Talent System: I Instantly Master My Opponents Skills
Chapter 75: Evaluation Hall (4)

Chapter 75: Evaluation Hall (4)

The elder took the heir’s ring and began inspecting it, just like the rest he observed it intently, his gaze sharp and focused.

But this time it was different, even though the time taken to determine the amount of hearts he had didn’t change the expectations that rode on Zane were different.

He was the heir of the Hachiman clan, everyone was eager to see how he would perform in this test, his score was important.

"Ninety hearts." The elder announced.

Nobody made any noise, this was expected after all, if Zane got a lower number of hearts; presumably 50 or lower, then the reaction would be different.

Zane walked over to the group, hands in pockets. He passed Jason.

"Ninety." Jason muttered as he watched him walk past.

He stared at the person that would get second place, anyone with a working brain would be able to do the math, who would get first, second and third were already known.

They were being announced just for the sake of formality.

"Jason Hachiman, step forward." The elder announced.

Jason groaned before getting up.

The grandeur that one would feel upon getting called wasn’t there for Jason, he would gain nothing from this.

Regardless, he walked towards the elder, only stopping a few feet before the bald man.

"Third place."

"Now, Hereon Hachiman. Step forward." He called out.

Hereon walked forward, masking all his emotions in a facade of pride.

He moved in front of Jason.

"Second place."

"Zane Hachiman, step forward." The last one, obviously the one who would take the title of the winner home.

Zane upon hearing his name walked forward, his expression one of nonchalance, as if everything that had happened up till now was part of his plan.

"First place."

"Now, Jason Hachiman." The elder began, his gaze lingering on Jason.

"You will be given all materials needed for your training by the clan as well as an amount of 20 high-ranked healing potions and restoration potions per month." The elder listed out the rewards for getting third.

Hearing this, Jason considered out-rightly rejecting the restoration potions.

’Restoration potions only restore mana, they have no use to me.’ Jason was about to decline the restoration potions, but he had a sudden thought. ’When Emily awakens the restoration potions will come in handy.’

Jason nodded.

The elder turned to Hereon Hachiman next.

"Hereon Hachiman..." He began. "All materials you need for training and advancing your rank will be provided to you, as well as an amount of 50 healing potions and 50 restoration potions each month. You will also be given the opportunity to challenge a rank 5 dungeon every month while you stay at the rank 4 and rank 5 stages of strength.

The only requirement to challenge these dungeons is a team of eight people of rank 5 strength."

Hereon gave his thanks to the old man.

"Finally, Zane Hachiman."

"Access to all materials you need will be given to you as long as what you need isn’t 2 ranks above you current rank. An amount of 100 healing potions and 100 restoration potions will also be provided to you each month." He paused, letting his words sink in. "Additionally, you will be given the opportunity to challenge two rank 4 dungeons every month as long as you are in the rank 3 or rank 4 strength.

The only requirement to challenge these dungeons is a team of eight awakeneds of rank 4 strength."

The elder finished, his robe fluttering ever so slightly in a low wind.

’The rewards for getting third are absolute garbage.’ Jason complained in his thoughts. ’I would’ve gotten second if not for the fact that twenty of my hearts disappeared.

Rage grew in his heart, burning as fiercely as flames.

He would have to do something about this, if he found out the person that caused this, he would get revenge.

The elder then began addressing the crowd. "Everyone else, leave at once."

It was almost as if they were waiting for permission to leave.

A flurry of foots.

In half a minute the place was deserted, save for the four people that were still left in the building.

"Jason Hachiman." The elder began, his gaze resting on a certain body part of Jason’s.

"How did you regrow your arm?" He questioned, his gaze sharp. "If my memory serves me well, you were one-armed when you entered the dungeon.

Claiming that you had to amputate the arm to avoid corroding your whole body."

’How should I answer?’ Jason pondered, the question wasn’t sudden so he was expecting it.

The old man had been staring at his arm for awhile, as soon as the elder ordered everyone else to get out he knew the elder was going to ask the question.

Why would he order everyone to get out just to question someone about how they regrew their arm, when a healing potion could do that; it only required he highest level of healing potion to regrow an arm quickly, a healing potion at a mid-grade would be able to heal it, although more slowly.

Jason didn’t have a healing potion so there was the chance that monsters could be evolved, a monster in the rank 4 dungeon helped him nurse him arm back in the rank 4 dungeon.

If Jason admitted to such a thing with the younger generations of the branch families present, it could cause complications or even misunderstandings.

Like getting "Him" involved, to wipe out the Hachiman clan.

The elder didn’t want his whole clan to be exterminated just because of a single moment of indecisiveness.

"I found a herb." Jason finally answered. "I was hungry back then and when I saw it, I gobbled it down without much thought.

During the last day in the dungeon my arm suddenly sprouted back in a sudden burst." He lied.

’A perfect lie.’ Jason complimented himself.

No one had anyway of knowing since he was by himself, so in case the elder asked for confirmation they couldn’t answer.

’What happens in a dungeon, stays in a dungeon.’ Jason couldn’t help but think.

There was no way he was telling anyone about the essence of a being.

"A herb with regenerative properties? In a rank 4 dungeon? Do you expect me to believe that? The materials for making the highest rank of healing potions are found in rank 1 dungeons. And you claim that ’Your arm sprouted back suddenly’?"

The bald old man was skeptical, he clearly didn’t believe Jason’s tale.

"Well, the dungeon we entered was special." Jason admitted.

"Special?" The old man questioned.

"It had an instant dungeon." Hereon spoke up as if to help Jason.

Jason looked at the boy that had helped him.

’Hereon, why would he help me?’ Jason wondered.

He realized something.

’And where is his sister? If I remember correctly, they were the last people I saw before my memory failed.’

’Did something happen to her.’ He didn’t have much time to think about it.

"An instant dungeon?" The elder repeated.

"Yes." Hereon answered truthfully.

"If so, its possible." The elder muttered to himself, deep in thought.

"Jason Hachiman, you are dismissed." The elder said. "Wait outside, a guard will take you home."

Jason walked towards the exit.

"Remember." The elder’s words came making him pause. "The eyes within the shadows of the clan are ever-watchful, everything you do here is known by all."

The old man’s warning did little to frighten Jason.

’You mean those people hiding embarrassingly on the roofs, I don’t think so.’ He left the building.

When he stepped outside he did not meet the branch family members he was expecting, instead, the only person he saw was the Hachiman kid that was afraid of him.

"Where are the others?" Jason asked the boy.

The boy was unable to sense his presence and was startled when he suddenly heard his voice, he jumped backwards in fright, missing his footing and falling onto the ground..

"Here." Jason extended his hand to the fallen boy.

Jason had appeared in front of the boy.

The Hachiman kid was visibly frightened.

He reluctantly took hold of the hand that was offered.

"Where are the others?" Jason asked.

"Their guardians have already arrived and took them away." He answered.

"So-" He was interrupted by a guard.

"Jason Hachiman." A guard called out. "Follow me."

Jason didn’t bid goodbye to the boy, for one they didn’t even know each other, and the boy was far too scared of him.

’I wonder what I did to make someone so scared of me.’ Jason mused as he followed the guard.

The guard had short blue hair and the typical red eyes of most members of the clan.

’I’m finally heading home, after three long days.’

’I wonder if Emily has gotten stronger, or better yet, if she has awakened.’

The questions he had would soon be answered, he knew that.

They just wouldn’t be answered in the way Jason expected.