Bob tilted his head with a curious look in his eyes. “How many special abilities are there? What do you think?” He was gauging my knowledge and understanding of aura.

“That’s an impossible question.”

He let out a thoughtful hum. “Hoh~”

I took a moment, then answered, “If there is an answer, it would be ‘many’ or even ‘a whole,’ because special abilities themselves are just expressions of thought. They aren’t like aura, which can be perceived almost like an organ. If anything, special abilities are more like philosophies, ways of life, or ideals.”

Bob’s eyes lit up. “Marvelous answer. Then you probably know this: Think Not, Think Now, and Think New—the Trinity Thoughts. Do you know, that they also correspond to the three states of matter: gas, solid, and liquid? So where am I going with this?”

I sighed, piecing it together. “You’re saying you can’t teach me your technique… that we’re carved from a different rock.”

Bob gave a knowing nod. “I could tell… you’re more of a Think Now person.”

What a roundabout way of rejecting me. What an ass…

I glanced at his cape, watching how fluidly it moved, almost like liquid. It was likely a manifestation of the Think New philosophy—liquid, flowing, and flexible. It looked like a mundane item, like a real cape but it was in fact aura.

“Still,” I said, “teach me the principles behind it. I know how much you value the dissemination of aura techniques… but you’re also cautious about them falling into the wrong hands. That’s why you tolerate the existence of the Hunting Dogs.” I leaned forward slightly. “How about this? Let’s make it a fair deal. Teach me the principles behind your cape, and I’ll teach you the principles behind my Soul Link.”

I felt confident my Soul Link was valuable enough to catch his interest. And I was sure the chairman would bite, especially since he’d seen me use it more than a few times during the exam.

“Fine,” said the chairman. “This cape… I call it Red Fury, and it is the evolution of my special ability.”

We engaged in a deep discourse for the rest of the day. You might expect someone with a Fighter inclination to be a mere brute, but that wasn’t the case with the chairman. It had been an enjoyable conversation, one that challenged my perspective. By the end of it, I walked away with new insights on how to develop my special ability.

I had no intention of giving up on my recent ‘puppetry’ attribute, and now, with this added knowledge, I felt ready to craft something entirely new.

By the third day, Selena finally finished her exam. I watched from the beach as she trudged up to the resort, practically moaning in frustration. “Motherfucker! Fucking mother!”

I waved her over. “What took you so long?”

Just then, Geoffrey the beggar and Shen the Spear God were teleported onto the beach beside us. Shen promptly kicked Geoffrey, sending him tumbling into the sea.

Selena threw her hands up. “Because I’m babysitting these two, that’s why!”

I shrugged. “Must be tough…”

Selena sighed, rolling her eyes. “Don’t get me started!” She brushed past me and headed toward the resort.

That’s when Shen approached with narrowed eyes. “What is your relationship with Selena?”

I frowned, irritation sparking. I wasn’t exactly in the mood to throw down, and it would just be a waste of time. Not that I would lose. “What does it matter to you?”

Shen looked at me, a serious expression on his face. “Because I’ve fallen head over heels for her…”

Okay?

He continued, “She isn’t taken, right?”

So straightforward. I sighed. “Sure, she isn’t taken… but are you sure? She’s about five years older than you.”

Shen just shrugged. “Age means nothing when it comes to romance. I like her because I like her. Age is just a number. Some people have partners ten, even fifty years older.”

I chuckled. “You’re funny.”

With that, Shen walked away.

I almost forgot—Shen didn’t exactly have the best EQ when it came to romance. Wait… wouldn’t he end up becoming a womanizer in the future? Hmmm…

Just then, a drenched beggar stumbled toward me.

It was Geoffrey. “Was your wife a good lay?”

“No one talks about my wife that way,” I said, my tone hardening.

This guy…

I knew he had a thing for conflict, but to think he’d just walk up and try to provoke me like this.

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Geoffrey stretched casually and continued, “She must be a good lay. You know, the stereotypes about blondes. Is she the quiet type or the loud type? You know, when you’re bangin’ and all… Ever tried the backdoor yet?”

I took a deep breath, trying to keep my calm.

Why was I even letting him get under my skin?

Geoffrey grinned. “So quiet. She mustn’t be much good in bed… you can fork her over to me if you two don’t match up or anything.”

This guy really needed to be put in his place. But violence was a last resort.

I put on my most wicked smile and looked down at him. “Geoffrey Corinth. Fifty-five years old. Divorced twice. Has one daughter who doesn’t love him back. Drowning in debt with not a penny to his name. Thinks he’s still a hotshot, but really just a washed-up hunter whose body is breaking down. Tell me, Mr. Corinth—was your daughter, now a prostitute, a good lay?”

Then I laughed right in his face.

Geoffrey glared at me, his eyes bloodshot. “If you’re implying I’ve slept with my daughter, then screw you—”

Of course, he hadn’t. I knew that much, but there was no way I’d let him off easy after forcing me to endure his disgusting comments about my wife.

Geoffrey clenched his fists, aura starting to gather around them.

I met his gaze, calm but firm. “If you’re going to throw the first punch, then do it.”

“Trust me, you won’t be able to throw the second punch.”

I knew Geoffrey was a Dealer-type, and for his special ability to work, I had to be the one to attack first. This whole provocation had to be because of my bounty. I could only imagine the Elsewhere Cult putting a price on my head after the stunt I pulled against them.

Shen had a bounty on his head, too, and that was why Geoffrey had been pushing his buttons… the same way he was goading me now.

I lightly patted his left cheek with my right hand, almost playfully, slapping in small intervals.

Geoffrey stood there, enduring the humiliating gesture.

“Geoffrey, why aren’t you doing anything? I attacked you now, didn’t I? Ah, it’s because, for your ability to work, the ‘attack’ has to be strong enough to actually hurt, right? Must be tough, being a Dealer-type.”

Geoffrey swatted my hand away, his frustration clear.

But it was already too late—I’d left a Soul Link on him. If he tried anything funny, I’d be ready to destroy him.

Geoffrey smirked, giving me a casual shrug. “You should watch your back, Reynard. And maybe… consider hiring me to do it for you.” The fact he knew my name indicated he targeted me with clear intent. It wasn’t spontaneous.

I raised an eyebrow, surprised at how quickly he’d changed his tone. “Oh, really?” I scoffed. “After that stunt you just pulled?”

His smirk faded, and he shifted, almost looking sincere. “Hey, I’ve got my ways. You’d be surprised how useful I can be.”

I glared at him, not buying it for a second. “Yeah? Well, I’d sooner trust a snake.”

“Suit yourself,” he muttered, still watching me with those calculating eyes.

I took a step closer. “Now do us both a favor and get lost.”

He backed off with a shrug, though I had to admit, the man had annoyingly sharp instincts. If he attacked me, I’d have justification for what I had in mind to do with him. The aspect of ‘aura sabotage’ of my Soul Link could be very nasty if I willed so… and I could make it hurt really bad.

I spent my days hanging around with Selena or training in my room, experimenting with my Puppetry attribute. The chairman’s Red Fury technique had been educational, and I was thinking of using Maker-aura to complement my Puppetry… though my Maker affinity was terrible.

My second-best affinity was Seeker, followed by Reader. But I didn’t give up.

Eventually, I managed to develop something new. Ephemeral chains made of aura slithered around my wrist. They weren’t formed using the Maker state; instead, the chains came together through a series of Soul Links and Soul Marks. I’d wanted to create something thinner, like strings, but this was better progress than I’d seen in ages.

“I’ll call this Soul Chains…” I muttered, examining the construct. “As for its abilities… I’m still not sure.” Its main function seemed to be restraint, so I wouldn’t exactly be swinging it around like a weapon.

Still, this was the biggest step forward I’d made in months.

By the ninth day, the chairman finally announced that the fifth exam had ended. Three exams were left: Reader, Fighter, and Caster.

It was eight in the morning, and we were gathered by the beach as the sun rose over the horizon.

Bob clapped his hands with a big grin on his face. “Congratulations on passing the fifth stage! Now, today’s a no-exam day, so feel free to party!”

Some of the hunters started cheering and fist-pumping the air.

The chairman, topless but still with that ridiculous red cape wrapped around his neck, took a running start and dive-bombed into the ocean with a wide arc. The guy really knew how to make an entrance… er… in this case an exit.

Around me, everyone was in a full-on party mood. Selena was off in the distance playing beach volleyball, her laughter carrying over with the wind. I leaned back under an umbrella, sipping coconut water through a straw, letting myself actually relax for a change.

Black was right beside me, reclined and soaking up the sun. He had a pair of shades on and looked like he was fully committed to getting a tan.

"Not exactly what I expected for a day off,” I murmured, glancing over at him.

He smirked. "We take our victories where we can.”

Shen was at it again, hovering around Selena like a lovesick puppy. The guy was head-over-heels, but from the look of it, Selena wasn’t having any of it—she kept sidestepping his attempts at conversation, pretending to focus on her game.

My gaze drifted, catching sight of Geoffrey, that homeless troublemaker, pestering one of the female staff members. I clenched my jaw, but before I could react, a brute—the same one who’d tried to rob me during the elimination round—stomped over and kicked Geoffrey away. The idiot actually did something useful for once, though it didn’t last. As soon as Geoffrey sulked off, the brute turned his attention to harassing the same woman Geoffrey had been bothering just seconds before.

Black, lounging beside me, chuckled. "Got any guesses about the next test?"

I shook my head, still watching the scene in front of me. "No clue. But if the chairman says it’s a no-exam day, I’m inclined to believe him."

I sighed, irritated. Just another day of dealing with idiots.

I crafted a Soul Chain, sending it slithering just beneath the sand, inching its way toward the brute. It wrapped around him before he even knew what was happening, freezing him in place. The female staff member, realizing her chance, bolted, leaving the brute standing there clueless.

The chain I made was purely for restraint; it didn’t yet have the capability to act as a conduit for my Soul Mark or Soul Link. If it did, I would’ve drained his aura, forcing him to endure a brutal aura backlash.

Instead, I embedded the chain in his aura field, restricting his aura usage. For the rest of the day, he’d be walking around feeling constipated…in an aura sense. My current Soul Chain was pretty easy to dispel—it just required a good bombardment of aura. The catch was that it was nearly invisible, its aura signature faint enough to make finding it a challenge.

I leaned back, satisfied, and sipped on my coconut. “Lesson learned,” I muttered under my breath. “Don’t be a hero if you are planning to be the jerk anyway.” I tried to look for Geoffrey, but he seemed to have vanished already.