"Uh, yeah," Max replied blankly, completely taken aback by the woman's actions. She ca in and just fired George like it was nothing.
"Haha, well, you are indeed a cute one." Sophia chuckled softly, seeing Max's surprised look.
"Cute?" Max murmured, his face heating up with embarrassnt. He quickly turned his attention away from her, hoping to hide his flustered expression.
"What about them?" Max asked, quickly pointing toward the other young hunters, eager to change the subject and divert her attention.
Sophia smiled sweetly and said, "They will be taken care of when the new head of the branch arrives. It won't take long— a day at most."
Max glanced at her and shrugged. "Then we can leave if you have nothing to do."
Sophia nodded, then turned to Ryan and the bald-headed man. "You two will take care of the branch until the new head is assigned." She ordered, her tone authoritative.
They nodded in unison. "As you say, Miss Sophia."
Sophia then stood up and turned to Max. "Let's go."
Max glanced at her as she moved forward, then shifted his gaze to the young hunters one last ti before quickly hurrying to follow behind her.
The young hunters watched as Max followed the mysterious woman and disappeared from their sight.
Lyra gazed at the disappearing back of Max, her thoughts unknown.
---
"I thought we were leaving the branch building, but why are we walking deeper inside?" Max muttered out loud.
Sophia smiled, turning to Max but didn't say anything as she continued to lead.
So ti later, they appeared in front of a heavily secured circular do. Hundreds of people could be seen guarding the area with swords and guns, constantly moving around the do.
'What's inside?' Max beca curious about this place. Of all the places he had seen in the branch of the Phoenix Order guild, only this place was heavily secured by hundreds of soldiers.
Seeing Sophia coming over, all the soldiers kneeled down and made way for her.
'Her rank should be high enough to get this much respect,' Max mused as he followed behind her and entered the do.
Inside the do, there was only one thing: a hemispherical, steadily rotating vortex of blue energy.
"Is that a portal?" Max asked, turning to Sophia.
"Correct. Now stand before it," Sophia said, instructing him.
Max nodded and stood before the portal.
A robotic voice sounded at that mont.
[4321, unknown, failed]
"Override, C-Sophia Ember, U-Max Morgan," Sophia said.
[Overriding complete.]
[Max Morgan, 4321, confird]
With that, Max disappeared into the portal.
Sophia pondered for a mont before she also stood beside the portal.
[Sophia Ember, 987, confird]
With those robotic words, she also disappeared, just like Max.
---
Max suddenly found himself standing on concrete ground, surrounded by vast, open plains. The sun blazed high above in the clear blue sky, casting sharp shadows across the area.
Around him, hundreds of hunters of various ages moved about, each engrossed in their own tasks, creating a bustling yet focused atmosphere.
Behind him stood a glowing blue portal, almost the size of a small building.
"Surprised?" Sophia's voice ca from behind at that mont.
Max nodded at her.
"Haha," Sophia chuckled softly, glancing forward. "Look, your dear 'friend' has arrived."
Max felt strange at her tone, but he did see Alice coming toward them, with Amy quietly following behind her.
"Max, you ca." Alice smiled upon arriving before him.
"Well, I always wanted to co here, so it's no big deal." Max replied calmly.
Sophia looked at the two of them and shook her head before saying, "Alice, take Max to my departnt."
"Let's go." Alice led Max in a certain direction, with Amy following behind them.
Sophia gazed at their disappearing backs, lost in thought.
---
"Take this." Alice tossed Max a small book on the way.
"What's this?" Max asked, catching it.
"It's a book about the main branch," Alice explained briefly. "All new mbers of the guild receive these books to help them navigate the area. Our Phoenix Order is more like a small city, and people often get lost here."
Max nodded and put it away.
As Alice explained so more basic things about the guild to Max, they arrived in front of a huge entrance. Many people could be seen coming and going through the entrance.
Max noticed a huge board where 'Arcane Order' was written in glowing golden flas.
"This is the departnt handled by Big Sis Sophia," Alice introduced, looking at Max. "If you want to control flas and learn more about it, then this is the best departnt for you."
Max nodded and said with a smile, "I indeed want to learn more about controlling flas and such."
"Let's go then." Alice nodded, leading Max inside the Arcane Order departnt. There, she introduced Max to the many perks and features of the departnt before they arrived in front of a small crowd.
"Look at this kid… I've never seen him before."
"Yeah, it's a new face for sure."
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"It seems Miss Alice has brought him here."
"How could Miss Alice hang out with soone at level 6 of Novice Rank?"
The crowd murmured as they caught sight of a new face. They were even more surprised to see Alice accompanying a naless kid.
Just then, an old lady erged from the crowd and approached Max and Alice. Her long white hair was neatly tied back, and her smooth skin gave her a youthful appearance. The only indication of her age was the wooden stick she leaned on for support.
"Alice, who is this kid?" She asked, her tone strict.
"Grandma Yu, this is Max Morgan," Alice said respectfully, introducing Max. "He is here on the recomndation of Big Sis Sophia."
"Her?" Grandma Yu looked between Max and Alice with a deep frown, as if understanding sothing, before turning to Max. "This is the departnt where one learns about controlling flas. Show if you have flas or not."
Max nodded and activated his level 10 Fla Creation skill. Flas erupted in both of his hands, their intense heat casting a soft, flickering glow that illuminated his face.
"Hmm, a skill around level 7? Or is it 8?" Grandma Yu nodded in satisfaction and said to Max. "You are eligible to enter this departnt, but there is one more test left before you can truly join the Arcane Order. However, for that, you'll have to wait for a few minutes."
After that, Grandma Yu turned to the crowd surrounding them and asked loudly, "Those who have lost 5 tis in a row in the Battle Realm, co forward."
Hearing her words, many hunters in the crowd, from young to old, began trembling nonstop. They lowered their heads and refused to look back at her.
"What's happening?" Max asked, whispering to Alice. He beca very curious about the scene in front of him.
Alice smiled teasingly and said, "Watch closely; soday, maybe you will also have to go through this situation."
Max sweated nervously. From her words, he understood that it wasn't sothing most people here would look forward to doing.
Just then, eleven people ca forward and stood in front of Grandma Yu. They were trembling in fear, their bodies visibly shaking as they exchanged nervous glances.
Grandma Yu gazed at all eleven people before her, her eyes cold and unblinking. With a sudden movent, her stick tapped the ground.
Stack! Stack! Stack!
In an instant, all eleven of them groaned in extre pain. Red, swollen marks appeared on their hands, as if the stick had struck them, even though it hadn't touched their skin. They staggered, clutching their hands, their faces contorted in agony.
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