CHAPTER 45: CHAPTER 45 - ASSESMENT START

Walking closer to the stadium, Logan noticed many intricate designs carved into the walls. The carvings resembled catastrophic-level beasts Logan had only ever seen in books.

"It looks amazing," Logan said, impressed.

"It’s been around for quite some time now," Edric said, smiling. "It’s one of the first locations the Global Arcane Academy built after the great mana disaster 150 years ago."

"I would come here every year just to see the stadium," Silas said, smiling as he gave a small nod.

At the entrance, two S-rank hunters checked their identities and handed Logan his assessment time and location before allowing them through.

Guided by Renard, the group walked through a majestic hallway lined with massive pillars stretching 150 feet to the ceiling.

Reading names on the pillars, Logan couldn’t help but turn to Edric. "What are all these names here?" he asked, curious.

"Ah," Edric said, glancing at the pillars. "They’re the names of those who gave their lives during the great mana disaster."

Hearing that, Logan turned back to the pillars, admiring the names engraved inside them.

Beyond the pillars, they entered a hall with projectors showcasing alumni accomplishments and historical feats.

"Isn’t that you, Silas?" Logan asked, pointing at one of the projectors displaying a man leading a group of hunters out of an S-rank dungeon.

Silas smiled faintly as he looked at the projector, then nodded. "That was a notorious dungeon," he said. "Back then, no one had managed to cull it, almost triggering a massive breakout."

Silas stopped talking, noticing they were about to reach the main hall.

Two large wooden doors slowly opened in front of them, while Renard gestured for them to enter.

"The Mercer family," Renard announced, standing to the side while bowing slightly.

Walking past Renard, Logan felt countless eyes fall on him in an instant.

Logan put on a neutral expression, stepping into the hall with Silas and Edric following behind him.

’There’s a lot of people here,’ Logan thought, glancing around.

Most wore the same neutral expression, standing in smaller groups in formal attire.

After walking deeper into the hall, Logan saw a middle-aged man with a broad build move towards him.

"Greetings, Mr. Mercer," the man said, smiling. "I’m not sure if you know me since your recent leadership, but my name is Warren Coleman."

"I deliver all the mana-steel for your flying shuttle production," Warren continued, reaching out with his hand.

"Greetings, Mr. Coleman," Logan said, shaking his hand with a smile. "Of course I know about you. Your mana steel is of excellent quality, our shuttles wouldn’t be the same without it."

"How polite," Warren smiled, gesturing to someone behind him.

He wrapped one arm around a boy Logan’s age, equally broad as him, before continuing. "This is my son, Grant. I hope you can take care of him at the university."

After Warren let go of his son, Grant reached out to shake Logan’s hand.

"Nice to meet you," he said, smiling.

"Likewise," Logan said, shaking his hand.

Logan started some small talk with Grant while Warren talked with Edric and Silas.

After a while, the conversations shortened as more people came over to greet Logan. The only pauses came when a new family was announced upon entering the floor.

’This is exhausting,’ Logan thought, forcing a smile. ’I only need to last 15 more minutes until the assessments officially start.’

Still standing in the middle of the group, Logan occasionally joined in on conversations. At the same time, Logan paid close attention on the other clusters forming across the hall.

’Those people can’t take their eyes off me,’ Logan mused, glancing at a group of competitors. ’I can understand that though.’

Ever since Logan’s return, their company’s value had increased by over 20 billion and had taken up a larger slice of the market again.

’And the increase isn’t showing any signs of stopping,’ Logan thought, smiling.

Hearing the doors open again, Logan turned around.

His mouth fell wide open as he watched a small group of white-cloaked individuals walk through the wooden doors.

"The Imperial Church of Seven Virtues," Renard announced, drawing all attention throughout the room.

Murmurs spread immediately; Logan could hear the confusion among everyone very clearly.

"What are they doing here?" Even Silas muttered. "Shouldn’t they participate in Europe?"

Logan was stunned, recognizing the people from the church at once.

’It’s the same holy envoy,’ he thought. Glancing at the three other white cloaks accompanying him, Logan’s brows started twitching. ’And the same attendants, it seems.’

’Thank the Divine One I don’t have to deal with them again,’

Logan mused.

Everyone paid close attention to the Imperial Church’s movements, silent murmurs echoing through the hall.

He watched the veiled girl glance around the room slowly before her gaze landed on him and stopped moving.

’Aw fuck,’ Logan cursed, his expression faltering.

It was as if he could see the smirk behind the girl’s veil, and a sinking feeling in his stomach told him exactly what was about to happen.

The girl whispered something to the holy envoy, causing him to nod while glancing over at Logan.

Without hesitation, the girl and the envoy started walking in his direction, with the two other attendants following closely behind them.

"Of course," Logan sighed, as all eyes fell on him and the group of people around him.

Inside, he’d started to get curious though.

’Who is behind that veil to be able to pretty much command a holy envoy around?’ Logan wondered.

As the church group reached them, the holy envoy greeted them once again.

"In the name of the Divine One," he said, "we offer our regards once more, Logan Mercer."

Logan forced a polite smile. "That’s... very kind of you."

After greeting Logan, the envoy moved on to Silas and started discussing the mana stone receival with him.

’I’ve never seen Silas look so uncomfortable,’ Logan thought, smirking internally.

"Greetings, Mr. Mercer," the veiled girl said, pulling him out of his thoughts.

Logan gave a small nod. "Good to see you again," he replied politely. "Mind if I ask what brought you to this assessment point?"

The girl smiled faintly behind her veil.

"Let’s just say I felt like coming," she said.

Before they could continue talking, a loud bell chimed through the room as a blue holographic screen lit up above the podium in the back of the room.

"All examinees," a mechanical voice rang out. "Please proceed to the inner hall. The entrance assessment will now begin."