignation and said, "You've noticed, huh? It seems the radiance of someone exceptional can't be hidden."
As he spoke, John took out the Withered Staff and handed it to Scarlett, saying, "I also have to thank you for this piece of equipment. It was a great help. Now, I'm returning it to its rightful owner, intact."
Scarlett, however, did not accept the equipment.
Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Keep it as a memento. If you really want to thank me, fulfill the promise you made at the beginning. You haven't forgotten what you said, have you?"
The reminder of his words to Scarlett before entering the dungeon made John feel as if a needle had pricked his spine.
He quickly changed the subject, saying, "Of course, I haven't forgotten. But the reason I came today is actually to ask you about something else - the recent moves of the major powers in Stellarburg."
Scarlett was successfully diverted from the previous topic and did not press further.
She pondered for a moment, then seriously said, "Although I'm not sure how you came to know about this, I would advise that there are some things it's better you don't know. Given your current strength, being aware might not necessarily be a good thing."
John fell silent.
He understood the implication of Scarlett's words; if those people knew he was inquiring about their affairs, they probably wouldn't hesitate to eliminate a newly awakened awakener.
After all, for those powerhouses or major forces, killing him would be no different than crushing an ant. In this era, the weak have no rights.
John felt his own vulnerability once again.
Despite his extraordinary talent, without the power to rise, he would be nothing more than a pile of bones.
He had planned to rest for a couple of days, but at this moment, he was determined.
He needed to enter a new dungeon as soon as possible to enhance his strength. Strength was the only undeniable truth!
After a pause, John still said, "You tell me. I'd rather take some risks now than die in confusion when something actually happens, without understanding anything."
Scarlett sighed.
Having known John for so many years, she was well aware of his inquisitive nature.
With no other choice, she said, "Since you want to know, I won't hide it from you. Did you know that Maximilian's Foster Group discovered a secret realm outside of Stellarburg?"
John's heart skipped a beat, "Another secret realm!"
He had heard about this secret realm several times recently but hadn't paid much attention.
Only now did he realize the core reason stirring the winds in Stellarburg was this advanced secret realm!