The crystal screen flickered several times before finally stabilizing.
A series of numbers appeared across the display.
[Applicant Status]
Level: 1
Strength: 10
Agility: 8
Vitality: 7
Defense: 8
Endurance: 12
Intelligence: 15
Spirit: 16
Mana: 91
Luck: 9
Amon stared at the numbers for a moment.
His physical attributes had improved slightly compared to when he had first awakened.
’Not bad.’
The changes weren’t dramatic, but considering it had only been a few days, Amon was satisfied.
Then another screen appeared beneath his status.
[Potential Assessment]
Potential Rank: A
Amon stared at the large letter in the middle of the screen.
His expression slowly became disappointed.
’...A?’
He had secretly expected something much higher.
After everything he had received from the System, Amon had naturally developed certain expectations about his potential.
’Isn’t A-rank supposed to be pretty ordinary?’ His shoulders slumped slightly. ’Maybe I’m not as talented as I thought.’
However, the examiner standing beside him had a completely different reaction.
The woman’s mouth was wide open.
Her files slipped from her hands and scattered across the floor.
"An... A-rank?"
She stared at the screen as though she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
Amon looked toward her with confusion. ’What’s wrong with her?’
The woman suddenly bent down and hurriedly gathered her papers before standing again and looking directly at Amon.
"Please wait here."
"Huh?"
Before Amon could ask anything else, she rushed out of the room.
Amon stood there with a strange expression. "...What the fuck?"
He looked at the screen again.
A-rank.
It still didn’t look particularly impressive to him.
He had seen S-rank potential before. His verbal wife, Seraphina, possessed it.
’Maybe I really am average.’
Amon sighed and waited. After several minutes, the door suddenly opened again.
The examiner returned, but she wasn’t alone this time.
A middle-aged man walked into the room behind her.
He had short red hair that was beginning to turn gray around the sides, along with a neatly trimmed beard.
His clothes were simple but expensive, and his calm expression gave him the appearance of someone accustomed to dealing with important people.
The man looked at the potential screen first, and then his eyes moved toward Amon.
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Young man." He extended his hand. "My name is Richard Hale. I’m the director of this Adventure Bureau."
Amon shook his hand. "Amon."
Richard nodded before glancing toward the examiner. "Would you mind coming with me? I’d like to discuss something with you in my office."
Amon hesitated for a moment. ’This is getting strange.’
Still, there was no reason to refuse.
"Sure."
He followed Richard out of the examination room.
Richard’s office was located on the second floor of the building.
Unlike the noisy registration hall downstairs, the office was surprisingly quiet.
There was a large desk near the window, several shelves filled with documents, and a few framed certificates hanging on the wall.
Richard sat down behind his desk and gestured toward the chair opposite him.
Amon sat down after the man gestured to him.
Richard looked at him for several seconds before speaking.
"Do you understand how rare an A-rank potential is?"
Amon tilted his head. "Isn’t it just... A-rank?"
Richard stared at him. For a moment, he seemed unsure whether Amon was joking.
"Just A-rank?" He let out a small laugh. "Young man, an A-rank potential appearing in this city is extremely rare."
Amon’s interest immediately increased. Leaning forward, he asked, "How rare?"
Richard leaned back in his chair. "Approximately one in a million."
Amon’s eyes widened slightly as he repeated, "One in a million?"
Richard nodded. "Yes."
He tapped his fingers against the desk. "Most awakened individuals possess C or D-rank potential. B-rank is already considered exceptional."
He looked directly at Amon.
"An A-rank individual has the potential to become one of the strongest awakened people in the kingdom if they receive proper training and resources."
Amon’s previous disappointment immediately disappeared.
’One in a million...’ He couldn’t help but feel a little better. ’Okay, maybe A-rank isn’t so bad.’
Richard smiled when he noticed the change in Amon’s expression. "There is something else we need to discuss."
"What?"
Richard folded his hands together. "Would you like the result of your potential assessment to become public?"
Amon immediately shook his head.
"No."
He didn’t even need to think about it.
Richard raised an eyebrow. "You would prefer to keep it secret?"
"Yes." Amon leaned back slightly. "I don’t want everyone knowing about my potential before I even become strong."
There was no reason to attract unnecessary attention. Especially when he was still Level 1.
Richard nodded approvingly.
"That’s a wise decision." He paused before continuing. "Then the Adventure Bureau will keep your potential assessment confidential until you decide otherwise."
Amon nodded. "Thank you."
Richard smiled, placing his hands on the desk. "However, there is another matter."
Amon looked at him.
"The Adventure Bureau would like to sponsor you."
Amon’s eyebrows rose.
"Sponsor me?"
Richard nodded his head.
"You’re an A-rank talent, and we would rather see someone like you grow under our protection than fall into the hands of another evil organization."
He opened a drawer and took out a document.
"We can provide you with weapons, skills, equipment, training resources, and other necessities within a certain limit."
Amon’s eyes immediately brightened.
’Free resources.’
That sounded useful.
"What exactly can I choose?"
Richard smiled. "Anything within the sponsorship limit."
Amon thought for a moment before shaking his head. "I’d like to see what’s available before making a decision."
Richard nodded.
"Of course."
He didn’t seem disappointed by the answer.
Instead, his expression became slightly more serious.
"There is one piece of advice I’d like to give you."
Amon listened carefully.
"Be extremely careful with guilds." Richard leaned forward. "Once you sign a contract with a major guild, the others will consider you their competitor."
His expression became serious. "Some will try to recruit you. Others may attempt to sabotage you."
Amon frowned as Richard continued.
"And if they believe they cannot obtain you..." He paused. "They may decide to eliminate you."
Amon’s expression became serious. "So choosing a guild isn’t something I should rush."
"Exactly." Richard nodded. "Think carefully before signing anything."
Amon nodded. "I’ll remember that."
Richard leaned back before checking another document on his desk.
"There is actually another reason I wanted to speak with you."
Amon raised an eyebrow. "We’ve recently detected the formation of a new dungeon."
His eyes immediately brightened.
"A dungeon?"
Richard nodded.
"Yes."
He tapped the crystal tablet on his desk.
"The dungeon appears to be relatively small and is expected to contain monsters suitable for newly awakened adventurers."
Amon immediately became interested.
He understood what he was trying to get at. "When can I enter?"
"Two days from now." Richard looked at him. "The formation needs to stabilize first."
Amon nodded.
’Two days.’
That was sooner than he expected.
"Alright."
Richard stood up, and Amon followed him.
He extended his hand. "I hope we can work together in the future, Amon."
Amon shook his hand. "Same."
Richard smiled slightly. "Good luck."
Amon eventually walked out of the Adventure Bureau.
A small iron-colored card was held between his fingers.
He looked down at it.
[Adventure License]
Name: Amon
Level: 1
Adventurer Rank: F
Registered Affinity: Ice
Amon smiled faintly.
’F-rank.’
Every newly registered Level 1 adventurer started at the bottom.
He slipped the card into his pocket before pulling out his phone.
A notification showed his current balance.
100 Gold Coins.
Amon stared at the number.
The sponsorship money from the Adventure Bureau was equivalent to 100,000 Federal Notes.
’That’s more money than I’ve ever had in my hands.’
He couldn’t help but smile, but instead of heading home, Amon already had another destination in mind.
He looked toward the older district of the city.
’An antique shop.’
His [Merchant’s Divine Insight] had already proven how valuable old and forgotten objects could be.
And now that he had money to spend...
Amon’s smile became wider.
’Let’s see what kind of treasures are hiding there.’