I Received System to Become Dragonborn
Chapter 954 - 954: A Guest

Back in their world, the pace didn't slow for Erend and the others.

For three more days, the project continued. Intensive and draining sessions run on tight schedules, as they move through lists of military personnel from different sectors.

Candidate after candidate came in, tested, evaluated, then either dismissed or provisionally advanced. The process was methodical and exhausting.

Despite the mental fatigue, Erend kept returning to the updates Eccar passed along from the Eternal Earth world. Every message and note about Arty's progress gave him a sliver of reassurance.

Apparently, she was improving fast. Under Sylmira's mentorship, Arty had begun to find her rhythm, her balance, even if only barely.

Erend didn't show it much but every time he heard Arty was safe and progressing, something in him eased.

"She's making great progress," Eccar had said the day before, voice steady through their linked mind. "Sylmira says she's adapting faster than expected. But… there's something else."

That something else gnawed at Erend.

According to Sylmira, Arty's Magic wasn't just potent but it was unstable, wild. The kind of power that if unchecked could flatten a battlefield or worse.

She had held herself together so far but just barely. If Erend hadn't gotten her out when he did… the result might've been a disaster.

A fatal one.

When he heard that, Erend had only exhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of his nose in a rare show of visible stress.

"I almost left her to solve trouble in another world too long," he muttered to himself. "Damn lucky something didn't happen."

He was many things, a soldier, a Dragonborn, maybe a hero, but above all Arty was still his sister. And the thought that he'd been too busy to notice her unraveling under the weight of her own power sat uncomfortably in his gut.

But that was in the past now. She was with Sylmira and she was safe.

—

By late evening, the last interview session finally came to an end. The three-day grind had worn down even the toughest among them.

Inside the evaluation room, the fluorescent lights flickered slightly as they powered down terminals and cleared folders from the long table.

Major Jessica let out a breath as she stood.

"I'll take care of the final report and send it to the General. You three can go to rest. You've earned it."

Erend, Adrien, and Billy exchanged tired nods.

"Thanks, Major," Adrien said, already rolling his shoulder stiffly as he rose.

"Appreciate it, Major," Billy added, dragging his suitcase behind him as they stepped out into the corridor.

The hallway was quiet in the after-hours silence. The three walked side by side until they turned the corner that led to their private room.

But as they approached their door, they stopped.

A man stood beside the door with arms crossed, dressed in a crisp charcoal gray suit. He looked up and smiled politely as they approached.

Adrien, the highest-ranking among the trio, stepped forward.

"Can I help you?" he asked.

The man straightened. "Yes, actually. My name is James Thorn. I represent the Ministry of Internal Affairs." He extended a polished business card. Adrien took it, glanced over it with narrowed eyes.

Erend and Billy exchanged a look. It didn't take a genius to guess what was coming.

"I'd like to speak with the three of you," James said smoothly, "in private. It won't take long."

Adrien gave him a measured look, then gestured toward the door. "Alright. Come in."

Inside, the room was modest but functional with three cots, tables filled with files, and a few metal chairs. James chose the empty chair in the far corner, not bothering with the table.

The others took their seats.

Adrien didn't waste time. "We're running short on hours. What do you want?"

James cleared his throat, folding his hands neatly in his lap. "I'm here on behalf of a potential candidate named Marcus Lenz. He's one of the applicants from the military's reconnaissance division. From what I know, his scores were… let's say, average."

Billy frowned. "Then he shouldn't be in consideration. The testing's strict for a reason."

James nodded patiently. "I understand. But Marcus has other merits. Strong connections. An excellent service record, and… considerable backing."

Erend leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. His tone was blunt. "You're here to ask us to push him through the test."

"I'm here to offer you something in exchange," James said smoothly. "A gesture of goodwill. A bonus, if you will. Monetary, of course. We will offer quite generously, the numbers that you deserved."

Silence fell into the room.

Adrien stared at him for a moment. Then he said, "So you want us to overlook the requirements, compromise the integrity of the program, and risk the operation… for a bribe?"

"Influence, Captain Boartusk," James corrected gently. "Not a bribe. Consider it an investment in future cooperation between departments, and yourselves."

Billy let out a sharp sigh, already shaking his head. "Just like we thought."

Erend narrowed his eyes. "You really picked the wrong team to try this with."

The room suddenly felt colder.

The man felt the coldness in their eyes immediately. It wasn't theatrical or exaggerated. It was the kind of cold that sank deep into the bones, born of conviction, experience, and the unwavering clarity of people who had seen too much to be bought.

His composure cracked like thin ice. The practiced smile he wore faltered, his diplomatic tone strangled mid-thought as if their glares alone had wrapped around his throat.

He had prepared for this. He knew rejection was a possibility. But what he hadn't prepared for was fear.

The man swallowed a mouthful of saliva, throat dry. He glanced at each of the three in turn.

Adrien leaned forward, elbows on knees. "The decision to pass a candidate or not lies with us, and the General. If we decide your client isn't a good fit then he's out. There's nothing you or your department or the minister can do about it."

The man blinked, then took a shaky breath. "Y-You should consider it more carefully," he stammered. "I mean… surely there's room for—"

"No," Adrien cut in firmly. He shook his head. "We don't take bribes for this project. There is no amount of money worth compromising the mission. If we let someone unfit through, a lot of people will die. We don't play with that."

There was finality in his voice that left no room for negotiation.

Adrien stood and pointed to the door. "If there's nothing else, you can leave."

The man's breath hitched. With a pale face and trembling fingers, he stood, gave a clumsy nod, and walked out in silence.

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