The Acting Type

"You'd better tell the truth about this."

After filling out the section, the review officer looked up and emphasized again,

"An awakened person's innate talent is registered on record. When you use your talent in missions or on the battlefield in the future, it will be documented. If it is discovered that what you display in actual combat does not match the talent you registered..."

He paused, and his tone turned colder.

"At best, your awakened status will be revoked, and every welfare benefit and subsidy you received will be reclaimed. You will no longer be allowed to enter any city. At worst..."

He did not finish, but the word "worst" said enough on its own.

Gan Ming appeared highly cooperative. He nodded and said, "My innate talent is... Iron Wall."

The review officer's pen paused. "Iron Wall?"

"That's right. It's a passive talent. When attacked, it has a chance to trigger 5% damage reduction, reducing damage received for three seconds."

He had made it up. He had only vaguely heard of something like it while watching the news.

A talent like Soul Snatch, which let its user seize another person's ability after participating in killing them.

If that were put on record...

There was no need to think too hard about it. The literal meaning alone could cause considerable trouble.

Who would feel at ease letting an awakened person who could steal "other people's" abilities move about freely?

But the effects of this kind of passive defensive talent were inconspicuous and difficult to identify in routine tests or combat.

If you claimed you had a talent that occasionally reduced damage, no one could prove whether it had truly triggered or whether it was just an equipment effect.

After hearing him out, the review officer said noncommittally, "How should I put it? It's decent."

He wrote down the talent's name and effect on the form without asking further questions.

"Though your innate talent won't be obvious in the early stages, its power will gradually reveal itself as your level rises."

"At least... it's more practical than those flashy life-type talents."

"All right, your information registration is complete."

The review officer closed the file folder and stamped a red seal across its opening.

Then he took a card from the side and pushed it over.

"This is your temporary awakened identity card. It has your number and basic information on it. Remember to carry it with you, and don't lose it."

"Also, temporary identities cannot use intercity teleportation arrays."

"If you want to go to another city, you can only cross the fallen zones."

Gan Ming took the card and looked down at it.

His name was printed in the center of the card.

A string of numbers sat in the upper-right corner, while the "Rank" field in the lower-left read "First Rank."

From this day onward, he finally had a proper legal identity.

The review officer pulled several more forms from the drawer and spoke as he wrote.

"In a moment, take your temporary identity card, turn right when you leave, go up to the second floor, and find the collection counter. You can collect your newcomer subsidy there, including equipment, potions, and a living allowance."

"The equipment is a standard-issued basic set, enough for the early First Rank. There are two sets of potions: one for health recovery and one for mana recovery, five bottles each. Once you use them up, buy more from the association yourself."

He pointed to each subsidy item with the tip of his pen.

"The living allowance covers one month and will be directly deposited into your awakened card. It isn't much, but as long as you don't use it for gambling or buying random junk, it will cover food, lodging, and transportation."

Gan Ming nodded and memorized it.

The review officer pushed the form over for him to sign while saying,

"Once you reach Level 60, come back to the center to complete your full registration."

"After that, you'll become an official awakened person."

"At that point, the General Administration will issue a monthly awakened stipend. The higher your contribution, the higher the stipend tier."

He drew a circle at the bottom of the form, indicating where Gan Ming should sign.

"So go out, take more missions, kill more monsters, and build up more contribution. Don't just sit around."

Gan Ming signed the form and set down the pen.

"Thanks."

He stood and was about to leave.

"Wait a moment."

The review officer suddenly called out to him and leaned back in his chair.

"Do you have a guild you're interested in? Or any organization?"

Gan Ming turned around and shook his head.

"No. I planned to check out the Awakened Association first."

The review officer chuckled, wearing the expression of someone experienced watching a newcomer prepare to jump into a pit.

"I knew you'd do that."

He rummaged through the depths of his drawer and took out two items—a business card and a card printed with a guild emblem—then placed them together on the desk.

"You make a living in the lower district, so you probably don't have many channels for learning about the awakened circles. The waters around the Awakened Association run deep. You're a newly awakened First Rank rookie with no background or connections. It's easy for someone like you to step into a trap."

Gan Ming said nothing and waited for him to continue.

The review officer flipped over the guild card, revealing the information printed on it.

"Dawn Guild. It has been established for over a year. It isn't large, but it's a small guild that does serious work." He tapped the card with a finger. "Take my business card and find the receptionist there. Mention my name, and they'll look after you a little. Even if you ultimately decide the guild isn't a good fit and don't want to join, no one will stop you."

He wore a smile.

"At least it'll let you familiarize yourself with the environment and avoid some detours. Don't let those third-rate little guilds drag you away the moment you step outside, then have you count their money after signing away your life."

How could Gan Ming fail to hear the implications beneath those words?

The review officer recommended newly awakened people to guilds, and if a newcomer successfully joined, the recommender received an introduction fee.

No one needed to teach him that routine. Headhunters and agencies on Earth did exactly the same thing.

But there was nothing inherently bad about it.

A First Rank rookie who had just awakened, came from the lower district, and had no social connections truly needed somewhere to settle in.

The other party received an introduction fee, while he received a relatively reliable destination.

Each got what they needed. It was hard to say anyone was taking advantage of the other.

Gan Ming reached out and collected both the business card and guild card from the desk.

"Thank you."

Only then did the review officer rise from his chair and extend his right hand.

"Kid Gan, you've got a good foundation. Work hard and try to rise quickly. We'll have a drink together then."

Gan Ming shook his hand.

"Thank you for looking after me, Senior."

With that, he turned and pushed open the door to leave.

The review officer stood behind the desk and watched him go.

Only after the door closed did he pick up Gan Ming's file and pull open the drawer on the right side of his desk.

The drawer was divided into several compartments, each marked with a different colored label.

The top compartment bore a red label reading "Priority Watch."

Below it were orange, yellow, green, and blue in sequence.

He placed Gan Ming's file into the lowest compartment, the one marked with a blue label.

Four words were written on that label: "Ordinary Files."

Innate talent: "Iron Wall," passive damage reduction, 5% chance to trigger.

At First Rank, a talent like that was practically no different from having nothing at all.

Its growth potential was hard to judge, but at least for now, there was nothing about it worth treating specially.

A poor kid from the lower district with no identity, who had awakened a harmless passive talent.

If he could survive the battles ahead, it would already count as him being lucky.

The drawer closed. The review officer lifted the cup on his desk, took a sip, and pressed the button before him.

A broadcast sounded.

"Applicant Number 15, please proceed to Awakened Qualification Review Room Number 3."