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  I stood there, frozen, surrounded by the oppressive silence that filled the guild. The impact of the events still echoed in the minds of everyone around me. Dragan lay on the ground, his leg twisted at an impossible angle, jaw shattered, and a pool of blood slowly forming beneath his body.

  Before I could respond, I heard firm footsteps approaching quickly. A man with an imposing presence, most likely the guild master, entered the hall. He carried an air of authority, with graying hair and a stern expression. His eyes immediately locked onto me.

  "What is happening here?" his voice echoed through the hall, firm and authoritative.

  Elara stepped forward, quickly explaining the situation. The guild master looked at me with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

  "You are Victor, correct?" he asked, his eyes fixed on mine.

  I nodded, keeping my gaze steady.

  "Come with me." he ordered, turning and walking toward a room at the back of the hall.

  I followed silently, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on me. When we entered the room, the master closed the door behind us, creating a sense of confinement. He sat behind a large wooden desk and gestured to a chair in front of him.

  "Sit, Victor," he said, his voice calmer now, but still carrying authority.

  I obeyed, sitting down while he watched me closely.

  "I am Orion, the master of this guild. I was informed about the incident with Dragan." He paused, studying my reaction. "He is a Class (B) adventurer, one of the strongest here. You, on the other hand, are young and managed to defeat him in an impressive manner."

  'Oh, I get it. What matters is that I’m stronger than him. This guy doesn’t care about Dragan, only that Dragan has now become weaker in the eyes of others. Just like Lilia told me, these people only care about power.'

  "He crossed all boundaries," I replied, trying to stay calm. "It wasn’t something I planned. My body simply reacted."

  Orion studied me for a moment, his eyes narrowing. I knew a Class (B) was significant, a respectable force. The fact that I defeated him so easily raised suspicion, and Orion clearly wasn’t going to let it go without answers.

  He made a subtle gesture under the table, pressing a hidden button. I heard a nearly imperceptible click, but said nothing, maintaining a neutral expression. I understood he had summoned someone.

  "He's always been like this. Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do about people who let power go to their heads," Orion said, placing his hands on the desk. "What do you say about working for our guild? To defeat Dragan so easily, I assume you're at least Class (A)."

  'Now he wants to replace the power he lost.'

  "Do I gain anything from it?"

  "Of course. Our guild pays high-rank adventurers very well. But before anything else, you will have to be interviewed by someone of equivalent class so I can hire you."

  A few minutes later, the door opened and a slender man with a calm appearance walked in. He wore light armor for mobility and carried an aura of confidence and skill. His blue eyes scanned the room before settling on Orion.

  "Orion, you called?" he asked casually. "Seems like we have a problem."

  "Ah, Sentil, good that you're here," Orion replied, looking relieved. "This is Victor. We had an incident with him and Dragan."

  Sentil looked at me for a moment before turning back to Orion.

  "Dragan… the Class B one?" Sentil raised an eyebrow. "That’s not a small thing."

  The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Exactly, and we need to clarify the facts," Orion said. "Sentil, can you interview Victor? I’d like to hear your thoughts."

  Sentil nodded, gesturing for me to follow. We left the room and he led me outside the guild, where snow fell as expected.

  We walked in silence for a while until he finally spoke.

  "You defeated a Class B alone. That is impressive," Sentil said, his tone careful and evaluative. "But it also raises many questions. Who are you really, Victor?"

  "I was just trying to do my job," I replied, trying not to reveal too much.

  "Well, we'll see how this unfolds," Sentil stopped and turned to me, his blue eyes fixed on mine. "I'm a knight. I need to make sure you aren’t a threat."

  So Orion called him by pressing that button. He arrived very fast too. I don’t know how it works, but maybe this world’s technology is more advanced than I thought.

  "I’m not a threat unless forced," I finally said. "I just want to find a place here and help however I can."

  Sentil considered my words.

  "Very well. We’re going somewhere we can talk more deeply. I need to understand your story before making any decisions."

  We headed toward the barracks, one of them, to be precise. Each district of the kingdom has one to ensure security. At least Sentil was teaching me things.

  We entered a sturdy building and walked down a narrow hallway into an isolated room. The interior was austere, stone walls and dim lighting creating a tense atmosphere. Sentil closed the door behind us, activating glowing runes along the walls that formed a magical barrier around the room.

  "[Victor, he's activating a magic-blocking barrier. My ability [Psychic Order] will become useless now. I'll go outside or my camouflage will deactivate.]" Merlin’s message appeared in my mind. I simply nodded.

  "Sit, Victor." Sentil said, pointing to a chair in the center of the room.

  I obeyed, and he adjusted some magical devices on the table beside him. The rune lights intensified; being there made me anxious.

  "Now, let’s find out who you really are," Sentil murmured, eyes locked on mine.

  Soon, Sentil’s blue eyes turned bright yellow — he was using Appraisal on me.

  His eyes widened in surprise, the glow faded, and he returned to normal.

  "So that’s it…" he murmured, tension in his voice. "A Metamorph. It's not every day we find a monster like you among humans."

  My breath caught for a moment. He had discovered it. Not that I didn’t expect it, the moment Dragan hit the ground, I knew my disguise was done.

  "Now tell me, Victor," Sentil said, voice cold and intimidating. "What is your real reason for being here? What do you want in Cirgo?"

  I knew this was a critical moment. Any wrong move could seal my fate. I looked at Sentil, choosing my words carefully.

  "I’m here to survive," I said firmly. "I don’t intend to cause trouble. I just want a safe place to settle, and in the future, sustain myself, maybe somewhere else."

  Sentil watched me, reading every detail of my expression.

  "My devices say you’re not lying… but we’ll see if your actions match your words." His tone held a veiled threat. "For now, you'll be monitored. Any slip-up and I won’t hesitate to act."

  He disabled the device, and the pressure of the barrier slightly faded. Sentil still looked suspicious.

  "So, basically…?" I asked, trying to understand.

  "I have a job for you, Metamorph. I can’t trust you blindly, so prove yourself and I’ll accept that you’re telling the truth," Sentil said, stern but slightly softer. "But know that I’ll be watching."

  "If that’s what it takes, I’ll do it."

  "It’s not a threat, I’d never harm my kingdom’s citizens. But I had my soldiers check your record. I know you're staying with a family here."

  "Are you going to tell them about my nature?" I asked, worried.

  "No, as long as you prove your value and don’t cause trouble, they don't need to know anything," he said firmly. "But if you show any sign of betrayal, things will change quickly. The last Metamorph like you who came here caused a lot of damage a few years ago."

  Relief washed over me. Knowing Eliza, Thom and Lilia wouldn’t be dragged into this was a weight lifted.

  'So another Metamorph like me came here before? My reputation really just keeps getting worse…'

  "You seem to care a lot about those humans," Sentil commented, curious. "Why?"

  "They helped me," I answered honestly. "That's all."

  Sentil studied me, then nodded.

  "There’s something I need you to do," he continued. "In recent days, we’ve been under constant monster attacks. Snowmen, ice golems, wolves… our defenses are weakening fast."

  He explained the crisis. Trade routes were dangerous, food was running short, Cirgo wasn’t good for farming. I had heard rumors, but the details were much worse now.

  "So you suspect these monsters aren’t acting naturally and you want me to investigate?" I asked.

  "Exactly. From now on, you’ll assist me in finding the source and protecting the city," he said, determined. "Considering your race, you’ll be useful."

  Sentil stood, ending the conversation.

  "Let’s go." he said, opening the door and motioning for me to follow.

  We stepped back into Cirgo’s freezing air. Sentil walked with purpose, eyes scanning everything.

  As we walked, the silence felt heavy. I knew he was still watching me, waiting for a sign. But there was also genuine curiosity in his eyes… a will to understand me. Maybe…

  We reached the commercial area, crowded and lively. Sentil stopped and turned to me.

  "For now, stay nearby. I’ll be watching from a distance," he said firmly. "Don't do anything suspicious. And remember: if anyone asks, you're a foreign adventurer helping the city in partnership with the Aurora Guild. I'll let Orion know."

  I nodded understanding. Sentil gave a slight nod and, in the blink of an eye, vanished into the crowd.

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