The Broken Halo

"Take me there."

Yara’s professional smile stiffened.

She looked toward the narrow stairway, then at the two Prime Greater Demons guarding it. Her discomfort was obvious, and Simon could already guess that his request would not be accepted easily.

"I’m sorry, but the third floor is restricted," she said carefully. "Only customers with the proper authority, an invitation from the pavilion, or a recognised guest token are allowed to enter."

Simon frowned.

"Is there another way?"

Yara shook her head.

"No."

Her answer came quickly, but it was not completely true.

A customer who could present one million low grade hell stones as proof of wealth could be granted temporary access to the third floor. However, Yara did not mention it.

The demon standing before her did not look poor, but he did not look like somebody who could casually produce one million low grade hell stones either. Telling him about the requirement would only embarrass him and waste their time.

Simon stared at the blocked stairway.

The black star containing UnholyRegeneration trembled again. The reaction was the same, but Simon was certain that the cause of this reaction was on the third floor.

He began thinking of what he could do.

Forcing his way in was not an option. The two Prime Greater Demon guards were only the visible protection. A place like this definitely had powerful formations and stronger demons hidden inside it.

Just as Simon considered giving a Yara a bribe since he was certain that bribes worked in a place like this, he perceived a familiar aura entering the pavilion.

He turned his head and to his surprise, he saw Korran Veyl.

Korran Veyl walked through the entrance with the same cold expression he had worn throughout the recruitment. He was not wearing the black armour of the Black Horn Office this time. Instead, he wore a long dark coat, but the pressure around him was still difficult to ignore.

Several workers and customers recognised him immediately. Some lowered their heads slightly, while others moved out of his path.

Korran also noticed Simon.

His steps slowed, and a trace of surprise appeared in his eyes before his expression returned to normal.

"Blackmoon?"

Simon looked at him calmly.

Korran approached and glanced at Yara before returning his attention to Simon.

"What are you doing here?"

Simon’s expression became slightly strange.

"To gamble on rocks."

His tone made it sound like the answer should have been obvious.

Korran remained silent for a second. Then he looked around at the countless abyss shells displayed across the first floor, and the corner of his lips twitched slightly.

He knew that he had asked a foolish and obvious question.

Simon tilted his head a little and his expression became even more strange.

"What are you doing here?"

Nothing about the Iron Examiner made him look like a demon who would gamble on sealed rocks. His cold expression alone looked capable of making a gambling shop lose customers.

Korran understood the meaning behind Simon’s gaze.

"The owner of the pavilion is a friend of mine," he said. "I have some business with her."

Simon nodded slightly, though he was a little surprised that the owner was a demoness.

Korran looked at Simon again.

"Why are you standing here?"

Simon gestured toward the narrow stairway and he told Korran the problem since Korran had some connection and maybe, just maybe... he could help him.

"I want to enter the third floor. She says I don’t have the authority."

Yara’s body stiffened slightly.

She had not expected Simon to speak so directly to Korran, and she definitely had not expected the Iron Examiner to stop and hold a normal conversation with him.

Korran raised a brow and looked toward the guarded entrance.

"That’s all?"

He waved one hand nonchalantly, then looked at Yara.

"Allow him into the third floor."

Yara blinked.

"Sir?"

Korran’s gaze became colder.

"Was I unclear?"

Yara quickly lowered her head.

"No, sir."

Korran continued before she could move.

"Give him a twenty percent discount on any abyss shell he purchases today. Put it under my name."

Yara was not the only one who became stunned.

A few nearby workers and customers also looked over with confused expressions. Third-floor access was difficult to obtain, but a twenty percent discount on the pavilion’s top collection was not something given casually.

Simon was also slightly surprised, but he understood quickly.

He had passed the recruitment tests, possessed high S grade wind affinity, and had shown enough combat ability to secure two victories. Unless Velmora’s officials suddenly became blind, he would appear on the final list.

Korran was simply giving him some of the benefits early.

But Simon did not believe that was the only reason.

A favour given before it was formally earned felt different from a reward. Korran might want Simon to have a better impression of Velmora, or he wanted Simon to silently owe him one.

Either way, Simon did not mind.

Besides, who says he would have to repay or help Korran just because he helped him?

"Thank you," Simon said with a light, fake smile.

Korran nodded once.

"Don’t buy every useless shell you see simply because you have a discount."

Simon raised a brow.

"I’ll try."

Korran gave him a brief look, then continued toward the rear of the pavilion. A worker waiting beside another passage quickly approached and led him deeper into the building.

Yara watched him leave before slowly turning back to Simon.

Her professional expression had returned, but the shock in her eyes had not disappeared.

"You know the Iron Examiner?"

"We’ve met." Simon said simply and with complete disinterest.

His answer definitely did not satisfy Yara’s curiosity in the slightest.

Korran Veyl was known throughout Velmora for being strict, cold, and difficult to please. Yet he had personally granted Simon access to the third floor and placed a twenty percent discount under his own name.

Yara looked at Simon’s simple clothes again.

This time, there was no attempt to estimate how much money he possessed.

She had judged him wrongly.

"Please follow me," she said with much more respect than before.

Simon nodded and walked beside her toward the narrow stairway.

The two Prime Greater Demon guards looked at Yara.

"Lord Korran granted him access," she explained. "His purchases are also under Lord Korran’s name."

One guard looked at Simon for a few seconds, then touched the dark silver chain.

The formation covering the entrance lit up. Thin runes spread across the chain before it separated in the middle and withdrew into the walls. The pressure blocking the stairway disappeared immediately.

Yara stepped forward.

"The third floor is this way."

Simon followed her up the stairs.

With every step, the black star in his Sea of Consciousness trembled more frequently.

By the time he reached the top, UnholyRegeneration was reacting more intensely than it had since he entered the pavilion.

Yara placed her hand on the dark door before them.

The runes on its surface glowed, and the door slowly opened.

Simon stepped through and entered the third floor.