I choose to refuse!

quiet--

After Bai Rong extended the invitation, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.

Even the whispers and mockery of Wang Tong abruptly ceased.

The White Tiger Knights extended an invitation directly.

Even these brave warriors who had only been there for a few days knew what this meant.

That's a knightly order whose treatment is comparable to that of an A-rank hero!

In some ways, it's even better than joining the Heroes' Guild!

Lord Fano, standing to the side, stared wide-eyed and his mouth slightly agape.

He understood the weight of the words "White Tiger Knights" better than anyone else present.

That's not just a legion, it's a ladder to the core of power and resources!

Once you join, you will immediately gain a noble status recognized by the empire.

Enjoy the title and salary, and possess cultivation resources and even the power of life and death that are unimaginable to ordinary adventurers!

Even many heroes have made it their goal.

But right now, Captain Bai Rong has actually extended a direct invitation to an unknown young adventurer!

Fano felt his throat go dry and his heart pounding wildly in his chest, half in shock and half in jealousy.

What incredible luck did this kid have?

However, Lin Mo's next words suddenly cooled the scorching silence.

It turned into a collective gasp of shock.

"I will not join the White Tiger Knights."

Lin Mo's voice was not loud; in fact, it could be described as flat.

But in an environment where you could hear a pin drop, it was clearly audible to everyone.

Bai Rong's pupils suddenly contracted, and the gentleness and appreciation on his face froze instantly.

He anticipated that the other party might be flattered, ask about the conditions, or even be overjoyed.

But I never expected such a decisive and straightforward rejection.

They didn't even think about it.

He almost thought he had misheard.

He instinctively pressed on, "Do you know what you're saying?"

His tone remained calm, but a barely perceptible urgency crept in: "Joining the White Tiger Knights means you'll no longer have to fight for resources and monsters. The Empire will provide the best possible treatment, you'll be guided by higher-level experts as you level up, and you'll only need to perform regular border patrols or fortress garrison duties each year. Your safety is guaranteed, and your future is bright..."

He didn't finish his sentence.

Because Lin Mo raised her eyes and gave him a cold look.

There was not the slightest interest in those conditions in his eyes.

There was only coldness, and a hint of undisguised hostility.

"I told you, I won't join."

The knight captain, who had seen countless people, was speechless for a moment because of that look.

All the prepared persuasion, promises, and even threats that followed.

They were all stuck in my throat.

A huge question arose in his mind: Had he offended this young man?

Little did he know that Lin Mo harbored hostility not only towards him, but towards everyone in the world.

If I hadn't been suddenly summoned, my mom would already be able to start surgery.

For him, this world was not an opportunity, but a barrier between him and his mother.

Since being summoned, Lin Mo's heart has been constantly filled with anxiety, anger, and a sense of powerlessness.

This sentiment subtly translates into potential hostility towards the world as a whole, especially towards maintaining world order.

If it weren't for Yin Xue and the Black Sword giving him a glimmer of hope to return home, he probably would have gone mad long ago.

Serving the empire?

Protect the world that dragged him away from his mother's sickbed?

He just wanted to sneer.

He didn't have time to play those childish games of building merit and establishing a career with these natives.

His only goal is to become stronger and then return to his original world.

If anything were to happen to his mother because of his disappearance, he would not hesitate to plow the world up.

"All right,"

Bai Rong finally gave in, and his voice became steady again, even carrying a hint of respect.

"Everyone has their own ambitions. Since you are unwilling, I, Bai Rong, representing the White Tiger Knights, will naturally not force you."

He changed the subject, his tone becoming serious and slightly warning: "However, the Empire does not demand that you serve it, but... please do not become an enemy of the Empire."

As he spoke, a bright light flashed from the spatial ring in his hand.

A flash of light appeared, and he held something in his palm.

That was an eyeball the size of a fist!

Its eyes were entirely black, with crimson pupils, like obsidian.

It exudes an energy fluctuation that is far more savage and violent than the Bull King's horn.

Those of lower social standing felt a pang of fear.

"This...this is?!"

Lord Fano was truly speechless with shock this time, staring intently at the black eyeball.

"Level 25... The essence of the Cyclops King's Mystic Eye?!"

"hiss--!"

For the second time, a collective gasp of astonishment rang out from the entire audience.

Level 25 Beastmaster!

That is an existence as powerful as the Dark Ink Spider King at the bottom of the mine!

Its essence is far more valuable than that of a level 18 Minotaur King.

Captain Bai Rong actually gave away such a precious item as a gift?

Lin Mo's gaze fell on the black demonic eye, and his brows furrowed slightly.

He could sense the immense and violent energy contained within it.

This thing is indeed good, but I have already absorbed the essence of the Dark Ink Spider King.

The next essence should be at least a level 30 Beastmaster.

So he doesn't really need this.

However, Yin Xue, who had been hiding in his clothes, suddenly spoke up: "This stuff can be absorbed by that spider egg to enhance its potential."

Hearing Yin Xue's reminder, Lin Mo hesitated for a moment, but still reached out and took it.

It felt cold and heavy to the touch, and a violent aura tried to assault his palm.

However, it was easily suppressed by the even more powerful force within him.

"Okay, I understand."

Lin Mo casually put away the essence of the Demon Eye, his tone as indifferent as if he were accepting a random stone from the roadside.

His reaction only deepened Bai Rong's admiration.

He remained calm even when Mount Tai collapsed before him.

With this temperament, this composure, and that talent that rivals or even surpasses that of a hero, this child is no ordinary person!

Bai Rong even felt that it might be wiser to forge this good relationship than to recruit a resentful genius.

As for that level 25 essence...

While precious, it's nothing special to the White Tiger Knights.

Everyone else around was speechless with shock.

"Level 25 essence just like that?"

"That guy's an adventurer, what makes him so special!?"

"I definitely want to join the White Tiger Knights someday!"

……

Lord Fano swallowed hard.

However, as a local, he didn't think there was anything wrong with what Bai Rong did.

After all, heroes are summoned from other worlds, and even a large amount of resources cannot guarantee their loyalty.

Adventurers, however, are different.

As locals, they are bound to the empire from birth and are generally more loyal than heroes.

Therefore, adventurers whose talent rivals that of heroes are more worthy of being recruited.

In stark contrast to Bai Rong's satisfaction and the shock of the crowd was Wang Tong's face, which had long since lost all color.

He stood at the edge of the crowd, his body trembling slightly, as if all his strength had been drained away in an instant.

An invitation from the White Tiger Knights?

All Wang Tong got was the opportunity to join the Heroes' Association ahead of time.

That is almost the inevitable fate of every hero.

Even if you get in early, you still have to start leveling up from the lowest level, E-rank hero.

Lin Mo, on the other hand, received a direct recruitment of the empire's most elite forces!

If he nods, he'll receive the treatment of an A-rank hero.

Level 18 Bull King Essence?

His prized possession, which he was willing to shed blood to seize.

Lin Mo directly replaced it with the essence of the level 25 Cyclops King!

This enormous drop was like a venomous snake gnawing at his heart.

Most importantly, in order to get first place in this training, he completely broke ties with everyone else.

He offended almost all the heroes of his generation.

But what was the result? He jumped around like a clown.

In the end, however, he lost everything, which led to Lin Mo's illustrious reputation and Su Lin's success.

He could imagine that from this day forward, he would become a laughingstock and a public enemy in the circle of heroes in Ancient Wood City.

How would those he robbed look at him with disdain and schadenfreude?

As for Teacher Su Lin... it's probably completely impossible.

it's over...

It's all over...

However, just when Wang Tong was about to break down.

At the entrance to the mine, a series of panicked shouts were accompanied by the sound of hurried footsteps.

Approaching from afar, it abruptly broke the somber atmosphere at the edge of the camp.

"No...something terrible has happened!"

One of the guards who had gone in earlier to scout and clean up rushed out in a panic.

His face was deathly pale, and his voice was shrill and distorted with terror:

"Zhao Qianyong...Zhao Qianyong...he's dead! His body was found in a side passage in the middle of the mine!"

"What?!"

"Zhao Qian is dead?"

"How could that be?"

……

The crowd erupted in uproar again, this time with genuine shock and commotion.

The death of a hero is no small matter!

Although the trial is risky, a level 10 hero will generally not face any life-threatening danger in a cave full of level 7 and 8 monsters.

Wang Tong shuddered violently, as if struck by lightning, his face instantly turning from deathly pale to ashen.

His lips twitched uncontrollably: "Damn! How could I forget about that! There's that thing too!"