After the examiner declared his victory, Lin Ke calmly recalled his Rock Vole. He gave his exhausted but triumphant pet a reassuring pat before walking off the arena floor, leaving the stunned crowd behind.
He didn't immediately proceed to the waiting area for the next round. Instead, a Guild staff member approached him with a respectful expression.
"Candidate Lin Ke," the staff member said, "Chief Proctor Magnus would like to have a word with you."
Lin Ke's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained a mask of calm. Chief Proctor Magnus was the white-haired old man he had seen in the monitoring room feed—the highest authority overseeing the entire qualification exam. To be summoned by him personally was highly unusual.
"Of course," Lin Ke replied. "Please lead the way."
He was led not to a public office, but to a quiet, private lounge. Inside, the white-haired old man sat in a comfortable armchair, sipping a cup of tea. The stern expression he wore during the exam was gone, replaced by one of keen, analytical curiosity.
"Please, sit," Magnus said, gesturing to the chair opposite him.
Lin Ke sat down, his posture straight but not overly tense.
"Lin Ke," the old man began, his eyes sharp as a hawk's. "I have personally reviewed the footage of both your battles. Your performance has been... exceptional."
"Thank you, sir. I was fortunate," Lin Ke replied with practiced humility.
Magnus chuckled softly. "Fortune? I don't believe in fortune. I believe in data. Your Rock Vole's agility, its defensive capabilities, its energy management... they all far exceed the known parameters for its species. And your tactical commands are as precise as a master surgeon's scalpel. That is not fortune. That is training."
He leaned forward slightly. "So, tell me. How did you do it? How did you turn what the world considers an F-rank pet into such an efficient fighting machine?"
This was the question Lin Ke had been anticipating. He had prepared his answer long ago.
"Sir, I do not believe any battle pet is truly 'trash'," Lin Ke said, his voice sincere. "I simply spent all my time and resources understanding my partner. I observed its habits, calculated its physical limits, and designed a training regimen tailored specifically to its body. The bond between a Tamer and their pet is the most powerful tool we have. I just tried to make the most of that bond."
His answer was a mixture of truth and well-crafted evasion. He spoke of observation, calculation, and bonds—all true—while carefully omitting the existence of the Gene Editor that made it all possible.
Magnus studied Lin Ke's face for a long, silent moment. The young man's eyes were clear and forthright, showing no signs of deception.
"A bond..." Magnus murmured thoughtfully. "A concept many young tamers forget in their pursuit of raw power. You have not only a brilliant mind for theory, but also a true heart for your partner. That is a rare combination."
The old proctor seemed satisfied with the answer. He leaned back again. "You have great potential, young man. Far more than most of the candidates out there today. But potential needs resources to flourish."
He paused, then made a surprising statement. "The champion of this year's qualification exam will receive, in addition to the standard rewards, a special privilege from me personally."
Lin Ke listened intently.
"I will grant the champion one-time access to the Guild's private 'Archive of Forgotten Species'. It contains research notes and genetic data on many ancient and extinct battle pets, information not available in any public database."
Lin Ke's breath caught. An archive of ancient genetic data? To him, with his Gene Editor, that wasn't just a reward. It was a treasure map to countless new God-level evolution paths. It was a prize of unimaginable value.
"I see the spark in your eyes," Magnus said with a knowing smile. "It seems I've offered something you desire. Good. I hope you do not disappoint me in the final rounds."
"I will do my best, sir," Lin Ke said, standing up and giving a respectful bow.
As he left the lounge, the weight of the chief proctor's attention settled on his shoulders. He was no longer an unknown candidate. He was being watched.
But with this new, incredible prize on the line, his will to win burned hotter than ever before. He had to become the champion. He had to gain access to that archive.