Chapter 281: New Territory Member Chapter 281: New Territory Member Another solar beam struck him before he could recover. The light struck his chest—and he disappeared, teleported away. But not before hearing Leo’s voice. "Did you really think only you could summon your beast secretly?" Leo said with a faint smirk. As he once again secretly unsummoned Shyra. Just like that, the match ended—barely 2 minutes after it had begun. As he lay in the healing area, only 2 thoughts echoed in Uraan’s mind. "Another monster..." "I should quietly aim for 3rd position... at least that seems doable." With that, Day 9 came to an end, and the crowd slowly dispersed. Yet a single question lingered in everyone’s mind— What exactly was that beast they couldn’t even see? Miho came running toward them, her steps quick and excited, shoving her phone right in front of their faces once again. {First arrow for Lily’s bet and second for Leo’s} Balance: 3,712,090 AC -> 6,312,090 AC -> 7,712,090 AC The 3 girls had finally proven useful, pushing the credits to nearly 8 million. This time, they followed behind Miho—but unlike before, their faces were ashen, their expressions stiff. None of them dared to meet Leo’s eyes. Not even Leon’s—and they didn’t even know him. Why are the top 3 students in a single territory?! And why are they under him?! The thought echoed collectively in their minds, regret settling deep as they remembered how they had tried to pry into their matters earlier. The embarrassment only deepened when they recalled how foolish they had acted during their first meeting. Then— A familiar voice rang out from behind. "Boss!!" "Boss!" Brok came running toward them, waving his hands high above his head, his voice cutting through the surrounding noise. There were still many people gathered around. Some cast cautious side glances, whispering among themselves, while others quickly turned away, creating space—as if lingering too close might offend them. By the time Brok reached them, he stopped abruptly, slightly out of breath. "Wow, boss! Why didn’t you ever say you were in the top 10? Scratch that—you’re actually the 1st-ranked student?!" he blurted out, eyes wide with disbelief. "That Tavian guy just got lucky with some system loophole. You’re the real strongest! Didn’t you defeat him in under 2 minutes? Wait—both your matches ended in 2 minutes! And what was that beast, boss?! We couldn’t even see it properly!" He kept going, words tumbling over each other before he suddenly shook his head hard, as if resetting himself. "No—wait! Boss, I finally made enough money to leave my current territory after betting on you. Let me join your territory!" Brok said, his tone turning earnest, almost pleading. After all, who wouldn’t want to join the territory of the 1st-ranked student? Leo simply nodded. Without wasting a moment, he sent Brok an invite. Brok accepted instantly, relief washing over his face as he let out a quiet breath—clearly he had been worried he might have offended them somehow. With that settled, they began to move, planning to depart for their territory. But then— "W-wait!" Leo paused and turned. Pushing through the crowd was a grey-haired boy. His appearance alone spoke volumes—heavy expression, dull eyes, and a lean frame that looked worn down by exhaustion. Beside him stood a girl with the same grey hair, but her demeanour was completely different. Bright, cheerful, almost radiant. She looked younger, yet Leo could tell they were twins—the contrast between them likely carved by hardship rather than age. One carried weight. The other carried a light. Yet somehow, they balanced each other. "Yes?" Leo asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone. He hadn’t expected anyone to approach them now—not after their strength had been laid bare. The boy straightened himself with visible effort, then bowed deeply. "Thank you very much!" Leo blinked, taken aback. What is he even thanking me for? Before the silence could stretch, the girl sighed and lightly smacked the boy’s head. "Virat! Idiot, at least introduce yourself!" she said sharply, though there was warmth beneath the scolding. Then she stepped forward and bowed politely. "Sir Leo, I am Veronica, and he is my twin brother, Virat. We came here to thank you for unintentionally solving a major problem of ours." "Major problem? What problem?" Leo asked, his confusion only deepening. Veronica straightened, her expression turning more serious. "Weren’t you the one who dealt with Instructor Shub? That instructor had held my brother captive the moment he joined his territory. Not even allowing him to challenge in competitions. When you got him apprehended, my brother was finally released." Leo raised a brow, processing that. "Why would he even do that? I mean, I know that instructor was a scumbag, but tormenting innocents without cause? That’s just—" he paused briefly, frowning, "—pathetic." Veronica’s gaze hardened slightly. "He let my brother join his territory so he could reach me. But when my brother refused to reveal my location... they beat him day and night." A faint silence settled over the group. Leo and the others quickly pieced it together. Veronica’s appearance alone could attract unwanted attention—she could easily be considered a top beauty in any city. But even then, going this far... it wasn’t just desire. Sensing the direction Leo’s thoughts might go, Lily stepped forward before he could speak. "I suppose that wasn’t the only reason?" Lily asked, her tone calm. Veronica turned toward her—and froze for a brief moment. Standing before her was someone who completely overshadowed her own looks. The pink-haired girl carried a presence that was difficult to face head-on. Veronica felt an inexplicable nervousness under her gaze. In contrast, Leo felt oddly at ease. "Nice to meet you, Miss Lily," Veronica said politely, recognizing her from the competition. "That’s correct," she continued. "Their main goal was to recruit me for my talent. It’s related to brewing." "Brewing?" Lily tilted her head slightly. "Like enhancement potions? And... the increased mana absorption ones—from leaves of certain plants?" she added, searching for the right words. Veronica nodded, though a flicker of confusion crossed her face. It was oddly specific. Lily had gone there for a reason. The current level of Fluxsoil Heart’s leaves could be refined into potions that increased mana absorption by nearly 300% and she connected brewing to that. Meanwhile, Leo’s gaze shifted toward Virat. The boy stiffened immediately, as if caught under pressure. "I—er... my talent isn’t anything special..." Virat said, his voice low. "It just increases my speed and reaction time..."