Grimm's eldest apprentice-sister Quiet Spring was one of the Demon Hunter Consociation.

The Demon Hunters Consociation usually a.s.signed missions to Level 1 to Level 3 Demon Hunters at random; and through completing these missions repeatedly, the high achievers then got to join their ranks.

As for Grimm, even he had acquired the qualification to join them—as he had now acquired a Rank 3 Honor Badge.

Lowering his head, Grimm said determinedly, "No matter how difficult… I will do my best to save Lefay."

"Hmph…"

Master Peranos coldly replied, "Grimm, so you're determined to break the law of the Seven Rings and make dealings with a Black Sorcerer? Are you sure you won't regret later?"

"Yes."

Grimm's determined eyes could be seen through his Mask of Truth. Master Peranos' words did not shake his determination at all.

On the other hand, Master Peranos' solemn face was now starting to loosen up. Looking at the water in a gla.s.s sitting on the tea table, he seemed to be recalling a memory from a distant past…

After a long while, Master Peranos stood up and patted Grimm's shoulder. Then, to Grimm's surprise, Peranos sighed. "As your teacher, I should warn you… no, stop you from doing this foolish act. To ensure you not leaving Black Isotta before Hattori dies. Well, that's perhaps if it's hundreds of years ago. Now…"

A short pause later, Master Peranos appeared to feel slight relief.

"Yet, as a Level 3 Great Sorcerer, I have this to say. Go, go out there and give it your all. Live your life to the fullest."

Grimm's eyes widened.

He realized what Master Peranos was trying to convey—he was now not the little Grimm who lived under the shadow of Quiet Spring anymore.

In his teachers' eyes, he was already an independent sorcerer with great potential.

"Meow, Grimm. If one day you rank up as a Stigmata Sorcerer, I suppose you won't have any issue dealing with your inner demons. You've got a good head on your shoulders."

Garnigel scratched itself a while before continuing, "Regardless, after this whole thing pa.s.ses, get prepared to stay in the Seven Rings Prison for a few hundred years. The Holy Tower will never let you off lightly after dealing with a Black Sorcerer."

To atone and allow Lefay to live out her final decade in joy, a few hundred years off his lifespan was nothing to Grimm.

In the eyes of the wise and intelligent Dark Sorcerers, Grimm's decision was utterly foolish.

In fact, even Grimm was still a little hesitant despite his iron-willed determination.

This would be an agonizing decision.

A good head on his shoulders?

After ranking up as a full-fledged sorcerer, Grimm had completely gotten used to the perspective of being a sorcerer. Indeed, he had the brains for it.

One minute… two minutes… three minutes…

After a total of fifteen minutes, Grimm raised his head and said, painfully and yet determinedly, "Yes, I've decided. This is the decision of my life!"

After saying it out loud, Grimm felt as if a heavy weight was lifted off of him.

It felt as though after a long and weary fight between the cells of his entire body with his soul. It couldn't be helped—it was just an evolutionary process for them to lean towards the selfish route.

If Grimm was determined to proceed with this decision, it was almost certain that he would be imprisoned. It would then affect these cells severely in their evolutionary process. Thus, they were fighting and resisting with all their might.

Yet, Grimm's soul was telling him that this decision would determine just what his very existence would mean.

If a living being was always choosing the "right path" and ignore his sentimental side, he would then not be a being that could determine his own destiny. He would just be trapped in the endless Lazy Susan of the universe's logics, law, and order. He would just be a tiny gear that "followed the rules".

And self-determined destiny was uncertain. And yet, it was this uncertainty that led to endless possibilities—touching on a law that was higher than the universe's law.

"Haha! Good! Grimm, perhaps you're not really suited to be a Dark Sorcerer after all. Perhaps, your soul is closer than that of a Bright Sorcerer. One day, I believe you will surpa.s.s me and Quiet Spring and venture into the realms of Stigmata Sorcerers!"

Master Peranos laughed aloud while still looking at Grimm with relieved eyes.

Although Grimm was now supposed to be on the same level as Master Peranos in terms of perspective in life, he still could not understand what his teacher meant.

After all, Grimm had only just entered the field of sorcerer while Master Peranos was an acclaimed sorcerer for years.

"Grimm, come on. I'll bring you to the old hag downstairs. Let's get her to give you every intel you need on Hattori the Hidden. These days, her apprentice Gabriel had acquired a lot of information about him."

Moments later.

Knock knock knock.

On the 78th level of Black Isotta.

Master Peranos knocked on a door with Grimm standing next to him.

Creeaaak…

The wooden door creaked open and an infant-like face reached out from within. The head of the academy looked at Master Peranos first then threw a surprised look at Grimm.

"Grimm?"

After acquiring the first place in the Holy Tower Qualification Battle, Grimm had the opportunity to meet her before. So, she too remembered Grimm.

"Master."

Right after Grimm gave his bow, the head of the academy waved them into her living quarters.

Hmm?

There's someone here…

Grimm saw a black-robed sorcerer on the sofa. He then stared at Grimm while observing his Demon Hunter Badge. His keen eyes also noticed that Grimm possessed superb Const.i.tution of a Level 1 Sorcerer.

Master Peranos sat on the sofa and pointed at Grimm, "This is my apprentice Grimm. He doesn't have any interest in this demon-hunting mission. However, he needs intel about Hattori the Hidden from the academy. You know, to gain more experience."

Master Peranos withheld some details as he spoke.

The head of the academy and Gabriel looked at one another…

A moment later, Gabriel smiled after whispering with the head of the academy as he looked towards Grimm. Grimm was wearing a gray robe and Mask of Truth—there was nothing unusual and unique about him on the appearance.

"Since you're a high achiever in the academy and, according to Master Peranos, you don't intend to rival anyone in this demon-hunting mission… then we're not each other's compet.i.tion. Come with me a few days later."

As he finished, Gabriel flashed his sorcerer badges in front of Grimm—two rows of Rank 3 Demon Hunter Honor Badges.