Maximus quickly found what he was looking for, a light meal that filled his stomach and eased his hunger. With that taken care of, his attention turned fully to the task at hand—registering for the permit.
He strode purposefully back toward the Alliance's branch office, his mind already gauging how much time had passed since he received his waiting number. The line must have moved considerably by now, and he figured his turn was likely drawing near.
Not wanting to risk missing it, Maximus quickened his pace, his steps firm and deliberate.
He arrived at the office before long. The crowd here had thinned noticeably, though the place still buzzed with enough activity to be called busy.
As Maximus stepped inside, the voice of the elven receptionist from earlier coincidentally rang out, summoning the latest number. His hunch had been right—his turn was almost at hand. Fewer than ten numbers remained before his own would be called.
A flicker of excitement sparked in Maximus' chest. His eyes scanned the hall, swiftly locking onto an empty corner. Without hesitation, he made his way over and settled in, resolving to wait patiently.
With his turn so close, there was no point in wandering around anymore.
In less than an hour—perhaps even sooner—Maximus would finally be able to formally request an entry permit. Though the process might take a day or two to complete, it didn't bother him in the slightest.
He was prepared to wait as long as necessary.
Time then crept forward as one number after another was called. Each individual, upon hearing their turn, rose and disappeared deeper into the office to handle their affairs with quiet efficiency.
Finally, Maximus' turn arrived. The elven receptionist's calm yet melodic voice resounded, "Number 128! It's your turn now."
Without a word, Maximus began to motion his legs, walking straight towards the hallway leading to the permit registration office.
He didn't forget to give the receptionist a nod as he passed her desk, which she returned with a warm smile.
Having observed those who had gone before him, Maximus already knew the exact direction he needed to take, sparing him any hassle.
Moments later, Maximus find himself standing before the target room. Raising his hand, he knocked twice.
*Knock*
*Knock*
"Come in," a voice called from within. Its gentle, slightly high-pitched tone left no doubt it belonged to a woman.
Feeling zero reservation, Maximus simply opened the door and strutted inside.
The room was actually smaller than he had expected, with a modest setup that gave it the feel of a personal office rather than an official administrative space.
Behind the desk, cluttered with an assortment of stationery, sat a woman who appeared to be in her early thirties.
She wore a tailored office dress that clung elegantly to her form, paired with a set of exquisite glasses that framed her pretty eyes.
Like many staff members in this branch, she was a ranker as well. The subdued aura radiating from her was as clear to Maximus' perception as the breeze in the outside air.
"Please, have a seat so we can sort your registration quickly," the woman said, gesturing to the chair opposite her.
There were no formal introductions or pleasantries—she just went straight to the point.
From this, Maximus quickly gathered that the woman wasn't one for idle conversation. She struck him as the type who preferred to maintain a strict, businesslike attitude during work.
However, he had no objections to her approach. It suited him just fine. Silently, Maximus followed her instructions, coming over to the chair and sitting down.
His gaze unconsciously landed on a small nameplate on the desk.
'Lucia Myras. Permit Registration Officer...'
The name etched in his mind as he silently registered the woman's identity.
He couldn't help but wonder how high the woman ranked within the hierarchy of the branch. While he wasn't familiar with the role of a permit registration officer, he suspected the position held a certain level of authority.
At the very least, it should be important enough to place her among the key figures in the whole office.
But realizing this wasn't the right time to dwell on such unimportant matters, Maximus quickly pushed the thought aside and refocused.
He leaned forward slightly and spoke, "So, Miss, what do I need to do to secure a permit?"
"First, you'll need to present your National ID and the ranker certificate issued by the relevant agency," she stated, her eyes, steady behind the glasses, locked calmly on Maximus' face.
Wasting no time, Maximus leaned down to one of the bags he had placed neatly beside his chair. Without much effort, he retrieved the required documents and placed them on the desk.
"Here are my papers," he said, watching as the woman took the documents and began to read through them carefully.
As she got busy, Maximus took the opportunity to study the room more closely.
His gaze darted around, taking in various details. But then something interesting caught his eye—several papers framed like pictures, hanging on the walls behind the woman's seat.
Those framed papers displayed commendations for the woman's
achievements—essentially accolades recognizing her accomplishments.
'One accolade from a prestigious academy, awarded for having the highest grades. Two "Best Performing Employee of the Year" honors. And a battle commendation from the so-called Lesser Azure Subjugation Campaign...
This woman is no simple figure,' Maximus thought, quietly impressed by the woman's accomplishments.
Initially, he had assumed she was just another ranker who had chosen a simpler life working as an office clerk. The reality, however, was far more surprising. She was much more than what she appeared on the surface.
The battle commendation hinted at a deeper history—one where the woman had experienced the carnage of war and emerged unscathed. Not only had she survived, but her performance must have been exceptional, likely marked by the deaths of many enemies.
Maximus had never heard of the Lesser Azure Subjugation Campaign, but from the sound of it, it seemed to be a significant military operation—one that likely played a pivotal role in its time.
But what surprised Maximus even more was the date on the commendation—slightly over thirty years ago.
This revelation implied that the woman before him was likely far older than she appeared—a possibility Maximus found hard to believe at first.
After all, there wasn't a single hint in her appearance to suggest an age beyond her early thirties. Her features were as youthful as those of any typical human woman in her prime—ripe with maturity and grace.
But then again, considering that rankers could extend their lifespans and age more slowly than unawakened individuals, looking significantly younger than one's actual age wasn't all that surprising.
It was a feat both possible and entirely achievable.
Therefore, the idea of the woman being far older than her appearance suggested wasn't far-fetched at all.
But this raised another question: just how strong was she?
It was an important and relevant consideration, as a ranker's ability to slow the aging process was directly linked to their overall strength.
From what Maximus knew, a ranker's lifespan only began to increase, and the aging process slowed, once they advanced to the middle stages of the Mortal Realm. These advantages became even more pronounced as a ranker continued to grow stronger.
While rankers in the initial stages of the Mortal Realm couldn't extend their lifespans or slow their aging like those in higher stages, their enhanced health still granted them a few extra years, allowing them to outlive the average person.
For those in the middle stages of the Mortal Realm, becoming a centenarian was commonplace. At this level, a ranker's maximum lifespan typically extended to between 120 and 130 years, with their aging process dramatically decelerated.
Meanwhile, quasi-powerhouses could stretch their lifespans to an impressive 150 to 170 years, becoming venerable elders in their advanced age.
As for Earth Realm rankers, living beyond two centuries was almost a certainty, barring any major incidents. These formidable beings were renowned for their extraordinary longevity, a trait exemplified by every known true powerhouse from Atlas, including the legendary Aurelia Daindra.
Many of these figures had made their mark over a century ago, with some even born before the emergence of the Ascension Tower. Yet, they remained alive and well, their names commanding respect and reverence across the world to this very day.
Turning his thoughts back to the woman, Maximus noted how youthful she still appeared, despite more than thirty years having passed since she received the battle commendation.
Assuming the woman had earned it back when she was young, let's say, in her twenties, she would now be at least fifty or sixty years old. Considering this, her cultivation must have reached a level high enough to significantly slow her aging process.
But Maximus quickly ruled out the possibility of her being an Earth Realm ranker—that was simply out of the question. Likewise, he dismissed the idea of her being in the later stages of the Mortal Realm. No quasi-powerhouse would squander their valuable time on such a mundane occupation.
This left only the middle stages of the Mortal Realm—likely the 5th or 6th stages. It was an impressive level of cultivation, though not extraordinary or overly remarkable.
Nevertheless, the woman was certainly not someone to be underestimated. Every indication pointed to her being a strong and capable ranker, leading Maximus to resolve to tread carefully around her.
After that, Maximus remained silent, quietly observing as the woman meticulously read through his papers, her focus unwavering.
It wasn't until over a minute later that she finished. With a swift motion, the woman proceeded to press a button on a strange device resting before her, activating it.
Instantly, a holographic display flickered to life, hovering in mid-air right in front of the two people's eyes. It depicted a series of interfaces, filled with numerous parameters and words.
Unfortunately, Maximus couldn't make out the details of what was being displayed from his angle. But in contrast, the woman seemed to read the information with ease, her gaze moving fluidly over the display.
Maximus couldn't help but admit that it was a fascinating device. He could clearly sense the flow of Energia within it, with no visible signs of conventional mechanical parts or operations. It was evident that this was a pure magic tool, not a standard machine or a piece of magitech.
No wonder the device functioned so well here, in a place so close to the Ascension Tower, while normal machines and hybrid magitechs would always fail. Basically, it wasn't affected at all by the peculiar disruptions that made non-pure magic devices useless.
The woman remained focused on the device, her fingers dancing gracefully over the holographic display. One interface after another materialized at her command, each revealing more information for her to scrutinize.
But suddenly, her expression shifted.
At first, her eyes widened slightly, a hint of surprise flickering across her face. Yet, as she continued reading the information on the holographic display, her features gradually transformed into an unmistakable look of shock.
The woman then started glancing back and forth between Maximus and the holographic display, her disbelief apparent. It seemed as though she was grappling with a certain fact, struggling to accept what was revealed to her.
Seeing her strange antics, Maximus couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong, Miss? Is there a problem?"
The woman appeared somewhat startled by his question but quickly regained her composure, shaking her head in response.
"No, everything's fine," she replied, her tone an attempt at calm reassurance.
Maximus opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, the woman interjected, her words measured yet carrying a sense of urgency.
"Apologies, Mr. Sideris. Would you mind waiting here for a moment? There's something I need to confirm first."
Although puzzled, Maximus saw no reason to object. He gave a slight nod and replied, "Sure, I'll wait."
Without another word, the permit registration officer swiftly grabbed Maximus' papers, rising to her feet before walking briskly toward the door. The sharp click of her heels echoed against the tiled floor as she disappeared from sight.
Left alone in the quiet room, Maximus sat in silence, and thought, 'Something's off...'
A sense of suspicion creeped over him as he reflected on the woman's sudden change in demeanor and her abrupt actions.
A problem had definitely arisen, and Maximus couldn't shake the feeling that it was somehow related to him. The woman had been, most likely, reviewing information about him on the holographic interface, and it was at that moment that her shock had taken hold.
Something about his identity had startled her, and the thought sent a ripple of worry through Maximus.
This could be dangerous. If there was truly an issue with his identity, it might jeopardize Maximus' chances of securing the entry permit—a setback he could not afford under any circumstances.
He absolutely needed to secure the permit. If there was indeed an issue, Maximus could only hope it wasn't something major or overly problematic.
The woman returned soon enough, the door swinging open to reveal her form once more. However, this time she was not alone.
Accompanying her was a middle-aged man of modest height, his polished appearance exuding an air of composure and authority.
It was evident at a glance that he was also a ranker, but the subtle albeit sharp aura emanating from him suggested that his cultivation stood at least a level above the woman's.
'Quasi-powerhouse?!' Maximus's thoughts flared momentarily at the sight of the man. The palpable strength radiating from him initially gave that impression.
But he quickly regained his composure, narrowing his eyes in assessment. 'No... not a quasi-powerhouse. The pressure he exudes is still too weak for that. Most likely, he's at the pinnacle of the middle stages of the Mortal Realm.'
While still impressive, this realization eased some of Maximus's tension, allowing him to focus on the situation unfolding before him.
"Sorry for this sudden interruption, Mr. Maximus Sideris. My name is Reynold Fastil, Deputy Manager of this branch. Pleasure to meet you."
The middle-aged man went straight to approach Maximus and introduced himself.
Maximus, unwilling to appear disrespectful, quickly rose from his seat and grasped the man's extended hand firmly.
"Likewise, sir," he replied, his tone steady, though his mind was already turning over the implications of this unexpected meeting.
Maximus couldn't help but wonder what kind of issue could warrant the personal attention of the branch's deputy manager.
For someone of Reynold Fastil's stature to be directly involved, the problem had to be consireable—or at least unusual enough to disrupt standard procedures. This realization only deepened his unease, though he maintained a calm exterior.
Retracting his hand after the brief handshake, Reynold Fastil straightened his back and spoke, "Miss Lucia here has briefed me on your situation. I understand your purpose here is to apply for an entry permit to the Ascension Tower."
"Yes, sir. That's exactly my intention," Maximus replied with a firm nod. Then, with a flicker of concern, he asked, "But what happens? Is something wrong with the documents I provided?"
Reynold offered a small, reassuring smile. "Your documents are in order, Mr. Sideris. There's no issue with their authenticity or the information they contain."
Maximus narrowed his eyes slightly, not entirely reassured. "Then what's the issue? Miss Myras mentioned she needed to confirm something, and then she brought you here. That made me think there's a problem with my registration process."
Reynold exchanged a glance with the permit registration office, Lucia, who remained silent but attentive. He then turned back to Maximus. "It's not your documents themselves, but rather... a certain fact that came to light when cross-referencing your personal information with our internal database."
Maximus's unease grew, but he forced his tone to remain neutral. "What fact?"
"It's the fact that your identity is already fully registered in our database," Reynold revealed calmly.
A look of surprise crossed Maximus's face. "No, that's not possible. I've never applied for any kind of registration with the Alliance before. This is my first time visiting any of your establishments. Unless your organization keeps track of everyone, it should be impossible for my identity to already be in your database."
Reynold shook his head and chuckled softly. "Of course, the Alliance doesn't keep track of everyone. We only maintain records of our members and those who have applied for an entry permit."
"So what's going on with my identity? How did it end up in your database?" Maximus asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
Reynold narrowed his eyes, his gaze locking onto Maximus. "Well, it's because someone apparently registered your identity—two days ago, to be precise."
Maximus's eyes widened in shock as the words sank in. 'Two days ago? That's the day of my awakening!'
He hadn't anticipated a problem like this—one so unusual, so inexplicable, it left him grasping for answers.
Who could it have been? And why would that person register his identity with the Alliance?
"What does this mean?" Maximus blurted out, struggling to process the revelation.
Reynold's expression remained composed as he replied, "It means, Mr. Sideris, you don't need to apply for an entry permit. One has already been approved and issued under your name."
He paused deliberately, letting the weight of his words settle. "And it's not just any permit, I can assure you of that. What you're getting is a golden permit—among the finest accommodation our organization has to offer."
Maximus remained silent, his mouth a tight line, not a single word or sound escaping him. His expression remained frozen, as if time had momentarily halted around him.
The shock, the confusion, the disorientation—all of it held him in place, unable to react.
This situation had spiraled far beyond his understanding...