At Obelisk Organization Headquarters, Conference Hall, 12:31 A.M.
Ayleen Mayfield — in more formal clothespared to when she''s dressed up as a professor — was standing in front of the Conference Room as a meeting was quickly evoked just a minute after the World Announcement about the Tower of Growth was announced.
Behind her was arge holographic screen where iplete information about the Tower of Growth has been presented.
"So, that Boss Monster was right..."
A dignified and noble voice of a man sounded in the entire Conference Room. This time, the key figures of the Obelisk Organization made time to personally attend the meeting through the respective Portal in the Obelisk Organization Headquarters that were connected to their respective homes and it''s not only the TOP 10 yers that were inside the Conference Room; there were also other attendants necessary this time.
Not everyone has a very high rankpared to others, rather, it''s their profession that qualified them to attend the meeting.
Professions rted to Interpreting, Teleporting, and Psychology. There were two people whose profession was rted to interpreting or tranting, although the System allowed humans to be able tomunicate with each other despite thenguage barrier, it''s not the same case with the Elves and Dwarves.
These two yers were writing everything they could or what was ordered to them to write, and tranted it to their assigned kingdom''snguage to visit; the Elnira Kingdom and the Vulcan Kingdom.
There were also two people with the profession that specialized in Teleportation; each of these yers would apany each interpreter. Even with the existence of the Portals, there was an unwritten pact between the Elnira Kingdom, Vulcan Kingdom, and Orion Continent where humanity resides.
It''s a pact that says:
- "No Portal shall be built to be coordinated in another country."
The reason for this was very simple; in terms of unknown variables that might happen throughout the world, although the kingdoms were somewhat friendly with each other, in the moment of disaster, betrayal might happen. And with the Portal, if coordinated with another country, might be used for a strategic attack to quickly invade the enemy''s capital or infiltrate important infrastructures.
"Fortunately, or unfortunately, yes. Lunaria''s right."
It was Ayleen''s firm but the still captivating voice.
The two Interpreters waiting for the orders of higher-ups, and the two Teleporters who would each apany them were silent. They didn''t have a voice in this Conference Room, and just sitting with these big shots felt suffocating.
"Still... that Boss Monster didn''t say anything about the Failure Penalty?"
The voice of the same man from earlier sounded in the Conference Room as he took a sip of Nereian ck Coffee at this very hour.
"You keep calling him Boss Monster, that being clearly was something else."
"Right, how can such a being predicted the opening of a Close Mystery Tower? Did she have a connection with the System itself?"
"Hahaha! These two queens, are you two out of your mind? The System doesn''t favor anyone."
"It''s been more than 40 years, and we couldn''t even explore the other side of the world because of that ''thing'' that''s blocking the way. There are many unknown, Draxian. You couldn''t be sure."
Draxian von Obreyon — the father of Leon von Obreyon and Mira von Obreyon — who''s contracted with the Constetion, ''Lord of the ck Dragon'' scoffed at Rosalin Flora, the Queen of Nereia.
He didn''t respond because Rosalin was right. Even though he didn''t tell these people what his Constetion had said to him... about their influence to be stronger the moment the first Close Mystery Tower opens, and how it would affect the entire world, rather he looked at Eliana von Etherion, the Queen of Etheria before he spoke in the same tone of casualness.
"What did your Constetion tells you? If I''m right..."
He paused before he cast his to Emmanuel Lyncoster, the schr and researcher that''s dedicated to uncovering the truth behind the Emergence.
Emmanuel, who knew what Draxian was referring to, stood up and looked at everyone in the Conference Room.
"Yes, the first case of the Flu, Post-Emergence has been recorded."
Murmurs of the unaware resounded in the Conference Room as the atmosphere seemed to turn colder at this hour.
Since the Emergence happened, any physical diseases even the seemed incurable cancer had ceased in existence, but this time, for some reason, the flu came back out of nowhere.
The murmurs dissipated instantly as though it were a fleeting wind because the lower-rank people, who had the honor ofing here, knew their ce.
Eliana raised her hand. All attention focused on her.
"About that... my Constetion said that it would only be the flu that woulde back. So, we don''t need to worry about the other diseases, especially the chronic ones."
The people here trusted her words, causing a seemingly collective sigh of relief to escape from some of them.
Emmanuel, who had been told by Eliana beforehand, took his seat; however, he was stopped by a very dignified man that everyone in this room, aside from some people who harbored negative emotions, adored.
"...Sir Artorious?"
Samantha Hall''s father raised his right hand.
"Can you share with everyone here about the profiles of the true discoverer of the First Micro-Strayed Dungeon?"
Emmanuel didn''t how to react. Although he bought the rights to the first discoverer Micro-Strayed Dungeon from Russell, Freya, Amelie, and Amery; he knew that he would be asked about their original discoverer.
"...Hey man, what are you up to?"
At this moment, Makoto Amasawa, Anya Amasawa''s father, the second richest man in the Orion Continent asked in confusion. His personality, just like how he talked with his daughter was that of a friendly-going. Even though most people here had reached middle age, he considered them just like brothers and sisters, especially Artorious who was with him during the Trial of the Stars – the mysterious series of trials that only the survivors knew about.
The TOP 10 yers knew about it already, but Ayleen, who wasn''t at TOP 10 was confused as the report had said that it was the Obelisk Organization that discovered it.
''Did he buy the rights for it? That''s expensive.''
She thought, before Emmanuel''s gaze was cast on her, prompting her to leave the presentation area as Emmanuel took ce.
...
"That''s everything about them."
''They are my students...''
After Emmanuel briefly presented the profiles of the four students who "identally" ventured on the first Micro-Strayed Dungeon: Vein of Immunosar, Ayleen recalled how the four acted in ss before Amery dropped out.
All of them looked at Artorious, sitting in the middle of the end of the Conference Room.
"These students lied about something if I''m right ording to the report submitted by your secretary.
"Do you think they know something about this phenomenon?"
Artorious Hall seriously asked as his eyes which seemed to depict broken ss, looked at Emmanuel.
"Haha! Hahahahahaha!
"Artorious, are you still sleepy? How do you evene up with such a hypothesis?"
It was Draxian whoughed as he couldn''t take Artorious Hall''s words seriously.
"How about we find out?"
He abruptly snapped his fingers, causing everyone in the room, especially those with the idea of what''s about to happen to have their expression turned serious.<novelnext></novelnext>
"Stop what you are about to do right now, Sir."
It was Ayleen Mayfield who spoke. She''s feeling afraid of what''s about to happen due to the coldness and seemingly emotionless that Artorious Hall exuded.
"Please, respect the students'' privacy.
"And... let me be the one to ask them."
Ayleen pleaded, causing Artorious to pause and scrutinize her.
"Man, just what are you thinking...? You can''t just bring those students here at this hour."
Makoto interjected as he nodded at Ayleen.
"Okay. I''ll entrust this task to you."
For some reason, Artorious looked like he fell into deep thought; the others couldn''t know what he was thinking at that moment.
Just like that, the sudden meeting continued for some time.
...
After some time of their discussion, Russell, Freya, and Amelie visited Amery in the Chaos Training Grounds — who, in the past month, was informed that Russell was alive as he also received a notification about Russell''s death through Freya''s Star Quest Party.
From time to time, Freya and Amery were having mock battles. Freya was mostly the winner since Amery was only granted the Chaos Buff (EX) from Russell unlike Amelie and Freya, who managed to make a contract with their respective Constetion.
"Amery, next month, we''ll raid the Tower of Growth."
It was Russell who spoke casually just after Amery ended her mock battle with Freya.
"Tower of Growth... what''s that?"
Amery — who was sitting on one of the benches — asked in wonder.
"Of course, that''s the case... Hahaha."
Russell didn''t contain himself as he let out a self-deprecatingugh.
''How stupid of me.''
Hempooned inwardly as he realized that it was only a World Announcement, and the Chaos Training Grounds weren''t part of the said world, which means the reason Amery didn''t receive such a System notification was because she wasn''t on Earth.
Russell then quickly exined about it before he, Freya, and Amelie left her as they went back to Earth.
...
"Russell, based on the Failure Penalty you said to us, do you n to do anything to lessen the repercussions it would bring?"
Amelie, in a serious mode, not the usual cheeky one, asked firmly.
"Although I don''t like being a hero, at least I don''t want some people to die because of that Failure Penalty."
She added, waiting for Russell to answer.
But, surprisingly, it was Freya who firmly responded.
"Oppa... if the Failure Penalty is based on the future you saw... if they really love their family... it would be okay right?
*...I can''t believe it wille out of my mouth, but please, don''t burden yourself as they are not your responsibility."
Russell formed a faint smile upon hearing his younger sister''s words; something he didn''t expect woulde out of her mouth at this young age of almost 16.
He was heavily burdened. If he knew that he would be reincarnated inside his unpublished "failed" novel, he wouldn''t dare to write something like that.
''F*ck...''
He cursed softly in his mind which seemed exhausted.
"How about this..."
After pondering a little, he told the two of them about the only help he could attempt to give.
...
After the Conference meeting, Ayleen went back to her dormitory room in the Teacher''s Faculty Building.
Opening the door to her dormitory, she saw a note on the floor that prompted her to stop.
She then picked up the piece of paper and read it in her mind.
''This...''
Her purple eyes constricted as he read the information written starting with the words:
- "Deploy the Obelisk Military..."
The Obelisk Military was the group of yers, unlike themon military that the Old World had, that was in charge of maintaining peace throughout the city. The professions of yers under this governmental department were rare professions like Melee Soldier, Archer Soldier, Healer Soldier, and so on. The difference between them and general professions like a swordsman, archers, healers, and so on was that their Stamina recovery was very high, and they possessed Soldier-exclusive passive skills.
"...Is this a prank? Sigh... kids these days... It''s super early, too."
Ayleen muttered, before entering her dormitory room.
''I need to contact those studentster. There''s at least a month left before the Tower of Growth opens.''
She thought inwardly before she slumped on the couch with her exhausted mind.
...
''Though she would inform themter... it would be a littlete.''
Russell thought inwardly as he left a note on Ayleen Mayfield''s doorstep.
He chose to tell her the preventive measure to minimize the casualties that he would expect to happen because she''s one of those people with "real" patriotism towards humanity like Emmanuel Lyncoster.
He looked at his younger sister''s face that quickly fell asleep; the same with Amelie.
''I guess floor it is...''
He thought before lying on the floor of his own dormitory room.