The Head Judge's declaration hung in the air, a statement so absolute it silenced the vast hall for a moment before erupting into a cacophony of disbelief. Whispers tore through the ranks of the other thousand applicants.
"Who? Jin Park?"
"Number 742? I've never heard that name before."
"He made dumplings! How did dumplings get the highest score?"
High in the viewing boxes, the atmosphere was electric. Representatives who had been lazily observing the predictable combat exams were now in a frantic state of activity.
"What do you mean his file is empty?!" a man in the crimson blazer of the Ignis Mage Academy, one of the nation's premier schools for elemental combat mages, snapped at his aide. "An orphan with no training records produces that? Find out everything you can about him!"
In the Zenith Academy box, the stern Dean Elara watched the plain-faced boy on the floor with an unblinking, analytical gaze. He stood perfectly still amidst the chaos he had created, his expression not one of pride or shock, but of quiet, unnerving calm. It was the composure of someone who had expected this exact outcome.
"Ma'am," her aide said, his voice trembling slightly. "We have incoming scholarship offers for Applicant Jin Park from twelve other academies, including Aegis and Sovereign, the top combat and magic schools respectively."
Dean Elara didn't take her eyes off Jin Park. "They are acting on hype. Send him our official recruitment package for the Prime Division. Full scholarship. Tier-1 resource allocation. Personal research lab access. Make it an offer no one else can possibly match."
Her aide gasped. "Ma'am! The Prime Division is for Mythical-grade talents or higher! His file says he's Normal-grade!"
"The file is either wrong or incomplete," Elara stated coldly. "That boy is an anomaly. And Zenith Academy will be the one to study him."
Down on the floor, Jin Park maintained his mask of humble surprise. He bowed respectfully to Master Chef Jin-Woo. He was then escorted from the hall by a proctor to a waiting area for high-scoring applicants. The room was already occupied by a handful of others who had achieved top scores in their respective divisions. In the center of the room, holding court, was Kang-Dae.
The Crimson Lancer had, as expected, dominated the combat examination. A replay of his flawless performance looped on a holographic screen. When Jin Park entered, Kang-Dae gave him a cursory, dismissive glance. He was just another face, a low-mana nobody who probably got a lucky high score in some useless Life Job category.
"Pathetic," Kang-Dae muttered to his followers, loud enough for Jin Park to hear. "They even let the cooks and tailors wait in the same room as the real Awakeners."
Jin Park ignored him, finding a quiet corner to stand in, his presence so muted by his Imperceptible talent that the others quickly forgot he was even there.
A sleek notification drone zipped into the room. It hovered directly in front of Kang-Dae, displaying a formal letterhead.
[Offer of Admission: Aegis National Combat Academy]
[Full Scholarship. Tier-2 Resource Allocation.]
A murmur of appreciation went through the room. Aegis was a top-tier combat school, a dream for any martial Awakener. Kang-Dae puffed out his chest, a triumphant smirk on his face. This was his due. More drones zipped in, presenting him with offers from half a dozen other prestigious combat academies.
Then, a second drone entered. It buzzed past the celebrating Kang-Dae and stopped directly in front of the silent, unassuming Jin Park in the corner.
The holographic seal it displayed caused the entire room to fall silent. It was the deep blue zenith star.
[Offer of Admission: Zenith National Academy - Prime Division]
[Full Scholarship. Tier-1 Resource Allocation.]
[Grant of Personal Research Laboratory.]
[Offer is Exclusive and Time-Sensitive.]
The silence was deafening. Kang-Dae's smirk froze, then melted from his face, replaced by utter, slack-jawed disbelief.
"Prime... Division?" one of the other applicants whispered in awe. "That's Zenith's legendary program for national-level talents! For monsters!"
"Tier-1 Resources? A personal lab? Who is that guy?" another stammered.
Kang-Dae stared at the offer hovering in front of the plain-faced stranger, then back at his own impressive offers. They suddenly felt like cheap consolation prizes. All the glory, all the attention he had rightfully earned with his Legendary talent and overwhelming power, had just been stolen by a complete unknown. A no-name chef from nowhere.
His pride, the core of his entire being, shattered. Rage, pure and hot, flooded his face. "You!" he snarled, pointing a shaking finger at Jin Park. "Who the hell are you?! How did a no-name cook get an offer like that?! You must have cheated!"
The accusation was wild, born of pure jealousy. Jin Park finally looked at him, his expression calm and unbothered, as if looking at a child throwing a tantrum. This silent dismissal infuriated Kang-Dae even more.
Jin Park calmly reached out and pressed the 'Accept' button on the holographic display.
The drone emitted a pleasant chime.
[Offer Accepted. Welcome to Zenith National Academy.]
He had officially infiltrated the top academy in the nation, not as a recognized rival, but as a complete mystery. An unforeseen variable that had just publicly humiliated the city's top prospect without saying a single word. The wolf was not just in the sheepfold; he had been personally invited into the master's lodge, and no one even knew he was a wolf.