Leite City Civil Affairs Bureau.
Director Harvey was handling the day's official business when his secretary knocked and came in, smiling. "Director, the AI just updated the public household registry data for minors. There's a newly registered ability user with decent potential: C-grade, Body of Steel, in the Physical Enhancement category!"
"Oh? How old is this child?" Director Harvey asked, looking up.
"Twelve. He currently attends Wright City No. 9 Middle School and gets excellent grades. A month and a half ago, he was transferred from an ordinary household registry to the public household registry."
"Bring me his detailed records."
"Of course! I've already sent them to you!"
After the secretary left, Director Harvey carefully looked through Lancelot's records, including his bank transfer history.
"Lucky kid!"
After reading everything, Director Harvey let out a sigh.
The Crimson Alliance possessed highly advanced information technology, and few things could be hidden from the government. Lancelot's purchase of an inferior gene drug on the dark web was naturally no exception.
In Director Harvey's view, Lancelot had been driven to extremes by his father's cruelty, actually choosing to use an inferior gene drug with an extremely high mortality rate to awaken an ability.
The success rate for awakening an ability with a gene drug was actually very low. According to the Alliance's statistics, only 12 percent of people succeeded.
And that was with genuine gene drugs. The success rate for inferior gene drugs was several times lower.
Yet, incredibly, the little fellow had succeeded. Not only had he survived, but his ability's potential was also an extraordinarily rare C-grade.
Normally, after awakening with an inferior gene drug, an ability's potential would be locked at D-grade.
But there were exceptions to everything.
The wonder of the Astral Realm lay in its infinite possibilities. Even the Eternals found it hard to glimpse every change the future might hold.
The Crimson Alliance had only 153 people on record who had awakened an ability using an inferior gene drug and achieved C-grade potential.
That might sound like a lot, but the Alliance had a population of over a trillion and a history of more than a thousand years. Countless ability users had been born in that time.
The number of ability users who had awakened with inferior gene drugs was also enormous.
By comparison, 153 people were truly as rare as phoenix feathers and qilin horns.
"In that case, let's see how high you can fly!" Director Harvey laughed heartily.
He was also a supernatural being who had once served in the military. He fought fiercely, feared no death, and dared to fight with all he had. Later, he had been gravely injured in battle and retired to a civilian post.
Lancelot's experience had earned Director Harvey's admiration. Intending to offer the younger generation some guidance, he had his secretary summon him.
Sitting on the sofa, Lancelot was puzzled. What did someone as important as the director of civil affairs want with him?
It would have made sense if his awakened ability had exceptionally high potential, but a mere C-grade ability user who had yet to grow was hardly worth a personal summons from such an important figure.
Still, Lancelot decided to make the best of the situation. He remained quite calm and surveyed the room's furnishings with an easy composure.
Rough, simple, and rugged in style-the room showed that the director of civil affairs was a straightforward and efficient man.
On the other side of the room, Director Harvey watched Lancelot's every move through one-way glass, growing more satisfied the longer he looked. His experience as a scout also allowed him to spot something keenly: the boy was surprisingly skilled at combat. Some movements had already become muscle memory, and he wouldn't have noticed without watching closely.
"Interesting..."
Director Harvey chuckled, pushed open the small door beside him, and went in.
Hearing the noise, Lancelot turned his head to see a middle-aged man a full two meters tall.
He was one of the Quebec People, with pale golden skin, reddish-brown hair, and a full beard. His left eye flashed red; it was a cybernetic eye. A long, slender scar marked his exposed neck, though for some reason he hadn't used advanced technology to remove it.
"Kid, who taught you to fight?" Director Harvey got straight to the point.
Lancelot paused, then answered, "I taught myself!"
The Alliance's virtual technology was highly advanced, and the vast majority of knowledge could be learned online, combat included.
"Oh? Try punching me!" Director Harvey raised an eyebrow and tapped his chest with his index finger. "Right here, as hard as you can!"
"Okay!" Lancelot was a taciturn sort himself. After nodding in reply, he took his stance. "Here I come!"
As soon as he spoke, Lancelot held nothing back and drove a punch into Director Harvey's chest, accompanied by the sharp whistle of air rushing at tremendous speed.
A clang rang out. Surprise flashed in Director Harvey's eyes, but his expression remained unchanged as he said, "Not bad. Your strength, angle, and the way you apply force are all lacking, but getting this far through your own efforts has already exceeded my expectations. None of that will be a problem from now on, though. Once you enter the special training camp, the instructors will set you straight."
Lancelot was naturally aware of those flaws. He had deliberately shown them, but on the surface he looked as though he were humbly accepting the criticism.
Picking up on Harvey's words, he asked, "What special training camp?"
Director Harvey didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked another question. "Do you know about the Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination?"
"Of course!" Lancelot nodded vigorously, longing appearing on his face.
The Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination, formally known as the Crimson Alliance Joint Entrance Examination for Supernatural Academies, was a selective examination held once every two years. Those who performed well could enter better supernatural academies and obtain more resources. It was equivalent to Blue Star's college entrance examination, but the competition was fiercer, because casualties were factored into the Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination.
Every Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination was a major event for the Alliance, drawing countless eyes, including those of Planet Oklo's other major powers.
The Alliance's famous supernatural powerhouses had almost all performed well in the Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination.
Lancelot's dream had once been to take the Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination and show what he could do before the entire Alliance.
It was also the dream of every young person in the Alliance.
Seeing the look on the boy's face, Harvey's eyes filled with emotion. Once upon a time, he had been just like that.
"The Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination starts in three months. The special training camp is what we in Leite City have prepared for it. Its members are all ability users with C-grade potential or higher, or young professionals with outstanding talents in other fields."
At this point, Director Harvey looked at Lancelot. The boy's eyes were brimming with anticipation, but he still hadn't spoken rashly, which made Harvey even more satisfied.
Patting the boy on the shoulder, Harvey said with a smile, "Your ability's potential is C-grade, so you meet the requirements. I'll write you a letter of recommendation so you can join Leite City's special training camp. From here on, you'd better do your best and aim for a good result in the Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination."
After offering Lancelot a few more words of encouragement, Harvey seemed to remember something. "By the way, didn't you sign an immigration consent form?"
Lancelot nodded honestly.
"Don't rush to cancel the contract. I'll help you hold it off. Wait until after the Supernatural Joint Entrance Examination to decide."
Seeing that Lancelot didn't quite understand, Harvey explained, "Your ability's potential isn't high, and you awakened it with an inferior gene drug. To be honest, your future prospects aren't promising. Many supernatural schools have explicit rules against admitting ability users who awakened using inferior gene drugs."
"So although there's more room to develop on Planet Oklo, going to a new planet might be a better choice for you."
"Newly developed colonial planets have few supernatural beings and far less competition. You'd be more sought after and receive considerable preferential treatment for promotions."
"If your ability had B-grade potential or higher, I'd never suggest this. But C-grade falls a little short, and on top of that, you have a history of taking an inferior gene drug..."
Director Harvey shook his head and gave his conclusion. "You'd actually have more opportunities on Planet Golden Bridge!"
Hearing this, Lancelot put on a thoughtful expression, though he privately disagreed.
If his circumstances really were as Harvey described, going to Planet Golden Bridge to develop might indeed be better.
But Lancelot, with his many hidden advantages, firmly believed he could fight his way through on Planet Oklo, where geniuses were as plentiful as clouds.
Of course, he still had to show Director Harvey due respect. For one thing, he wanted to build a good relationship; for another, Harvey was genuinely considering his interests, and he couldn't fail to appreciate that.
"All right, Wente has already given you my contact number. If you need anything, contact me directly. As for the special training camp, you can go straight there and report in tomorrow.
"Go on, kid. Make something of yourself and show that bastard father of yours!!"
Harvey patted Lancelot hard on the shoulder and laughed heartily.
Looking at this unfamiliar elder, Lancelot stepped back and bowed deeply, then turned and left the civil affairs bureau.