Chapter 269: The Briefing [1]

Varian and Sarah entered the banquet hall. Along the way, he glanced at Sarah from time to time, inciting her resentful glares.

The tables were rearranged and there were only sixteen huge round tables in the hall.

Two for each planet. Black and White.

The cadets of a planet sat across the white table.

The seniors, the ones who already graduated sat across the back table.

Of course, they were all in peak level 6. If they reached level 7, they'd be in the other hall.

Varian sat to the right of Sarah and left of Williamson.

And when he did, the aroma of the appetizers on the table assaulted his senses.

There were special meat dishes from Level 7 Magic Beasts, some of the finest alcohol, and masterful dishes cooked by spirit chefs.

For a low awakener, just a single meal here was equivalent to a month's practice.

Varian tasted a few before shaking his head in disappointment. He now had mixed feelings towards Anna.

The dishes she cooked were absolutely amazing to the point he found almost everything tasteless.

'Damn it! She's definitely not as harmless as she looks. She's trying to enslave me to her cookings! …Alright!' Varian was preparing himself for a war when he caught the glimpse of young men and women, slightly older than them, chatting and laughing on the black round table.

"Why are they invited?" He asked Sarah.

She stiffened for a moment and acted like she didn't hear anything as she continued talking to the girl beside her.

'Really now…' Varian shrugged and turned to William who was absolutely devouring the dishes. "Err, Senior William, why are they invited?"

William signaled for him to wait while he finished off the sixth lobster and sighed in contentment.

Looking at Varian's weird expression, he said in defense. "What? The competition is about to begin. We'll be gone for hours. Need to stuff yourself man."

"…yeah." Varian nodded, trying his best to come across like he believed that fat lie.

"About those on the other table.."

"Oh, they? Many of them are our alumni. Of all the people I know, they're the most hardworking. They're all at peak level 6 and they are training to advance." William explained.

Varian nodded with an understanding expression.

Level 6 to Level 7 was supposed to take around 6 years. So, if one graduated at 20, they'd reach level 7 at age of 27.

Of course, a few geniuses did it at 26. But that's about it.

However, Varian heard from many sources that this time was going down with each generation.

Of course, excluding anomalies like Charles. He already touched the bottleneck.

"Once the competition begins, the level 7s will instruct and guide them. They can ask advice from whoever they want.

It's a very tempting experience. If not for the reward, I would stay too." William said excitedly.

When he said 'Reward', William's eyes shone brighter than disco balls.

'Um, is it very important? Level 6s can improve a sub-level at most.' Varian thought as he scratched his cheek.

He'd rather stay for the level 7s instructions. But Richard sent another message.

Apparently, Evander 'admitted' that his strength was always peak level 5.

So, if he suddenly showed strength higher than it, that is, strength of level 6, then he'd come under scrutiny.

After all, advancing from level 5 to level 6 would take time. Even geniuses took a day or two to fully adjust their state after advancement.

The only problem was…

[Body (Enhanced) Path L5: 1930/2000]

'Ai. Unless I sit still, I'm gonna level up soon.' Varian supported his head on his chin as his elbow rested on the table.

He looked like he was in deep thought. As if he was facing an existential crisis.

'If I train with a level 7, I risk accidentally advancing and exposing my ridiculously short advancement time.

So, I'd better go to the competition.  And Since I'm going, I might as well win.

If I have to win, I need to win without exposing my strength. But how do I do that...?'

And thus, he started to sigh as his thoughts spiraled with 'ifs and might as well.'

William waved his hand in front of his eyes, but Varian remained unperturbed.

"Sarah, did you ask him to do something unspeakable? Why is the guy sighing too much?" Williamson glanced at Varian who stared into distance aimlessly while sighing every minute and asked Sarah.

"Eh? Ah? I can't hear you." Sarah waved her hand and continued talking to the girl on her left.

She saw Varian from the corner of her eyes and was instantly reminded of the moment she grabbed him by the collar and saying 'I envy you because my dad spends more time with you'.

'Argh! I want to die!' Sarah felt like she would die out of embarrassment.

Now the only way was to ignore him. If she turned around to face William, she'd also see Varian. So she also ignored him.

"Huh?" William was dumfounded. "Is she ignoring me or what? But why me?"

Suddenly, his eyes widened and William gasped as he came to a realization. "I get it! No, she gets it!

She can't face my handsomeness. It's too much for her. So she's avoiding me."

Then, he glanced at Sarah's blonde hair and shook his head. "I'm sorry to break your heart. I already have Philia."

Then he looked at the sky through the ceiling and sighed in melancholy. "I'm the man you'll never get."

"Pfft." Varian clutched his belly and bent his head as he tried to stifle his laughter.

Despite his best tries, his shoulders shook uncontrollably.

"Oi, junior. They used to call me lady killer, not the homicide kind mind you. It's normal for her to be enthralled by yours truly."

William sighed with a helpless expression.

"Yes, yes." Varian nodded before breaking into another fit of laughter.

Turning to Varian, William put on a serious expression. "Actually, I was just trying to bring you out of your endless sighs. See, it worked!"

"Ho! But why do I get the feeling those are your true thoughts?" Varian raised a brow and asked with a mischievous smile.

William's gaped for a moment before answering with a serious expression. "Don't you trust my character, Varian? Am I the kind of cheap narcissist who praises himself for self-validation? No way!"

"…."

Suddenly, the table seemed to be silenced as everyone glanced towards William.

William awkwardly smiled and glanced around the table. "Am I that kind of person?"

"…."

Silence prevailed.

Finally Sarah, who was avoiding Varian turned around and nodded. "That sounded just like you, William."

Varian hesitated for a moment before lightly nodding. Following which, everyone who knew William, which was quite a large number, nodded.

William clutched his heart and collapsed on the table. "At this rate, will I even survive to participate?"

To his plight, no one came.

In fact, others joined in the harmless laughter.

Varian silently observed the figure sitting far away from him.

Charles Xander.

There was no sitting beside him.

In fact, there was no one ten seats next to his right or left.

Compared to the outgoing William, he was very withdrawn.

He didn't get jokes. He didn't socialize.

Whenever he got free time, he didn't do anything else.

He just…trained.

The first and second of Earth...they were very different from each other. 

At the moment, a cold but soothing voice reverberated across the hall.

"Hello, juniors. I'm Prince Belus. After my instructions, the 'Solar Trial' of this year will begin." A handsome young man suddenly appeared in the hall.