Santcis Awakened Association, Chairman’s Office –
"So, little girl, running away from ho again?" A firm but aged voice echoed through the room.
"Why would I run away? I was just a little bored, that’s all," Naya replied in a soft, lazy tone, staring at the old man in front of her.
The elderly man had neatly combed white hair and a thick, well-kept beard. He was sowhat bulky and radiated a calm aura. He looked exactly like a perfectly normal grandfather.
But Naya knew better. This old man wasn’t just the chairman of the Awakened Association of Santcis—he was also a high-ranking mber of the National Federation of Awakened.
More importantly, he was a friend of her grandfather.
"Hahaha, if you say so. Anyway, how are your grandfather and father doing?" August stroked his beard and chuckled.
"They’re... not bad, I guess?" Naya replied with indifference, but August could see a trace of sadness in her eyes.
"I see. So, you’re mad at your father, huh?"
"Why would I be mad at him?" she shot back without hesitation.
"The council sent him to investigate the Horsen Of Apocalypse dungeon, right? You’re worried, aren’t you?" August asked with a gentle smile.
He understood her worries. And she wasn’t wrong—the council had forced her father to investigate one of humanity’s oldest dungeons.
A dungeon no one had ever cleared or returned from.
"Why Uncle? Why is my father such an idiot to listen to those old bastards?" Naya no longer tried to hide her emotions.
"He has no choice. Just like I didn’t. Just like your grandfather didn’t. People like us—neither weak enough to be ignored nor strong enough to be feared—get used and pushed around," August sighed.
Everyone thinks lower-ranked Awakened are the true slaves of the council. But in truth, it’s the B to S-ranks who are their real dogs.
Those below them aren’t even worth enslaving.
Naya said nothing, just lowered her head slightly. She understood—these were the sa things her grandfather used to tell her.
"Anyway, did you see the latest news? Seems like the capital’s in chaos again," August tried to shift the subject after seeing Naya’s expression.
"The capital is always in chaos. What happened this ti?"
"The youngest son of Kaelos is dead."
"What? Aron? That idiot? How? Assassinated?" Naya’s head shot up, eyes wide.
"Haha, you seem really surprised. But no—apparently he died in the Tower," August said calmly.
"But how? It was his first ti entering. Dying on the early floors should be impossible, right?" Naya was confused.
"You know as well as I do—immortality on early floors isn’t absolute. Players can still kill each other. And death is allowed on Hell difficulty floors," August replied.
"Sure, but Hell difficulty? That idiot wasn’t talented or strong enough for the Tower to assign him that level," Naya still couldn’t believe it.
Hell difficulty was no joke. Death was fair ga on any floor with that setting.
Still, second-generation elites from big guilds often sought Hell difficulty floors—for the rewards and achievents.
Even her sister had tried, but despite being recognized as one of the new generation’s leaders, the Tower didn’t deem her worthy of Hell difficulty.
So how the hell did a loser like Aron end up on a Hell floor?
Of course, there was a chance that Aron had just been unlucky enough to end up on a floor where a Returnee was present — in that case, the Hell difficulty would make sense.
"You think it was player killing too, huh? The problem is, all his teammates died as well. Sure, they weren’t strong, but killing them wouldn’t be easy either," August said, stroking his beard again.
"So what is Mr. Kaelos going to do now? I know he really loved his youngest son."
"Well, he sent a representative to the Church of the Goddess of Destiny. He’s requesting to use the Mirror of Destiny to uncover the truth."
"Did the Church agree?"
"That’s up to the Great Cardinal. And he’s currently dealing with the ninth floor. Until he returns, the request is on hold."
Naya nodded slowly. If the leader of the Saironblade Guild used the Mirror of Destiny, he could definitely learn what happened to his son.
However she had so doubts, she wasn’t sure the Church would grant such permission. The Mirror of Destiny held imnse importance for them, and it could be said that the mirror is the foundation of the Church Of Destiny
They hadn’t even allowed her grandfather to use the Mirror—so she was skeptical that they would grant Kaelos such permission.
Ding...
August’s phone buzzed. He pulled it from his pocket to silence it, but his eyes caught the notification from the Association:
[Newly Awakened: Daniel Noir – Suspected of Corruption Worship]
His eyes glead for a mont. Daniel Noir?
August glanced at Naya.
Wasn’t that the boy she seed interested in? He wanted to ask her about him but had forgotten.
"Hey, princess, by the way, who was that boy the other day?" he asked curiously.
"Which boy?" Naya responded lazily.
"The one who saved you—or at least when you played the role of the poor girl getting bullied so he could ’save’ you."
At the sa ti, August sent a ssage to the guards to arrest the boy and bring him to his office.
"Hmm? Why are you asking?" Naya’s tone grew more serious, surprising August.
It was rare to see this little girl get serious—but apparently, this ans the boy is important for her
"Oh, nothing. It just seems like he’s been arrested."
"What? Why!?" Naya’s voice rose sharply.
Knock knock...
A knock on the door.
"Hmm, why don’t you ask him yourself?" August smiled and called for the guards to enter.
The door opened, and the guards entered, dragging a handso young man with them.
They all bow to August.
"Unbind him. You’re dismissed."
The guards nodded, released Daniel’s hands, and left after saying goodbye.
"Well, Lady Naya, looks like we t again sooner than I thought," Daniel scratched his head, then glanced at August with curiosity.
"And you are?"
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