When Finn Doria discovered where the sole 9th Level Profound Rank Adventurer in the entire Sacred Dragon Institute was, he immediately left his room and made his way to the Contribution Hall. He couldn't believe this institute actually had someone at the 9th Level Profound Rank. It was hard to accept, considering the Sacred Dragon Institute didn't wield particularly overwhelming power in the Sacred Dragon Kingdom as a whole.
According to Finn's father, Creed, only a handful of Adventurers in the entire Sacred Dragon Kingdom ever reached the 9th Level Profound Rank. Attaining this rank wasn't something you could accomplish easily. Of course, there were still a few ways to reach it—one being to consume large quantities of soul-enhancing pills such as the Profound Nurturing Pill, like the one Frederick had won at the Heavenly Auction House.
According to Alicia, the manager of Heavenly Auction City, there was only a thirty percent chance a 9th Level Scarlet Gold Rank could advance to the 1st Level Profound Rank with the pill—and that still depended on the Adventurer's innate talent. Another path to such power was to be born with extraordinary talent. Those rare individuals didn't need pills to advance; all it took was rigorous training.
Meanwhile, when Finn learned there was such a powerful Adventurer inside this institute, he couldn't help feeling a surge of anger and hatred. A troubling question kept running through his mind.
He walked quickly, reaching the Contribution Hall in just a few minutes. As he stepped inside the building, he slowed down—and was taken aback by who he found waiting there.
He hadn't expected that the man he'd assumed was a low-ranking instructor was, in fact, the strongest Adventurer in the entire Sacred Dragon Institute.
The instructor who had welcomed the new students—Kiden Sylveria—had been pretending to be an Outer Instructor all along.
"Instructor Kiden," Finn said quietly, meeting Kiden's eyes with a steady gaze.
"Finn Doria? What are you doing here? Do you need something?" Kiden asked, startled and puzzled. He looked searchingly at Finn and went on, "I've heard that you're actually a powerful 9th Level Gold Rank. I can hardly believe you're not only stronger but younger than I am. You really are—"
Before Kiden could finish, Finn cut him off coldly. "You're not an Outer Instructor."
Kiden was surprised by this blunt statement, though he quickly regained his composure. He didn't know how, but he sensed this young man knew more than he should about his true role in the institute.
He forced a small smile and pretended to look confused. "Huh? What are you talking about?"
"You don't have to keep pretending, Instructor Kiden. You're not a Silver Rank. You're a 9th Level Profound Rank," Finn declared.
Kiden's eyes widened at Finn's words. He could hardly believe this boy knew his true level and rank.
'But how?!'
Kiden took a slow breath and made a sweeping gesture with his right hand. Instantly, a barrier woven from soulforce enclosed the entire Contribution Hall so that only he and Finn could hear each other.
Sound Concealing Skill!
This was an ability only those at Profound Rank or higher could use—an art that suppressed all sound from escaping. With it, their conversation would remain completely private.
"There's no point in denying the truth any longer," Kiden admitted solemnly. "I am Kiden Sylveria, the Institution Master of the Sacred Dragon Institute."
After a moment of silence, he continued, "I can't imagine how you discovered my true level and rank. Even many of the instructors who teach here don't know exactly how strong I am. All they know is that I'm somewhere within Profound Rank."
"Now tell me," Kiden pressed, "how did you learn what I really am?"
But Finn didn't answer. Instead, he spoke a single word, his voice tight.
"Why?"
Of course, Finn had no difficulty sensing the level and rank of any Adventurer near him. That was thanks to the power Kurt had granted him—he could discern someone's true strength effortlessly. But other Adventurers couldn't detect Finn's true rank because he wore a Concealing Ring.
This ring allowed him to hide or alter his own level and rank at will. But even with it, he couldn't conceal the truth from someone ten times stronger than himself.
Kiden looked puzzled by Finn's question, giving him a faint, searching smile. "Why do I pretend to be an Outer Instructor? I've always done that because—"
"Why did you let my uncle die?" Finn burst out, his voice shaking with rage. "Why did you stand by and do nothing while he was poisoned? As the Institution Master, I know you were fully aware of who was behind his murder! But… why didn't you act? I don't understand— You're a Profound Rank Adventurer. How could you be afraid of an Aristocrat Clan?!"
Kiden fell silent. His eyes turned grave as he listened to Finn pour out his fury and bitterness.
"You knew about the attempt on my life, too, didn't you?" Finn demanded, his voice hoarse.
He needed to hear the truth. Before, he hadn't been qualified to ask—he'd been too weak. But now that he had power, he wanted vengeance on everyone who had tormented his clan.
"You're right," Kiden said quietly. "I knew about everything you just mentioned."
If it had been anyone else accusing and questioning him like this, Kiden wouldn't have hesitated to teach them a harsh lesson. Even the Core Instructors treated him with deep respect—so what right did a mere Outer Student have to stand there shouting?
But this was different. He let Finn vent without interruption because he could feel the pain and hatred behind the young man's words—and because he knew he was guilty. He had been a coward when the rot began to spread in the institution.
"Who was it?" Finn asked in a low, steady voice. "I want to know who poisoned my uncle and tried to kill me."
Their eyes locked. Kiden let out a long sigh and finally spoke in a subdued tone.
"Inner Instructor Xuan. But you won't find him here— I sent him away on a long-term mission."
"HAHAHAHA!" Finn's laughter was bitter, his voice trembling with rage. "So an Instructor poisoned my uncle? And now he's roaming freely while you do nothing? You really impress me, Institution Master."
"You don't understand," Kiden insisted, shaking his head.
Finn's brow creased in anger. "What don't I understand? It's obvious you're protecting the criminal responsible for my uncle's death—and for nearly killing me! I'm not a child you can lie to anymore!"
"Xuan wasn't the true mastermind behind what happened to you and your uncle," Kiden said solemnly. "Someone with far more power and influence was pulling the strings. I'm not afraid of them—but I have reasons I can't oppose them openly."
"I know," Finn said coldly. "You mean the Black Tiger Family, don't you?" He clenched his fist.
But why would Kiden fear them? The strongest member of the Black Tiger Family was only a 9th Level Scarlet Gold Rank—Frederick, the family's current head. That thought troubled Finn deeply.
It had all begun when the Black Tiger Family started harassing the Azure Wood Family. They wanted the Azure Wood Family's land and property. But Finn couldn't understand why, out of so many weak, ordinary clans, they had chosen his family to destroy.
When the Azure Wood Family's higher-ups refused to surrender, disaster began to strike them one by one. Hunters never returned from the forest. No one knew why, since it was the first time they'd lost so many people.
And when Altair entered the institute, within days the Azure Wood Family heard news of his death—yet the institution never revealed who had killed him.
At that time, Finn's clan had lost all hope of ever finding justice. All they could do was swallow their grief in silence.
Finn had expected Kiden to confirm the Black Tiger Family's wrongdoings. But instead, Kiden slowly shook his head.
"No, Finn Doria," he said quietly. "It wasn't that Aristocrat Clan behind all of this. If it had been, I would have acted without hesitation. They're only an Aristocrat Clan—why would I fear them? No—when I was preparing to punish Xuan and confront the Black Tiger Family, an Elder from a Noble Clan visited the institution. It was ten years ago, but I still remember exactly what he said: that I was not to interfere in the conflict between the Black Tiger Family and the Azure Wood Family."
"In that moment, I had no choice but to stand aside. Back then, I was only a 5th Level Profound Rank, while that Noble Clan had three Adventurers at 7th Level Profound Rank. I couldn't fight them—and I wouldn't throw my life away for a minor clan that had nothing to do with me."
Everything Kiden said was true. When he was about to take action, a powerful Elder had come to warn him personally to stay out of the feud.
"A Noble Clan?" Finn asked, bewildered. "Which of the four Noble Clans would want to destroy my family? And why? I don't recall the Azure Wood Family ever making enemies among the Nobles."
If a Noble Clan really was behind this—and had Profound Rank Adventurers—then even now, with all his strength, Finn still wasn't strong enough to oppose them.
Measured only by level and rank, Finn remained far weaker than Kiden.
He could only grimace as he processed what he'd just learned. The truth was clear: even after inheriting Kurt's power, there was still no guarantee his clan was safe.
While these thoughts churned inside him, Finn slowly clenched his fists. He forced a bitter smile and waited for Kiden to answer.
"You know them well, Finn Doria," Kiden said gravely. "They've long wanted to see the Azure Wood Family ruined—especially you." He looked deep into Finn's eyes and finished quietly, "Because that is the clan of the woman you were meant to marry. The Noble Clan known as the Nine Ice Family."