In Arbor Town, the wind was chilly and the streets were still crowded. Samuel Oakley, undoubtedly the strongest man present in the small town was currently enjoying a hot drink at a small shop.

Next to this powerful individual was a seemingly meek and shy girl. She had her hands on her thighs rubbing them anxiously while not daring to look at the figure who she'd be stupid not to know.

Samuel had paid the new adventurer, Kimani, a surprise visit. As Kimani had only recently returned home however and she needed to tend to her mother she proposed to meet with Samuel at another time.

Truth be told, Kimani still had no idea where she found the courage to reschedule a meeting with the one and only dragon fighter.

Nevertheless, Samuel was very hospitable and understanding. He didn't mind changing the time and location of their meeting. The arrangement meant he could observe the girl for a bit longer too before deciding how to question her, Samuel, therefore, didn't mind it at all.

For this goal, Samuel ended up renting out a small shop for the occasion of this meeting. He hoped the girl would feel welcome while simultaneously providing her with a private location for her to express herself in.

"I appreciate you coming here" Samuel told Kimani as he put down his drink.

"Y- yes'|" Kimani was nervous. She didn't think that the powerful Samuel Oakley had any reason to meet with her. Though if she were to take a guess the dungeon would be the ultimate answer and that frightened her all the more.

Samuel frowned inwardly at his response. The mana she carried and her temperament was just far too different. He could only attribute this behavior to an act if he were to follow the train of thought that the girl was an assassin of sorts.

Yet, from all he had researched, the girl was and had always indeed been a resident of Arbor Town.

"I hope you are not uncomfortable but I'll be getting straight to the point" Samuel then said causing Kimani to gulp silently. She was already speculating what accusation Samuel would throw her way.

"Do you want to join my academy?" Samuel asked causing Kimani's mind to draw a blank. She was getting an offer to join the Arbor Academy!?!

"Wh- Why?!" Kimani stood up and shouted. She was naturally suspicious of this offer.

"You seem to have potential" Samuel said causing Kimani's mind to further draw a blank. Potential!? How could Samuel know such a thing?

No, maybe he did know. Kimani had no way to judge the understanding of someone so much more powerful than herself. She could only chalk it up to her lacking knowledge.

Still, Kimani was not convinced that this wasn't the fault of the dungeon.

"How'| How can you know?" So Kimani went ahead and asked her question anyway.

"Well, I heard that you ventured into the cave of myths by yourself and came back out by yourself. Quite a feat." Samuel touted.?

"That'| I got lucky'|" She would have died ten times over in a variety of occasions without the interference of a certain powerful mob.

"Luck or not I think you should consider my offer. In fact, how about I get you something nice and warm to drink and let you think it over for a bit" Samuel kindly offered. Kimani hesitated but ultimately nodded.

Samuel smiled kindly and stood up to leave for the shop's kitchen while Kimani took back her seat. She looked out the windows at the busy streets and couldn't help but think about her position.

For how much longer could she be one more of the crowd? She had seen Samuel travel through the streets before, he could not be missed. He was greeted and loved by all but her, she was ignored. Could the academy be a chance to turn this around?

"No, I can't!" Kimani said reprimanding herself silently. She had a mission to accomplish so she couldn't get distracted. With the help of the monsters inside her, she didn't need to join any academy.

While Kimani continued to hesitate, Samuel appeared from the back of the shop with the drink in hand.

"I think I might have made it too hot so watch out, I really miss my secretary for things like this, hahaha!" Samuel said boisterously while approaching the table.?

But perhaps it was this joyous and loud laughter that caused the experienced man to trip on his steps and suddenly fall forward.

"Woah!" Samuel shouted alarmed. The drink he had in hand was darting towards Kimani! Oh, no!

The young girl was startled by the sudden attack of hot chocolate the supposed dragon fighter had performed. How could such a powerful man be so clumsy?!

Kimani hurriedly inched out of the way of the flying hot liquid. It was just too bad that a couple of splashing drops still managed to land on her body.

"Ah'|" Kimani felt the light scalding on her skin and couldn't help but wonder if it would leave a mark.

By now Samuel who had fallen forward had emerged from the ground.

"I am so sorry" Samuel said apologizing sincerely.

Kimani didn't know what to make of the man's clumsiness so she just accepted the apology with an awkward smile.

Samuel then didn't hesitate to control the wind and clean up the scene leaving it nearly spotless.

"I'll get you another drink if you want, but have you thought over my offer?" Samuel quickly geared the topic back to his offer hoping Kimani would overlook the embarrassing incident.

"I'| I don't think I can join your academy sir!" Kimani said apologetically.

Samuel was no schemer but his next words certainly through the girl for a loop.

"If it's about your secret you don't have to worry, I promise to keep it hidden" Samuel said stunning Kimani. A million and one ideas churned in her mind as to what secret Samuel knew and how he found it out but in the end, she could only tread carefully.

"Ho- What secret?" Kimani asked back but her behavior had already given her away in the eyes of Samuel.

"I don't know... what secret?" Samuel said back with a smile. Kimani could feel beads of sweat forming on her head despite the cold day.

Kimani didn't take kindly to Samuel's smile, she simply remained stunned in place not knowing how to respond.

"Well, I guess I shouldn't beat around the bush, it's the secret to your luck. I'm sure you get what I mean" Samuel said causing Kimani to finally feel defeated. The powerful man didn't think she had potential but rather knew she was hiding a secret!

"I- I-" Kimani was now scared and at a loss for words.

"Why are you stuttering, I said I'd keep your secret" Samuel had figured a couple of things out by now.

First, the girl Kimani was as innocent as they came. How could a person like him trip on his own feet? Samuel had been making a gamble then in which he betted that Kimani would manage to emerge unscathed if she was innocent.

That's right if she was innocent. A skilled assassin would much rather get scalded with hot coffee to not break their cover. Of course, there was the possibility that Samuel's speculations were all wrong which was why he would have protected Kimani if she really insisted on only flinching or remaining in place.

The next thing that Samuel managed to deduce was that the girl Kimani was holding a secret. This much was obvious judging by her mana, but it wasn't very obvious for how long she had been holding this secret or what exactly it was.

Thanks to how she responded to his claim about the luck however Samuel now knew that her secret was related to the dungeon. This was important information.

"Just say if you are going to accept my offer or not" Samuel knew that Kimani had gained something potentially nefarious from the dungeon but he also knew she was innocent. He couldn't hand her over to any authorities under those circumstances.

"I'| I'll join!" Kimani didn't know what had happened for her to end up accepting this offer but she did know she didn't want to be exposed at any cost. Plus'| getting capable subordinates shouldn't be impossible at an academy'| right?

Kimani looked pitiful and on the verge of tears as she accepted Samuel's offer. It made Samuel start to harbor some doubts about his own character.

'Maybe I am a schemer'|' How can a hero plot against such an innocent young girl?

That aside, however, Samuel had gained what was a major asset to his future plans or a horrible danger. But since it was advised to keep one's allies close and one's enemies closer there was no harm in what he had done.

"So... Do you want another drink?" Samuel asked Kimani with a relaxed expression.

Samuel was feeling a bit guilty for spilling her drink earlier though admittedly he didn't make it with the utmost care anyway.historical

"No- No!" Kimani declined Samuel's candid inquiry, however.

"Oh" Samuel was slightly disappointed. It was true that he missed having a secretary for making him drinks but it was also a fact that he had been practicing precisely because of that reason.

What a pity.