The interrogation room was different from the elegant cell. Smaller, more intimate, with a round table that pretended to create a false sense of equality between its occupants. The lighting was again carefully arranged to reveal facial expressions while the walls hummed with detection beasts’ energy. Ren observed the five men seated before him. They’d given him the VIP treatment, with the highest number of important figures trying to extract information. Each of them carried themselves differently; authority wrapped around them like cloaks of varying weights. His mushrooms pulsed softly, capturing the nuances in their expressions, the subtle tells that betrayed their thoughts. Zhao was the first to speak, his voice warm as the last time they’d met. "I’m glad to return and see you’re well, Ren. You worried us when you wouldn’t wake up." Genuine concern colored his words. Wei shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the one with the lower standing and rank. His eyes avoided looking directly at Ren, as if afraid of what he might discover. "Let’s start at the beginning," Director Ignatius leaned forward, his presence commanding attention. "Why were you in the depths?" "Seeking wealth and secrets… as our king likes, right?," Ren responded naturally, his tone carrying the perfect blend of innocence and truth. "As always." "As always?" Victor arched an eyebrow, studying the child that everyone seemed to treat so differently. "A first-year student with a spore frequents the depths... ’as always’?" "Oh, yes," Zhao smiled, pride evident in his voice. "Ren has a special talent for exploring, he’s practically a genius. During our expedition..." "This isn’t a social gathering, Zhao," Wei interrupted sharply. His hands trembled slightly, betraying his agitation. "The boy was where he shouldn’t have been so early in the morning." "Was he?" Julius intervened, his voice soft but firm. "From what I hear, you weren’t giving your class and... Technically they created a safe entrance from the permitted level. He didn’t break any specific rules if he was above 200 meters with a bronze 1 student." Victor observed the exchange with growing interest. Why was his brother defending the child? "The light," the director resumed the interrogation. "Where did it come from?" "From the center of the chamber," Ren replied, his voice innocent. "It was very bright and I know because I was right there." The silence that followed was dense. The five adults exchanged looks, knowing they had to ask the other questions if they wanted different information. Explore stories on freewebnovel "Did you take one of the potions?" the director finally asked. "Oh, I took many for myself, not just one," Ren nodded while his mushrooms pulsed softly. "Though we didn’t use them all, but... I’m already a double tamer." Wei choked on his own saliva. Victor leaned forward, his interest sharpening. "Prove it," Julius requested, his voice mixing curiosity and caution. Ren shrugged and manifested his hydra. The crystalline scales gleamed under the room’s light while the adults observed with varying degrees of surprise. "A hydra?" Victor frowned. "Of all possible beasts..." "It’s a rare and respectable beast," the director commented, though his tone suggested certain disappointment. "But the potential of a natural double tamer from our Yano..." "It’s a shame," Victor sighed theatrically. "If you had waited, the kingdom could have provided something more... suitable to your new potential." Ren stroked his hydra’s scales, seemingly oblivious to the adults’ disappointment. "I like it. It’s strong from the start." "I guess it’s fine since you only had a spore anyway… But the hydra will only reach silver rank 1," Victor insisted. "A double tamer should have aspired to more." "By the way," Julius intervened. "Did you get the hydra egg for that contract from the core you found that day in the depths with me?" "Yes," Ren smiled. "Like the scorpion ones you asked for. I’ve already have several dozen, but they still need much more mana to finish the process." Julius slapped his forehead with his palm. "Ren... I didn’t need that many scorpions. I thought you would make more variety of monsters." "The cores were from scorpions," Ren shrugged innocently. He didn’t mention anything about the possibility of changing the cores’ nature… Not because Julius didn’t have suspicions already, but it would have too many implications to hide in this room. "You’re talking about creating specific eggs from cores?" The director asked incredulously. Zhao tried to hide a smile while Wei looked at the ceiling, as if seeking divine patience. "About the remaining potions," Victor cleared his throat. "The kingdom would be interested in purchasing them." "Oh, they’re not for sale," Ren shook his head. "I’m going to use them all." Victor developed a tick in his eye. "It’s useless to use more than one potion. It’s impossible to have more than two beasts by drinking more, it would be a waste..." Wei developed an even worse tick. "I know," Ren smiled. "They’re not for me. They’re for people I know." He turned to Zhao. "In fact, professor, one is for you." The room fell silent again. Zhao blinked in surprise while the others processed the declaration. "Ren," Victor massaged his temples. "Those potions are invaluable. You can’t simply..." "Why not?" Ren tilted his head. "Larissa told me they’re mine, right? Professor Zhao has supported me. He’s earned it." "The boy has a point," Julius smiled slightly. "Technically he can do whatever he wants with them." Victor looked about to suffer an aneurysm. "Do you have any idea of the value of those potions? How much noble families would pay for them?" "No," Ren shaked his head. "But I prefer to give them to people I care about." Zhao had to cough to hide his laughter at Victor’s horrified expression. "It’s your right," Julius intervened before his brother could protest further. Wei buried his face in his hands, muttering something that sounded suspiciously like "this illogical child is going to give me a heart attack." "Fascinating," Victor reclined in his chair, his irritation transforming into interest. "You just rejected a fortune in crystals, political power and noble favors... to give the potions to your teachers and family." "And a friend," Ren added casually. "A friend?" the director arched an eyebrow. "Yes... Though that’s not relevant to this interrogation, is it?" Julius observed the child with renewed interest. Under that apparent simplicity and honesty... "That’s right, what’s truly important is... Where is the ring?" Victor leaned forward. "It disappeared," Ren shrugged. "Things don’t simply disappear," Wei found his voice in a higher pitch than planned. "Like impossible evolutions don’t exist," Ren smiled innocently. "Nor do bet payments disappear... Right, professor?" Wei snapped his mouth shut and sank into his chair, his face pale. "Fascinating," Victor murmured, more to himself than the others. "Each of you treats him differently. Zhao like a prodigy, Wei like a threat, Julius like..." he paused, studying his brother. "Like an equal?" "The boy is... unusual," the director admitted. "Unusual?" Victor laughed. "A first-year student enters an ancestral seed and everyone here seems to have a different opinion about him." He turned to Ren. "Do you know what finding ancestral artifacts means?" "What?" Ren asked innocently. "It means the noble families are going to tear you apart," Victor smiled humorlessly, his eyes gleaming dangerously. "They’ll pressure you, manipulate you, offer you everything you can imagine until you yield." "Victor," Julius warned, but his brother ignored him. "Do you think this is a game?" Victor stood, his Gold rank 3 Qilin beginning to manifest. Golden scales appeared on his skin while an aura of power filled the room. "Nobles have spent centuries perfecting the art of getting what they want." "Don’t you think you’re exaggerating with that level of pressure mana here..." Zhao tried to intervene. "He’s just a child that…" "A child?" Victor laughed while advancing toward Ren. His beast’s power grew, making the air itself seem denser. "A child who somehow reached an ancestral seed. A child who has many double potions. A child who hides the most important ring relic of..." He stopped abruptly. Something was resonating with his power. Ren had begun to glow, but it wasn’t the normal glow of a tamer. The lines of light coursing through his body seemed to respond to the Qilin’s pressure, as if something inside him recognized the power. And then it appeared. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖 The tiny mushroom manifested atop Ren’s head, its large eyes observing Victor with what seemed like... hunger?