"Congratulations, Max, for ascending to the eighth floor," Jason said, walking up to him with a broad smile, his tone sincere and admiring. "You've achieved something that many—if not all—geniuses in the Black Dragon Palace only dream of. Some spend their entire lives trying and never make it beyond the fifth or sixth. And yet, you... you made it to the eighth floor."
Max gave a simple nod, his expression calm as always. "I was lucky," he said modestly, though everyone around them knew there was nothing lucky about what he'd accomplished.
Jason smiled at Max's humility but didn't press further, his eyes flickering with curiosity toward his younger sister, Lucia, who stood a few paces away. He was eager to see how she would react, especially after all that had transpired between her and Max.
