"Any more questions?" Ruud Van Hasten asked, scanning the room with a sharp gaze.
Clinton grinned. "Hmm... So what you're saying is that we're being hunted by some weirdos—but we get to hunt them down as double weirdos? I love this idea."
"Mr. Vanacken, please. This isn't child's play. I expect the utmost seriousness from you," Ruud said, glaring.
Clinton gulped.
[Clinton Vanacken – LVL. 32]
Pyrotech Guildmaster
Blessings: (a) Ego Eye – S-Rank
(b) Soul Reap – S-Rank
"Pardon me, Sir Hasten," Clara spoke up, "but may I clarify something? Will we be joining some sort of secret agency?"
"Of course, Ms. Clara. All of you will be joining The Alphas."
Clara sighed in disappointment.
[Clara Reeves – LVL. 31]
Blessings: (a) Tendō – S-Rank
(b) Dragon Siege – A-Rank
"Yaaaawn. Boring… Anything else?" drawled a man in all-black, slumped lazily in his chair. His long hair half-covered his face, but his presence still gave the room chills.
[Sleinell Gray – LVL. 33]
Time Guildmaster
Blessings: (a) Shadow Zone – SS-Rank
(b) Anti-Dive – A-Rank
"I need all of you to be fully prepared. You'll be heading to the Alpha HQ in Paris, France," Ruud continued. He turned to Ryan, who had been uncomfortably quiet. "Won't you ask any questions?"
"N-No! I'm good!" Ryan replied quickly, his voice cracking under pressure.
"The conference in Paris will take place in one month. Be ready," Ruud said.
"I guess a vacation trip doesn't sound so bad, right Ryan?" Emma teased.
"Y-Yeah, Ms. Emma."
"Ms? Since when did I become a miss? Just call me Emma."
"Oka–y," Ryan replied, now visibly trembling.
Ryan tried to put on a straight face, but it was useless. He was sweating buckets. The aura of these S-rank players was overwhelming. For a moment, he even doubted the authenticity of his own S-rank status.
The discussion was ongoing when a loud noise echoed from the entrance. Everyone turned sharply.
A woman in formal attire, holding a stack of documents, stood there panting. Her face was pale—it was the Chairman's secretary.
"Chairman—[panting]—our gate readers detected a new dungeon! It appeared right in front of a popular café on Main Street Block. It's a... a C-rank dungeon!"
"What? A C-rank? That's impossible. This is a national disaster!"
Clinton waved it off. "Chairman, I get it's a new dungeon and all, but no need to overreact. We're right here."
"Clinton, or whatever you're called, quit your nonsense and take things seriously," Emma snapped, finally speaking for the first time. Her eyes narrowed. "Do you think the Chairman isn't aware of our presence?"
[Emma Greene – LVL. 33]
Lumière Guildmistress
Blessings: (a) Telekinetic Overlord – SS-Rank
(b) Ruler's 'D' – S-Rank
"Yikes! I'm sorry ma'am," Clinton saluted, his playful demeanor evaporating.
"Normally, C-rank dungeons only appear after the 20th floor is cleared. This one appeared early," Ruud explained. "From what I've learned as an entrenched player, such a dungeon usually requires either 8 LVL. 45 regular players or 3 LVL. 40 S-ranks. None of you qualify."
His eyes gleamed silver. "We must minimize casualties before it spreads to other cities. Ella, what's the status report?"
Ella was scrolling through her phone, her jaw suddenly dropping.
"S-Sir... the dungeon... it's already been cleared."
"WHAT? Be serious, Ella—this isn't a joke."
"No, sir. Look for yourself." She handed the phone to Ruud.
He stared at the screen, stunned. "Only... two players? That's impossible."
Without another word, Ruud rushed out of the room, his coat fluttering behind him.
"Please forgive the Chairman," Ella said awkwardly. "He has urgent matters to attend to." Then she added, "Apparently, only two players cleared the dungeon. One wore a red and black mask. The other was the S-ranked player—Leon De Rünter."
Gasps filled the room.
Once Ruud and Ella left, silence settled over the group.
Ryan was practically vibrating in his seat.
Sleinell broke the silence with a slow, sharp whistle.
"Stop that!" Clinton snapped. "You're still able to whistle after hearing that? Even I—I, the joke master—am humbled by those two monsters. I'm out. If the Chairman comes back, tell him I'm gone."
Clinton left, his face for once serious, his eyes glowing faint cinder.
"There are too many monsters among us," he muttered as he walked away.
The others began leaving one by one, until only Ryan and Emma remained.
Ryan stood to leave, but Emma stopped him with a question.
"Ryan, right? Why are you so tense? Loosen up a bit. Am I that scary?" She laughed lightly. "I'm Emma Greene, Guildmistress of Lumière. And let me be blunt—"
Her expression darkened. She held her smartphone up to his face.
"That guy in the mask... the one mentioned by the secretary... that's him in the background of this picture, right?"
Ryan's face went pale. "How the... how did you know?"
Emma smiled coolly. "My dear, I've got eyes everywhere. Plus, your expression gave it away the moment she said 'masked player.' I won't delve into why he's hiding his identity—but if he has any ulterior motives…"
Her eyes turned icy.
"I'll stop him."
Ryan gulped hard. Mommy, please save me, he thought.
Her information was scarily accurate—almost like she could read minds. Not only was she ridiculously strong, but smoking hot too. Ryan's head spun.
He still couldn't wrap his mind around what kind of ability Denzel had used to solo-clear a dungeon like that.
Emma turned to leave. "I have some paperwork to finish. Let's go."
Ryan followed her like a well-trained puppy.
Just as they reached the entrance of the building, another figure came rushing in—
Leon De Rünter.
The strongest players in the Netherlands were about to meet face to face.
END OF CHAPTER