Andres adjusted his behavior the next day.
Not drastically.
Just enough.
He accepted fewer jobs, spacing them out instead of completing them rapidly. His efficiency remained high, but no longer exceptional. Where he once moved with precision, he now allowed small, believable imperfections.
A delayed step. A longer pause. A missed minor detail—intentional, calculated.
Kael noticed immediately.
"You're holding back."
"Yes."
"…Smart."
Andres didn't explain further.
Because this wasn't about deception—it was about balance.
If he showed too much, he would become a target.
If he showed too little, he would stagnate.
So he walked the line between.
Meanwhile, his internal growth didn't stop.
In quieter moments, away from crowds, he continued testing his abilities. Multiplication at controlled levels. Energy Perception in subtle bursts. Even his physical movement improved under the passive influence of his attributes.
Each adjustment felt smoother than before.
Less resistance.
More stability.
"…Adaptation," he thought.
The system wasn't just giving him power.
It was reshaping him to handle it.
Later, as he returned to the guild, he noticed something new.
A different kind of gaze.
Not curiosity.
Not suspicion.
Recognition.
Someone whispered his name.
Quietly.
But clearly.
Andres didn't react.
But internally—
He understood.
He was no longer just another worker in Velmora.
He was becoming part of its structure.