MTLNOVEL Chapter 216: Exempted
Thomas and Gideon stared at Seojun suspiciously, their expressions guarded. Seojun could see it clearly in their eyes—whatever he said, they wouldn't believe him.
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He sighed quietly and stood up, his face turning serious.
"What exactly do you want from me?" he asked, his tone calm but firm.
Gideon stepped forward slightly, his voice steady. "We don't want anything from you. We're just making sure you're not a threat to this country."
Seojun paused, listening as his system chimed in.
[They're telling the truth, Host,] the system said after a brief analysis.
"I know," Seojun muttered under his breath, acknowledging the system. He sat back down, his serious demeanor unchanged.
"I'm not what you think I am," Seojun said, his voice calm but resolute. "Rest assured."
Thomas and Gideon exchanged a quick glance, both subtly exhaling in relief. It wasn't something they wanted to admit, but they had already sensed that Seojun wasn't someone they could easily handle if he turned out to be an enemy.
After a moment of silence, Seojun stood up again. "Now, I'm going back to the gym," he said firmly, ready to leave.
"Wait," Thomas called out, stopping him.
Seojun frowned slightly but didn't move. Gideon walked over to the long table where a briefcase sat. He opened it, revealing a neatly organized set of items.
Inside were stacks of gleaming gold coins—10,000 in total—a selection of random items that radiated faint energy, a brilliantly glowing special crystal, and, most importantly, a Beast Doctor License.
"As you might have already guessed, the entrance exam isn't exactly ordinary," Gideon began, his tone turning serious. "It's also the final exam."
Seojun raised an eyebrow. "Final exam?"
Thomas nodded. "Yes. We combined the entrance and final exams to avoid complications. You see, in the first batch of students we admitted, the entrance exam was too easy.
When those students entered the Beast Doctor Academy, they weren't prepared for the real challenges that awaited them. Many couldn't handle it and dropped out, causing issues for the academy."
"So you made it harder," Seojun said, his voice neutral.
"Exactly," Gideon replied, gesturing to the briefcase. "This new system weeds out those who aren't ready while allowing us to identify potential talents right from the start. That's why we've been observing you and a few others closely."
Seojun's eyes narrowed slightly as he processed the information. "And?"
"And we think you've already proven yourself," Thomas said. "You don't need to continue further in the exams. You're exempt."
Seojun crossed his arms, his expression unreadable. "Why?"
"Because," Gideon said, motioning toward the briefcase, "you're not like the others. You've already surpassed what we're looking for. Sending you back to complete the remaining tests would be… unnecessary."
Seojun glanced at the contents of the briefcase—the 10,000 gold coins, the powerful-looking items, the special crystal, and the coveted Beast Doctor License.
"And if I refuse this exemption?" Seojun asked, his tone sharp.
Thomas shrugged. "That's up to you. But we believe it's in your best interest to accept. With this, you'll have direct access to the academy and resources others will need to fight for."
Seojun stared at them for a long moment before smirking faintly. "Hmm, I see but...."
Seojun stood silently, staring at the contents of the briefcase. Then, without looking at Thomas or Gideon, he raised his hand and slowly closed the briefcase. His fingers rested lightly on the top as he spoke, his eyes fixed on it.
"The last test and this talk inside this office… we're not stepping out of here, right?"
Thomas and Gideon exchanged a quick, uneasy glance. They understood the weight behind Seojun's words but were about to ask why he'd said such a thing when and why it should not be known by others when something shocking happened.
An oppressive aura began to seep out of Seojun's body. It was cold and overwhelming, like a storm gathering in the room.
Both Thomas and Gideon immediately felt the crushing pressure. Their knees buckled under the weight, and they fell to the ground, gasping for air.
Seojun turned his head slightly to look at them, his expression calm but his presence terrifying. He repeated his question, his tone unwavering.
"Right?"
The two men were trembling, struggling even to lift their heads. Thomas nodded instinctively, but Seojun frowned.
"You should answer, not just nod, you know?" he said, his voice as calm as ever.
The aura around him intensified, pressing down even harder.
The weight became unbearable, and both Thomas and Gideon were nearly flattened to the ground. Gideon managed to let out a loud, desperate, "Yes! We will remain silent!"
Instantly, the suffocating aura disappeared, sucked back into Seojun's body as if it had never been there. The air cleared, and the room felt lighter again.
Seojun smiled faintly and muttered, "Good."
Before Thomas and Gideon could gather their thoughts or react, they looked up—only to find that Seojun and the briefcase were gone. He had vanished without a trace, leaving only silence in the room.
The two exchanged shaken glances, still catching their breath. It was clear they had just witnessed something far beyond their understanding.
Gideon and Thomas managed to stand, their breaths heavy and uneven. The weight of what had just happened lingered in the room like a shadow. Without a word, they slumped into the chairs by the long table, both lost in thought.
"What should we do about him, Gideon? Should we really stay quiet about this." Thomas finally asked, his voice low and uneasy.
Gideon clenched his fists on the table. "We'll investigate. I'm still not assured he's not a threat. Even if it costs me my life, I can't let someone like that destroy everything we've built."
Just as he finished speaking, a deep and resonant voice echoed through the room. It wasn't loud, but its presence demanded attention.
"Don't do anything reckless."
The voice belonged to the Dragon God, the divine protector that Gideon served. The moment they heard it, both men froze.
Thomas immediately straightened, bowing his head slightly in respect.
"Dragon God," Thomas greeted,
The Dragon God's voice continued, calm yet commanding, as if addressing more than just the two men.
"I have observed everything. That man… he is not ordinary. And you do not want him as your enemy."
Thomas and Gideon exchanged glances, their unease growing.
"I also know," the Dragon God added, "that he is aware I was listening to your
conversation. That man has a sense that goes beyond what you can comprehend."
The room fell into a heavy silence.
The voice spoke again, firmer this time. "From this moment on, do everything he orders. Do not investigate him further, and most importantly, ensure that we do not find ourselves on his bad side."
Gideon bowed his head, his earlier resolve fading under the weight of the Dragon God's command. "Understood, My Lord. We will follow your guidance."
Thomas nodded in agreement, though his hands trembled slightly as he rested them on the table. "If that's your will, we'll comply."
The Dragon God's presence faded, leaving the room in silence once more.
"Just what is his rank that even the Dragon God is afraid to mess with." Thomas muttered
"It's possible that he's equal to a God Rank" Gideon muttered making Thomas eyes widened.
"T-That's impossible!"