Chapter 10: Royal Suspicions and a New Direction

Upon their return from the Dark Forest, the quartet reached the capital of the Ocxi Kingdom. Despite their exhaustion, their faces bore the marks of both triumph and a grave truth. The evidence they had gathered from the caravan's wreckage and the Malevolent Spirit heralded a threat far beyond a simple hunter's quest, one that concerned the entire kingdom, even the entire world.

When they arrived at the Hunter's Guild, they were once again met by the perpetually grim-faced clerk. This time, however, the clerk's expression had completely changed. Diego's rapidly increasing letter level and successful quests had transformed him into a circulating legend within the Guild. The clerk sprang to his feet the moment he saw them.

"Hunter Fruz! And his team! Did you complete the quest? The caravan... what happened to the caravan?" His voice held no trace of its previous sarcasm; instead, it was filled with anxiety and curiosity.

Elara stepped forward. "The caravan was annihilated. But it wasn't a common monster attack. We encountered a Malevolent Spirit."

The clerk's eyes widened. "A Malevolent Spirit? That... that's impossible! Weren't they only beings mentioned in prophecies?"

Diego pulled out a faint purple energy crystal from his pocket, the only tangible remnant after the Malevolent Spirit's destruction. The crystal vibrated slightly in his hand. "Not impossible," Diego said, his voice calm but resolute. "This is a fragment of it. And this entity doesn't just absorb life energy; it's also connected to ancient prophecies."

The clerk took the crystal with trembling hands. His face had gone pale. "I... I must report this to the Chairman immediately. And to the Royal Family..."

Shortly after, Diego and his team were brought before Chairman Valerius, the highest-ranking official in the Hunter's Guild. Valerius was an elderly, experienced B-level mage. Deep lines creased his face, and his eyes reflected a sharp intellect coupled with years of weariness. Beside him stood A-level Captain Thorne, one of the Ocxi Kingdom's strongest Battle Mages. Thorne was a stern-faced, muscular, and disciplined man.

Diego meticulously recounted their battle with the Malevolent Spirit, his ability to copy skills, and the Ancient Knowledge he had gained through the System. Elara, Kael, and Roric corroborated Diego's account, adding their own observations. When Diego specifically mentioned the Ancient Prophecy, the expressions on Valerius's and Thorne's faces shifted.

Chairman Valerius took a deep breath. "Malevolent Spirits... These were only spoken of as legends for generations. And the prophecies... If what you say is true, this signifies one of the greatest threats the world has ever faced."

Captain Thorne looked at Diego with suspicion. "And what about this ability copying of yours, Fruz? And your letter level increasing so rapidly? This doesn't follow any known rules of the system. What is the source of such power?"

Diego opened his internal System interface and displayed his letter level: BB. Thorne's eyes widened in astonishment. "BB? In such a short time? This... this is incredible!"

"The source is uncertain," Diego said. "The System says it's an ancient connection. And I awakened this power to protect my village. My family and loved ones... they all died. The Battle Mages abandoned us." The pain and anger in his last sentence hung heavy in the air.

Valerius sensed the sincerity in Diego's words. But suspicion still lingered on Thorne's face. "There's a risk that this power could become uncontrollable. Or worse... that it originates from a dark source."

"What matters to me is protecting innocent people," Diego stated firmly. "I will use this power against those who seek to disrupt the world's balance."

Chairman Valerius pondered for a moment. This situation concerned not just the Hunter's Guild, but the entire Ocxi Kingdom. Even other kingdoms. "We must convey this information to the Royal Family immediately," he said. "And as for you, Hunter Fruz... Your power and abilities hold great potential for our kingdom. However, they also represent a great unknown. For now, we will continue to give you new quests. But Captain Thorne will closely monitor this team."

Captain Thorne's face showed clear skepticism towards Diego. This young man was rising too quickly, and the source of his power was uncertain. He wondered how the Royal Family would react to this situation.

A few days later, Diego and his team were summoned to the Royal Palace. King Eldrin, seated on the throne of the Ocxi Kingdom, was an old but wise leader. Deep lines creased his face, and his eyes reflected the concern he held for his kingdom's future. Beside him stood a council composed of the kingdom's most powerful mages and advisors.

Diego once again recounted his Malevolent Spirit experience and the Ancient Knowledge. King Eldrin listened carefully to every word. The faces of the council members showed astonishment, fear, and in some cases, disbelief.

"Malevolent Spirits... This was a threat mentioned in our ancestors' prophecies," King Eldrin said, his voice heavy. "However, none expected their emergence so soon. And your power, young Fruz... Could this be the 'infinite mana' person mentioned in the prophecies?"

One of the council members, an elderly and conservative mage named Lord Valerius (not the Chairman Valerius), stepped forward. "Your Majesty, this young man's power is suspicious. His rapid ascent from F-level is not normal. Perhaps he has made a pact with dark forces."

A wave of anger rose within Diego. "My power awakened to protect my village! I lost my family and friends! I have no dealings with dark forces!"

King Eldrin raised a hand. "Calm down. Lord Valerius's concerns are not unfounded. However, I also see young Fruz's sincerity. We should not make hasty decisions on this matter."

The King turned to Diego. "Young Fruz, your power could be a great hope for our kingdom. But at the same time, if uncontrolled, it could be a great danger. I have a proposition for you. I want you to join 'Dragon's Claws,' a special unit of the Battle Mages. This unit was formed to combat the most dangerous threats and consists of the strongest Knights. There, you will learn to control your power and serve our kingdom in the best possible way. And we will monitor you closely."

Elara's eyes lit up. Dragon's Claws! This was the place of her dreams. It was the most elite unit of the Battle Mages.

Diego considered the King's offer. This was an opportunity to both develop his power and do something for the kingdom. But it also meant being constantly under surveillance. Still, he had no other choice. He had to grow stronger.

"I accept, Your Majesty," Diego said, bowing his head. "I will join the Dragon's Claws. And I will serve my kingdom to the best of my ability."

King Eldrin smiled. "Excellent. Then, young Fruz, let your new journey begin. The world needs a hero like you."

However, contrary to the King's words, a shadow of doubt still lingered on the faces of the council members and Captain Thorne. Diego's power both fascinated and terrified them. Would this young man become a savior, or a catastrophe that would further disrupt the world's balance? The future remained uncertain.