Evan immediately noticed the dynamic at the table.

  The older woman — dark?skinned, sharp?eyed, posture straight as a blade — sat half a step behind the elegant lady, scanning the surroundings with professional vigilance.

  The moment Evan and the bartender approached, her gaze swept over them like a security scanner.

  A bodyguard.

  A very strong one.

  Which meant the elegant, intellectual woman was the employer.

  If she didn’t have a powerhouse guarding her, she probably wouldn’t dare post a dangerous escort mission like this.

  Otherwise she’d attract a pack of wolves.

  She’s probably Cocoon?tier… maybe even Butterfly?tier.

  That thought didn’t reassure Evan — it made him want to turn around and leave.

  If someone with a Butterfly?tier protector still needed to hire a large escort team…

  What kind of trouble was she in?

  But since he was already here, he decided to hear her out before making a decision.

  As he approached, he overheard the conversation.

  The older woman was staring down the man across from her, voice cold:

  “Eighty thousand a day. You’re only Chrysalis?tier. What makes you think you’re worth that?”

  The man snorted proudly.

  “Because I’ve already absorbed three second?tier extracts. I could evolve into Cocoon?tier any day now! Hiring a soon?to?be Cocoon?tier for eighty thousand a day is a bargain. And don’t worry — if I evolve on the road, I won’t raise my price.”

  Evan finally took a good look at him.

  A young man in his twenties.

  Short, wiry, with a rooster?comb hairstyle and a scar slashing across half his face.

  Arrogant, restless energy radiated off him.

  He lounged in his chair with both legs propped up on the empty seat beside him.

  Before the bodyguard could respond, the elegant lady nodded gently.

  “That’s acceptable.”

  The scarred youth blinked — clearly not expecting such an easy agreement.

  The bartender seized the moment and stepped forward.

  “This young man is also Chrysalis?tier,” he said, introducing Evan. “He’d like to join your team. His commission is low — only ten thousand a day. He’s more interested in adventure than money.”

  Both the elegant lady and the bodyguard turned to Evan.

  Seeing his youthful face, they immediately understood:

  A seventeen?year?old evolutionist, already completed his first evolution, clearly from a good family, not greedy for money —

  likely sneaked out for adventure.

  The bodyguard’s voice was cold and sharp:

  “Think carefully. This isn’t a game. If you take this mission, you could die.”

  Evan nodded calmly.

  “I only have one question. Among the enemies we might encounter… will there be Saint?tier evolutionists?”

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  The bodyguard shook her head.

  “No. Saint?tier individuals are far too exalted to appear here.”

  “Then I’ve thought it through,” Evan said firmly. “I want to join — unless you refuse me.”

  He had no choice.

  Staying in Blackrock City meant waiting for death.

  Two paths lay before him:

  Path One:

  Take the official border road.

  Guaranteed to run into the Zhao family and the Organization.

  Certain death.

  Path Two:

  Join this team and cross the Blackrock Mountains.

  Possible danger, but not guaranteed.

  And the team included multiple evolutionists — and a likely Butterfly?tier protector.

  One path was certain death.

  The other was maybe death.

  Only a fool would choose the first.

  “If you insist on joining, sit down and talk,” the elegant lady said.

  Evan nodded and stepped forward.

  There were four chairs at the table.

  Three were occupied.

  One remained —

  but the scarred youth had both legs resting on it.

  As Evan approached, the youth didn’t move his legs.

  He glanced at Evan lazily, then went back to flicking his lighter.

  Ah. The classic protagonist treatment — random hostility from strangers.

  Evan didn’t sigh, didn’t smirk, didn’t break anyone’s legs.

  He simply reached for the chair.

  But the youth subtly pressed down with his legs, locking it in place.

  Evan paused.

  Then, without changing expression, he activated Ant Strength.

  Power surged through his arm.

  He grabbed the chair back and yanked.

  Hard.

  The chair flew out smoothly.

  The youth, who had been using both legs for leverage, suddenly lost all support —

  and fell straight off his seat, landing on the floor with a loud thud.

  He sprang up instantly, eyes murderous, ready to explode—

  But the bartender stepped between them.

  “Garon,” he said coldly, smile gone. “Do I need to remind you of the lounge rules?”

  The scarred youth — Garon — froze.

  Then slowly sat back down, glaring daggers at Evan.

  Garon was a minor celebrity among Blackrock City’s evolutionists.

  A slum?born fighter who clawed his way up through sheer brutality.

  He despised people like Evan —

  kids born in comfort, blessed with resources others could never obtain.

  He had picked a fight purely out of resentment.

  Now he had a real grudge.

  Evan didn’t care.

  He sat down calmly, as if nothing had happened, ignoring Garon’s hostile stare.

  They weren’t even on the same playing field.

  Evan’s enemies were the Zhao family and the Organization.

  Garon wasn’t even qualified to be a footnote.

  And if it really came down to a fight?

  With his elite skill set and the second?tier artifact Wailer’s Crown, Evan wasn’t afraid.

  The bartender returned to the bar.

  The elegant lady and the bodyguard exchanged a subtle look — their impression of Evan had clearly shifted.

  The bodyguard asked, “Do either of you have more questions?”

  Evan nodded.

  “How many people are in the team so far? And what’s their strength?”

  “Currently around a dozen,” the bodyguard replied. “Five Cocoon?tier, the rest Chrysalis?tier.”

  Evan nodded.

  By tomorrow morning, the number would likely be even higher.

  Garon asked about the route — different paths meant different dangers.

  He was clearly an experienced hunter.

  “The route is confidential for now,” the bodyguard said. “Tomorrow morning, meet here. I’ll pay one day’s commission upfront. The rest will be paid upon arrival in the Rovan Federation.”

  The elegant lady turned to Evan again.

  “This mission is dangerous. If you change your mind, you may withdraw at any time. Or I can raise your commission. Risking your life for ten thousand isn’t worth it.”

  Evan grinned helplessly.

  I’m being forced into this…

  “Money doesn’t matter,” he said lightly. “I just want to follow you, big sister, and see the world.”

  A scarred hothead.

  A mysterious lady.

  A deadly mission.

  And Evan, smiling like a harmless kid while hiding enough power to terrify half the room.

  If you were the elegant lady…

  would you trust him?