Silver watched carefully. Most candidates were competent and a few were impressive. None shocked him.

Eventually, his name was called. Murmurs followed immediately. Silver ignored them, walking calmly toward the platform. Several family members watched with interest while others watched with skepticism.

The Patriarch looked on with complete indifference. Silver stepped into position.

The examiner spoke.

"Begin."

The first assessment focused on physical capability. One just had to perform some simple movements, undergo a reaction test, and undergo power measurements.

Silver intentionally held back not enough to fail but enough to avoid questions. His true strength no longer matched his public profile.

The second evaluation measured combat awareness. Again he performed well. It wasn’t exemption but enough to be seen as better than everyone else. Years of military experience made certain things difficult to fake.

The final assessment involved practical combat. A training construct attacked. Silver drew his weapon and the gun appeared almost instantly. A movement so smooth that several observers blinked.

[ Phantom Draw LV2.]

Bang!

The construct fell moments later. Suffocating silence followed. The performance was completely unexpected. Silver had never displayed that level of competence before.

The examiner nodded slowly.

"Pass."

That was enough at the moment. Silver stepped down from the platform. Several conversations immediately resumed some following him.

The results would be announced later. For now, the evaluations continued. Eventually, the gathering moved into a less formal phase.

Silver escaped immediately. It was too much politics and he didn’t have enough oxygen.

He wandered toward one of the outer corridors then froze, because he recognized two figures speaking nearby.

Shawn and Cruella stood alone in the hallway.

Silver’s eyes narrowed slightly. How she even managed to escape the hallway and her fiancé, he didn’t know.

Silver moved closer. It wasn’t enough to interrupt immediately but enough to listen.

"...you don’t have to leave so soon."

Cruella’s gentle and persuasive voice carried softly. Shawn smiled at her.

"The Academy expects us back," he calmly said, although his tone had softened.

"One more week wouldn’t matter," she said, tilting her head slightly.

Silver sighed internally.

’So this is how his doom began’

This was exactly the sort of interaction that eventually dragged Shawn into disaster.

Cruella continued speaking.

"We hardly get to see each other."

Shawn’s expression softened further. Silver immediately intervened he couldn’t let the man be swayed.

"Shawn."

Both turned. Shawn looked at him with confusion.

"Silver?"

He managed to distract him, an opening. Silver casually walked directly between them.

Cruella’s smile twitched almost imperceptibly. She clearly hadn’t expected this, which was good since neither had he.

"Can I borrow you for a minute?"

Shawn looked confused.

"Now?"

"Now."

He hesitated. Cruella opened her mouth but Silver spoke first.

"It’s family business."

That ended the discussion. Reluctantly, Shawn followed. The two walked several corridors away before stopping, only then did Shawn turn.

"What was that about?"

Silver studied him carefully then sighed. How exactly was he supposed to explain this?

"You need to stop."

Shawn blinked, his head tilted slightly.

"...Stop what?"

"That."

Silver didn’t know how to put. He didn’t want him getting aggressive on him because he was trying to separate the man from his ’engaged to another man’ sweetheart.

’This is giving me a headache’

Silver tried again.

"She’s engaged."

He frowned.

"So?"

Silver stared at him in disbelief.

"She’s engaged," he repeated.

"...I heard you."

"Then why are you still confused?"

Shawn looked genuinely puzzled. Silver suddenly understood why the man died in the novel. It wasn’t bad luck but stupidity. Someone can be a genius but also stupid at the same time. He was clearly a secret love brain.

Silver rubbed his forehead.

"If you continue acting like that, eventually someone is going to take offense."

Shawn frowned.

"I’m just talking to her."

"For now... That’s what everyone says before everything becomes a mess."

Silence followed then Shawn looked away slightly, which told Silver everything he needed to know.

’This is absolutely wonderful’

The feelings already existed. The novel hadn’t exaggerated. Shawn would clearly help her cheat on Lucian if given an opportunity.

Silver sighed. This was going to be harder than expected but not impossible. Silver looked at the still confused Shawn then sighed heavily.

’I’m not a therapist’

For several seconds neither spoke. The noise of the gathering echoed faintly from the nearby halls; laughter, conversation, and the clinking of glasses.

The sounds felt strangely distant since Silver was currently trying to save someone from a future only he knew existed.

A surprisingly difficult task mostly because Shawn was very stubborn.

Silver folded his arms.

"Let me ask you something."

Shawn raised an eyebrow.

"Go ahead."

"I want you to answer me as though I’m grandfather." He calmly said, " Why are you staying?"

The older contractor looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

"How are you going to answer that when grandfather asks you?"

Silver pointed toward the hall where Cruella remained.

"Her."

Understanding dawned. Immediately followed by denial.

"That’s ridiculous."

Silver nearly laughed.

"Ridiculous! You know it yourself. She’s engaged to family, you cannot even tell grand father that you’re staying for an engaged woman."

"But..."

Silver rubbed his forehead. This conversation felt increasingly painful.

"Why are we still having this conversation?"

Shawn became quiet. For the first time since the discussion started, his usual confidence faded slightly.

Silver immediately noticed. Eventually, Shawn sighed.

"I met her before."

Silver blinked. That wasn’t in the novel or perhaps it was and he’d forgotten.

"Before?"

Shawn nodded.

"Two years ago."

"At one of the contractor exchanges."

He smiled faintly.

"She helped me."

Silver immediately became suspicious. Those four words alone explained eighty percent of the heroine’s followers.

’She helped me.’ That was usually how it started then feelings happened then loyalty then eventually somebody died. Silver had read enough novels to recognize the pattern.

Shawn continued.

"It wasn’t anything major, just..."

He paused, searching for the words. Silver patiently waited.

"She treated me like a normal person."

’Aaaah!’ He screamed internally, ’Just how cliche does it get’

This part was one of the most dangerous tropes in novels especially for talented individuals since they were rarely treated normally. They were always admired, used, respected, envied, and feared which was very rarely normal.

Silver understood that, even if he didn’t agree with Shawn’s conclusions. People are vulnerable creatures and a little warmth could influence someone’s life for good.

Shawn leaned against the wall.

"I know she’s engaged. I know nothing will happen."

Silver nodded. That part was probably true. Cruella had too many admirers already, one more wouldn’t change much. The problem was everything that came afterward.

It always battles and then sacrifices. Since they’re disaster magnets, they always need the meat shields.

Silver remembered Shawn’s death. Although he couldn’t vividly remember it, he knew it was a useless death since the protagonist kept on mentioning it in his memories. Dillain had mourned and Cruella had cried. Everyone was sad then the story moved on. Meanwhile, Shawn remained dead forever.

Silver looked at him. This man had spent days helping him survive. Risking himself, teaching him, and protecting him. He wasn’t letting that happen not if he could stop it.

"You should leave tomorrow as planned."