Chapter 14 - 14 014 joined the Professional Alliance
Inside the office of Ennis Hawkins at the Professionals Alliance Spring City Branch.
Dean McKenzie behaved quietly and made sure his harmlessness was noticed as he narrated his three days’ experiences on the Rotting Corpse Plain. He told every detail with one hundred percent accuracy, except for any matters related to the talent “Extraction”.
Upon hearing Dean’s narration, the two people in front of him were aghast—one displaying unabashed skepticism and disappointment.
Breanna Holt said, “So, you are telling us you obtained a Skeleton Wand as soon as you stepped out the door and then eliminated a Corpse Swarm with a single Bone Fang and a Summon Skeleton spell?”
Facing Breanna’s skepticism, a bewildered Dean didn’t understand why the woman in front of him would look at him as if he were a scam artist.
In his telling of the experience, apart from not mentioning his talent, he had told nothing but the truth!
However, Dean’s innocent expression only added to Breanna’s icy demeanor: “There should be some degree of realism when lying. Think before you speak, regardless of whether your luck was as good as you claimed.”
“You obtained a Skeleton Wand right outside your house, and then conveniently got Mana Potions and Life Potions when needed.”
“Not to mention the absurdity of slaughtering nearly a hundred corpses with just a skeleton and a few traps.”
“The mere idea of you using four Bone Fangs on the same eyeball, then commanding a level 4 skeleton to kill a level 5 corpse is far-fetched.”
“Not to mention the multitasking of commanding a skeleton while chanting spells. This skill could take many talented mages years, even decades to master. And yet you could do it instantly?”
“Think about it, could what you just said honestly be true?”
“Before you spoke, did you ever consider the difficulty involved in… ”
Breanna stopped mid-sentence.
While she expressed her doubts, Dean had already summoned a skeleton.
Instructing the skeleton to pick up the fruit from the coffee table and throw it, while simultaneously chanting spells.
In a short while, the fruit was flung into mid-air, pierced by a Bone Fang and hit the wooden wall.
Then another Bone Fang flew accurately into the first Bone Fang lodged in the wooden wall.
Dean, who had just shown off his abilities without making a fuss about it, looked innocently back at Breanna.
He didn’t utter a word, but his actions spoke for themselves.
Multitasking? Perfect accuracy? Is it difficult?
Isn’t it something anyone can do as long as they have hands?
However, Dean’s demonstration not only shocked Breanna, but Ennis Hawkins as well.
Initially, when they heard Dean say he defeated a swarm of corpses with one Bone Fang and two skeletons, they didn’t believe it.
But now, having witnessed Dean’s abilities, they were somewhat convinced.
Then, knowing that Breanna already had her eyes on Dean, Ennis specifically arranged for extra tests.
Testing Dean’s proficiency in commanding skeletons and his skill level in using the Bone Fang.
In order to ensure the accuracy of the test results, Ennis took Dean to the level-20 One-Turn Mage’s testing facility.
Finally, the result of Dean’s test indicated that although the levels of his Bone Fang and Summon Skeleton skills were low, his practical application of these skills was quite high. Even among one-turn mages, he was of average skill.
Moreover, Ennis and Breanna personally witnessed Dean’s rapid progress in skill, as he was continuously supplied with unlimited mana during the test.
He was even close to upgrading his Bone Fang skill to level 2.
After witnessing Dean’s entire test, Breanna and Ennis gave Dean a complex look.
Clearly, judging from Dean’s performance.
Without a doubt, Dean was gifted in the mastery of magic skills, even to the point of being considered exceptionally talented.
His learning was reflective and his progress was rapid.
This type of genius, if matched with an excellent template, would definitely have a promising future.
But unfortunately, Dean’s template was just an ordinary one. He only had a career inclined seventeen percent towards a Necromancer Apprentice consisting of merely four inherited skills.
This template and career greatly limited Dean’s future development.
Moreover, in Breanna’s view, Dean’s problem was not just about his template and career.
“With your strength, after taking down the first Corpse Swarm, you should have had enough resources to take down another one, or even two. So why did you stop after just taking down one?”
Baffled by Breanna’s question, Dean scratched his head.
“Well, I did want to continue, but upon further consideration, it seemed rather dangerous. Besides, I was already safe, so I saw no need in taking further risks, so I gave up!”
Hearing Dean’s answer, Breanna completely lost interest in him.
True, Dean’s magical skill talent was high, yet his template was too ordinary.
Originally, his template was not completely devoid of a chance to rise to prominence. However, Dean’s answer revealed his personality.
Breanna found that while Dean could excel in life and death situations, he was nothing more than a cowardly average person when his life was not on the line.
An ordinary template was already a huge disadvantage. Without the resolve and courage to risk everything, Breanna believed that Dean’s career as a professional wouldn’t last.
Even though Breanna wanted Dean, this version of Dean was not what she needed.
There was no need to go to all the trouble for this man without much potential who would not be of much use to her plans.
After all, asking for someone from Ennis Hawkins was a demanding task.
Furthermore, if they were to take Dean, he wouldn’t be of immediate use as he would require some training.
If his character had a more excellent template, he might be worth reluctantly training. However, with an ordinary template, there really was no need.
So, after giving Dean a disappointed look, Breanna got up regretfully and left.
After sending Breanna out of his office and watching her leave, Ennis breathed a sigh of relief.
“Phew, finally got rid of that plague. Kid, you can…”
Ennis turned to Dean, intending to crack a smile, but upon seeing Dean’s face, he was instantly enraged: “Now that you’re safe and sound from the Rotting Corpse Plain, isn’t it time we settle our account?”
Saying this, Ennis, with clenched fists, hoisted a stunned Dean and dragged him into the office, slamming the office door shut behind them.
When Dean emerged from Ennis’s office again, half an hour had passed.
More importantly, Dean had a change of identity.
From the original sanitary worker of the Spring City sewer, he became an intern law enforcer at the Seventh Enforcement Squad in the Professionals Alliance Spring City Branch.
In addition, as soon as he joined, he was already given a task…