The grand hall of Watchers' Legion Academy gleamed under crystal chandeliers, their light reflecting off polished marble floors. Hundreds of aspiring awakeners packed the space, their excited chatter echoing off vaulted ceilings as they waited for the selection ceremony to begin. At the center of the hall stood an ornate awakening stone, pulsing with ethereal blue light.

"Next candidate—Tony Romano!"

A confident young man strode forward, his designer jacket catching the light. He placed his hand on the stone with practiced ease, and immediately the entire hall erupted in brilliant golden radiance. The awakening stone blazed like a miniature sun.

"S-rank mana core!" The examiner's voice trembled with awe. "Confirmed S-rank awakening!"

The crowd exploded into gasps and whispers.

"An S-rank? That's one in a million!"

"Tony Romano's going to be legendary!"

Tony smirked, soaking in the adulation. He turned to address the crowd with theatrical flair. "Thank you, thank you. I suppose some of us are just born different." His gaze swept dismissively over the other candidates. "Don't feel too bad about yourselves. Not everyone can reach the top."

Girls giggled and swooned. Several academy officials rushed forward, already extending recruitment offers.

Then the light changed.

A blinding pillar of pure white light tore through the ceiling, descending into the center of the hall with overwhelming force. The sheer pressure made everyone stumble backward, their breaths catching in their throats. When the brilliance faded, a figure stood revealed.

She was breathtaking—a young woman with cascading white hair that seemed to shimmer with its own luminescence. Her eyes were ice-blue and utterly emotionless, her expression as cold as winter frost. She wore elegant robes that radiated power, and the very air around her seemed to warp with energy.

The hall fell into stunned silence.

Tony recovered first, his S-rank confidence overriding his survival instincts. He stepped forward with his trademark smirk. "Well, well. Quite an entrance. I'm Tony Romano, S-rank awakener. Perhaps you've already heard of—"

She didn't let him finish. With a casual flick of her wrist, an invisible force slammed into Tony like a freight train. He flew backward, crashing through three rows of chairs before tumbling across the floor like discarded garbage. Blood trickled from his mouth as he struggled to his knees, his face ashen with shock and humiliation.

"Pathetic," she said, her voice musical yet utterly devoid of warmth.

A distinguished man in official robes rushed forward—Envoy Marcus, a B-rank powerhouse and representative of the Legion headquarters. To everyone's shock, he immediately dropped to one knee before the white-haired maiden.

"Lady Isabelle Moretti! Forgive our inadequate reception!" His voice shook with genuine fear and respect.

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Moretti? As in Duke Vincent Moretti?"

"The Duke's daughter? She's a prodigy beyond measure—rumored to have reached A-rank before turning eighteen!"

Isabelle's cold gaze swept across the assembled candidates like a judge surveying condemned prisoners. "This is what headquarters sent me? These worthless insects?" Her lip curled in disgust. "I've seen dirt with more potential than this rabble."

The crowd flinched at her words, but no one dared protest.

Envoy Marcus bowed lower. "Lady Isabelle, you were assigned to establish a fortress and recruit members for the Watchers' Legion. Surely among these candidates—"

"They're garbage," she interrupted flatly. "I refuse to waste my time with losers who can barely awaken a spark of power." She turned to leave.

"Wait!" Marcus called desperately. "Perhaps... perhaps a trial? Anyone who can withstand a single move from you may join your legion?"

Isabelle paused, considering. "Fine. One move. Anyone who doesn't die is acceptable." Her words dripped with indifference, as if their lives meant nothing.

Terror gripped the hall. An S-rank like Tony had been swatted aside like an insect. Who among them could possibly survive?

Silence stretched. No one moved. No one even breathed.

Then footsteps echoed across the marble floor.

A young man walked forward from the back of the crowd. He was unremarkable—average height, average build, wearing simple clothes that marked him as common-born. His dark hair fell casually across his forehead, and unlike everyone else, his expression showed no fear. Only calm calculation.

Marco Deluca had only been in this world for three hours. His memories of his previous life remained vivid—a life where he'd been nobody special. But when he'd woken in this body, he'd received an unexpected gift: the Infinity Money System. Unlimited wealth at his fingertips.

"Who's that idiot?"

"He's not even awakened!"

"He's going to die!"

Isabelle's cold eyes fixed on him. "You? An unawakened nobody dares to approach me?" Her voice could have frozen fire. "Do you have a death wish, or are you simply too stupid to understand what you're facing?"

Marco stopped a respectful distance away and met her gaze calmly. "I can't withstand your move," he admitted simply. "I'm not a fighter."

Her expression grew even more contemptuous. "Then why are you wasting my time, trash?"

"Because I can offer something more valuable than combat ability." He paused for effect. "I can offer you money. Ten thousand gold coins to start."

The hall erupted in shocked laughter and jeers.

"Money? Is he insane?"

"Ten thousand gold? This beggar couldn't afford ten silver!"

Even Isabelle's perfect features showed a flicker of surprise before returning to icy disdain. "You dare mock me with obvious lies?"

Marco's lips curved into a confident smile. "No lie, Lady Isabelle. In fact, why stop at ten thousand?" He stepped closer, his voice carrying across the silent hall. "I can build you a super fortress worth one hundred thousand gold coins. The finest facility the Watchers' Legion has ever seen."

Isabelle's eyes narrowed dangerously. The temperature in the hall seemed to drop ten degrees. "Prove you have even one thousand gold coins by tomorrow morning, or I'll kill you myself for this insult."

Marco's smile didn't waver. "Agreed. But when I do prove it, you'll accept me into your legion."

For the first time, genuine interest flickered in those ice-blue eyes—predatory, calculating interest. "We'll see if you're a visionary or just another fool destined to become dirt beneath my feet."