Franciska

"I want to join the Saint Gun Knights!"

Calody said it as if he had exhausted all his strength, his chest heaving.

For this day—for the day he could stand before his elder brother and voice this wish—Calody had prepared for two or three years. He had even made up his mind before successfully completing his first Soul Transformation.

After enduring the Soul Transformation Ritual with difficulty, he had chosen to become a Gunner without hesitation.

Calody did not want to remain in Longshande as a wealthy noble for his entire life, living out his days in mediocrity. Although that life was comfortable, it was far too boring.

Over the years, whether at the academy or anywhere in Longshande, whenever people heard that his surname was "Augustus," regardless of whether they were teachers, nobles, or Transcendents, they would immediately put on respectful and admiring expressions.

At first, Calody had been pleased and proud.

The Augustus surname had given him a dazzling halo. He could even travel unhindered throughout the Empire, and almost no one dared show him the slightest disrespect.

However, as he grew older, Calody gradually understood that people did not fear him, nor did they fear the surname "Augustus." They feared his elder brother. Several times, he had inadvertently overheard people mentioning him behind his back, their tones filled with contempt and disdain. In their eyes, he was still merely a country bumpkin from the countryside, a useless good-for-nothing.

This had deeply wounded Calody's pride, so he had secretly sworn that he would prove his strength to everyone.

He was absolutely not a good-for-nothing who merely basked in his elder brother's reflected glory!

After saying this, Calody looked at his elder brother with eager anticipation. However, Rayne merely nodded without answering immediately, making him extremely anxious.

In fact,