Grido waited for Sylara to process his words. Her fingers tapped the desk rhythmically, her sharp eyes locked on the reports before her.
"How can I just stay silent?" Sylara erupted, slamming her hand down on the desk. "These dungeons are changing at a pace faster than we ever anticipated! Every single raid puts our guild's lives in jeopardy!"
Grido nodded solemnly. "I understand, Guildmaster. You're right."
Sylara's piercing gaze softened just a touch as she leaned back in her chair, letting out a frustrated sigh. "I had to withdraw from my dungeon raid, Grido. There was an immense surge of mana—far beyond what the dungeon's level suggested. Yet, I never expected your dungeon to be an evolved one as well."
Grido's face turned grim. "It was close. We barely made it." He paused, the tone of his voice as heavy as stone. "It's all thanks to this boy, Cha-Jong—brought—Akira."
Sylara's violet eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "Akira… I've read the report. Since his fight against Captain Imzar, judging by how he suddenly gained the upper hand, I think he has a power or some sort of skill that boosts his abilities. Impressive, but not wholly unprecedented. What is it about him that drives you to bring this up?"
Grido shook his head, his voice grave. "You don't understand, Guildmaster. It's not just his power. I'm talking about him."
Sylara leaned forward, intrigued. "What are you saying?"
Grido's jaw clenched as he recalled the event. "At first, he seemed like just about every other member of the team—coordinated, composed. But once desperation set in, once we ran out of choices, he... transformed. He went after those mutated Genea werehyenas, picking them off with such cold calculation and detachment. I hadn't seen anything like it—especially not at someone his age. And something even stranger happened—his mana recovered on its own once it had been depleted after he killed them. It was... weird."
Sylara's gaze narrowed as she processed Grido's words. "Mana recovery without external help... That's not just rare—it's unheard of.Weird."Sylara spoke raising an eyebrow. "Many Stars possess abilities beyond their assigned rank. It's rare, but it happens. And a lot of them can reach enlightenment to advance to the next rank if they're near death's door. You know this—Awakened individuals grow stronger the more they endure. But that mana recovery, without potions or a healer, that's unusual. A mystery, even."
"Yes that is true but , I'm not talking about just his power," Grido continued, his voice dropping as if the walls might overhear. "It wasn't just his power that stood out. I mean, you have even C-rank Awakeneds whose abilities are lackluster, but one of them is exceptional, making you wonder if they are truly the rank they've been assigned by the Association. But Akira... Grido continued, his voice dropping as if the walls might overhear. "It was the way he moved. No hesitation. No fear. Every strike was precise, every decision bold. It was as if he didn't care about the danger. And his eyes…"
Sylara's expression darkened. "Empty... right?"
Grido nodded, shocked. "Exactly. It was like he was looking through his enemies, like they were nothing but obstacles. He's not even an adult yet, Guildmaster. No Awakened at his age should possess that kind of detachment."
Grido's eyes widened slightly. "But that's what makes him even more important. If we could get him to join our guild, not just work with us from the outside, we'd gain more than just strength. He's a valuable young man—one with great potential. And we still don't know what his limits are as an Awakened.I mean, he's so young, and with that skill boost of his, he's reaches nearly at the level of a high-rank B Star."
Sylara let out a deep breath and leaned back in her chair. "I understand, Grido. But he doesn't care. I've already tried. If he doesn't want to join, we can't do anything about it."
Grido's jaw tensed, and he paused a moment before continuing. "Guildmaster... there's something else."
Sylara leaned in closer. "Go on."
"Something felt off to me when I learned his name, so I looked further. I've been checking Akira's background for the last two days. Im certain he is the son of Shiro Shoto—the famous inventor from Korea."
Sylara's eyes went wide, and she lost her composure for a moment. "You looked into his past? He made that big of an impression on you?"
"Yes, Guildmaster," Grido admitted. "I know I might be overstepping, but something isn't adding up. Shiro's son—he was known that he was never an Awakened. He was also declared dead a year after Shiro's death. And yet—here he is. Alive. Walking. And with that level of strength? He doesn't look dead to me at all." His voice dropped, laced with suspicion. "What the hell is going on?"
Sylara's face turned serious, and her tone was chilling. "Listen, Grido. Whatever scheme is going on here, it's not for us to uncover. We do dungeons, not conspiracies."
A flicker of realization passed over Sylara's mind. "I knew it..."she thought, the weight of her suspicion sinking deeper."If learn his name, people can search for him.Even though the last name is common,Shiro was a legend in his birth country. An idol, a savior to many, and revered not just here, but all across the world. His technology saved countless lives. Even the higher-ups, those driven by greed, held him in the highest regard. That's why, if someone hears the last name 'Shoto,' they immediately think of the great inventor. It wouldn't take long for them to connect the dots."
Her mind flickered back to Akira. The boy might have been careful to hide his identity, but Akira's pictures had surfaced on the internet multiple times. "And that's why Akira's identity isn't exactly a secret.He's grown taller now, his body completely transformed, though his features have changed only slightly—enough to make him harder to recognize, but not unrecognizable. His name alone is enough to unravel it all that's why even I found out that about him."
Grido nodded slowly. "I understand, Guildmaster."
Sylara's expression turned even more serious. "And one more thing. Because it's Cha-Jong, I'll tell you this now—never, ever mention that Akira is Shiro Shoto's son. Not to a single person. We don't want to get stuck in something we can't handle."
"Yes, Guildmaster," Grido said, bowing slightly before he turned to go.
When the door closed behind him, Sylara leaned back in her chair, her strong features softening ever so slightly. Her fingers drummed against the armrest as she looked up at the ceiling, lost in thought.
"Sooner or later," she whispered, her voice a queer mixture of excitement and fear, "the world will know you're alive, son of Shiro. Why are you still hiding it? That isn't something to hide."
She looked at the reports on her desk, her lips pressed together tightly. The weight of the revelation lingered in the air, but there was no time to dwell. The guild had work to do, and Sylara had a feeling Akira's presence would soon demand more of her attention.
The Guild building bustled with activity as Akira stepped inside, his dark clothing at odds with the bright interior. His black costume was simple, though it gave the sense of purpose. It caught the attention of a few onlookers, though he was dressed to keep a low profile.
The receptionist looked up from behind the counter, her professional expression dissolving into a friendly smile. "Good evening. How may I assist you?"
"My name is Akira Shoto. I'm here to claim the reward for the dungeon that was cleared two days ago," Akira replied, his voice steady and precise, his sharp gaze unwavering.
The receptionist nodded curtly, fingers dancing over her records with practiced ease. "Ah, yes. Guildmaster Sylara told me to expect you. She wants me to direct you to her office."
Akira cocked his head to the side, the barest glimmer of interest crossing his face. "Understood," he said briefly and moved toward the hall that led to the Guildmaster's office.
He knocked on the door as he reached it. A moment later, Sylara's clear voice came through the heavy wood. "Enter."
Akira opened the door and stepped inside. Sylara sat at her desk, her posture relaxed but commanding. She was engrossed in a report but glanced up as Akira walked in. Her violet eyes narrowed just a fraction, though she quickly veiled her reaction with a placid smile.
Akira's bearing had changed. He stood taller, and his strides were confident. Even the residual power that surrounded him was thicker, sharper.
"He's more powerful now," Sylara thought, the ghost of a wry grin crossing her face. "Interesting."
"Yes," Akira said, keeping his face neutral. "What brings me here? Is there a problem with the reward?"
Sylara chuckled quietly and leaned back in her chair. "No trouble at all. I just wanted to talk with you in person. After all, it's not every day someone like you walks through our doors."
Akira didn't change expression, only the narrowing of his eyes showing his curiosity. "Talk? Whether it be about the dungeon or something else?"
Sylara smiled. "No, I just wanted to have some fun with you, that's all."
"Huh?"