[Aisael

Mental Capacity: 850

Condition: Healthy

Camelion Circuit Grade: Low Silver

Energy Type: Tier 3

Power Level: 180]

ELZB projected the updated stats to Aisael.

Aisael was disappointed. Although he managed to optimize his circuitry, he lacked the resources to temper with its quality. Thus, the power level increase was limited to twice that of an ordinary astral circuit. He could do nothing about his energy type until he found a way to refine his energy.

Aisael’s mental capacity increased from passive training during the three days he was optimizing his circuit. His mental capacity increased again after doing active mental training for half an hour and reached the first thousand.

[Mental Capacity: 1,000. Mental Capabilities unlocked: Mental Fortitude, Threat Sense, Revelation.] ELZB announced.

Aisael smiled to himself. He was comfortable with his body, his circuit was optimized and he unlocked a few innate skills.

Aisael left the healthcare department and did not go far before he was stopped.

“Young master Zhang?” It was the elderly medical practitioner who examined him a few days ago.

[Shifu Yong

Condition: Healthy

Astral Circuit Grade: High Gold

Energy Type: Tier 4

Power Level: 160]

Aisael bowed in greeting even after finding out the practitioner’s power level was lower than his. Respecting the elderly was one of his core principles regardless which world he was in. For without them, there would be no present.

“Great timing! Come, Elder Zhang has been looking for you.”

Shifu Yong and Aisael walked through a secured hallway and passed by a few gold-circuit medical practitioners. Both of them soon arrived at an eastern-like courtyard.

This was Zhang’s Courtyard. It gave a peaceful and tranquil feeling just by looking at it. Four Elders were seated at a round table, three men and one woman. Aisael saw with his innate skill Revelation that all four of them were gold-circuit with energy type tier 3. Their individual power level averaged at 150.

“Esteemed Elders, young master Zhang has arrived.” Shifu Yong announced.

The atmosphere immediately became solemn as the Elders’ probing gazes landed on Aisael. He bowed politely.

“Thank you Head Practitioner Yong.” The tallest Elder nodded at Shifu Yong. The Head Practitioner left Zhang’s Courtyard.

“Grandnephew.” The Elder who spoke beckoned Aisael over.

An Elder with a trimmed goatee interjected.

“Elder Zhang, it’s unwise to waste a precious opportunity on the slacker. He has already wasted millions of digeets. We should just have him give up ownership of the special weapon. He owes at least that much to us.”

“Is this how an Elder of the Four Dragons behaves?” The woman looked with contempt at the Elder who just spoke.

“Elder Theng, House Clovis has a reputation for being resourceful. Don’t you think that we’ve been far too lenient in allowing a shamelessly wasteful individual remain in our House?”

“Elder Sky, we are not ignorant of Elder Zhang’s grandnephew’s misconducts. Elder Theng meant that we should deal with this situation carefully. We’ve all seen the way Blue One fought from ARMA’s recordings.” A bald Elder looked toward Elder Zhang, obviously speaking up for him.

Elder Zhang nodded appreciatively.

“Elder Lu, Elder Theng, and Elder Sky, I’m aware the remaining Elders from both the Four Dragons and the Xiong Maos are occupied with other matters concerning the wellbeing of Milestone City. I thank you, once again, for your time.”

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Elder Zhang then looked at Aisael.

“Grandnephew, your battle prowess in the recent match was a complete opposite to the previous matches. Would you mind disclosing the reason behind this drastic change?”

Aisael was prepared. He had already thought about the possible questions he might be inquired regarding his identity.

“I rather not.”

Aisael’s response was unexpected. Although Blue One was known to be lackadaisical nobody expected him refuse to answer an Elder’s question.

If given a choice, Aisael would rather not disclose any information about himself until he had sufficient understanding of his circumstance, especially the identity of the body he took over. He was aware that he was standing before four powerful individuals. And powerful individuals could get anyone to do what they wanted. However, possessing strength also required acting responsibly.

Aisael was hoping that they would respect his right not to answer. He would cooperate with them but only if it did not jeopardize establishing his new identity.

“The kid is wasting our time.” Elder Sky sneered.

“Wait.” Elder Theng inquired with concerned eyes. “Blue One, would your answer put someone in danger?”

Aisael nodded upon hearing this. Although this answer was not entirely true, it would temporarily guarantee his safety. He might be at risk if he were to reveal that he took over the body of the previous owner.

“This seems to be no simple matter.” Elder Lu rubbed his chin.

Although Blue One was known to be the worst person to represent House Clovis, he was still part of the community. What good is a community if one was not protected by it?

“Here, take this.” Elder Zhang got up from his seat and placed an object in Aisael’s hands. “This is my communication sigil. You can use it to contact me if you ever need help.”

Aisael felt a little guilty concealing his identity from someone expressing concern for his wellbeing. He promised that he would pay back this goodwill in the future. Although a possibility of him receiving a tracking device exist, he did not mind.

“Grandnephew, the reason we’ve called you here is to invite you to take part in a programme that will benefit you as well as House Clovis. You have the right to decline this invitation but you’d have to resign ownership over the battle forks and you’ll be prohibited from entering ARMA ever again.”

Aisael started worrying. Being banned from ARMA was no small matter. It meant removing access to his supercomputer companion’s extensive capabilities. He would be helpless and dependent on strangers in this foreign world unless he could find another well-equipped and secured simulated environment or increase his mental capacity to its maximum quickly and unlock all of his pre-transmigrated innate skills.

“What is this programme? What do I have to do?”

Elder Sky sighed. He hoped Aisael would not show interest in the programme and give up ownership of the battle forks. Blue One was not a suitable candidate in his eyes.

“It’s the Lordling Recruitment Programme, LRP for short. Only candidates with remarkable potential are given an invitation slot by the Overseer.” Elder Zhang emphasized the last sentence.

Elder Lu nodded approvingly seeing that Aisael remained calm. Aisael did not know who or what the Overseer was. He would find out eventually anyways.

“The LRP only accepts astrals with at least silver graded circuit and are no older than twenty-five years old. And you happened to fit these criteria.” Elder Zhang continued. “Invitees will have to compete in ARMA’s matches every week for the next couple of months. The top participants at the end of the programme will be rewarded and the House they belonged will receive a prestige award from Dawnlight Capital. That is all the information you need to know as of now.”

“When do I have to decide?”

“The sooner, the better.”

Aisael agreed to the invitation after pretending to ponder for a few minutes. He did not want to come across eager.

Elder Sky stood up and approached Aisael. The other Elders knew Elder Sky was not satisfied.

Aisael had a premonition he was about to be tested. He was right. He did not even have time to blink and a fist quickly approached his face.

Aisael did not move.

Elder Sky frowned seeing Aisael unfazed by his fist stopping merely an inch from the latter’s face. He began to make his way back towards the round table. But before his second step touched the ground, his feet swung unexpectedly at Aisael’s torso.

Threat Sense activated and Aisael took two steps back immediately. He would be heavily injured had he reacted a little slower.

Elder Sky was stunned. He did not expect Aisael evade his kick by a hair’s breath. After all, his power level was supposedly higher than Aisael’s.

The Elders were impressed.

Elder Zhang coughed lightly, rustling Elder Sky from his daze. Elder Sky returned to his seat at the table.

“Good, good.” Elder Zhang smiled at Aisael favorably. “Elder Sky, please look after my grandnephew when he visits the Four Dragons’ training facility in the coming days.”

Elder Sky only nodded. But this gesture was enough as it meant that Aisael would be welcomed.

“Elders, I heard Blue One was found?” Just then a man with an eyepatch walked into the courtyard.

“Grandnephew, you may go now. Elder Brass will get you prepared before the next match.” Elder Zhang dismissed Aisael warmly with a wave of his hand. “Remember to contact me if you need anything.”

Aisael bowed before exiting Zhang’s Courtyard with Brass.

“What are your thoughts, fellow Elders?” Elder Zhang broke the silence. They were aware Blue One was hiding something. But it did not seem like he was acting against House Clovis, at least not on the surface.

“I believe Blue One has a reason to participate in ARMA’s matches. Joining the LRP is secondary to him.” Elder Lu noticed a subtle change in Aisael’s expression when prohibiting access to ARMA was mentioned.

“The kid has potential.” Elder Sky praised Aisael conservatively. “But he won’t go far alone.”

Elder Theng nodded in agreement.

“Now then, how should we deal with the spy in our midst?”