The bearded master wasn't afraid of Ethan himself getting angry. What he truly feared were the two people standing behind Ethan. If they decided to insist that the organization had tried to trick Ethan, then it was very possible that the blame would fall squarely on him. In that case, he might be tossed out of the organization as the scapegoat.
Looking at Ethan's frowning face, the bearded master suddenly regretted his earlier schemes. He realized he had to build a good relationship with Ethan first. Putting on a more casual tone, he said bluntly,
"Kid, what's wrong with you? You're frowning and not saying a word."
Ethan raised his eyes. "I want to know something. Besides hunting wild monsters, is there any other way to get precious materials?"
The bearded master was caught off guard. "Uh… that?"
"If not?" Ethan pressed.
Scratching his head, the bearded man chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, I thought you'd just been dumped with that bitter face of yours. Precious materials, huh? Well, that depends on what you need them for."
Ethan leaned forward, listening carefully.
"In addition to the bodies of wild monsters, there are also rare magical resources in secret realms and in the abyss. Some professional craftspeople can even create materials themselves."
Ethan tilted his head. "What kind of materials can you get from secret realms or the abyss?"
The bearded master explained patiently, "Take the secret realm you're about to enter for your entrance exam, for example. There are plenty of materials there that don't come from monsters. People call them natural treasures. Fruits of magical plants, crystals from special ore veins—things like that. They often hold unique powers or effects."
Ethan's eyes widened.
No wonder the alienation process with his summoned beasts had always felt strange. Up until now, he had only used materials carved from monsters—claws, bones, skins. Those materials never truly meshed with his beasts, almost as if their "genes" didn't match. But treasures like fruits, crystals, or plant essences could change everything.
This discovery opened Ethan's mind completely.
For the first time, he realized just how important further education would be. Knowledge of this kind wasn't floating around in the outside world—it was something only a proper university could teach.
Seeing Ethan's expression brighten, the bearded master seized the chance. "You've probably never visited Ravenshade University. Come on, let me show you the campus."
Without waiting for Ethan's agreement, the man shifted instantly into the role of tour guide.
"See that building over there? The one with the globe sitting on a book? It symbolizes how knowledge expands our horizons. But guess what the students joke about it?"
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"They say it means, 'Reading is good for hitting a ball!'" The bearded master burst into laughter.
Ethan couldn't help but crack a smile.
Of course, the man's true purpose wasn't to give Ethan a tour. As they rolled past, he spotted the training field, where Instructor Charles and three students were gathered in the open space. With deliberate casualness, the bearded master parked the car right next to them.
Leaning out his window, he called, "Hey, Instructor Charles, are you running the trial again this time?"
Before the puzzled group could respond, he added smoothly, "I'm just showing my friend around Ravenshade University. Don't mind us—carry on."
As he spoke, he made sure to roll down the window on Ethan's side, revealing him clearly to the group.
Then, with a smug grin, he floored the accelerator and sped off.
The four left behind were in total confusion.
"Wait a second… wasn't that the guy who came out of the dungeon earlier?" one of the students whispered.
"I didn't think Teacher Tu actually knew him—let alone so well!" another muttered.
"Tomorrow, I'm asking Teacher Tu for his contact details," a third declared.
Instructor Charles stood there with his jaw nearly on the floor. Did that boy really know him? And why? Given his modest teaching ability, it made no sense. Yet there Ethan had been, casually driving away with someone clearly respected.
The bearded master, meanwhile, was enjoying Charles's dumbstruck face even in the rearview mirror. Humming happily, he drove Ethan toward their true destination: the staff dormitories.
When they stopped, Ethan stepped out and found himself facing a man who looked like nothing more than an old janitor. The man wore a faded vest and simple flip-flops. Yet Ethan could sense something unusual about him.
"You really pick the best disguises," Ethan admitted. "Who would ever suspect a janitor?"
After all, among the bustling crowds—even among aliens themselves—who would ever pay attention to a janitor?
The old man coughed lightly. "Ethan, right? Don't be nervous. Sit down."
Ethan sat calmly.
"Xiao Tu has already told you about our organization," the man said. "May I ask why you don't wish to join us?"
Ethan didn't bother with polite detours. "Because I don't like being restrained. I don't like people controlling me. And most importantly, I haven't seen your sincerity yet."
The janitor studied him silently.
Ethan had already thought things through. What he lacked most was knowledge—about the world, about rare resources, about the mysteries of secret realms and the abyss. The organization might be useful for gathering such information, but in four years—after graduating from university—he might already stand at the top of the world. At that point, whether he obeyed their commands would depend entirely on his mood.
The janitor sighed. Clearly, the bearded master had bungled the entire recruitment attempt. He hadn't even told Ethan about the benefits.
So the janitor began to explain.
"Let's talk about remuneration. Even the lowest rank in our organization—the Earth Dragon Guard—earns an annual salary of over ten million."
Ethan blinked.
"The income from every mission is yours to keep. On top of that, you receive additional rewards—rare skill books, powerful items, and more. For example, Xiao Tu is currently a fifth-level Golden Dragon Guard, second only to me. His yearly salary is 300 million. For this mission alone, his bonus might exceed a billion, along with a golden-ranked skill book of great value."
The janitor's tone grew firm. "And in case you are seriously injured while on a mission, the organization guarantees pensions for you and your family. You know our backers. This is what people call an iron rice bowl—it is stable, secure, and organized."
He leaned forward. "If you agree to join, I will give you special approval. You won't need to start at the bottom. You'll be promoted directly to a third-level Black Dragon Guard, with authority to command a squad of eight."
The man's eyes glittered with anticipation. "So, Ethan. What do you say? Don't you want to join us now?"
For a moment, silence hung in the air. Both the janitor and the bearded master watched Ethan with eager eyes.
Ethan slowly shook his head.
"I don't want to."
The two men froze, stunned.
"!?"
The silence stretched, the weight of his refusal filling the room.
--------------------------
Visit our Patreon for more:
Get membership in patreon to read more chapters
Extra chapters available in patreon
patreon.com/Dragonscribe31
----------------------------------------------------- .