Frederick's grip tightened on the railing so violently that the reinforced metal cracked and deformed under his fingers.

"That sword move..." the veteran powerhouse stammered, his usual composure completely shattered.

"Even I... even I couldn't stop a strike like that. He is only at the Initial stage, yet his destructive output is already at my level."

Hearing those words, Lana, the receptionist, and the chief evaluator everyone felt their hearts skip a beat. Frederick Bolt was a renowned name to them, a legendary peak A-rank SIRE recognized across the entire country.

For someone of his stature to openly admit that a 22-year-old rookie possessed equal lethal strength was unprecedented.

Before they could even process the weight of that statement, Frederick spoke again, his voice dropping to a low, reverent whisper.

"He is going to take their spots..."

A heavy, confused silence settled over the room. Lana turned to him, her voice trembling slightly. "Whose spots?"

Frederick turned his head slowly and looked directly into her eyes. Without hesitation, he delivered the chilling truth...

"The spots of the 10,000 Global Rankers. He is going to force his way onto the Hall of Light's list."

Lana and the evaluators froze where they stood, the breath catching in their throats.

The Hall of Light's Top 10,000 wasn't just a list. It was a gathering of the most terrifying, world shaping powerhouses on the planet.

The list didn't just contain SSS-rank SIREs. It included everyone from SSS-rank down to A-rank, with the strongest from every nation in each division.

The spots were divided by rank. SSS-rank held the top 100 spots. SS-rank held the next 1,100 spots. After them, S-rank SIREs held a total of 3,300 spots, and the remaining 5,500 spots belonged to A-rank SIREs.

Any A-rank who made it onto that list was terrifyingly strong. With peak A-rank power alone, they could fight many S-rank SIREs.

And now, according to Frederick, their small, unassuming Archeon City was about to birth one of those living legends.

Realizing this, everyone on the balcony looked down at Aron. Their respect for him deepened instantly. He was no longer just a regular genius in their eyes. He was a future Ranker.

Aron sheathed his sword and looked up toward the balcony. "Is that clear enough? Can I get my license now?"

Frederick composed himself. He smiled down at Aron and told the chief evaluator, "Give him a peak A-rank SIRE license. If anyone asks, tell them I issued it myself."

The chief evaluator had been about to hesitate because Aron's stats were still at the initial stage, but hearing Frederick's direct order, he immediately nodded his head and went to prepare the license.

Aron walked back up to the balcony. Frederick came towards him and tapped his shoulder. "Hahaha! Aron, you really are something. In just a few minutes, you've given us so many surprises."

Aron smiled back. "No, it's nothing. I just awakened a skill, that's all."

Frederick shook his head. "No. You can make them believe that, but not me. Are you going to tell me you awakened that flawless swordsmanship too?"

He laughed again. "Hahaha, you really are something. Just tell me, how long have you practiced with the sword?"

Aron felt a bit embarrassed. In his three lives, he really hadn't practiced the sword for long. He had actually gained the skill from the memory realm.

But he couldn't tell him that. Even if he told the truth, Frederick wouldn't believe a single word.

Aron scratched his head awkwardly. "Not long, Not long at all."

Frederick laughed out loud, assuming Aron just wanted to keep his training secrets to himself.

Just then, Lana also walked over and suddenly bowed deeply to Aron.

Aron froze, caught completely off guard. "What are you doing...?"

Lana smiled as she stood up. "If it weren't for you, I never would have understood my true rank and my limitations so clearly. I just wanted to thank you."

Aron waved his hand dismissively. "You already paid me, so you don't need to show me that kind of respect."

The small skeleton perched on his shoulder nodded its head in agreement. It knew its cheap master cared about money above everything else.

Frederick put a hand on his shoulder and turned friendly. "Let's exchange contacts, Aron. When you come to the capital, I'll help you tour the city. Or maybe I'll need help from you in the future..."

After exchanging information with Frederick and Lana, the chief evaluator suddenly arrived with everyone else. He handed Lana her peak B-rank license and explained the benefits she would receive as a B-rank Sire in the city.

The receptionist even gave her the 100,000 Dragon Coins back, which had been deposited during registration.

Then it was Aron's turn. The chief evaluator was smiling so wide it nearly touched his ears. He gave Aron his peak A-rank Sire license and a key.

"This is a gift for you, sir. As an A-rank SIRE from our city, you are exempt from city taxes, and you are entitled to a personal car and a villa in the city center."

Aron's eyes lit up instantly. The only things he still lacked were a car and a proper place to stay. He had planned to book a hotel after leaving, but the Association had already taken care of it.

The chief evaluator continued and handed him a diamond card from the Erdalon Universal Bank alongside his 100,000 Dragon Coins in a small space bag.

"This card contains a total of 100,000 Erdalon Coins. You can withdraw them at any branch."

Aron's mouth fell open. He had already gotten 10,000 from Lana, and now the Association had given him 100,000 Erdalon Coins. That meant 100,000,000 Dragon Coins.

The skeleton on his shoulder sneered, "Cheap master, always drooling over money..."

Lana chuckled, covering her mouth. Alongside her, a hearty laugh spread through the crowd. Aron quickly composed himself, looking completely embarrassed.

After talking to them, Aron was walking back to his new villa. The skeleton had already disappeared from his shoulder the moment he left the sphere of influence of the Pillar of Light.

Suddenly, countless notifications rang inside his head.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations, Host, for slapping your assistant's face. You have gained 1 lucky draw.]

[Congratulations, Host, for slapping the SIRE association receptionist's face. You have gained 1 lucky draw.]

[Congratulations, Host, for slapping the renowned A-rank Sire, Iron Fist's, face. You have gained 1 lucky draw.]

[Congratulations, Host, for slapping your classmate Lana's face. You have gained 1 lucky draw.]

[Congratulations, Host, for killing the A-rank monster, the Scalyman. Gained 100 free attribute points.]

Aron was dumbfounded. When had he slapped their faces? Was it because they didn't believe he would get a higher rank, and ended up slapping themselves in the face?

As for his assistant, maybe it was because it didn't believe Aron had the power to check other people's information.

Although Aron felt happy getting so many rewards, why was his system only giving them to him now?

He asked, confused, "But why didn't you give me my rewards back at the Association?"

[Ding!]

[Host, I don't like that disgrace of an creature in your shoulder. Your assistant, at all...]

Aron chuckled. He felt incredible. Was his system jealous of his assistant? Or was it because his assistant is better than his system in some way?

[Host, don't get too cocky... Don't push your luck too much...] 

The system said with a chilly tone.

Aron felt a shiver run down his spine. If his system wanted to, it could definitely erase his existence from the planet completely.

But he still smiled and said, gulping, "You won't do that, right? I'm still your owner..."

[Hmph! Just don't try to compare me with that stupid creature.]

[It's trash. Literal trash for an intelligent being.]

Aron nodded, gulped, and asked, "Then how can I draw these prizes?"

He noticed one thing. He only got prizes for those who were more shocked than the others. There were many other people there, like the chief evaluator, the operators, and others, but he didn't get any feedback from them at all.

[Ding! Host, you have four chances to draw.]

[Just say it out loud. I'll spin the wheel of fortune. You'll get whatever reward the pointer stops at.]

Aron immediately said, "Draw all four together."

Four different screens appeared before him. On all of them, a circular wheel of fortune was spinning.

Then,

[Ding!]

[Better luck next time.]

[Congratulations, Host, for winning 500 free attribute points.]

[Better luck next time.]

[Congratulations, Host, you've gained 100 regenerative pills.]

Aron almost cursed out loud. Two of his chances were gone.

"You damn system, why did you add a blank as an option... No! My two chances..."

[Ding!]

[So what? If I want to, I can do it as I see fit. Why would I take permission from you? If you don't like the prizes, I can take all of them away...]

Aron immediately snapped, "No, no... I'm happy with the prizes. I'm happy with the prizes..."

He grinned at the screen.

[Tsk, tsk... Shameless!]

Aron calculated in his head. He had a total of 600 free attribute points. He immediately told his system, "System, put 100 points into each of my stats, and put the remaining 100 into agility and stamina."

A surge of power ran through his body. He felt immense strength surging through his veins. His eyes cleared, and now he could see much farther. Even his ears became sharper. He could hear sounds from a long distance away.

His already flawless skin became even more flawless.

He immediately checked his status.

[STATUS WINDOW

Name: Aron Argentine

Identity: Unknown

Tier: Legendary (L)

Attributes:

Strength: 400

Stamina: 300

Agility: 300

Spirit: 300

Mana: 400

Free Attribute Points: 0]