Solo Leveling: Monarch of knowledge

Adam made his way through the bustling streets of Alessandria, the towering spire of the Hunter Association building growing larger as he approached the city center. The structure stood out among the more traditional architecture of the area, sleek and modern, with reflective glass panels that gleamed under the sunlight.

This branch was modest compared to the ones in bigger cities. It handled evaluations up to C-Rank, as the evaluation sphere here wasn't capable of reading higher levels. For anyone who believed their potential exceeded that, they had to head to larger hubs, much like Leo and the others had done.

As Adam neared the entrance, he spotted Marie waiting at the doors. She was dressed casually in fitted jeans and a dark green jacket over a plain black t-shirt, a far cry from the uniform she'd worn during their first encounter.

He glanced at her briefly, noting her athletic build and sharp features. 'Not bad looking.' he admitted in his mind before quickly dismissing the thought.

Marie caught his gaze and immediately crossed her arms with a frown. "My eyes are up here, you know."

Adam ignored her entirely and walked past her toward the doors.

"Rude." Marie called after him, rolling her eyes as she followed him inside.

Once they were through the entrance, Adam turned to her. "Why aren't you wearing your Hunter Association uniform?"

Marie raised an eyebrow, walking beside him. "Because it's my rest day. You're lucky I even showed up for this."

Adam nodded in acknowledgment but didn't say more. Marie led the way, guiding him through the building's polished halls to the waiting area.

The waiting hall was modest but functional, with rows of chairs lined against the walls and a screen displaying the names of those called in for evaluation. People sat scattered around the room, some fidgeting nervously, others staring at the screen in anticipation.

Adam sat down in one of the empty chairs, his gaze drifting toward the evaluation room's door. A man emerged, his head hung low and shoulders slumped. It was clear he hadn't received the results he'd hoped for.

A moment later, an agent stepped out, clipboard in hand. "Adam Sen."

Adam stood, his movements calm and deliberate, and followed the agent toward the testing room. Marie trailed behind him, her hands in her pockets.

Inside, the room was plain, dominated by a single pedestal in the center. On top of it sat a small black sphere, its surface glossy and smooth, faintly reflecting the light above.

Marie leaned casually against the wall, her eyes fixed on Adam. "Go on, let's see what you've got."

The agent gestured to the sphere. "Please place your hand on the sphere. Relax and allow it to scan your mana. The process will take a few moments."

Adam stepped forward, his expression curious, and placed his hand on the sphere. As soon as his palm made contact, he felt a faint pull, like the sphere was reaching out, searching for something within him.

'So, this is how it works.' Adam thought, letting the sphere probe his mana. He didn't resist, allowing it to connect to the flow of energy coursing through his veins.

The sphere pulsed faintly, its surface glowing with soft light as it analyzed him. Adam could feel its attempts to measure the density and flow of his mana, but the quality of his mana far exceeded the norm.

The sphere's glow intensified briefly before settling, and the agent looked at the results on their monitor. "C-Rank." they announced with a professional tone.

Adam's eye twitched faintly. 'C-Rank?'

[Their machine is rudimentary at best, Host.] Awà chimed in, her tone dry. [I've already scanned its design. I could improve it a hundredfold in functionality and precision.]

'Of course you could.' Adam thought, exhaling quietly to keep his annoyance in check.

The agent turned back to Adam with a smile. "Congratulations. That's an excellent starting point for a new hunter."

Marie pushed off the wall, her expression betraying a mix of surprise and curiosity. "C-Rank, huh? Not bad for an evaluation."

Adam said nothing, stepping back as the agent prepared to finalize the process.

"Follow me." Marie said, motioning for Adam to join her. "We'll get your license sorted."

They walked through the hallways once more, eventually arriving at an office where several agents were stationed behind desks. Marie explained the situation to one of them, who nodded and began processing the paperwork.

They returned to the waiting room.

Marie sat down in one of the chairs near the wall, gesturing for Adam to do the same. "Now we wait."

Adam took a seat beside her, his mind already working through his next steps. The evaluation may not have been accurate, but it served its purpose.

....

As Adam waited, he spoke with Awà in his mind. 'So, why did that machine rank me as a C-Rank when I'm clearly E-Rank in terms of density? Was it purely because of the mana purity?'

[Exactly, Host.] Awà replied, her voice calm and precise. [The evaluation sphere calculates not only mana density but also the quality and purity of the mana it detects. Your mana is far superior to that of an average hunter, so it categorized you as C-Rank, even if your current mana reserves are still within the limits of E-Rank. It's a flawed system, as you suspected.]

'So it's not hard to fake a rank evaluation, then.' Adam mused, leaning back in his chair.

[Correct. With some basic manipulation of mana output, it wouldn't be difficult to fool the sphere. That said, even if it miscalculated your rank, your strength will quickly surpass C-Rank as you refine your abilities.]

Adam relaxed at her words, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. 'Fair enough. I'll catch up to the machine's evaluation soon enough.'

Marie broke his train of thought, her voice cutting through the silence. "So, what's your plan now, Mr. C-Rank?" She leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, a hint of curiosity in her tone. "With that rank, you could live comfortably here in Alessandria, you know. Plenty of people would kill for the opportunity."

Adam glanced at her, his expression calm. "I'm opening a business. I need money."

Marie snorted, shaking her head. "Figures. Every hunter chases after money in the end. Whether it's clearing gates, selling loot, or signing up with a guild, it's all about the cash."

Adam raised an eyebrow. "Aren't you the same?"

Marie shook her head, a faint smile on her lips. "Nope. I was lucky enough to be born into a family that let me live comfortably. I don't need to chase after it."

Adam nodded at her response, saying nothing more as the door opened. One of the agents approached, holding a small card.

"Adam Sen?" The agent handed him the hunter's license, a sleek card bearing his name, photo, and rank.

Marie stood, gesturing for Adam to follow as they left the waiting room. As they walked, she began explaining the basics of hunter life.

"Now that you're licensed, here's what you need to know." Marie's tone was professional, though there was still a casual air to her words. "This license grants you the authority to enter gates and dungeons. If the association summons you for a mission, you're obligated to respond. Ignoring three consecutive summons without a valid excuse? Your license gets revoked."

Adam nodded slightly. "And if I'm unavailable for legitimate reasons?"

"You'll need to provide proof." she said, glancing at him. "They don't mess around with this stuff."

She continued, ticking off points on her fingers. "There are benefits too. Licensed hunters get access to healthcare, financial aid, and even a death insurance policy. If you die on the job, the payout goes to your family or whoever you name as a beneficiary. It's a pretty solid safety net, all things considered."

Adam nodded slowly, absorbing the information. 'Practical, but I'll need to work around those restrictions.'

Marie glanced at him. "You got all that? Or do you need me to repeat myself?"

"I got it." Adam replied calmly.

"Good." She smirked faintly. "Welcome to the hunter world, rookie."