Master had performed another advanced summoning.
Ten new advanced heroes had arrived to the forged land.
It had only been a week since the three 4-stars were summoned.
Was Sigyn testing their luck? Hoping to summon more powerful heroes?
"What's the result of the screening process, Jasper?'
I asked the Chief Administrator in my office.
As per their duties, this time I let the administrators welcomed the new advanced heroes and examined all of them.
Background investigations and competency assessments. All were done to discover the things we needed to know from new recruits.
"Three mages, two sword-wielders, three polearm-wielders, and two archers."
The Chief Administrator reported.
He continued.
"All ten summoned heroes were ranked 3-star, Your Excellency."
No 4-star.
I wondered if it was because the previous 4-stars summoning had spent the powers of the subquest feather.
Yuxia was summoned to the forged land only few days after we obtained the subquest reward, after all.
Ulrica, Djhotti, and Graihan arrived after the feather had resided in the lobby for months more.
Perhaps the mysterious item needed time to 'recharge' before it could summon more powerful heroes.
Even so, we still acquired three more mages from this summoning. I was certain the feather had something to do with it.
"Among the new 3-star heroes, eight are from the empire, one is from Tchakra, and one is from Tsahanam. None had any relations to one another. And, most importantly, none are connected to any enemy faction, Your Excellency."
The Chief Administrator said as he presented his written report.
I examined the newcomers' documents thoroughly and nodded in approval.
"They are staying in the second floor lodging?"
"Indeed, Your Excellency. Master has assigned them there despite their star ranking."
The second floor 2-star trainees had climbed the tower high enough and could overpower the new 3-star heroes now.
It would not be fair anymore if the advanced heroes were immediately assigned to the fancier third floor just because they had higher star rank.
Even Fangli and Haoban were originally assigned to the second floor by Master before the Tchakrans decided themselves to stay on the first floor.
"Good work, Jasper. You may resume with your duties."
I told the Chief Administrator.
The short man bowed to me and left the office.
I spent a bit more time reading the newcomers' profiles.
Their origins and skills. What they used to do before coming here. Their views on the Great Houses.
As Jasper reported, it did not seem we had anything to worry regarding this new batch of 3-star heroes.
We could immediately have them view all the Quintal Trial records and started preparing for their party assignments.
Having heard and read what I needed to know of the newcomers, it was time for me to meet them.
I focused my mind on the detection field I had deployed throughout the forged land.
If I wanted to start teleporting without a beacon instrument, then I needed to be very familiar with my destination.
Spreading my detection field constantly would help me achieve that sense.
Eventually I discovered the new 3-star heroes inside a sitting room in the second floor lodging.
I knew it was them from the attires and weapons I sensed on their persons.
['Serafina (★★★★)'s Mana Detection has levelled up to level 6!]
Having found my destination, I made my detection mana gather on a particular spot in that sitting room.
I gathered the magical particles into the corner I had chosen, accumulated them into a pulsing bundle, until the waves they emanated were powerful enough to act as a guide for my dimensional spell.
Using the makeshift beacon as an anchor, I weaved the thread of space and time and teleported myself.
['Serafina (★★★★)'s Hands that Twist Space and Time has levelled up to level 7!]
My environment shifted from my office into a large sitting room occupied by a crowd of armed people cladded in either armors or hooded robes.
The 3-star newcomers immediately threw their surprised gazes at me upon my sudden arrival.
As expected from 3-star heroes, they all had the air of experienced combatants in comparison to newly-summoned 1-stars.
Despite being level 1, their initial stats were already on par to a level 6 1-star hero.
Their weapon skills were already level 3. Paired with a couple of auxiliary skills.
They were not 4-stars, but these heroes were still great additions to the forged land's forces.
Several administrators that were accompanying the 3-star newcomers immediately walked to me and bowed slightly.
"Your Excellency."
They greeted.
"How much have the newcomers learned of the forged land?"
I asked the administrators.
"Everything, Your Excellency. They've been made aware of Master's authority as well as Your Excellency's, the trial missions, levels and skills, status windows, and the workings of the lobby."
One of the staffs said.
"They are 3-stars who already possessed prior knowledge of the forged land. So it did not take long to brief them of their duties in the lobby."
The other staff added.
Hearing the administrators, I approached the newcomers.
A tall dignified man in a knight's armor immediately stepped forth from the crowd of 3-star heroes.
"My lady, are you this Vice-Master these uniformed officers talked about?"
"I am. My name is Serafina Magda Zeref."
Upon hearing my introduction, the knight made a graceful bow to me.
"Rizarde Slava, head knight of House Tarantin, at your service, my lady."
[Rizarde Slava (★★★) Lv.1 (Exp 0/10)]
[Class: Warrior]
[Strength: 17/17]
[Intelligence: 10/10]
[Stamina: 15/15]
[Agility: 12/12]
[Skills: Basic Swordsmanship Lv.3, Composure Lv.2, Insight Lv.1]
The Tarantin was a neutral minor House in northern Tsatu. Not our enemy.
"Pleasure meeting you, Sir Slava. But now that you are summoned here, I must remind you that your allegiance now belongs to Sigyn, the supreme ruler of the forged land."
I told the 3-star hero with cautioning tone.
The knight stiffened upon my words.
I went on with a firm clear voice.
"Tarantin is no longer your master. Sigyn is."