SS Awakening: My Monster Merging System!

"Zich Grave."

Arthur’s voice remained gentle.

"Have you heard of the name Master Shroud?"

The meeting room instantly fell silent and several eyes turned to Zich.

The question came too directly.

Master Shroud was the mysterious summoner merchant who had caused a huge stir in the market recently, making a large amount of soul stones by renting out undead summons. Yet Zich had recently become rich, and he was a summoner, and his summons were all very strange.

Putting these things together made it hard not to suspect him.

However, Zich’s expression did not change at all. He did not even lift his eyelids.

"I have heard of him," he said.

Arthur smiled slightly. "Only heard of him?"

"I even rented his summons before. I was the first person who received his services."

As soon as those words were spoken, the expressions of several people in the meeting room changed.

A frown appeared on Helen’s face and she fell into deep thought. Could it be? The Silverback is actually not his own and he rented it.

"You rented Master Shroud’s summons?" Helen asked.

"What’s the problem?" Zich asked back.

"There are many problems. First, no one knew about Master Shroud until recently, and you already rented from him before us."

Zich leaned back in his chair, his tone still calm. "The market has a summoner section, rental contracts are protected by the system, renters only have temporary command permissions, and the owner retains overwrite permissions. Although the prices are ridiculously high, those summons are indeed useful."

He spoke too naturally.

And the content was also correct.

That was indeed how the rules in the market worked.

For a moment, they did not even know how to refute him.

Zich continued, "Master Shroud is very troublesome. The price is high, his attitude is bad, and the rental conditions are very strict. If I really were him, this explanation would probably have started charging by now."

A few chuckles spread through the room.

Just like that, the tension eased quite a bit.

However Helen still has her doubts because the explanation was too smooth. So smooth that it was like it had been prepared long ago.

Arthur could also see that, but he did not expose it. There was no evidence.

And Zich’s answer was very clever. He did not say he had nothing to do with Master Shroud at all, but admitted contact and used the real market rules to make that relationship seem reasonable.

The interest in Arthur’s eyes deepened a few more degrees; with seemingly every moment that passed he was becoming more fond of the white haired kid.

"I see. That explains it then."

Arthur did not continue to dwell on the Master Shroud topic. He put down the documents in his hand and swept his gaze across the people present.

"Set this matter aside for now. You’ll still need to submit detailed reports on the Gold Secret Realm separately afterward. But today, I have another matter to announce."

The atmosphere in the meeting room became formal again.

"The first layer will soon hold a selection," Arthur said. "The official name is the Chosen Ones Tournament."

Zich leaned forward. Chosen Ones?

Arthur continued, "This is not simply an internal human competition. All races on the first layer that have stable bases will participate. Humans, Velhari, and several other races will each send representatives from the younger generation."

Several of the association staff exchanged looks.

Even among players who had never left the First Layer, the name carried weight. The Chosen Ones Tournament was held only once every few years. Countless famous figures had risen from it. Guild leaders, military commanders, wealthy investors, and even representatives of higher layers often watched the event personally.

For many young players, it was the closest thing to changing their destiny overnight.

Helen had clearly already heard some of it, so her expression was not surprised.

Jayden sat up a little straighter.

Arnold also added, "The purpose of this tournament is to identify young players with the potential to enter higher layers in advance. Many people still do not have the qualifications to enter the second layer, but their potential is already worth paying attention to."

Arthur continued.

"The main competition will be held publicly. Top guilds, military factions, financial groups, and even representatives from the Second Layer will be watching."

For ordinary players, such a scene was almost equivalent to a chance to soar to the heavens in one step.

As long as they performed well enough, they might be valued by a major power.

Zich did not speak immediately.

He was waiting for the point.

Honor, fame, and racial pride. None of those things mattered much to him.

Arthur clearly saw his reaction.

He smiled faintly.

"However, before the main competition, each race will first conduct a smaller internal selection. The human side is the same. We need to decide who can serve as formal representatives and participate."

Zich finally spoke.

"What are the benefits?"

The meeting room went quiet.

Cole closed his eyes, as if he had already expected him to ask that.

Helen chuckled softly. She had been making a mental count on when Zich would ask this.

Arthur also smiled and said in a serious tone, "Participants will receive official registration. Those who perform well can obtain guild invitations, financial sponsorship from big guilds and organizations, skill scrolls, equipment contracts, and priority access to certain special training grounds and dungeons."

Zich’s gaze finally became a little more serious. Now that he had heard the benefits, he was more interested.

Arthur continued, "If you place highly, you will also receive preparatory resources for the second layer, including intelligence, escort opportunities, and recommendations from some upper level powers."

...

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