Feng Yun's expression remained unreadable, his posture exuding quiet dominance. The air in the guild seemed to shift as he finally spoke, his voice calm yet commanding.
"I'd like to apply to become an adventurer."
His piercing gaze lingered on Sophie. Though there was no overt threat in his demeanor, an instinctual shiver ran down her spine. It was the kind of pressure one might feel when facing something unseen yet immeasurably dangerous.
Sophie swallowed, forcing herself to maintain composure. She had dealt with nobles, seasoned warriors, and self-important braggarts before—but this was different.
"A-alright," she said, offering a polite smile. She reached beneath the desk, retrieving a parchment form and a quill before sliding them toward him.
"Please fill out this registration form."
Feng Yun took the parchment, his sharp eyes scanning the page. The slightest furrow appeared in his brow.
The words made no sense. No, they weren't words at all—just a mess of symbols and unfamiliar markings.
He muttered under his breath, "What kind of script is this…?" His fingers traced one of the symbols lightly, his mind working through possibilities.
Sophie's sharp eyes caught the hesitation.
"A noble or prince… would surely know how to read and write."
Her initial impression of him wavered. Could she have been wrong?
"No, that's impossible. My instincts are rarely wrong… But then, why does he hesitate?"
She kept her expression neutral but observed closely.
"Is he simply unfamiliar with our local script… or is he hiding something?"
A flicker of a smile crossed her lips—polite, unreadable.
"Would you like me to assist you, Young Master?"
Feng Yun's eyebrow arched slightly at the title.
"Young Master?"
A deep, husky chuckle rumbled from his throat, quiet yet laced with amusement.
"It has been a long time since I was called that… Not since my clan fell in flames. Not since Yun Lin made his move."
His fingers tightened on the parchment for half a second before he loosened his grip, his expression remaining unreadable. Then, with a faint smirk, he nodded.
"Yes, I would appreciate your help."
Sophie took the parchment from him, her quill gliding over the page with practiced ease.
"Let's begin. Which class are you in?"
Feng Yun's eyes flickered with momentary confusion.
"Class?"
Sophie caught the micro-expression—a split-second of unfamiliarity.
"You don't know what a class is, Young Master?" Her voice carried genuine curiosity now.
She continued smoothly, "Our adventurers select a combat path—Mage, Rogue, Archer, Warrior, Swordman, and others."
Feng Yun processed the information quickly. In his world, power was absolute—no need for categories or classifications.
"Mages? Warriors? Such strange terms. But at least they still have Swordmen."
His reply was simple. "Swordman."
Sophie made a note on the parchment.
"Your age?"
Feng Yun paused.
"Age?"
He hadn't thought about something so trivial in a long time. But revealing uncertainty here would only raise suspicions.
"Twenty years."
Sophie's quill glided over the paper.
"And your name, Young Master?"
Feng Yun's gaze darkened slightly.
"My name…?"
A moment of stillness.
Then he spoke. "Leon."
Sophie's quill stopped. She looked up at him, studying his face carefully.
"Leon. No surname?"
She pressed slightly, tilting her head. "And your surname?"
Feng Yun's expression hardened ever so slightly.
"I'd rather not share that, if you don't mind."
Silence.
Sophie's practiced smile barely wavered. But internally, her curiosity ignited like a slow-burning fuse.
"So... he hides his true identity? Interesting."
After a moment, she nodded, pretending not to notice the weight behind his words. "O-okay, no worries."
She moved to the next step, reaching beneath the counter for a smooth black cube, roughly the size of a human head. She placed it on the table with care.
"Please place your hand on the cubic box."
Feng Yun's eyes narrowed. "What is—"
Sophie smiled, sensing his curiosity. "Ah, yes, I forgot that you might not be familiar with our customs."
Her fingers lightly tapped the cube. "This is a rank measurement artifact. It will determine your combat potential and assign a rank accordingly."
Feng Yun tilted his head slightly. "A device that judges strength?"
"What are the ranks?" he asked.
Sophie leaned forward slightly, eager to explain. "They range from SSS+ to F-. The higher the rank, the stronger the adventurer."
Intriguing.
Without hesitation, Feng Yun placed his palm on the cube.
The artifact pulsed, its surface glowing faintly as energy rippled through it. The entire guild hall seemed to quiet for a moment.
Sophie leaned in, watching closely.
Finally, the cube dimmed. She lifted it, examining the result.
A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "F+ rank. That's impressive for someone your age."
Feng Yun's gaze remained calm. "How do I compare to others?"
Sophie studied him. "He seems genuinely curious... or is he simply pretending?"
She smiled slyly. "Let's just say that the princess started at F- but is now ranked around A or B."
Feng Yun raised an eyebrow. "Quite the improvement."
Sophie smirked. "And the prince? He started at D rank... and remains at D rank."
Feng Yun chuckled. "So talent alone isn't enough."
Sophie's eyes gleamed with amusement. "Exactly."
Then Feng Yun's voice turned colder. "Are you allowed to share such information? Won't the king be upset?"
The air shifted.
Sophie's expression remained composed—but her next words carried an edge.
"Why would I be afraid of him?"
The room felt a degree colder.
Feng Yun's interest sharpened.
"She isn't afraid of the king? That means she either has power of her own... or she belongs to something far more dangerous."