[Awakener Association Headquarters, New York]

[50th Floor, Meeting Room]

The Association’s head, Mark Linz, called a sudden meeting for the Six Devas.

The Six Devas were the six strongest Awakeners from the Association. They were A-Rank Awakeners, and each had three B-Rank Awakeners under them.

A S-Rank Awakener was considered a legend, and only a few people in history had managed to reach it. That was why the strongest force in a Guild or the Association were only A-Rank Awakeners.

And now, a meeting has been called for the six of them. Because the members of Six Devas were scattered all around the world, they could only arrive this morning.

All of them were currently seated in a meeting room around a square table, waiting for Mark to arrive.

Although they were called Six Devas and affiliated with the Association, they had their own interests and didn’t really get along with one another. They only followed the Association’s head order because their interests aligned with each other.

For example, the Awakener, who looked like a high school girl with short blonde hair and dressed in short pants and tube top, grumbled in annoyance.

“Why did that old man call us here?”

The one who answered her was a man with spiky blue hair and sharp teeth.

“Kah! Maybe it’s about the Hero being kidnapped? That old man really cares about having the Hero in our ranks.”

“Tsk! What’s so special about that girl?”

“Right~?”

Both of them pursed their lips, clearly annoyed by the situation.

Seeing their behavior, a man with long black hair and a neat appearance looked at them. He sighed and then reprimanded them.

“Natasha, Jaro, please don’t say that in front of Mr. Mark. Both of you know that things will get messy if you disrespect him.”

“Hah?!” The man with spiky hair, Jaro, scoffed at the neat man. “You are as stiff as ever, Arthur. Be a little flexible like this shorty, will ya?” He pointed at Natasha.

After being called shorty by Jaro, Natasha frowned and glared at him. “Oi. Who are you calling shorty, ah?! You want to fight, punk?”

“Oh? You dare to challenge me? I think you better think twice, shorty.”_-.

“Who’s afraid of you, jaggy teeth?”

Sparks seemed to fly as they glared at each other.

Arthur could only sigh while shaking his head. It had always been like this when the two of them met with each other. The other three Devas were only looking at them with amusement.

After a while, Mark finally arrived in the room. He was a stout man with brown hair and a beard. From his appearance, he looked like a man in his forties.

However, he was actually sixty years old. He was one of the Awakeners who managed to reach S-Rank.

As soon as he entered the room, the atmosphere turned tense. Natasha and Jaro also stopped fighting as they sat quietly.

“Sorry for being late. I only got new information regarding the topic that we need to address today.”

Mark sat on the chair in front of the room as he looked at the Six Devas.

“If I may, Mr. Mark.” Arthur raised his hand and asked politely.

“Yes, Arthur?”

“May I know the reason for calling us today? The call for the meeting was so sudden that we even left our posts for our subordinates to attend the meeting. If possible, may we talk about the main topic right away?”

“Of course. After all, we can’t let you away from your post for a long time. Each of you guards the most important dungeons that the Association is in charge of.”

As the strongest Awakeners from the Association, the Six Devas had a duty to protect the A-Rank dungeons that the Association owned.

There were a total of six A-rank dungeons that the Association was in charge of. For that reason, there were only Six Devas instead of seven or eight, even when they had more A-Rank Awakeners in the Association.

“Let’s cut to the chase.” As Mark said that, a hologram screen appeared in front of Six Devas, showing a picture of Chloe and Rai.

“The Hero, Chloe, is now not a part of the Association. A new Awakener called Rai somehow nullified the promise that bound her to the Association.”

“Is that really a big deal that we needed to hold a meeting?” Asked Jaro in a displeased tone.

“It’s not. I only addressed that as it’s related to the main topic.” Answered Mark.

“Then, what made you gather us? If something that happened to the Hero was not important to you, surely there is another topic that requires our direct actions.” Said Arthur.

“That’s correct.” Mark replied, with a firm nod. “There was some strange movement from Memento Mori around the same time the Hero’s promise with us was nullified.”

As soon as they heard Memento Mori, the Six Devas’ faces turned into frowns.

Memento Mori was the name of the organization that tried to stop and kill Zaiden in the novel. They were a bunch of lunatics that worked only for money and their own interests.

Their members were mostly unknown, but one thing was for sure.

They were strong.

“Are you serious, Mr. Mark?” Asked Arthur nervously.

“Yes, it seems that they saw the news on the internet about the Hero being kidnapped by Rai. We know that the news is not true, but it’s not important to them. They now know that the Hero is not affiliated with the Association again, and maybe… it’s just my speculation, but I think they will try to recruit her.”

The meeting room turned quiet as Mark said that.

The Hero was a valuable asset to any organization. Even Memento Mori would surely be interested in recruiting her into their ranks.

One of the reasons why the Association wanted to keep the Hero was to show that the Hero is currently affiliated with an organization.

Now that the news about the Hero being kidnapped by Rai had been spread on the internet, those who sought her would begin to move.

“Then, what should we do?” Asked Natasha. “Should we just beat up that Rai guy and take the Hero back?”

“No.” Mark denied. “We will do nothing. I gathered all of you today to say that.”

Bam!

Jaro slammed the table, pointed his finger at Mark, and shouted. “Why?! Are you chickening out, old man?!”

Mark glared at Jaro as his Mana seeped out of his body, pressuring everybody in the room. His Mana was heavy, and Jaro was forced to sit.

“Jaro, you know that I am not afraid of anyone.”

“Tsk!” Jaro clicked his tongue. “My bad. But at least tell us the reason why you want us to do nothing.”

“Fine.” Mark retracted his Mana, and the atmosphere turned normal once again. “Memento Mori will try to recruit the Hero, possibly even Rai. However, Rai will definitely refuse their invitation.”

“How do you know?” Asked Arthur. “No, what did you find out, Mr. Mark?”

“That guy managed to steal the Hero from the Association. Why do you think he will join Memento Mori? He clearly said that he will make the Mercenary Group, and I think the Hero will join his Mercenary Group based on her action yesterday.”

“So we can rest easy?” Asked one of the Six Devas.

Mark grinned and replied.

“Yes, for now, let’s watch and do nothing. I have a feeling that something interesting will happen later. I am more willing to let the Hero join a Mercenary Group instead of some random guild or Memento Mori. That way, we can still ask her to do something through the Mercenary Group she is part of. There will be nothing that has changed from before.”

The room went silent, then Mark continued.

“Well, even so, I hope one of you can go to Los Angeles where Rai was spotted for the last time to make sure that nothing happened.”

At his words, Jaro raised his hand. “I will go.”

He grinned and continued, “I want to see this guy that comes from Memento Mori.”

“Don’t make a mess, Jaro. Just watch from afar.” Said Mark.

“Yeah, don’t make a mess, jagged teeth.” Natasha added, with a smirk.

“I know that! You don’t need to tell me!”

***

[06:30 AM]

[Café]

I was sitting in the café where I had a talk with Rosa.

To deal with the media and fake news, I was thinking of using the generosity of a person that I was acquainted with while promising something in exchange.

So I contacted my only acquaintance who could possibly gather the media to form a press conference or introduce me to a trustworthy reporter with my newly bought phone.

However, that acquaintance showed up with the girl that I was familiar with.

“Nice to meet you, Rai. My name is Ao Yukina, Sacred Relic guild master, Thomas Evan’s daughter.” She extended her hand at me.

Why did she introduce herself as Thomas Evan’s daughter?

I thought that she hid her identity as the daughter of Thomas Evan from the others?

No, more importantly, what was her purpose for coming here? I couldn’t even understand her train of thought, even though I was the one who technically created her.

She was supposed to be in a freaking Academy right now!

My heart was beating because I was surprised to see her showing up with Rosa, but thankfully, my Deceitful Trait was working well today too.

“Nice to meet you too. I am Rai.” I took her hand and shook it. It only lasted a few seconds before we both released it.

She smiled at me and sat silently while Rosa asked me.

“I was surprised when I got your call, but… May I ask you the reason why you contacted me in the early morning?”

They definitely saw the news about Chloe and me on the internet. And they knew that the news was true after I called them.

She only asked my reason to confirm it, while in truth, she had some idea why I called her.

“The truth is, I wanted to ask something.”

“Ask something?”

“Yes, do you perhaps know a trustworthy reporter that’s willing to make clarification news?”

I changed my mind after seeing Ao. It was too much to ask Rosa to gather the press to make a press conferenc.

To begin with, I wasn’t that famous, so I doubt that the media would be willing to gather for me to say something like, ‘I will make a new Mercenary Group with Chloe. I hope you understand it!’

If I did say so in the press conference, I would only make a fool of myself and further damage the reputation of the Mercenary Group that I had yet to build.

“Hmm, reporter, is it?” Mumbled Rosa. She then turned to Ao and asked. “What do you think, Ao?”

From her tone, I knew that they had already planned this after receiving my call.

“I think it’s possible. However, if you don’t mind, Rai. I need to ask something.” Ao put her elbow on the table and smiled brightly at me.

“Please do ask anything, Miss Yukina.”

“Don’t be so polite, Rai. I am still a first-year student.”

“Then, Miss Ao.”

“Well, I suppose I can let it slide.” Mumbled Ao. “My question is, why do you want to make clarification news, Rai? I suppose it’s related to the news that’s been spread on the internet?”

I nodded my head in confirmation. They already knew about my intention, so I didn’t need to hide it.

“I see. Then we will help you.” Said Ao.

“Huh?” I let out a stupid sound.

“Hmm? Perhaps you don’t like it?” Asked Ao with a playful tone.

Could it be that this girl is secretly a sadist? She smiles brightly on the outside, but I can feel a sadistic aura coming out from her. Or was it just my imagination?

She must have wanted something in exchange. There was nothing free in this world, especially from someone that you had just met for the first time.

Though I had met her a few times, and we were even learning under the same Master. But that wasn’t important. Vincent had met her, but Rai had never met her before this.

“What do you want from me?” I asked Ao seriously.

Her smile was still on her face, but her eyes were looking at me as if she was trying to judge whether I was worthy or not.

Finally, she lowered her hands from the table and said.

“Nothing. I would be glad if you thought of us, Sacred Relic, as your ally in the future. That’s enough for me.”

I see. So she wanted to be my ally, or rather, my Mercenary Group’s ally.

When I thought about it, it was a normal request. Having a connection with a Mercenary Group that the Hero might be a part of was important in the future, especially when Abyss appeared.

“Very well. My Mercenary Group will cooperate with Sacred Relic in the future as their ally.” I agreed to her request because I had nothing to lose by cooperating with Sacred Relic.

We then talked about the details of the clarification news. In the end, we agreed that an interview would be more credible than just writing some news on the internet, and we then scheduled the interview to be held tonight, in my new house.