In the upper city of Igwynt, at the Cypress Fir Tower.
At noon, deep underground in the Cypress Fir Tower, the Igwynt’s Serenity Bureau was as busy as ever. Among the bustling crowd, Gregor walked down the corridor with a steady pace.
Though the dark circles under his eyes were still visible, and his expression carried a hint of fatigue, the slight upward curve of his lips revealed his current mood—quite pleased.
With a light step, Gregor passed by the old director’s office, which had been boarded up. He glanced through the window at the lush, vibrant greenery inside, waving at the twisting vines and tendrils that moved on their own. He then continued forward, arriving at the door of the new director’s office. He knocked respectfully.
"Come in."
Hearing the familiar voice, Gregor opened the door and entered the somewhat cramped office. Inside, he saw James sitting behind the desk, looking calm and smiling warmly.
"Mr. James, you wanted to see me?"
"Take a seat first."
James spoke directly, and Gregor nodded, sitting down in the chair in front of the desk. Once Gregor was seated, James didn’t immediately speak. Instead, he lit a cigar, took a couple of puffs, and then handed one to Gregor, who accepted it with thanks.
"An Apprentice, armed with a steel pipe and a brick, cornered a Black Earth rank in an alley, beat him up, and even knocked him out before bringing him back. In all my years in the hidden world, I’ve never seen anything like this. Gregor, you’ve really opened my eyes."After taking a few puffs of his cigar, James smiled as he spoke to Gregor, who responded modestly.
"It was just luck. For some reason, that Black-rank had lost the bone blades he could normally control, so most of his abilities were gone. That’s why I was able to subdue him. If he had been in the same state as he was during the Knight Street incident, I definitely wouldn’t have been a match for him. By the way, Mr. James, how’s that guy doing now? Has he woken up?"
"He’s awake, but his brain seems to have suffered repeated shocks, and he’s still a bit disoriented. It’ll probably take some time before we can get anything useful out of him."
James tapped the ash off his cigar as he spoke. In truth, he already knew most of the details. Not long ago, an envoy from the White Craftsmen’s Guild had visited him to explain the situation regarding the Knight Street incident. James had learned that it was a personal conflict involving a guild member that had inadvertently affected the local Hunters. The guild expressed regret and was willing to offer some compensation.
"Gregor, the reason I called you here today is mainly to discuss your situation."
James pointed at Gregor with his cigar and continued, "You."
"Me?"
"Yes. Despite the various coincidences involved, the fact remains that you, as an Apprentice, captured a Black-rank alive. You captured the murderer who had the blood of our Hunter comrades on his hands, a Bonesmith who has no doubt harmed countless civilians. This is a major achievement. Since the founding of the Igwynt’s Serenity Bureau, this is the first time such a significant individual accomplishment has been recorded. You’ve brought great honor to our bureau. Bringing you in was definitely the right decision."
James smiled as he spoke, and Gregor quickly responded.
"Not at all, I was just a bit lucky. The real credit goes to your guidance, Mr. James."
"No need to flatter me. Let me be direct. I’ve already reported your achievement to the Central Bureau. They see you as a promising talent and want you to take up a position in Tivian.”
"As a reward for your achievement, the Central Bureau has reserved a promotion slot for you. Once you’ve accumulated enough spirituality and performed well during the observation period in Tivian, they’ll arrange a Black Earth advancement ritual for you. So, from now on, focus your efforts on accumulating spirituality."
Leaning back in his office chair, James waved his hand as he spoke.
Hearing his superior’s words, Gregor was stunned, and it took him a moment to mutter, "The Central Bureau in Tivian... a promotion?!"
…
In the evening, the fading light of the setting sun bathed Southern Sunflower Street. Under the tall roadside trees, Gregor, who had miraculously gotten off work early, walked slowly along the path.
As he strolled down the sidewalk, Gregor’s brow was furrowed, his expression serious. His mind was still occupied by the conversation he’d had with James in the director’s office that afternoon.
"I never expected... after only three years in Igwynt, I’d have the chance to go to Tivian. And... after only a year and a half as a Beyonder, I already have the opportunity for advancement...”
"Has fortune truly smiled upon me? Am I the chosen one?"
Gregor thought to himself. To be honest, Gregor, who had always dreamed of rising above his station, was thrilled when James told him he could take up a position at the Central Bureau in Tivian and had the chance to advance to Black-rank. This was a huge step forward in his life, and he was genuinely excited about the new heights and opportunities that awaited him.
However, despite his strong desire to go to Tivian, Gregor didn’t immediately accept James’s proposal. He had one concern holding him back—his sister, Dorothy.
"Dorothy has only been in school in Igwynt for a short time. If I leave now, who will take care of her? I’ve heard that many schools in Tivian require a genuine noble status to attend. If we really go to Tivian, will we be able to find a suitable school for Dorothy? Would forcing her to transfer schools affect her studies? Maybe it’s better to let Dorothy continue studying in Igwynt and have Aunt Hannah and the others come to the city to take care of her..."
With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Gregor arrived at his apartment building and climbed the familiar stairs to his door.
Taking out his key, he unlocked the door and stepped into the living room, where he found two figures already seated.
One was his familiar sister, Dorothy, sitting on the sofa. Not far from her sat another figure.
It was an elderly man, dressed in a neat suit and wearing a hat, his hair graying. The man’s half-closed eyes exuded a kind and gentle demeanor.
"Ah, Gregor, you’re back? You’re early today." Dorothy greeted him from the doorway, and Gregor, momentarily stunned, responded.
"Yeah, I finally didn’t have to work overtime today, so I came back at the usual time. Dorothy, who is this...?" Gregor asked, his gaze shifting to the elderly man with a puzzled expression.
Dorothy smiled and replied, "This is Mr. Dean, one of my teachers at school. He’s here for a home visit today to discuss some matters."
As Dorothy spoke, the elderly man with the kind expression stood up from the sofa and walked over to Gregor, extending a hand that still had a bit of white dust on it.
"Hello, Mr. Mayschoss. I’m a teacher at Saint Amanda’s School. I’ve come to see you today regarding some matters concerning Miss Mayschoss. I hope I’m not intruding."
Hearing the elderly man’s words and seeing his outstretched hand, Gregor was momentarily stunned. A sense of unease crept into his mind.
"A teacher’s home visit? Oh no, did Dorothy cause trouble at school?!"