Chương 20: APPRAISER FEDERATION HQ

He let out, "Hell yeah!" The shout escaped from him before he could stop it. It was raw; pure exhilaration bursting out of his chest. For a second, the training hall froze. Then the crowd that had gone silent, suddenly erupted at once. Gasps, cheers, excited murmurs, disbelief; all of it crashed together into a loud, chaotic wave. Some laughed in disbelief, some clapped without realizing it, some leaned forward with eyes wide as if afraid they might miss something if they blinked.

But Jimin didn't have the leisure to savor it. The machine wouldn't give him the chance to live the moment. As, almost immediately, another ball shot toward him. His instincts kicked in faster than his thoughts. He immediately raised his hands, as the translucent barrier snapped into place just in time. The ball stopped in the same manner as before. Too close. He could hear his heartbeats, but his mind was sharp and focused. This wasn't just training anymore. After this, he tried to experiment a little.

As the next ball launched, he tried something new. Instead of forming the barrier right in front of his body, he tried to push it a bit outward. The sensation was strange; like stretching a muscle that didn't exist. He struggled a bit at first, but eventually he succeeded as usual. The barrier materialized farther ahead, hovering in midair. The ball smashed into it. It really worked. A grin tugged at his lips before he could suppress it. That could be useful. The machine didn't slow down.

The intervals between shots shortened. The shots got faster. The hall filled with rhythmic impacts; each one testing his control. But Jimin adapted just fine. He even continued with his experiments. He changed the range; pulling the barrier closer, then pushing it farther again. He altered the size, shrinking it to just enough to block the projectile, then expanding it wider. He experimented with density, thickening the barrier until it became denser, then thinning it to conserve energy.

Each adjustment came with feedback; subtle strain, shifting costs, different impacts traveling back through his psychic link. His brows furrowed, sweat began to drop along his temples. So this is how it works… This wasn't something written in the skill description. This was something he learned by trying and pushing himself. Around him, the students started whispering..

"Are you kidding me…?"

"He is blocking them fine."

"That's actually kinda cool…"

"I wish I had telekinesis…" The tone was different now. It was less mocking and dismissive. Curiosity crept in where disdain once lived. But Jimin barely heard them. His focus was fixed to the machine, the rhythm, the flow of mana and psychic energy. Time blurred for him. Two minutes passed in what felt like seconds. Then, he sensed it. That familiar sluggish and unpleasant feeling was about to grasp him soon. If I push more, it'll backfire. He made the decision instantly. The next shot came.

He didn't show any sign of blocking. Gasps rang out. Then- Dash. His image blurred. His body moved to the side in an explosive burst. The ball missed him entirely, slamming into the wall behind with a sharp boom. He appeared outside the machine's path. The machine stopped shooting. He also decided to stop training.

'Dash' has a 60 seconds cooldown. Training here isn't practical anymore. Other people might notice the long cooldown. It can become a weak point, if I need to fight later. Training here any longer wasn't practical. Someone might notice. Someone sharp enough might start asking questions. He stepped out of the training zone and moved to a quieter corner of the hall, sitting down against a cold wall. His breathing steadied gradually as he wiped sweat from his face. Only then did he fully relax.

He decided to check the 'Telekinesis' skill window. He opened it and a skill window appeared. —-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 【Skill: Telekinesis】 Category: Active Type: Offense / Control Rank: Rare Level: 4 / 50 This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Description: Manipulates objects at a distance. Consumes psychic energy and mana.

Power, precision, control, and range increase with each level. Scaling: • PSY → Lifting capacity, power, precision • INT → Range, control Base Weight: 14 (+2) kg + (11 × 1) kg = 25 kg (+2) Range: 11. 5 (+0. 5) m + (8 × 0. 5) m = 15. 5 m (+0. 5) Cooldown: None Cost: Mana and Psychic Energy; based on object mass Proficiency: 18% —----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------"Cool." The word slipped out quietly, almost instinctively. Level 4.

The numbers weren't massive. But they would accumulate over time. Slow and steady, he reminded himself.

"Looks like you're relaxing after all that heavy training." The voice came from behind him. Jimin flinched, instinctively. What happened now? Ryu Seong-ho stood there, hands clasped behind his back, sharp eyes studying him with open interest. There was no skepticism in his gaze; just evaluation. Jimin stood up quickly and bowed his head.

"Sir." Seong-ho chuckled lightly.

"Relax. No need to be that stiff." They exchanged greetings, and Seong-ho gestured back toward the training area.

"I watched your training session. Your attack with the chakram was cleaner and more controlled, the second time. And that defensive application of telekinesis; projecting the barrier outward instead of anchoring it to your body; that was a good call." Jimin's heart skipped. He noticed everything…

"I… just did some experimenting," Jimin replied carefully.

"That's the point," Seong-ho said.

"You didn't just follow the rule. You followed your instincts, tested and adapted. That's how you grow." His tone shifted slightly.

"However, don't rely too heavily on barriers. That felt like it was draining you faster. Defense is important, but relying on it too much will get you killed. Train your dodging skills more. You should learn to manage your skills, cooldowns and resources."

"Yes, sir." Seong-ho gave a few more pieces of constructive criticism; about footwork, timing, and resource management; then nodded.

"Good work today." With that, he turned and walked away. Jimin let out a slow breath he hadn't realized he was holding. That old man is seriously terrifying. He notices everything. The combat class ended not long after. Students were instructed to return the weapons they borrowed. They lined up to return their weapons, the hall gradually emptying as chatter filled the air. Jimin saw an opportunity there. So, he waited. He entered the arsenal a little late on purpose. The crowd had thinned. Fewer eyes.

Fewer distractions. He placed his weapons down slowly, one by one; delaying deliberately. Between movements, his gaze flicked toward the surrounding racks, scanning the gears displayed there. Appraisal… He activated it discreetly, eyes drifting across the equipment as if casually admiring them. Information flooded in about the gears; materials, ranks, stats, etc. A student near the exit glanced back at him and frowned.

"Can't you put both of those blades down at once?" Jimin blinked, momentarily caught off guard. He looked at the guy, then back at his weapons, then back at the guy.

"Can't you just leave after returning the weapon?" Jimin replied flatly. The student's face darkened.

"What did you…"

"Mind your own business." Jimin's gaze hardened as he replied. The student hesitated a bit. Then he scoffed and left. Jimin didn't spare him another glance. He continued appraising. After a while, a notification popped up. ['Appraisal' has reached Lv. 4] But he didn't stop. He continued to appraise other gears until finally, ['Appraisal' has reached Lv. 5] He exhaled softly. That's enough. As students had stopped entering the arsenal for a while. Lingering any longer would only invite more attention.

So, he left quietly, slipping out as if nothing unusual had happened. Not that it was a big issue. People would eventually find out. But he already had many eyes on him. He didn't want to catch too much attention. —- He regrouped with Yuna in the classroom.

"Where were you?" she asked, tilting her head.

"Washroom," he replied instantly. She was about to say something but hesitated while being a little shy.

"Forget it." An awkward silence followed. Yeah. I really need a new excuse. They shifted the topic, discussing their training. Yuna talked about her drills and experience. Jimin listened, genuinely interested. Support roles weren't flashy, but they were indispensable. —- After class, they left the school together before parting ways. Jimin headed toward the bus stop. His destination was clear. The Appraiser Federation Headquarters. —- The bus ride felt longer than usual.

His thoughts were all over the place; anticipation, nerves, excitement tangled together. When he finally got off and stood before the main gate, he had to tilt his head back to take it all in. The building was grand and massive. So this is it… A voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Identity?" A security officer was stationed nearby. Jimin handed over his student ID. It stated that he was enrolled in the course. The man examined it with sharp eyes. His presence felt heavy. Jimin could sense it. He swallowed. Even the security here is of a high rank… Though, not on the same level as the old man.

"What are you here for?" the person asked.

"I'm here to get registered," Jimin replied. The man nodded and waved him through. Jimin entered the headquarters premises. Inside, the atmosphere felt different. He entered the main building and saw that there were a few young female receptionists at the desk. He saw that one of them was unattended. He approached the reception desk. The young receptionist greeted him with a warm smile.

"How can I help you?"

"I want to be registered," Jimin said. She nodded, unfazed.

"Welcome. That makes you the sixth person this month."

"That few?" Jimin blurted out. I knew that appraisers were rare but it's even less than what I expected. She laughed softly.

"The month just started. Manaborns from all over the country will come in a few days to be registered. We usually get around two hundred registrations each month. It's still low compared to total awakenings, but that's what makes appraisers valuable." Jimin was impressed by how friendly and co-operative the receptionist was. Then, she said, "Well, enough of that. Please, provide an ID to proceed with the registration." Jimin handed her his student ID.

After a while, she returned his ID along with a Verification Card. And said, "Please, go to the Evaluation Room on the 2nd floor. And press the red button outside. You would be registered if you pass a simple test."

"Is it difficult?" Jimin asked.

"Don't worry. It's easy," she said cheerfully.

"It's just a formality to check your abilities. Good luck, Mr. Sam." He thanked her and headed upstairs. The Evaluation Room was easy to find. Then, he saw a monitor beside the door and a red button under the monitor. He pressed the red button as told. After a while a text appeared on the monitor:'Punch the Verification Card'. He punched the Verification Card. After a while, the monitor flickered green and a voice came out,"Come in." He opened the door and stepped inside. Inside, it was like a collection room.

Rows of big shelves adorned with various objects. And in the middle of that, there was a man sitting behind the counter. He said with a calm voice, "Welcome, Mr. Sam."