625 Elder Severus
As their magic airboat drew closer to the imperial capital, Vaan marveled at the intricate system of rivers and water channels flowing through the city like veins, supplying it with life. Many rooftops were used to grow crops and dicinal herbs.
The entire city was simply overflowing with flora.
As far as Vaan could see, there wasn't a single building that wasn't covered in so form of vegetation.
If Dragonmoor City were comparable to a ruined ancient city, the imperial capital would be comparable to a very developed city that had been abandoned for hundreds of years, allowing it to be covered in vegetation, except it wasn't an abandoned city.
On the contrary, the imperial capital was very lively.
Nevertheless, it wasn't difficult to discover where the main location of the Ten-Year Glory Evaluation was held in the imperial capital.
It was an amphitheater.
However, this amphitheater was just like the imperial capital – incredibly enormous and grand. Its sheer size and seating space allowed it to hold well over a hundred thousand spectators comfortably.
That said, if people didn't mind squeezing, the spectator capacity would be even higher.
The battle arena itself in the center was also very large, enough to let hundreds of warriors fight in it simultaneously.
Given the large number of participants that joined whenever the grand event was held, it wasn't strange for the organizer to have several rounds of free-for-all battles in order to thin the number of participants.
Nevertheless, a capacity of a hundred thousand was nowhere near enough to accommodate every spectator.
There were also dozens of sky-scraping buildings around the enormous amphitheater. Each of these tall buildings had large balconies with great viewing space for the amphitheater.
Unfortunately, this amount of viewing space was still limited.
It was clear that not everyone in the imperial capital would get the chance to spectate the battles between the greatest talents in the empire.
…
The magic airboat soon landed in an open space commonly used as a docking bay for the wealthy and powerful figures who could afford flying vessels.
Vaan and the ten warriors imdiately received the highest level of respect and hospitality when they disembarked the magic airboat. At the sa ti, they also received wary and probing stares from their competitors.
Everyone nearby had recognized the unique emblem of Duke Zaahir on the magic airboat. As such, they also recognized Vaan's group as one of the biggest candidates for winning the competitions.
Around this ti, with the grand event only six days away, there wasn't a single inn that wasn't booked out. Hoping for vacancies was like expecting the sun not to rise the next day – it just wasn't possible.
Many people were prepared to sleep on the streets until the grand event ended.
Fortunately for Vaan's group, Duke Zaahir had a private residence in the imperial capital, which was arranged to accommodate them.
As such, the ten warriors intended to head there first to unload their belongings and rest.
However, Vaan had other plans. Thus, he separated from the group and headed straight for Martial Hall's main school to hand in Duke Zaahir's recomndation letter.
The Martial Hall had branch schools in many large cities across the empire, but they were nothing compared to the main school. The Martial Hall's main school occupied an entire district itself and possessed many training grounds and facilities.
It was the best place to nurture talent.
Even the current emperor had been a student of Martial Hall at so point in his life when he was young and learning. In fact, the previous emperors had also been students of Martial Hall. The Martial Hall was an integral part of the Great Ratholos Empire.
Many of its mbers grew to take up important positions in the empire.
There were two great forces in the Great Ratholos Empire, which even the ruling emperor could not control, and the Martial Hall was one of them.
The main school alone had at least two hundred thousand mbers staying within its grounds.
When Vaan arrived at the southern main entrance and showed Duke Zaahir's seal on the recomndation letter, a core mber personally escorted him to the elder in charge of the Registration Hall.
He didn't encounter any trouble, and everyone was respectful of one another.
The environnt within Martial Hall's school grounds was surprisingly harmonious despite the competitiveness. Supposedly, the Martial Hall didn't just produce martial talents but also good characters. Or at least, it seed that way on the surface.
Perhaps there were strict punishnts for bullies who affected the mood and learning experience of other mbers.
"Elder Severus, I've brought a person with Duke Zaahir's recomndation letter," the core mber inford a grey-haired old man full of wrinkles and battle scars.
After the core mber finished handing Vaan over to the grey-haired old man, he stood to the side and didn't leave the building.
"Oh," Elder Severus uttered without a change to his calm expression while accepting the letter from Vaan.
This grey-haired old man gave the impression that even if the capital fell the next day, he would still face it calmly; nothing could affect his tranquil state of mind, be it wind or rain, death or destruction.
Furthermore, his aura was so withdrawn that he seed like an ordinary mortal who had never trained. However, his extraordinary state of mind and frightening scars showed he was anything but an ordinary, untrained mortal.
Elder Severus studied Vaan's features multiple tis while reading Duke Zaahir's recomndation letter. It was like he was verifying sothing each ti.
After he finished reading, he took out a blank naplate and casually carved Vaan's alias into the piece of white tal with his bare hands. The letters that appeared were surprisingly neat, thin, and well-
written.
The strength behind Elder Severus's fingertips was impressive, but their dexterity was even more so.
"This is proof of your status as an honorary core mber of our Martial Hall. Be sure not to lose it," Elder Severus said as he handed the engraved naplate to Vaan.
Afterward, Elder Severus returned to his rocking chair to laze and no longer paid Vaan any further attention.
Vaan was surprised by the simplicity of the registration.
He beca an honorary core mber of the Martial Hall just like that? No questions asked or anything?
Vaan couldn't help but feel a little speechless.
However, his complicated mind believed the registration couldn't possibly be so simple.
There had to be a hidden trick waiting to surprise him if he was careless.
After all, if it was so easy to acquire the status of an honorary core mber, it must be just as easy to lose it.
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