Chapter 319: Who Is This Woman?

Nora waited for the door to finish opening before stepping inside. She found herself within an enormous chamber, its reinforced walls and spacious interior making it immediately recognizable as one of the Guild’s specialized testing rooms.

However, she barely spared the surroundings a glance. Her attention was drawn instead toward the two figures standing near the center of the room.

One was a woman she recognized immediately.

Evelyn.

She was one of the most talented engineers currently employed by the Spectre Guild.

The second figure, however, was unfamiliar, a young man wearing a complete set of black-and-blue armor. The suit covered his entire body, making it difficult to distinguish his appearance at first glance.

From what Nora could see, Evelyn and the armored individual appeared to be conducting some kind of experiment. Faint movements rippled across the surface of the armor, several sections shifting as though the material itself were undergoing some form of transformation.

Under ordinary circumstances, Nora might have been curious enough to see what they were testing. But not now. Right now, she had something far more important to worry about, because the moment she stepped into the chamber, the pendant in her hand suddenly jerked, pulling sharply toward the armored young man.

Nora’s eyes widened.

"What...?"

She instinctively tightened her grip, but the pulling force only grew stronger. It was almost as though the tiny fragment of Prime Ore were desperately trying to escape her hand and fly straight toward him.

Nora wrapped her fingers around it quickly, holding it firmly in place. Her mind went blank for a brief moment, but then she slowly raised her gaze, her eyes settling on the armored figure standing beside Evelyn.

There was no mistaking it. The reaction was coming from him.

Nora swallowed.

Could he really be...

She stared at the armored figure. For years, she had imagined what this moment might be like. She had wondered whether the person they were searching for would turn out to be some ancient powerhouse, a mysterious cultivator, or perhaps an extraordinary existence whose strength lay beyond anything she could comprehend. She had considered countless possibilities.

Yet never once had she imagined she would find him standing inside one of her own Guild’s testing chambers. And wearing equipment developed by the Spectre Guild, no less.

The whole situation was so unexpected that Nora almost didn’t know how to react. For a moment, an overwhelming mixture of emotions threatened to break through her composure.

Still, she quickly forced herself to calm down. No matter how excited she felt, she couldn’t afford to lose control of herself, especially not in front of this person. After all, years of searching had finally borne fruit, and the last thing she wanted was to ruin it with a poor first impression.

Calm down, Nora.

She took a quiet breath. You’ve waited years for this moment. Don’t ruin it now.

After regaining some of her composure, she finally stepped forward.

Meanwhile, Evelyn had just been preparing to move on to the next stage of the armor’s testing when she noticed someone entering the chamber. She turned toward the door.

"Hm?"

The moment she recognized the approaching woman, her expression changed.

"Guild Master?" Her voice carried unmistakable surprise.

After all, Nora rarely visited the engineering department without prior notice, and even when she did, she usually contacted the department heads beforehand. For her to suddenly appear inside a testing chamber unannounced was highly unusual.

Evelyn immediately straightened. "Guild Master Nora! I wasn’t informed that you’d be coming."

Nora, however, barely acknowledged her, her gaze remaining fixed on the armored young man.

Evelyn blinked. "Guild Master?"

Kael also turned toward the entrance. He’d noticed the door opening earlier, but since Evelyn hadn’t seemed particularly alarmed, he hadn’t paid it much attention. Hearing her address the newcomer as "Guild Master," though, immediately caught his interest.

Guild Master?

Kael looked toward the approaching woman. She possessed striking red hair and an elegant appearance, her professional outfit marking her as someone accustomed to occupying a position of authority. Her expression was composed, but there was something unusual about the way she was looking at him.

Kael furrowed his brows slightly. Why is she staring at him like that?

Before he could think much further, the woman stopped a short distance away. Then, to his complete surprise, she lowered herself onto her knees.

Kael froze in shock. Evelyn’s eyes widened.

"Guild Master?!" she called out.

Neither of them had expected such a reaction. Nora, however, paid no attention to their surprise, lowering her head respectfully further still.

Then, in a clear and solemn voice, she spoke.

"Nora greets the Great One."

--

Meanwhile, at approximately the same time, a considerable distance away from the Spectre Guild, another gathering was taking place.

The location was a heavily guarded Rift entrance.

Unlike ordinary Rifts that Hunters could enter after obtaining the necessary permits, this particular entrance was surrounded by numerous security measures.

Armed soldiers stood at various checkpoints, while several defensive installations had been positioned around the area.

The atmosphere was tense but orderly.

And gathered before the Rift were several dozen individuals.

However, these people clearly didn’t belong to the same organization.

They were divided into three distinct groups, each maintaining a noticeable distance from the others.

Their appearances, equipment, and even the auras surrounding them were completely different.

The first group was led by an imposing man.

He was tall, heavily built, and possessed an extremely muscular physique.

His upper body was completely bare, exposing a broad chest and thick arms covered in old scars.

There was something wild about his appearance.

His hair was slightly disheveled, and the fierce expression on his face made him look more like a battle-hungry warrior than someone attending an official gathering.

Even while standing still, he radiated an aggressive aura that made the surrounding air feel faintly oppressive.

The individuals gathered behind him possessed a similar temperament.

Most were heavily built, and several carried enormous weapons that looked far too cumbersome for ordinary people to wield.

They spoke loudly among themselves, occasionally laughing or exchanging rough jokes.

The second group was entirely different.

They stood in a relatively orderly formation, their expressions calm and composed.

At their front was a man dressed in elaborate priestly robes.

His appearance was dignified, and a gentle smile rested on his face.

A faint, almost sacred aura surrounded him.

The energy was strangely soothing.

Anyone who stood near him would likely feel their tension easing, as though their worries were gradually being washed away.

The other members of his group possessed similar auras.

Their expressions were peaceful, and their movements carried a certain sense of discipline."

At first glance, they appeared to be the most approachable of the three groups.

However, whether that impression was accurate was another matter entirely.