The two walked in silence, making their way to the large gate. Jin didn't mind it, but he knew someone with Lian's temperament would try to strike up a conversation with the girl. After all, they were the same age. It was only natural to socialize with your peers.
The only problem was that Jin was far too old to socialize with someone much younger than him mentally. It made him realize once again why his goal of climbing the tower was going to be an arduous journey.
It wasn't that he didn't know what to say; it was simply that he felt far too embarrassed to say it.
'How pitiful.'
The girl, meanwhile, didn't even look like she wanted to converse with him.
Yet, she glanced at him and spoke firmly.
"Evelin."
Jin was taken aback for a moment. He was glad Evelin understood his predicament, but didn't appreciate her simply dropping her name and saying nothing else.
"So, Evelin, do you also work at this Hope guild?"
Evelin avoided a cart moving toward them.
"Yes."
She went quiet once again. Jin couldn't comprehend whether she wanted to talk or not.
Nonetheless, they had reached the gate by then. As usual, there were several people standing in line to enter the city. The guards worked at their usual rate, checking their permits before letting them enter.
The gate itself was as tall as he had seen it the last time, looking down at everyone in front of it.
She bypassed the lengthy queue and made her way to the front. The people she passed by showed mixed emotions. Some looked as if they already knew her, not surprised by her confidence. Others looked agitated, thinking she was trying to belittle them.
What they thought was of no importance to Jin, though. He followed her lead and reached the guard post in no time.
Just as one of the guards was about to stop her, his colleague stopped him.
The two walked past the guards without uttering a word.
There were other people who noticed them as well. Most of them didn't seem to have any hostility in their gaze, but simple envy. Some even held anger in their gaze, but no one could speak out against her.
Jin felt both their envy and anger. Rankers of the first or second rank would have to get in line to pass through the two sections of the city as well, but no one asked Eveline anything. Neither did she have to announce her designation or prove her identity.
'It's like how the people would avoid a young master, fearing that the young child's wrath is equivalent to his parent.'
Yet, there was a clear difference between the two.
The inner section was far less crowded at this time of the day. Challengers made up half of the city's population, while the remaining half consisted of government employees and individuals of higher status.
It was only natural that most of the lower-ranked challengers were already at their jobs, whether as guards for wealthy families or completing commissions outside the city.
As they moved further inside the city, a few other people noticed them as well. He was starting to get cautious of her background as he found even first-rankers stopping in their tracks as they watched her.
Instead of thinking about it, he spoke.
"Are we from the same batch of participants?"
Evelin seemed a bit disturbed.
"We haven't talked before. But yes, I cleared the first floor from the same batch."
She didn't say it out loud, but it was clear to Jin. She was trying to draw a line between them. She had been in the other group, which was filled with talented individuals from prestigious clans and guilds. He entered the first floor with other participants from the lower districts and people who could barely defend themselves.
It was the only time he considered her a child. Until now, she had been keeping a completely expressionless stance. But he could see her faint smile as she said it, gloating about her accomplishments internally.
He spoke, his lips curved in a smirk.
"It must have been challenging. I heard that your group had to face an entire army by yourselves."
It was just a tidbit he had heard from Morgan. But it was enough to get additional information on the subject.
Evelin grinned.
"At least it wasn't as hard as it must have been for you. I heard you betrayed all your teammates and hid in a corner until the trial ended. I can't even imagine doing something so cowardly."
Despite her bold statement, Jin didn't take it as harshly as she had expected him to.
Smiling gently, he spoke with his hands in the air.
"Fair enough."
None of them spoke after that exchange. Soon, they reached their destination.
'That's… quite a tall building.'
The Hope guild had a few other smaller branches in the other districts, but their headquarters was massive. It was no different than what one would expect from a reputable guild, one that operated throughout Acropolis.
The building itself seemed to have about twenty floors, which weren't much in reality, but it was the tallest building across the city. Its walls were made mainly of concrete and metal, making it look more like an emergency shelter than a guild headquarters.
'I thought I was overestimating this opportunity. But this… this is quite something.'
But it wasn't enough to intimidate Jin. He was someone who had lived in skyscrapers that reached the clouds and had been involved in the making of a few such structures.
He noticed two guards standing outside the building. Both of them were clearly second-rankers; the energy they emitted was far more formidable than Jin's. Their experience showed clearly through their gaze, examining him before he even reached near the entrance.
Yet, when Evelin reached the entrance, both of them bowed slightly to welcome her.
The ground floor was filled with people, each absorbed in their world. He saw a few challengers donning damaged armor and wielding various weapons. The others appeared to be either mundane members of the management team or individuals attending to the various challengers.
There were other people as well, but he didn't get the time to see any further.
They entered an elevator near the entrance. The inside was spacious, capable of holding more than a dozen people.
'This world must have advanced further in civilization before the Surge hit them. Even this elevator thing, it's all quite fascinating.'
Jin's world had its own unique advancements, but his era had not extensively explored technology. By the time he was about to transcend, he had come to know about a few discoveries the younger generations had made.
He couldn't help but think of his past at times. Every memory stung him like a thin needle. But his will was far too strong to be shaken by some wistfulness.
'This is no time to be distracted.'
Shaking his head, he exhaled deeply.
Noticing the strange behavior, Evelin spoke.
"Getting cold feet now?"
Jin looked at the screen above his head, the floors changing from single to double digits.
"Tell me something. If you had to categorize your vice guildmaster, would you say he is wise, or would you call him strong?"
Evelin frowned, confusion clear on her face. Finally, she answered.
"Strong. Our vice-guildmaster is a fifth ranker. The only person stronger than him is our guildmaster in our entire guild. Why do you ask?"
Jin gave her an amicable smile.
"Never mind. Thanks for humoring me."
The elevator doors parted. Right outside the elevator stood a receptionist, his forehead covered in cold sweat.
Looking at Evelin, he spoke in a hurried tone.
"It's wonderful to see you, Miss Evelin. Unfortunately, Sir Nathaniel wants to speak with him privately. Would you like me to inquire with him if you can join the conversation as well?"
She seemed to have expected this to happen. With a courteous nod, she spoke.
"It's fine, he can speak with this guy all day for all I care."
With that, she stepped back inside the elevator and pressed a button. She shot him a pitying glance as the door shut.
Jin didn't think much of it and followed the receptionist to the door a few steps away from the elevator. He could see two other rooms on both sides, but they were closed.
The receptionist knocked on the door and gently opened it.
"The guest you had been expecting has come. Should I let him in?"
Getting an affirmative reply, he completely opened the door and gestured for him to go in.
Jin passed through the door and entered the room. The room was far smaller than he had expected. It resembled Morgan's room, looking more like an arsenal or a war bunker than an office.
There was an office table with documents and books stacked on it. Either armor and weapons or books and documents occupied the rest of the room. Jin couldn't tell whether the person inside was a scholar or a warrior.
Once Jin's gaze fell on the man sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room, he knew that the room belonged to a warrior.
The vice guildmaster was enormous in stature, his height possibly almost twice Jin's own. He looked more like a bear wearing a shirt and pants instead of an office man. Yet, he was well-groomed and had a unique air surrounding him.
Without even looking at him, Jin could easily tell that he was a formidable opponent. Even Allen seemed like a child compared to him. Even if Jin wanted to, the vice guildmaster was not an enemy he could face yet.
Instead, he was pleased.
'It's at least easier than being at home.'
Nathaniel spoke, his eyes still scanning the documents in his hands.
"Sit."
Jin sat on the sofa across from him.