Invitation.

*Bang*

*Bang*

In the basement where the weapons training area was located, Leslie was shooting at targets that were moving around.

Here they were not human-shaped shooting papers but were mannequins that were covered in rocks and the entire shooting space looked like a straight valley with trees, rocks, and various places to hide.

Still, every shot Leslie fired hit its target.

*Bang*

Her last shot caused a dummy to hide behind a large rock that was difficult to penetrate, Leslie frowned slightly but nodded to herself.

Using her 'Masters of Weapons' talent, she reinforced her gun and fired by twisting her arm in the process as if her shot was wrong.

But inexplicably the bullet swung in an arc and went around the rock hitting the arm of the hidden mannequin.

"That was great!" Applause was heard behind Leslie's back and she turned around and just smiled.

"I'm out of practice," Leslie said honestly.

That last shot was fired using the 'Curve Shot' skill, one of the skills that talented individuals with Masters of Firearms could perform.

Leslie's 'Mastery' talent was the highest and most versatile, but also only focused on firearms.

"Is that the last skill you 'woke up'?" Andres asked curiously.

"Yes, this is a new skill," Leslie answered honestly.

Talents that were not related to magical or psionic energy had other rules by which they were regulated and functioning that for mankind was still a mystery.

The 'Masters of Firearms' learned to use weapons as if it was natural for them, but as they developed their talents other skills began to awaken in their minds as if the knowledge of them had always been in their heads.

Talents related to technology or craft or culinary skills were the same.

"Do you know if there has been any response?" Leslie asked after cleaning her weapon.

Clémentine and Andrés looked at each other, but both shook their heads.

Registration had already opened and many students were already excited about joining unions or being under the tutelage of a recognized hero.

But they...

"Aurora and Alice haven't been to class all week," Clémentine reported with a heavy tone, keeping in mind that they had not accepted their registrations either.

Clémentine had long since decided to join Aurora and Alice's group.

She had her personal reasons and also her fanaticism for Alice had influenced her decision, but after reading Alexey's story about how he was saved by Aurora, her decision no longer seemed to change.

He could join under any guild or heroes because of his high abilities, but that didn't mean he could find a group like Aurora... One where its members fought without fear or dread when everything was difficult.

Even so, they wouldn't accept her yet...

"Do you think anyone else has gone in yet?" asked Clémentine with doubt and nerves.

The exams were still going on, but there were still about two weeks left before the end of June.

Time was passing more quickly than she had expected, and that generated a lot of anxiety.

For the first time in her life, she felt nervous about the uncertainty of the future.

"I don't know," Andres responded, and with a sigh, he declared. "The other day I wanted to tell her that I wanted to join in, but... I got nervous and played at being mysterious."

Why didn't he say directly that he wanted to join the mercenary group?

Now he was regretting it...

That statement reduced the group's concern and Leslie kept her gun in its holster, she said. "I heard that Alexey and other students that Aurora saved have asked to join."

The duo's expression shook as they listened.

"That seems to be just fanaticism." Clémentine murmured in a simple tone... hiding the fact that part of their decision was also fanaticism.

Most people knew Alice since she was quite famous in the application of academia and even her fame had begun to spread to other external social networks, but the biggest problem was Aurora.

Except for two groups of students, most of them followed in Alexey's footsteps and wanted to join her group.

"Yes... A large group of female students wants to fight and learn alongside Alice." Leslie added with a hopeless tone.

Alice was an A-rank, a great group of people wanted to be like that first-year heroine who had beauty, strength, and oddly enough charisma, even though she was almost always seen eating chips.

"They are also quite beautiful, a lot of male students want to conquer them," Andres added in a serious tone.

Clémentine and Leslie frowned, but in the end, they agreed.

They were no longer teenagers, most of them were eighteen, and although Aurora and Alice were slightly older, they were beautiful and strong.

Who wouldn't want to share a romantic moment with a beautiful, strong A-rank woman?

Some individuals saw the conquest of this type of woman as a crusade in which they would receive a 'great trophy'.

"The duo has attracted too much attention and although it is not official in the latest dungeon they say that Aurora has become Rank A... Or maybe it was since the beginning of the academy, there are so many theories to choose from to believe in," Leslie said with a tone that made it clear she didn't know what was going on.

In the academy forum, there were theories that Aurora was an A-Rank from the beginning that she had hidden her strength and acted like she was afraid to fool the students to see who was worthy of being around her and then be invited to her group personally.

Of course, the creator of that theory also published his own very well rated novel on the forum, so his writing skills were excellent at making sense of the theory.

The trio could not help but sigh.

"Have you received invitations from other places?" Leslie asked curiously, changing the atmosphere.

All three present were excellent students who many individuals wanted at their side.

Not only did the three become leaders at the beginning of the test, but after the battles, they could be considered B-Rank forces, experienced and talented, who if 'cultivated' correctly could become powerful forces.

"I have received an invitation to the 'Executors of the Order', you know the guild of the Church of the Order," Clémentine said and everyone looked at her in surprise.

The 'Executors of the Order' were a well-known guild because they were part of the Church of the Order and they were the 'sword and shield' of the church, those who applied the beliefs of the church.

This guild was well known for eliminating corrupt creatures and being a fearsome force against demons.

"My brother is a member of the enforcers of the order and my father is an important member of the Church of the Order," Clémentine responded with a half-smile.

To be under her family was to be under their surveillance and excessive care... Besides, since her father was an important person, it was very certain that the other members of the church would treat her well and protect her, missing the true meaning of this test.

Experiencing a new side that she might find difficult to experience normally.

"I understand you, my father had also wanted me to go to his guild, but I refused immediately," Leslie said, and looking at Clémentine she gave a smile and added. "I want to experience the reality of things, even if it's hard."

Both knew that the mercenary guild, of which Aurora and Alice were members, was a B-rank guild.

Although the city of Zerzura was a metropolis that had grown dramatically in recent years, hundreds or perhaps more mercenary groups of that rank were in the city.

The competitiveness was high and it was very possible that it would be very difficult for them to enter a mission, but the experience would remain... Perhaps that experience would help you understand the reality of other people.

"By the way, I have also received an invitation from the 'Unbridled Hunters' guild," Leslie added, and when she saw that Andres did not know him, she held her smile and explained. "It is a guild related to the Apicius Company, which is in charge of food... Hunting magical creatures, they protect dungeons where the Apicius Company has its crops and are in charge of collecting magical plants that they can use as food."

Andres could only blink his eyes without knowing how to react.

The Apicius Company was famous for focusing on food and producing magical ingredients, so he had heard that they used low-range dungeons to produce their crops and used hunters to obtain the edible meat of magical creatures, but...

"How did you end up getting elected?" Andres asked with disbelief and an amused smile.

"They asked if I could use a hunting rifle... I think that's what they wanted me for." Leslie responded without knowing how to react.

Clémentine couldn't help but smile.

Although this guild was dedicated to the production of any usable item for the food market, it was also a famous guild that focused on protecting the Scandinavian countries.

"What about you Andres? Do you have any interesting invitations?" Asked Leslie curiously.

"I received an invitation from 'The Immortal Eagles', a U.S. military guild, but I turned it down." Andres declared and saw that the duo was interested, he explained. "Although there are benefits. Those benefits create too many ties and unions with too many responsibilities... I'm not ready for now.

Entering a military guild that serves a country was nice because of the high benefits of the guild, but once inside with the contracts it was very difficult to withdraw from them and one lost too much.

Someone who did not want such responsibilities was the worst idea to join a military guild.

That's why those unions were of little interest to most people.

While Andres thought so, his holographic clocks vibrated in unison.

"An invitation for an interview." Clémentine murmured after reading the message and with a serious tone as she read the location, she added. "I think there is more to the group than meets the eye..."

The location and invitation to the interview felt too formal.