Alex and Alexa hurried to their grandfather's office, their expressions tense. They had just finished dealing with the top rankers, and now they needed to discuss their next move.
However, when they arrived, Seojun was nowhere to be seen.
"Where is he?" Alex asked, looking around.
Chairman Alexander glanced up from his desk and sighed. "He said he was bored, so he left."
Alexa's eye twitched in annoyance. "That idiot. So he can just leave whenever he wants, huh? Tsk."
Before they could say anything else, the chairman's phone rang. The screen flashed with an urgent notification—an incoming call using global system from Korea's governnt.
After preparing to answer, Alex and Alexa stood beside their grandfather, who was in a video call with top governnt officials. The screen displayed several serious-looking ministers, their expressions heavy with pressure.
"Chairman Alexander, we need answers," one official demanded. "The people are asking, and we cannot keep this a secret any longer."
Another official leaned forward, his voice sharp. "An unidentified S-rank awakener cannot be ignored. For national security, we demand you reveal his identity imdiately."
Chairman remained calm. "I understand your concerns, but this matter requires careful handling. If the person in question wished to be revealed, he would have done so himself."
A third official scoffed. "We are not asking, Chairman. If the Association refuses, we will have no choice but to take action. The governnt provides a significant portion of the Association's funding. If you don't cooperate, we will cut financial support and seize control over all evaluations."
Alexa clenched her fists. "That's ridiculous! The Association is independent for a reason!"
Alex sighed, rubbing his temple. "Grandpa, this is bad. They're serious."
Another minister spoke, this ti with a more controlled tone. "Chairman, you know as well as we do that high-rankers are crucial for national defense. An unknown S-rank is a potential danger if left unregistered."
Before he could respond, another voice joined the call. It was a foreign diplomat. "This is not just Korea's problem. Other nations are also concerned. If you do not disclose his identity, we will assu he is a secret weapon. And if that is the case, we will have no choice but to prepare accordingly."
A cold silence filled the room.
Alexa gritted her teeth. "Are they trying to start a war over this?" she muttered under her breath.
Chairman finally spoke. "The Association will handle this matter internally. You have my word that there is no threat to national security."
The Korean officials exchanged glances before one of them said, "You have three days, Chairman. After that, we will take matters into our own hands."
The call ended.
The room was silent for a mont before Alex let out a frustrated sigh. "Three days? That's basically an ultimatum."
Alexa crossed her arms. "They won't stop until they get what they want."
Chairman Alexander rubbing his temple as his phone buzzed non-stop and Global system. Every call was urgent, and every ssage was filled with demands. The situation was getting worse by the hour.
Alex and Alexa stood nearby, watching as their grandfather answered yet another call. This ti, it was from an Arican guild leader.
"Chairman Alexander," the voice on the other end was calm but firm. "We're willing to offer a massive reward for any information on the unidentified S-rank. Money, artifacts, resources—you na it."
"The Association does not sell information," Chairman Alexander replied flatly.
A short pause. Then the guild leader chuckled. "We figured you'd say that. But rember, secrets don't stay hidden forever. If you change your mind, our offer stands."
The call ended, but before he could put his phone down, another one ca in—this ti from Europe.
"Chairman Alexander, this is regarding the unknown fighter," a deep voice spoke. "Our guild is willing to negotiate. We can provide high-level dungeons exclusively for the Korean Association. In exchange, we want access to this S-rank awakener."
"No deal," Chairman Alexander said imdiately.
"You might want to reconsider," the European guild leader said. "If this awakener remains unclaid, others will try to take him by force."
Chairman Alexander's expression darkened. "Let them try," he said before hanging up.
Alex whistled. "Grandpa, people are getting desperate."
Before Chairman Alexander could reply, his secretary rushed in. "Sir, an elite Awakener squad has arrived outside the Association. They claim they're here to track the S-rank's mana signature."
Alexa cursed. "Seriously? They think they can just barge in and hunt him down?"
"They're not the only ones," the secretary hesitated. "A foreign ambassador has also arrived. He's demanding a eting with you."
Chairman Alexander exhaled sharply. "Let guess. He's going to say this unknown S-rank is a global threat?"
"Yes, sir."
The chairman stood up. "Alright. Bring him to the conference room. And as for the hunter squad—deny their request. If they try anything, make sure security removes them."
As the secretary left, Alex and Alexa exchanged uneasy glances.
Chairman Hamilton looked at them before leaving "We need to act fast. Contact Seojun. He has to decide"
Alex and Alexa were getting overwheld. Their phones wouldn't stop ringing, and urgent emails kept coming in. Despite all this, they knew they had to solve one thing first—who leaked the re-evaluation to the dia?
"This information didn't just appear out of nowhere," Alexa said, scrolling through reports on her tablet. "Soone in the Association must've leaked it."
Alex sighed. "It has to be one of our employees. No way would the dia find out on their own."
They imdiately began an internal investigation, checking security footage, employee logs, and ssage records. It didn't take long to narrow down the suspects.
"Evaluation room staff," Alex muttered as he looked at the report. "They were the only ones who knew about the test besides us and Grandpa."
Alexa's eyes darkened as she scanned the list of nas. "One of them got paid… by Dae Won."
Alex blinked. "Wait, what?"
Alexa turned the screen toward him. "Dae Won paid one of the staff mbers. But get this—he didn't pay them to tell reporters. He only paid them to confirm that a re-evaluation happened."
Alex frowned. "So Dae Won wanted to know if Seojun took the test, but he wasn't the one who leaked it?"
"Exactly." Alexa exhaled sharply. "That idiot staff mber got greedy. After getting paid by Dae Won, they went ahead and sold the information to reporters for more money."
Alex and Alexa exchanged glances before deciding to split up.
"I'll handle the traitor," Alex said, rolling his shoulders. "I want to see exactly how much they sold and to whom."
Alexa nodded. "Fine. But don't take too long. I'll deal with the guild leaders and their ridiculous offers."
"You sure you'll be okay?" Alex asked, raising an eyebrow.
Alexa smirked. "Please. I'd rather handle a bunch of arrogant guild leaders than deal with so greedy idiot who sold us out."
With that, they went their separate ways.
Alex made his way through the Association, heading toward the employee offices. With the report in hand, he had all the evidence he needed. When he reached the small office, he found the staff mber in question—a nervous-looking man in his late thirties, tapping anxiously on his phone.
"Mr. Ho," Alex called, stepping inside.
The man flinched and looked up. "V-Vice Chairman?"
anwhile, Alexa was dealing with sothing just as annoying—guild leaders.
Inside the Association's conference room, representatives from guilds sat before her, each trying to outbid the other.
"We're willing to offer an A-rank dungeon raid permit if he joins us," one leader said.
"Ridiculous," another scoffed. "We'll pay him double the usual S-rank contract fee!"
"He should join us," a third argued. "We'll provide him with a personal training ground and unlimited resources."
Alexa pinched the bridge of her nose. "Enough," she said, making the room go silent. "He isn't joining any of your guilds. He doesn't need money, permits, or resources."
The leaders exchanged glances.
"But Ms. Alexa," one of them spoke carefully. "If he remains independent, it will cause issues. An S-rank without a guild is—"
"None of your business," Alexa cut in.
The room went quiet again.
"Now, if you have nothing else to say, this eting is over."
Without waiting for a response, Alexa stood and walked out, leaving the frustrated guild leaders behind.
She let out a sigh. "These people never give up."
Just as she pulled out her phone to check on Alex, a new ssage popped up.
Incoming call: Foreign Affairs Departnt
Alexa narrowed her eyes. "Great. Now what?"
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