"Shoyo."
Rachel immediately leapt with joy, while Jennie, standing nearby, beamed with satisfaction at the result. The onlookers, including Rico, who couldn't understand why someone who had lost still won an award, stared at the unassuming young man in confusion.
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"Perhaps Shoyo isn't the strongest in combat, but from the matches, it's clear he has the most potential, resilience, and composure among the three," Anwar read aloud to the students. "As a Huntector, one often faces enemies and the forces of nature. Even in the direst situations, one must never give up hope."
This was just part of the evaluation Anwar shared publicly. The judges had other reasons for deeming Shoyo worthy of the Emerald Crest, notably his ability to harness Weapower. Both Leo and Baron recognized the faint white glow emanating from his sword, a sign of nascent Weapower. They believed Shoyo had a bright future ahead.
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With the "Imperial Ceremony" concluded, the eight participants had earned their citizenship but could choose to continue their training at the Academy of Huntector.
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After lunch, the entire city of Grandecy began a grand festival to celebrate Leo's return, comparable to a royal parade. It was hard to believe that the shopping district had been ravaged by soul-sucking beasts that morning, now brimming with life. Despite many buildings still needing repair, the return of Grandecy's legend replaced the people's worries with joyous festivities.
Mock, Enyama, and Honora had completed their investigations and returned with Zinchel and other Huntectors to report to the king and senior officials.
Leo joined the townspeople in their revelry, while Anwar and Kingside temporarily set aside their work. Given that the pressing issues couldn't be resolved immediately, calming the populace and sharing in the celebration was crucial.
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In the shopping district, Cloude handed a drink to Jennie and spoke about the Imperial Ceremony. "Thank you. Although I still lost..."
"It doesn't matter. Shoyo's performance was simply too surprising. I had thought you had the Emerald Crest in the bag," Jennie replied, clinking her glass with his. "Let's continue striving to join the Huntectors together."
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Rachel cherished the rare alone time with Shoyo. After the results of the Imperial Ceremony were announced, she had feared they were growing apart. Yet, the assessment showed that they were always close.
"By the way, that..." She wanted to ask about the necklace but remembered Shoyo's sincere expression when he looked at her and thought she might be overthinking it. "...Never mind, let's go shake hands with Leo."243Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1T0JsfKLr
Shoyo sensed her hesitation but decided to discuss it another time, given the day's events.
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After a brief but joyful night of celebration, Grandecy fell silent, knowing that with the sunrise, they would face many urgent issues.
At two in the morning, aside from the guards on the walls, the city was quiet, a stark contrast to the festivities hours earlier.
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Mock, stationed at the palace, stayed on guard, while Leo rested at home. This was his second night of freedom, and the people's acceptance of him made him more at ease than the previous night.
As he gazed at the moonlight, Leo reflected on his decades-long journey, wondering if he would remain immortal and how others would perceive him.
Suddenly, a small object flew in through the window and landed next to him—a small, ordinary-looking stone, barely the size of two fingers.
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What intrigued Leo was not the stone itself but the person who threw it. Though Leo's Soureflexes were sealed due to the drugs, his senses had become sharper. The thrower had vanished without a trace, a feat beyond mere stealth.
Leo looked out the window but saw no one. Picking up the stone, a strange thing happened. A voice echoed in his mind, causing a slight headache, but Leo listened intently.
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"We know the truth about what happened years ago. If you want to save yourself, follow our instructions. If anyone finds out or you don't show up, we'll destroy Grandecy in your name."
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Images flooded his mind, guiding him to leave Grandecy through a large tree to the northwest, then through Paradise to an open field near The Bisect Gable.
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"Don't worry, we are your allies. We know how Alfred captured you, how Deka treated you in the basement, and everyone else involved. The royal family cannot be trusted. Be careful."
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The stone then crumbled into powder and vanished. This revelation deeply troubled Leo. Even King Anwar only knew about Alfred, yet these people knew about Deka in the basement, indicating they weren't bluffing.
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