It didn't take long before a new presence filled the room.
A group of people entered from the opposite side of the hall, their arrival immediately shifting the atmosphere.
The buzz of conversation from the participants died down, and within seconds, the entire venue fell into silence.
Even those arrogant second-generation heirs, the kind that usually acted above the rules, had the sense to shut their mouths.
Because among the people who had just walked in.
The city lord himself had arrived.
Then, the city lord spoke, no one could see his appearance well. He was cloaked to the brim like a mummy, with only the long dark blue hair on the back.
"The ceremony will begin in 10 minutes"
---
For most ordinary people, the title of "City Lord" sounded grand, but vague.
They understood it as a position of power, but the true weight behind it?
Most had no clue, none does. It was just a title right? Wrong...
But to awakeners and those with high status, the meaning was crystal clear.
"It means this city is the city lord's personal territory."
"The lord of the city... "
"City lord... "
"Repeat after me"
"Cityy lorddd"
Ailin cupped a hand to Mize's ear, her voice lowered to a whisper as she shared the information.
The moment Mize had started asking even the slightest question, she had taken it upon herself to explain everything she knew.
Mize blinked, caught off guard.
'Eh?'
A sudden wave of confusion struck him.
'But Liam said nothing from the Warp could be brought back into reality.'
That was what he had been told.
And yet.
If what Ailin was saying was true, then…
No wonder.
No wonder the human race was able to accommodate so many people on the planet.
It was because of this. He had always wandered just how it was possible to have trillion of population and yet the human race still persist.
A city lord's territory wasn't just some figurative concept.
It was a real, tangible space, an entire landmass that existed within the shroud of a space formation, a space law derived by the warp.
The higher the city lord's tier, the greater the size of their territory.
And this wasn't just a minor convenience.
This ability was one of the main reasons the human population had grown so explosively.
With every city lord having their own personal space, the planet's population capacity had skyrocketed.
Mize was both fascinated and unsettled by the realization.
But at the same time.
It raised an even bigger question.
'How did they manage to bring these territories into the human world?'
Because if the laws of the Warp prevented awakeners from bringing anything back.
Then how was this even possible?
Hearing his doubt, Ailin turned and gave him a look.
And not just any look.
A ridiculous look.
Like she had just realized she was talking to someone so pampered and sheltered that they didn't even know the most basic facts about the world.
Mize felt a chill run down his spine.
Then, Ailin sighed, shaking her head before lifting her fingers.
And pinched his cheek.
"Mimi, you really shouldn't play around so much."
Her voice was exasperated, but fond.
"Even the basics, you don't know?"
Mize jerked in surprise, eyes widening.
"A-Ark—!"
His cheeks squished under Ailin's fingers, making him squeak involuntarily.
"Uwee—! Srry—!"
His protest was pathetically soft.
Ailin sighed again, finally letting go of his squished face, before turning her attention back to the city lord and the other important figures at the front.
Her gaze flickered between them for a moment, before she returned to Mize.
"Alright, listen carefully."
She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice.
"There's a certain item in the Battlefield of Myriad Races, it's called the Reality Shard."
Mize perked up instantly.
"The what now?"
"It's extremely rare, one of the hardest optional materials to obtain."
Mize furrowed his brows.
"Optional?"
"Yeah. A lord doesn't need one to survive," Ailin explained. "But if they ever want to leave the Warp and bring their territory into the real world, they need a Reality Shard."
Mize's lips parted slightly in realization.
Ailin nodded, continuing.
"A single piece is already heavily sought after, but the higher the tier of the lord, the more Reality Shards they'll need to fully transfer their land."
Mize let the information sink in.
So that's how it worked.
That's how awakeners were able to expand their presence in reality despite the supposed laws of the Warp.
They weren't breaking the rules.
They were using a loophole.
The Reality Shard was the key.
Or... The warp itself allowed for the loophole to exist.
While Mize was still caught up in conversation with Ailin, the important figures at the front finally began to take their seats.
Their purpose here was obvious.
They weren't just here as guests, they were here to observe and recruits.
Unlike the commoner's awakening ceremony, where most would gain mediocre or standard professions, the awakenings in this venue had a far higher chance of producing rare professions or even higher.
And in a world where power meant everything, that made this event something worth watching.
Among the figures seated at the front, a familiar presence settled into his chair, Adrian.
He carried himself with his usual calm demeanor, posture relaxed as he surveyed the crowd before him.
And beside him, seated, was a majestic-looking middle-aged man.
A long white beard, hair cascading like silk threads, and a frame so massive that at a glance, one might mistake him for a small mountain.
That man.
Was the Dean himself.
The Dean's sharp gaze didn't miss the way Adrian's eyes kept darting through the crowd.
As if searching for someone.
"What are you looking for in the crowd, Adrian?"
His deep voice rumbled as he turned slightly toward his son, brows furrowed.
Adrian, still resting his arm on the chair's armrest, tilted his head lazily.
Then, his lips curved slightly.
"Well…" His tone was casual, but his eyes gleamed with interest.
"Someone caught my eye, Father."
The Dean blinked.
"Someone? A rival?"
The assumption made sense.
Adrian wasn't the type to pay attention to just anyone, if he was interested in someone, it usually meant they were strong enough to be worth noticing.
But Adrian simply shook his head, amused.
"No."
Then, after a slight pause, he added.
"It's a girl."
"A girl?!"
The Dean's voice rose slightly, startled.
But the surprise lasted only a moment, because in the next second, his entire face lit up in pure excitement.
"Hahahaha! Good, good!"
He clapped a massive hand against his knee, eyes gleaming with fatherly enthusiasm.
"Which one is it?"
His head turned sharply, scanning the sea of young participants like a predator seeking prey.
Adrian, enjoying his father's reaction a bit too much, tilted his fingers slightly and whispered.
The Dean's gaze followed the subtle gesture.
Then.
His eyes landed on Mize.
"…Ohh?"
A brief moment of silence.
Then.
His eyes widened.
His throat dried.
And he swallowed hard.
"OHHH?!? THIS ONE?"
The reaction was immediate and dramatic, his entire massive frame straightened, his hand gripping the chair's armrest tightly.
Then, he whipped his head back toward Adrian.
"I APPROVE!"
The words boomed louder than necessary.
The surrounding important figures stole a glance, some clearly amused while others subtly rolled their eyes.
But the Dean didn't care.
"You two would give me the most beautiful grandchildren! Hahaha!"Q
He smacked Adrian's shoulder proudly, voice filled with booming laughter.
"That's not even swan meat anymore! That's a whole goddess!"
"You damn brat aimed so high that I almost choked!"
Then, giving Adrian a knowing look, he grinned.
"Good eyes, son. Good eyes."
Adrian only chuckled.
"Of course, Father."
But just as the Dean was drowning in his future-grandchild fantasies, Adrian sighed.
"But there's a small problem."
His father's brows furrowed immediately.
"Just ask."
The Dean's tone hardened instantly.Q
"Who dares to stand in my son's way when it comes to love?"
His fist clenched, and for a second, the air seemed to shift.Q
"Whoever it is, I'll deal with them myself."
Adrian smiled faintly.
"Well… thank you, Father."
Then.
As if sensing Mize's gaze drifting toward him.
He met it.
And waved.
Mize stiffened instantly.
He had accidentally looked in Adrian's direction for a single second, and now, suddenly, the guy was waving at him?!
'Shit.'
Panicked, Mize hurriedly turned his face away, pretending not to see anything.
But unfortunately.
That action did not go unnoticed.
Everyone who had been silently observing the situation had also seen Adrian wave.
And now.
They had questions.
Many.
Because this wasn't just anyone.Q
This was Adrian.
The prodigy of the region.
One of the most dazzling young men in the entire country.
And he had just waved at this girl.
"OHHH…"
The Dean, still watching closely, squinted.
Then, a small chuckle rumbled from his throat.
"She seems reluctant."
He observed the way Mize subtly shifted, how she deliberately looked away, a hint of flustered hesitation in her body language.
Adrian?
Adrian only smiled, unbothered.
"That's fine."
His voice was calm, but there was a quiet confidence in it.
"I'll make her mine."
The Dean grinned.
"Any way works!"
"Capture, forced, or even kidnapping. It's up to you. Laws don't apply to people like us, as long as you wants it then just take it. Who dares to say no to my face in this region?"
He laughed heartily, his massive hand slamming against the chair.
"As long as I get cute grandchildren! Hahaha!"