"Sir!"
"Step aside, Louise!"
While the Young Master retreated to the side with deep respect, the old man appeared right at Mel's side, practically pushing him to get there. He did not come alone; two other figures, a woman and a man, materialized instantly beside him.
"Young man, what would you say to leaving the Botanical Division and becoming a martial cultivator?"
The man, wearing a sleeveless crimson leather vest, spoke while resting his hand on Mel's shoulder. Perhaps for the first time in his life, the robust boy faced someone who matched his towering height.
"Slow down, Sokom! To my judgment, the boy's talents are much better suited for the Alchemy Division!"
The woman, whose chest strained against her lace-trimmed bustier, pressed close to Mel's face while trying to shove the massive man aside with her free hand.
"You scavengers, stay away from my disciple!"
The Head of the Botanical Division jumped in front of the pair with surprising agility for his age and build. A bizarre scene was unfolding at the port where the Spirit Boats were docked.
"Hey, what is going on here?"
"Are you asking me? How on earth could I know?"
Though the disciples from the different divisions tried to figure it out among themselves, they could not reach an answer. The leaders of the three divisions making up the Green Shadow Academy were fighting over a mere neophyte.
"You ignorant peasants, do you never read books?"
While the disciples argued, a student with his arms crossed began to speak. His tone carried a subtle arrogance that came and went. Seeing that most people had turned to look at him, he kept talking, keeping his voice low enough not to drown out the shouting Division Heads.
"The boy they call Mel is faintly wrapped in a radiant emerald aura. Do any of you understand the significance of this?"
The young man was clearly holding back his knowledge. Having information everyone else was starving for, he seemed to be stalling just to make sure people paid attention to him.
"There is a strong chance this youth carries the Spirit of the Forest, one of the Ten Great Blessings!"
The disciples whispering among themselves fell dead silent in that exact second; it was clear everyone understood the weight of those words. For a moment, no one spoke; finally, ten breaths later, one of them asked in a weak voice.
"Are you sure?"
"I am not certain, but look at the Division Heads. When was the last time you saw them this agitated?"
All eyes turned back to the trio locked in an argument. The most powerful authorities, leading massive divisions, were fighting with fierce intensity.
"What do you mean, he has already chosen his division? Are you trying to trick a child, Toygi?"
With an arrogant smirk, the Head of the Martial Division lightly shoved the old man leading the Botanical Division with the back of his hand.
"He reached this place by breaking the records of the Botanical Division; you will get nothing but dust, you barbarian!"
The old man did not back down, but an alluring woman looking to be in her mid-thirties, standing at his right, blocked his path with a seductive laugh.
"We all saw how much you cherish your record-shattering disciple. If it had been up to this pampered beanstalk, wouldn't he have sent the boy back on the very first Spirit Boat?"
The Head of the Alchemy Division hit the old man right where it hurt. Toygi practically tried to murder Young Master Louise with a glare.
"Marina, your words hold truth, but I am curious: what business do you have here? The boy clearly has talent in Botanical Mastery, and physically, he is built to be a martial cultivator. Isn't your division made up entirely of girls? What are you fighting for?"
Following the massive man's words, the woman's plunging neckline rose and fell quickly, but two breaths later, she regained her composure.
"Look who is talking! Does the Blessing of the Spirit of the Forest match your division in the slightest?"
The man, who had been shouting and spitting just a moment before, suddenly went quiet; the shifting of his eyes showed thoughts colliding violently in his head.
"Why shouldn't it? Just as the Blessing of the Spirit of the Forest grants the ability to commune with plants, it also brings deep calm and peace. Those traits can serve a martial cultivator wonderfully. Besides, look at this physique; the man was quite literally born to be a martial cultivator!"
"You are truly a meathead, Sokom!"
The beautiful woman planted herself in front of the colossal man; judging by her aura, she had no intention of stepping aside.
"The youth already has rare talent in the realm of plants; if he can secure the Blessing of the Spirit of the Forest on top of that, can you not picture the heights he will reach? Beyond growing his own plants and preparing his own mixtures, he could rise as the supreme alchemist, holding the calm and wisdom needed for crafting elixirs."
The woman's eyes shone brightly; she was clearly speaking her dreams out loud, but the other two division heads did not agree at all.
The argument grew fiercer; the sole goal of the proud Division Heads was to snare the robust boy who looked around in confusion.
"What is happening here?"
Just as the tension peaked and many lost their self-control, an authoritative voice echoed across the port.
A man walking with his hands clasped behind his back, taking steady steps, reached the crowd of hundreds. To his right and left stood two guards at least as tall as Mel, looking over the crowd with menacing expressions.
Like wealthy figures fighting for a precious item at an auction, the three division heads froze the moment those words reached their ears. They could neither move as they had a few seconds ago nor open their mouths to answer.
"Since you failed to show up to greet us, I decided to come myself. Would someone care to explain what is going on here?"