Although Azrael couldn't understand why he had to fight after simply following Jin to observe the gathering, since he was already here, eliminating a Gold-level demon shouldn't require much effort. Perhaps he could even earn some additional compensation.
"Quick battle, decisive victory."
Thinking about the morning work schedule awaiting him, Azrael sighed and prepared to have Zoro and the others swiftly resolve this confrontation.
It was merely a demon, nothing particularly challenging, surely?
In the elevated viewing area, Jin's three Master-level Lore Cardians fought as a coordinated unit while lower-tier practitioners like Memphis maintained respectful distance behind them.
The Skinner, wearing her characteristic nonchalant expression, asked with a faint smile, "Where did Master Jin discover such exceptional talent? These summoned cards demonstrate remarkable power."
Jin chuckled, then posed a pointed question in return, "If you abandoned those so-called principles, the Indo-American Federation would offer you abundant skilled individuals to recruit."
As an ally, Jin naturally understood the bronze-skinned woman beside him. Despite her outwardly benevolent appearance, she harbored something far more dangerous beneath that amiable facade.
"Absurd persistence," he thought dismissively.
After hearing Jin's observation, the Skinner's smile remained unchanged, but the atmosphere in the chamber plummeted to its lowest point. The Lore Cardians behind her didn't dare breathe audibly.
"Oh, relying on those pale devils and mongrels?"
"They're unworthy of consideration."
The Skinner stared at Azrael in the arena below and continued, "Do you genuinely believe I'm ignorant about their historical intentions?"
"A bounty system targeting our scalps."
"They only cooperated with us because circumstances left them no alternatives."
At this moment, Chris interjected with obvious irritation, "Hey, Skinner, you've included me in that condemnation."
The Skinner turned toward Chris, displaying a hint of contrition, "My apologies, I didn't intend to offend you personally."
Seeing this, Chris chose not to provoke the volatile woman further. Instead, he addressed Jin with unmistakable sarcasm, "Old Dog Jin, you must have provided that boy with intelligence information, correct?"
"Otherwise, how could he have released such a creature?"
But Jin displayed a peculiar smile at this accusation, "No, I revealed nothing to him."
"If I had, would this still constitute a legitimate test?"
Chris appeared stunned, then shook his head, "That's insane."
"With talent of this caliber, aren't you concerned he'll perish immediately?"
"Or..."
Are you truly that confident in his abilities?
The delicate-featured boy didn't voice this final question, merely observing the young man below with evident regret.
But everyone present qualified as a lunatic to varying degrees.
Compared to the two extremists beside him, one obsessed with power to the point of madness, the other representing radical ideological fanaticism, he was simply less unhinged.
Not to mention the absent member, that cannibalistic monstrosity.
Jin, however, ignored Chris's assessment entirely.
He simply stared down at Azrael, his thoughts tinged with malicious anticipation, "Let me witness your true capabilities."
Beyond wanting to dissuade the young man from certain thoughts, Jin harbored a vague sense of apprehension.
But remembering that the other party had already signed the binding contract, the elderly man couldn't help but laugh at his own concerns.
Regarding Azrael's potential to reach Master level and escape the Crimson Oath Society's control, throughout all these years, only one Master-level Lore Cardian had ever achieved such independence.
Down in the arena, as Armament Haki gradually spread across Zoro's hands, the battle officially commenced.
Frieren, functioning as ranged support, took the initiative, her jet-black magical beam instantly piercing through the floating demon's form.
However, the unnamed demon identified as "Wu" in the analytical information simply lowered its head, staring vacantly at the massive hollow that had appeared within its body, showing no other reaction whatsoever.
Zoro regarded Wu with a stern expression. Although he couldn't comprehend why Wu remained passive, he had already approached the entity under Shiraori and Frieren's protective coverage.
As Zoro's pitch-black blade slashed across Wu's form, Azrael couldn't help wondering, "What's happening here?"
"A training dummy?"
He found it impossible to believe the situation was this straightforward; otherwise, the young Master-level Lore Cardian wouldn't have bothered mentioning such a test.
Just as Azrael contemplated this, a piercing shriek suddenly erupted.
"Ahhhh!"
The sharp sound threatened to rupture eardrums.
Azrael, displaying slight discomfort, covered his ears while staring intently at Wu in the distance.
Before his eyes, the first person affected by the scream was Zoro, who stood closest to the creature.
The green-haired swordsman stared blankly at Wu before him.
The next moment, three long swords clattered to the ground in succession. Zoro sat motionless, hands clasped around his knees.
"???"
Azrael was momentarily bewildered by this sudden transformation.
"Impossible."
He perceived Zoro as being in perfect physical condition, clearly unharmed, yet the swordsman had lost all will to fight.
The next person affected was Frieren.
The white-haired elf's performance proved even more dramatic than Zoro's.
She had fallen asleep while leaning against her staff.
Azrael was about to wake her when a sudden wave of exhaustion washed over him.
He found himself in a state of despair, muttering, "I'm so tired."
"I don't want to work."
Seeing that the summoned creatures in the arena had apparently lost their fighting spirit, Wu slowly drifted toward Azrael.
Jin, perched on the elevated platform, watched the scene below with fascination, "Come now, let me observe."
Beside him, Chris hesitated, "Hey, aren't you going to intervene?"
"This experiment remains somewhat unstable."
"I'd suggest attempting something simpler. Your judgment is definitely sound, Old Dog Jin."
But Jin ignored his concerns completely.
Seeing this, Chris ceased his persuasion attempts, merely shaking his head slightly while regarding the young man below with sympathy.
The Skinner simply smiled at the scene before her, saying nothing.
Just as everyone present was lost in their respective thoughts, a terrifying hissing noise suddenly interrupted them.
But while it registered as a hissing noise to them, it sounded like music to Azrael's ears.
"Iron Man..."
Seeing this development, Chris's expression darkened in the stands, and with a twitching eye, he glanced at Jin beside him, "As long as you're satisfied."
He'd just believed that old bastard's claim about not revealing any information.
The target already possessed countering cards, yet Jin claimed he hadn't revealed anything? He'd be damned if he trusted that conniving elder again.
Jin's expression remained unchanged upon hearing Chris's words, though a trace of regret lingered in his heart, "I never anticipated such a coincidence!"
As one of the few Lore Cardians present who understood the demon's characteristics, he knew that with the young man possessing corresponding countermeasures, Wu would no longer pose any threat.
What followed proceeded exactly as Jin had anticipated.
As Zoro and Frieren returned to normal, Wu quickly lost all resistance.
Azrael also realized what had transpired.
The situation was particularly easy to deduce since only Shiraori remained unaffected.
Shiraori's [Ruler: Patience] ability's Outer Path Negation effect rendered her immune to Soul Damage of Gold rank and below.
From the description alone, this effect was undeniably top-tier at Gold level.
"I nearly got completely screwed."
Wu's unknown abilities clearly ranked among the finest at the Gold level.
Without Shiraori, Azrael might have been utterly defeated today.
"Jin."
Azrael's mind flashed with the image of the hook-nosed elder. This was undoubtedly no ordinary test. Azrael doubted that a typical Gold-level Lore Cardian could survive Wu's assault.
At that moment, he was absolutely certain that the hook-nosed elder had grown wary of him.
But there was little he could do about it. His advancement had been extraordinarily rapid, and he had only joined the Crimson Oath Society under pressure from Memphis.
"Tsk, I suppose I need to inquire about the specifics beforehand."
Azrael didn't want to lose his life without understanding the reasons. What if Jin suddenly decided to eliminate the entire operation?
He sensed the old man might actually attempt such a thing.
But considering the substantial investment the Crimson Oath Society had made in him, at least his life should remain safe until Jin launched whatever long-hidden scheme he was planning. This thought provided Azrael with modest reassurance.
Even as his mind churned with these concerns, the battle in the arena was drawing to its conclusion.
"Thud."
As Zoro slowly sheathed his blade, the floating Wu instantly dissipated, only to reveal a humanoid figure falling from within it.
Azrael stepped forward to collect the materials, but was stunned to discover none existed.
"How is that possible?"
Azrael froze in his tracks.
Shiraori had previously identified Wu as dropping a material called [Void Soul].
He carefully examined the corpse on the ground, realizing it wasn't actually a demon at all, but rather a human being.
Azrael immediately recalled the demonized Lore Cardian he'd encountered in his first secret realm during his junior year of high school.
The two situations were remarkably similar, except that previous encounter had yielded materials.
Just as Azrael began wondering about this discrepancy, a hoarse voice echoed nearby, "Don't bother looking! There won't be any."
It was Jin.
Azrael replied calmly, "President."
He longed to inquire about the situation, but the other party didn't seem inclined to provide explanations.
Jin continued, "Let's go, the test is complete."
Without another word, he turned and led Azrael back to the platform.
Only Memphis remained on the platform. Chris and the Skinner had already departed when Azrael passed the test.
While the young man's cards had impressed them, that was the extent of their interest.
He was, after all, merely a Gold-level Lore Cardian.
Even if they wanted to recruit him, they couldn't accomplish this in Jin's presence. No one wanted to antagonize this old lunatic.
Not to mention they were supposed allies.
Jin wasn't surprised to find his group alone. He simply gestured for Azrael and the others to follow.
Their objective today was informing the others about Antarctica, and it was time to return.
Regarding the test?
It was simply a test. Failure meant death, and success offered no reward.
However, just as they left the castle, Azrael suddenly looked out at the bustling crowd on the street and said, "President, I have some Gold-level materials I'd like to trade."
"Is there an appropriate venue nearby?"