Kane stepped through the grand archway of the registration building, and it felt like entering a completely different realm.

Tall white marble pillars supported a ceiling painted with intricate constellations. Living crystal decorations grew directly from the stone walls, beating with a soft light that illuminated the long corridors.

Enormous banners woven from blue and gold hung from the high balconies to announce the Celestial Aurora tournament.

He led his group of ten warriors across the polished floor, but they looked entirely out of place among the elegant surroundings.

The contrast was striking, so the local participants did not hesitate to voice their amusement.

A group of high elven swordsmen stood near a crystal fountain.

One of them pointed a slender finger at Brak and laughed loudly.

"Did a beastmen caravan lose their cargo?" the elf mocked, drawing chuckles from his friends.

"I didn’t know they let unwashed animals walk on the marble."

Brak tightened his grip on his spear, but a single glance from his chief kept him in line.

Sira rested her hand on her new bow, her eyes narrowing at the pompous nobles, while Thora stayed close to Kane’s side.

’System, show me what I am dealing with here,’ Kane thought.

[Participant Scan Initiated]

[Target One: High Elf Duelist, Level 18]

[Target Two: Elven Spellsword, Level 21]

[Analysis: Basic sword proficpiency. Low vitality.]

’A bunch of level twenty scrubs,’ Kane mused, allowing a smirk to form on his lips.

’Weak ass bastards.’

Rein hurried past the sneering warriors, sweating nervously as he led the way toward the main registration desk.

A woman sat behind a wooden table, commanding attention without saying a single word.

Dozens of scribes buzzed around her, yet she remained entirely still, exuding an aura of authority over the registration process.

Lady Firlia looked to be in her early thirties, and her long green hair cascaded over her shoulders to frame a face with beautiful red eyes.

She wore luxurious gold robes that hugged her voluptuous figure. The fabric struggled to contain her full breasts, threatening to spill over the low neckline every time she shifted in her tall chair. She was a noble elf of the highest order.

She looked up from her parchment and curled her lip in contempt.

"Barbarians?" she said with open disdain.

"We don’t allow wild beasts to participate in civilized events. Take your filth and leave."

Rein stammered and tried to present his sponsorship papers, but he was shaking too much to form a coherent sentence.

He fumbled with the rolled parchment, dropping it onto the desk in a clumsy panic.

Kane did not reply immediately as his eyes caught something glinting at her throat.

It was a delicate silver necklace featuring a small blue crystal pendant.

’That is the same necklace as the one that stood in the gates,’ he thought, piecing the puzzle together.

’Either it is a rank symbol, or they are connected in a way she desperately wants hidden.’

He stepped right past the fat merchant and planted himself in front of the desk.

Resting his hands on the wood, he leaned in close to force her to look up at him.

"I noticed something interesting just now," Kane said quietly, keeping his voice low enough that only she could hear.

"That pretty little necklace around your neck is unique, but I saw the same one on the captain at the main gate. It is a funny coincidence, isn’t it?"

Firlia went pale for a split second before she recovered her composure.

"You are imagining things," she said coldly.

"Am I?" Kane smiled, his expression turning dangerous.

"I wonder what would happen if I mentioned that little connection publicly. Or better yet, what if I told the royal guard how the proud noble Firlia is having a secret relationship with a commoner guard? A noble sleeping with a commoner is punishable by death among your kind, right?"

Firlia froze stiff, her beautiful red eyes widening in horror.

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out at first.

"You would not dare," she whispered venomously.

"I can reject your application right now and have you thrown into the dungeon for slander."

"You can reject me, so go ahead and do it," Kane challenged, leaning a fraction closer.

"But the moment you do, I will make sure every noble in this hall knows exactly what that matching necklace means. How long do you think your life will last once the inquisitors start asking questions and checking your lover’s quarters? They will drag you out of this fancy chair and put your head on a spike."

She stared at him with hatred mixed with undeniable fear.

Her full breasts rose and fell rapidly as she struggled to control her erratic breathing, and the noble mask was completely shattered.

After a long, tense silence, she snatched the sponsorship papers from Rein and stamped them with shaking hands.

"You are registered," she said through gritted teeth, sliding a token across the desk.

’She hates me, but her body is practically shaking,’ Kane thought, thoroughly enjoying the sudden power shift.

He picked up the token and tossed it into his pouch.

"Smart choice, Lady Firlia," Kane chuckled.

"I look forward to seeing you again."

He turned his back on the flustered noblewoman and walked out of the registration area, signaling his warriors to follow.

The air inside the grand hall felt stifling, so stepping back out into the sunlit streets brought a welcome relief.

Kane needed to see what the competition looked like when they were actually holding weapons instead of just standing around gossiping in nice clothes.

He spotted an older elven merchant carrying a crate of fresh fruit near the plaza steps. Kane walked over and tossed a single gold coin into the man’s empty hand.

"Where is the nearest training hall for the tournament participants?" Kane asked, crossing his arms.

"I want to stretch my legs and see who else is fighting."

The merchant bit the gold coin to test its value, then pointed a wrinkled finger down a wide cobblestone street to their left. "

Just follow the Avenue of Champions. You will find the Proving Grounds at the end of the road. But they don’t usually welcome outsiders or mercenaries."

"I have a habit of making myself welcome," Kane replied, gesturing for Brak and the women to fall in line behind him.