Zephyrion could feel the countless gazes fixed on him, but his expression remained indifferent as he calmly took his place at the back of the trainee line.

Almost immediately, whispers spread among the trainees as many cast hesitant glances in his direction.

They had been the last team to arrive, and that alone spoke volumes about how terrible their mission must have turned out.

Standing at the very front of the line, Kaelion narrowed his eyes at Zephyrion.

Given everything Zephyrion had accomplished up until now, he had expected the two of them to contend for the top position. But now, it seemed he had been mistaken.

Many of the other trainees shared the same thought.

Still, just as Zephyrion was about to shut everything out, he suddenly felt a glare fixed on him.

Turning slightly, he spotted Lumi standing several meters away with her arms tightly folded, staring at him furiously.

’She’s angry.’

Zephyrion frowned slightly. Why was she angry?

Deep within the rod, Demorian had somehow heard his protégé’s thoughts. The elder could only shake his head with a deeply pitiful expression.

In contrast to Lumi, Tobias, who stood closer to the front of the line, waved enthusiastically at Zephyrion with an excited grin plastered across his face.

As the chatter continued spreading through the hall, a loud announcement suddenly rang out.

"HEAD OF HOUSE CALDERALTH HAS ARRIVED!"

The grand doors swung open. The instant Kastor stepped into the hall, an overwhelming pressure descended upon the room.

Every soul immediately rose from their seats before dropping to one knee in respect.

"We greet the Head of House!"

With an indifferent expression, Kastor walked past the trainees before ascending the platform and taking his seat upon the throne.

His heavy gaze swept across the hall.

"Begin."

The ceremony started instantly. The proceedings themselves were straightforward.

With the teams lined up in formation, once it was their turn, their assigned Silversteel would step forward and recount the events of the mission.

At the end of each narration, the crowd would either nod in approval or shake their heads in amusement.

The first true shift in atmosphere came when it was finally time for the long-awaited team.

"My lord... I will now recount the mission of the team consisting of Kaelion Calderalth, Joan Calderalth, Mira Calderalth, Numet Calderalth, and Hugo Calderalth."

The hall fell into complete silence the moment he began speaking, none willing to miss even a single word.

The more the narration continued, the more approving smiles spread throughout the crowd.

"...while the others restrained the remaining bandits, trainee Kaelion personally engaged the triplets mark five bandit leaders... and ultimately defeated them."

The instant he finished, countless eyes turned toward Kaelion in approval.

"...As expected."

"He actually did it..."

"Three peak mark fives? At that point, just hand him the choosing already."

One person began clapping, and soon the applause spread throughout the entire hall.

In the face of it all, Kaelion merely gave a curt nod, his stoic expression never wavering.

As the ceremony continued, it wasn’t long before the hall once again fell into stunned silence.

"...trainee Lumi protected her teammates and single-handedly eliminated an entire mark four Redmaw group."

Even the Silversteel recounting the events wore a complicated expression, as though not even he fully believed the words coming out of his mouth.

The next moment, every gaze in the hall snapped toward the petite Lumi, eyes filled with utter disbelief.

"...what?"

"Alone?"

"That little girl?!"

Yet Lumi herself seemed completely oblivious to the attention, her furious stare still locked onto Zephyrion.

After that, the only narration Zephyrion truly paid attention to was Tobias’ team.

During their mission, his team had managed to save an entire village from being overrun by a horde of mutated beasts, with Tobias playing a major role in it.

Tobias looked toward Zephyrion proudly. The moment Zephyrion gave him a small nod, the grin on his face widened immediately.

The ceremony continued, and eventually, it was time for the final team.

Kona’s back remained perfectly straight as he stepped forward.

There was a quiet confidence in his movements, one born from the sheer significance of what he was about to recount.

He had personally witnessed the impossible events that unfolded within that village, and he felt honored to be the one to tell the story.

In contrast, the hall descended into deafening silence, every eye fixed on him as they waited to hear about Zephyrion’s mission.

The next moment, Kona lowered himself to one knee and began.

"My lord... I will now recount the mission of the team..."

The narration started normally.

Arriving at the village. Meeting the villagers. Being treated like children.

Though many within the hall felt anger rise at the thought that mere villagers had dared act that way toward members of Calderalth, it still remained within the realm of normal.

However... the first shift came with the sudden attack of the mutated beasts. There, Zephyrion had clashed head-on against a Dreggon... and emerged victorious.

Many leaned forward in their seats, deep frowns forming across their faces.

What?

But that was only the beginning.

Manipulating conversations to gather information.

Saving the villagers by drawing a horde of mutated beasts.

Revealing the true nature of the village head’s son.

Reaching the horrifying conclusion that the Iron Heresy was involved.

At that point, many eyes widened in alarm. The Iron Heresy... such a terrifying organization. Why hadn’t the mission been immediately cancelled!?

Yet Kona continued speaking without pause.

Locating and infiltrating their hidden base to capture the scientist responsible.

Returning to the village and confronting a Warden.

A mark seven existence... and emerging victorious.

The instant those words left Kona’s mouth, countless people shot to their feet, their eyes widened to the limit.

A deafening silence swallowed the entire hall, so heavy that not a single person could speak.

Finally, Titus, the Head of the Forge Line, was the one who broke the silence. His eyes were wide, yet sharp as they locked onto Kona.

"Silversteel... do you understand the significance of what you’ve just claimed? You expect us to believe all of that?"

Kona lowered his head calmly, as though he had long expected such a reaction.

"I swear upon my name as Kona Calderalth that every word I’ve spoken is the truth, my lord. To prove it..."

He turned slightly toward the grand doors.

"Bring him in."

At his command, the grand doors slowly opened, and a pair of guards dragged in a man whose arms and legs were bound heavily in chains. A sack completely covered his head.

Kona gave a slight nod toward the guards, and they immediately pulled the sack away. The instant the figure beneath was revealed, countless eyes widened violently.

"Victor Jasper!"

Who within the Ferran Empire wasn’t searching for this dangerous criminal?

The others who had still remained seated abruptly rose to their feet, their expressions trembling with utter shock.

"So it’s actually true..."

Slowly, countless gazes turned toward Zephyrion, the shock engulfing the hall almost palpable.

He... had defeated a mark seven...