A faint blue light flared within the Crystal Ball, instantly filling Allen's vision.
An invisible, icy Perception, like the most precise probe, pierced straight into the depths of his consciousness without giving him any time to react.
Allen's body remained completely still, but his heart suddenly sank.
It had finally come. The greatest original sin and biggest flaw of a Transmigrator—the soul.
His brain went into overdrive as DSeek's data streams refreshed at an unprecedented rate.
[Warning: Unknown scan detected.]
[Analyzing scan properties... Analysis complete: Non-offensive, structural probe.]
[Simulated Countermeasure 1: Psychological suggestion... Failure rate 99.9%.]
[Simulated Countermeasure 2: Open probe... Risk: Unknown.]
After a split second of calculation, Allen chose the latter.
In the face of an absolute disparity in power, any form of resistance was tantamount to provocation.
He lowered his eyelids, concealing the ripples in his gaze, and allowed that power to patrol through his sea of consciousness.
It didn't touch his memories; it was only measuring and sensing, as if listening to the most essential "frequency" of his soul.
The Elder Wizard adjusted his monocle and carefully observed the shifting Runes inside the Crystal Ball, his brows furrowing slightly.
"Interesting," he muttered to himself. "The frequency of your Soul Core... is not completely in sync with the background rhythm of this world."
Allen's breathing hitched for a split second.
The Elder Wizard raised his head. Those eyes seemed capable of piercing through all disguises. "Boy, you're not a native soul of this world, are you?"
It was not a question, but a statement.
The air instantly grew heavy. A fine layer of cold sweat seeped from Allen's back.
He did not answer, merely looking at the Elder Wizard with solemnity. In front of an existence of this level, any lie would seem pale and ridiculous.
The silence lingered for a few seconds.
The Elder Wizard suddenly withdrew his hand, and the light of the Crystal Ball dimmed accordingly. He took off his monocle and wiped it unhurriedly with a velvet cloth.
"But it doesn't matter."
These few light words caused Allen's tense nerves to suddenly relax.
"Although your soul is special, it is very 'clean.' The core is intact, unpolluted, and free from any contractual entanglements with other supernatural beings." The Elder Wizard put his monocle back on, his tone as flat as if he were discussing the weather. "We at the Gate of Truth only care whether this 'tool' of yours is useful. As for where the tool came from..."
He glanced at Allen, a meaningful smile appearing at the corners of his mouth.
"Every year, countless souls 'fall' into our universe from other worlds due to various accidents. Most of them are annihilated in the Sea of Magical Power, while a lucky few manage to find a physical vessel. You are not the first, and you won't be the last."
The Elder Wizard's words were like a boulder thrown into the lake of Allen's heart, setting off raging waves.
So, transmigration here was actually... not an uncommon phenomenon?
"We even set up a dedicated research project for this, codenamed 'Outlander.'"
The Elder Wizard picked up the agreement. "For us, you outsiders are nothing more than batches of unremarkable research materials possessing the 'initial settings' of different worlds."
Allen's fingertips trembled imperceptibly at his side, an involuntary reaction he immediately suppressed by force.
The cold sweat on his back finally soaked through his clothes at this moment, bringing a burst of icy sensation.
His greatest secret was, in the other party's eyes, nothing but a commonplace research sample.
The so-called crisis stemmed from his own information gap and limited horizons. This realization made him feel a wave of relief, yet also a deeper chill.
"Alright, the routine is over." The Elder Wizard handed over a Feather Pen. "Sign it, and starting today, you are a reservist of the Gate of Truth."
Allen took the pen, the slight trembling of his fingertips having subsided. He no longer hesitated and signed his name, stroke by stroke, at the bottom of the agreement.
"Allen Wesren."
When the last stroke fell, his name seemed to be endowed with life, emitting a faint glow.
The ink did not seep into the paper; instead, it flowed on the surface like a living creature, linking with the other Runes on the agreement.
The next moment, the entire agreement suddenly burst into flames, turning into two distinct streams of light. One, a silver color symbolizing knowledge, instantly plunged into the center of Allen's forehead.
He felt a surge of information rush into his mind. It contained the rules of the "investment agreement," acting as both an invisible shackle and an invisible coordinate.
The other stream of light, a golden hue symbolizing the contract, let out a crisp chime and flew into the metal box by the Elder Wizard's hand with a muffled CLICK, as if sealing his fate.
"Alright, go sit over there and wait." The Elder Wizard pointed to a row of empty chairs in the corner of the hall, picking up his manuscript again as if nothing had just happened.
Allen sat down as instructed.
Vera, who had been watching with bated breath from behind him, only now dared to take small steps forward and hand over her own evaluation report.
The Elder Wizard took the report and glanced over it. "Magic Power affinity A, Meditation Talent S, focus and memory are both B. It's barely acceptable."
The same procedure and the same Crystal Ball test followed. Vera clearly didn't have Allen's secrets, so her test concluded quickly.
"Your soul is pure." The Elder Wizard nodded and handed her another agreement. "Sign it."
After Vera signed, she walked stiffly over to sit next to Allen, not daring to speak.
Time slowly passed in this quiet atmosphere.
Outside the tower, the square bustled with people. New Guiding Ships landed from time to time, bringing batch after batch of hopeful youths.
Many were attracted to the quaint tower of the Gate of Truth and walked in to try their luck.
"Two C ratings? Apologies, but our minimum threshold here is B." A lavishly dressed boy was bluntly turned away, his face filled with indignation.
"Magic Power affinity S, but a Meditation Talent of only C? Your upper limit is too low, and we don't do short-term investments." A seemingly exceptionally gifted girl also left in disappointment.
"You want to become a Bloodline Wizard? Turn right when you exit. The Ring City Alliance might be more interested in your muscles." An imposing young man didn't even make the Elder Wizard put down his book.
Sitting in the corner like an outsider, Allen calmly observed it all.
He realized that the Elder Wizard's reasons for rejecting people varied wildly, but the core was singular: they did not fit the investment model of the Gate of Truth. What they wanted was not immediate combat power, nor simply high attributes, but raw gems with potential.
Just like himself—he had a mediocre Magic Power aptitude, but by relying on two auxiliary S-grade mental talents, he was judged as "exceptional" and obtained this precious contract.
Over the course of the afternoon, at least thirty-some people came to inquire, but not a single one succeeded.
At dusk, a frail, timid boy walked into the tower.
He wore old clothes washed until they were faded, tightly clutching an evaluation report in his hands, so nervous that his palms were covered in sweat.
He walked up to the table, not even daring to look up at the Elder Wizard. He only spoke in a mosquito-like voice, "Hello, I... I want to try."
The Elder Wizard finally put down his book once again. He sized up the boy for a few moments before taking the somewhat crumpled report.
"Colin... Magic Power affinity A, Meditation Talent B, focus and memory both B. Suspected to have a special talent," the Elder Wizard read aloud. These attributes would not normally reach the threshold for the Gate of Truth, but having a special talent made things different.
The Elder Wizard revealed an intrigued expression for the second time that day, and he had Colin undergo the soul test.
"Not bad. It looks like you have an affinity for some kind of special element," the Elder Wizard evaluated. "Although your report scores are average, your special talent is enough to make up for it.
"Sign it. Your direction is very clear. Go to the Seven Towers Alliance and specialize in the Elemental School. Ten years from now, I want to see a Witchcraft master who can independently control a special element."
The boy named Colin was so thrilled he almost cried, his hands shaking as he signed his name.
When he walked over to the waiting area and saw Allen and Vera, he became even more flustered, merely finding a far corner to sit down, too afraid to approach them.
As night fell, the clamor on the square gradually subsided.
The Elder Wizard stood up and stretched. "Alright, the annual recruitment season has finally ended."
He beckoned to the three of them. "You three, follow me."
He led them past the bookshelves and into the depths of the tower. A spiral staircase winding upward appeared before their eyes.
"You will stay here for the night. There are a few rooms on the top floor with food and water." The Elder Wizard pointed upstairs. "Tomorrow at daybreak, gather in the first-floor hall. I will take you to the teleportation point."
He paused and added, "Remember, from the moment you signed the agreement, you are no longer rookies who need to be coddled. At the academy, everything depends on you fighting for it yourselves. We only care about results."
After saying that, he turned and left, leaving the three of them to exchange awkward glances.
Allen took the lead and stepped onto the stairs. Vera hesitated for a moment before following. Colin trailed at the very back, maintaining a distance of three or four steps from them.
Each room on the top floor contained only a bed and a window overlooking the night view of the square outside, where brilliant lights flashed from time to time.
Just then, Vera seemed to muster all her courage. Leaning slightly forward, she whispered to Allen, "H-hello, my name is Vera. Thank you... earlier, I didn't know where to go, and it was only because I saw you walking this way that I..."
Allen turned his head, gave her a calm look, and nodded slightly. "Allen Wesren. You made the right choice."
He had no intention of conversing further. Walking straight into the leftmost room, he closed the door. It was obvious that neither of them possessed any noteworthy intelligence to offer.