As the two young cultivators approached the attendant, who was also watching the entrance, the attendant quickly wrote something on a piece of paper. He then motioned to another attendant nearby, handed him the note, and said,

"Take this to the elder in charge immediately. Tell him the air of Fisco City is changing, and we may need his assistance soon."

The second attendant carefully took the note, which contained some important information, and headed towards a door marked for pass assignments and authentication for high-rank promotions.

Meanwhile, as the first attendant passed the message to his colleague, his attention shifted back to the two young men who had just entered. They were both dressed in high-quality attire, with valuable accessories adorning their bodies. However, what truly caught everyone's attention was the emblem on the chest of the young man leading the way. Unlike the usual placement of passes, his insignia was positioned on the right side of his chest—an unmistakable symbol of the Alucard family, a branch of the royal family. This emblem indicated that the bearer either had strong ties to the royal family or was directly affiliated with them.

Given the young men's age, it was almost certain that they were members of the royal family. After all, it was nearly impossible for someone so young to earn the right to carry such an insignia unless they were born into nobility.

Without wasting time, the two approached the main counter. The slightly shorter of the two, the one wearing the Alucard insignia, gave a polite smile and addressed the attendant.

"Hello, brother. We are looking for someone and could use your help. Can you provide us with some information?"

Hearing yet another request for information about a person, the attendant narrowed his eyes slightly in thought. However, he did not delay his response.

"How could I refuse an Alucard? We still want to do business in Azure Kingdom, after all," he said, glancing at the insignia on Selis' chest.

Ryze, the taller of the two, chuckled as he looked at Selis' insignia. "Oh, don't worry about that. My brother Selis only has a nominal connection to the royal family. You don't have to be so cautious—he's an independent cultivator."

The mention of Selis' name caused a stir among the surrounding cultivators. Various reactions rippled through the crowd, indicating that his name was well-known and widely recognized.

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"Oh... So this is that Selis," the attendant mused. "The one who personally requested the king to release him from the Alucard family name, choosing to cultivate on his own and build his own reputation instead of relying on his royal lineage."

Many people dream of being acknowledged by the royal family, hoping for even a single opportunity to receive that emblem. And yet, here was Selis—a man who willingly rejected such a privilege to pursue cultivation on his own.

"That kind of determination is rare," the attendant continued. "A true cultivator's mindset. But even so, I hope you'll still be responsible for the safety of our kingdom."

Selis gave a small nod. "I have only asked to be free of the name's influence. Even after losing my title, I will still protect those in need. The power I gain will be more than enough for that. But for now, we are here for another matter, so please assist us."

"Of course, of course, Brother Selis. Who are you looking for? We will do our best to locate and provide the information as quickly as possible."

Selis nodded at the attendant, and Ryze took out a folded piece of paper. Unlike a typical information request, the paper contained no written details—only a carefully drawn portrait of a person.

The attendant took a glance at the drawing, and his eyebrows immediately rose in surprise. He muttered under his breath,

"Why this guy again?"

"Can I ask why you're looking for him?" the attendant questioned. "You don't have to answer, but I'm just a bit curious because someone else was here earlier, asking about this same person. Based on your timing, I assume you must have met that person."

Ryze's eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh… so that guy was looking for him too?"

Selis, however, remained calm and answered, "It's not a secret. We are searching for strong young cultivators like ourselves to form a team for an upcoming event in Azure Kingdom."

Although his tone was composed, Selis couldn't shake a troubling thought—why was that other person also searching for Arya? If their intentions weren't good, it would be difficult to save him in time.

The attendant, seemingly unbothered by the tension, handed over a small note.

"This contains the latest information about his whereabouts. However, it is two days old," he said while passing it to Ryze.

"Thanks. How much for the information?" Ryze asked as he took the note.

"Oh, it's free for our allies, Brother Selis," the attendant replied with a smile.

Ryze, however, shook his head. "No, name a price. I know you're waiving the fee because of our background, but you should already know—those are the kinds of favors I don't like. So, name the price."

The attendant hesitated for a moment before sighing. "If that's the case… ten white coins will do."

Without hesitation, Ryze handed over the required amount. The transaction complete, both he and Selis left the shop. However, even after they had walked away, the attendant continued to watch them with an unreadable expression.

As they examined the information, Ryze frowned. "The Dreadfall Forest? This guy is in Dreadfall Forest?"

Selis nodded. "After failing to get into Finlet Academy, he was supposed to return to his family. Instead, he chose to enter Dreadfall Forest to complete missions assigned by the Commerce of Merchants."

Ryze exhaled sharply. "And now that other guy is after him, too…"

A brief silence fell between them before Ryze asked, "Brother, what should we do about this?"

Selis thought for a moment before answering, "Finding both of them inside the Dreadfall Forest before they encounter each other is nearly impossible. The forest is massive—searching blindly would be a waste of time."

His gaze turned sharp as he continued, "So, we wait. If he manages to survive and escape on his own, then all our doubts about his qualifications and strength will be answered. But if he fails to make it out alive…"

Selis trailed off, then spoke with a firm resolve.

"Then he was never qualified to join our group in the first place. We need exceptional young cultivators—those with real strength and resilience."