After Su Yun left and his presence completely faded from the room, Rami stood silently for a moment, scanning the space. He took a deep breath, then turned and walked out without a word.
He headed to the sink, washed his face with cold water, and quickly ate his breakfast. It wasn't hunger that moved him—it was anticipation.
By the time he finished, Rayn was already waiting in the living room.
"Rami," Rayn said with his usual smile. "Today, you're leaving the orphanage. Do you have a clear plan? Don't hesitate to tell me… you're my only son, after all."
Rami didn't reply right away. Then, calmly, he said,
"Actually… I'm thinking of going to Star High with Selena. Maybe Yan will come with us—if he agrees."
Rayn nodded, as if the decision didn't surprise him.
"Of course. I won't hold you back. I'll have Ho Jun reserve you a seat in the car heading to the capital. It should arrive after lunch."
"Ho Jun? Who's that?"
Rayn replied as if it wasn't worth explaining in detail,
"The head of the Hunters' Association in this city."
"You can just ask him to take me?" Rami asked, genuinely curious.
Rayn smiled, a hint of pride in his voice.
"It's not that simple. The government provides certain privileges to those with rare classifications. This is one of them."
"Nice. Does that mean Selena will ride with me in the same car?"
"Yes, of course. You'll leave together. As for Yan... I'll speak with him. If he refuses and they don't let him go with you, I'll take him myself."
With a calm face, Rami said,
"Thanks, Dad. I'll go get ready. Just three hours left before we leave."
Rayn nodded, still smiling.
"Alright. I wish I could go with you, but I trust the teachers there will take good care of you."
"Don't worry," Rami said, his eyes distant. "I'll grow stronger… and bring many surprises to the Vanguard Guild."
Rayn chuckled softly.
"Just what I'd expect from my son."
He watched Rami's back as he climbed the stairs. For a moment, the smile faded from his face. He pulled out his phone, dialed a quick number, and waited.
"Yes... move before noon… Is that so? Perfect."
Little did he know that, at that very moment, Rami was thinking of something completely different.
"Everything's happening just like it did in that book… which means Yan might be kidnapped soon. I have to act before that happens."
As he continued upstairs, the thought hit him: he should start by looking for Yan.
"When I woke up... he wasn't in the room. Where did he go?"
He passed by Selena's room and noticed the door slightly ajar. He gave it a quick glance without stopping, then kept walking.
But at the first corner, he paused. Looked back for a moment… then turned around.
A moment later, he was walking quietly down the hall again, searching for Yan.
He kept searching until he found him, fifteen minutes later, sitting alone on a wooden bench in the backyard, staring silently at the ground.
"Why are you sitting here all alone?" Rami asked gently.
Yan lifted his head, and their eyes met. His face was pale, troubled.
"It's nothing. I just... thought about how you and Selena are leaving today. I'll miss you both."
Rami stepped closer and sat beside him.
"Who said Selena and I are leaving without you?"
Yan looked at him in surprise.
"Jim told me this morning… he said you and Selena are going alone."
Rami exhaled slowly, hiding the fact that Jim shouldn't have known about that.
"Well, Jim lied to you. You're coming with us. We're not leaving you behind."
"Really?" Yan's eyes widened, as if life returned to him.
"Of course. Have I ever lied to you?" Rami said firmly.
Yan hesitated, then muttered,
"But... my class is ordinary, as you know."
Rami replied with sharp certainty,
"Don't worry about that now. I have a plan. Just don't do anything reckless."
Before he could say more, a voice came from behind them.
"Hey, Rami, Yan."
They turned to see Lily smiling at them.
"Lily? Didn't you leave yesterday?" Rami asked, surprised to see her.
She smiled faintly.
"I was supposed to, but Rayn asked me to stay one more day. I have something to talk to you about."
Rami glanced at Yan, then hesitated,
"But I was just…"
She cut him off,
"Don't worry. I'll be quick. Yan… you can catch up with us later."
Yan nodded and left.
Lily stepped forward and said,
"Rami, come with me. There are things you need to know before you leave."
She led him to a room upstairs, where Selena was already waiting. She sat quietly on a chair, as if she already knew what was coming.
Lily looked at them, closed the door, and said sternly:
"You're going to the capital. And there… not everything is as it seems. So there are things you must understand first."
Then she looked directly at Rami,
"I know about your little gang. We turned a blind eye before. But in the capital, those kinds of games could get you killed."
Rami showed no reaction, just nodded.
Selena, on the other hand, looked uneasy and lowered her head in shame.
Lily continued,
"There are three main powers in the capital: the government, the noble families, and the organizations. Each one more dangerous than the next."
She briefly explained the structure of these powers, especially the major families: Tang, Min, Tan, Su, and Lin.
"If you meet anyone from these families, try to make them allies—not enemies."
In a sharper tone, she added:
"A legendary or rare class won't protect you from a well-planned scheme. Be careful and act wisely."
Internally, she nodded when she saw the thoughtful look on Selena's face. At least one of them is listening, she thought. That's enough to warn Rami if he does something stupid.
Then she mentioned the danger of the organizations: the Adventurers Guild, the Weapons Association, the Alchemists' Society, and others.
"Not all of them are legal. So be cautious. Understand that well."
Rami and Selena both nodded, this time with real seriousness.
Lily finally smiled, her tone softening:
"That's all I can tell you for now. I wanted to explain more about the dungeons, but time is short, and I'm sure you both want to finish packing. The academy teachers will guide you."
She pulled some papers and notes from her bag.
"Some extra tips. And a small map of the capital you can look at on your way."
Fifteen minutes later, she finished and left after saying goodbye.
"Don't forget to check in from time to time," she said with a warm smile, then disappeared down the hallway.
Rami looked at Selena and said meaningfully,
"Let's hope for the best."
"I'll go pack my things," she replied, then left the room.
Rami walked in the opposite direction, preparing for what lay ahead.