While technically expected, the message to get to the high floors to meet the new Director, Joanna Bisque, still caused a ripple of worry to go through Team 0.
While they personally had never had bad experiences with the previous man who occupied the position, they all knew he had abused his power.
Director Bisque had been supposedly handpicked by Mr. Bethany, which alleviated most of their worries, but some hesitation still remained.
They must have made for a pretty comical sight. Five D-rank Awakeners, all raising stars among the local scene, muttering to each other as they tried to gather the courage to take the elevator.
Finally, James pushed the button, forcing himself to snap out of it. If he could handle two men an entire rank above him by himself, he could talk with a woman who should be by their side.
Once they got to the top floor, they were greeted by a different secretary than last time. The handsome young man sitting behind the desk smiled professionally and asked them to wait for a moment while he checked with the Director.
James noticed Maria give the guy an appreciative glance and chuckled when he disappeared behind the door.
"Stop peeking at my thoughts!" She complained, face reddening.
"It's not my fault if you were staring at him like a starved wolf before a piece of meat!" He answered. The others quickly caught on and shared a laugh, tension dispelling.
Soon, the secretary returned, "The Director will see you now; please come in."
While the space was the same as the last time, with its enormous windows overlooking the entirety of New York City, the decor was very different.
James had wondered if the new Director would follow her predecessor in how uninspired her office was, but that wasn't the case.
Where Meyer had favored a grandiose but sterile aesthetic - imposing bookshelves filled with untouched leather-bound books and minimalist art that felt more like a statement of wealth than expressions of personal taste - the office now radiated a distinctly different vibe.
The first thing that caught James' eye was the vibrant array of artwork adorning the walls. Impressionist landscapes sat alongside extremely high-quality photographs of people from all over the world. Gone was the oversized, monolithic desk that had once acted more as a barrier than a piece of furniture. In its place stood a modest yet stylish reclaimed wood desk. It was functional and inviting, with personal touches such as pictures of Director Bisque with her family.
The surface was organized but lively, adorned with a small, flourishing plant whose leaves happily stretched towards the sunlight streaming in from the window, alongside an eclectic mix of vintage desk accessories that showed a penchant for antique markets.
To the side of the office, a comfortable seating area had been arranged, featuring a plush sofa and a couple of armchairs around a low coffee table. The setup suggested that conversations here could be both professional and relaxed, breaking down the hierarchical barriers that often stifled genuine dialogue.
I hope this isn't just a facade and that she's that much more open. We'll see.
When they were all seated, Director Bisque herself entered the room. She was a striking figure, blonde and in her mid-40s, with a presence that commanded attention without being overly loud. Her smile was pleasant, but her eyes showed an undeniable sharpness - a steel core that spoke of someone who shouldn’t be messed with.
Almost out of habit, James reached out with his psychic senses, only to encounter a barrier. Her thoughts were shielded, a defense that was becoming more common than he'd previously realized. It prevented him from diving deeper into her mind, yet it didn't completely block him out. He could sense her genuinely good-natured intentions. He didn't enjoy having his skill blocked, but the discovery put him at ease.
"Welcome back, Team 0. I trust you've all settled in after your adventures? Hopefully, there won't be much more of that." Director Bisque began, her tone warm.
"Thank you, Director," James replied. "It's been a mix of highs and lows, but we're glad to be back and getting into the swing of things." He wouldn't share the warning he received until he was more sure of the woman, but he wouldn't outright lie. It was public knowledge that they had gone to Rei's funeral, after all.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
She nodded, understanding what he meant, "I'm pleased to hear that. And congratulations on your rank-up. It's quite an achievement, though I'm sure you're aware that you still need to pass an official test to become recognized as a D-ranker."
They had been expecting as much. Rank-up tests were part and parcel of the way the AA operated. It was an excellent method to keep an eye on Guilds and the one duty the federal government would never give up on, no matter how much money the lobbyists threw at Congress.
"If you'd like, I could enter you in the next round, which will be held in just a fortnight. It might be too early, though, so let me know."
Rather than taking time to discuss the issue, James implemented a tactic he had only discussed with his friends. Silent communication was a valuable tool, and Team 0 had used it more than once. During his stay in the South, James developed a new method.
As always, he tapped a question telekinetically on each of his teammates' arms, but even before they could answer, he gleaned their intentions from their minds, relaying that to all the others. He could sense their initial surprise, which gave way to understanding, and soon enough, they came to a decision.
"We'll take the test, ma'am. No need to wait. We are more than ready." James replied.
The woman stared for a moment before nodding, apparently deciding it wasn't worth asking. "Excellent. I'll have the details sent to you. In the meantime, if there's anything you need or wish to discuss, my door is always open." The emphasis on the last words made it clear the woman was well aware of her predecessor's dealings and was drawing a line to distance herself from him.
Only time would tell if she was truthful.
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Mr. Robinson's black van flew through the highway at high speeds, skillfully steering away from the traffic and cutting the time needed to reach their destination.
As they sped towards Tomkin Cove, the situation's urgency weighed heavily on everyone in the van. James flipped through the briefing on his tablet, trying to glean as much information as possible about the dungeon and its inhabitants.
"According to this, the dungeon was initially classified as H-rank because of its mostly amphibian and fish creatures. It seems like the surveyors missed the signs of something more dangerous lurking deeper," James shared, his voice tinged with frustration. It wasn't uncommon for dungeons to be misclassified, but the stakes were always high, especially for inexperienced teams like Team 14.
Lauren leaned over to glance at the briefing. "Water-based dungeons are tricky. Creatures can hide deep where surveyors can't reach. This was a setup waiting to go wrong," she commented, her brows knitting in concern.
Considering that Miss Walker had once missed poisonous gas in one, it wasn't that strange, but James had hoped that the AA would learn from it and take more precautions.
Maria fidgeted in her seat, worry clear on her face. "I just hope Samantha and the others are okay. It's been over an hour since the last communication. That's not a good sign."
Daniel patted her hand and tried to lighten the mood. "Those kids are tougher than they look. Remember how eager they were to fight us? I bet they've found a way to hold their own until we get there."
“Even if they are barely breathing, I can still save them. Let's focus on getting to them as quickly as possible when we arrive. The rest can wait for later." Ezekiel commented, earning nods.
"Right. I'll push my senses to the max the moment we arrive, so I'll need Daniel to set up a barrier around us and Lauren and Maria, you guys prepare to go scorched earth. There is no time for exploration. We'll cut a path through the dungeon." James concluded.
The plan was simple enough that not much could go wrong on their part. If the dungeon was truly just F-rank, nothing there could threaten them, so they should be able to reach Team 14 in short order. And Ezekiel's healing skills would ensure that as long as they were still alive, the rookies would make it.
A dozen minutes later, the van skidded to a halt near the entrance to Tomkin Cove, the wheels crunching on the gravel. The desolate hamlet they passed, abandoned and reclaimed by nature, barely registered in their minds. These ghost towns were a common sight, remnants of the chaos that had engulfed the world when dungeons first appeared. The Hudson River rushed alongside, its waters dark and swirling, home to monsters that lurked just below the surface. But those creatures were not their concern today.
Team 0 quickly exited the van, each member falling into their pre-discussed formation with practiced ease. James took a moment to center himself before extending his psychic senses as far as they could go, pushing beyond what he had ever tried. His goal was to find Team 14, but he didn't need perfect accuracy. He just wanted to distinguish between human and non-human signatures.
"West is clear!" He called, and the others shifted away from that direction.
"East," he called out after a tense moment, his senses picking up the faint, feeble pulse of human life in that direction. "I've got something. Far east inside the dungeon. It's weak, but it's there. They are alive.”
Without hesitation, Team 0 moved, their pace swift and determined. The path was not unimpeded, but they were unstoppable.
The dungeon seemed to come alive with hostility at their intrusion. Frog monsters, their bodies bloated and eyes glinting maliciously, leaped towards them with gaping maws. Insectoid creatures, large and grotesque, buzzed angrily, their wings a blur as they descended upon the team.
Maria and Lauren acted as the vanguard, their powers unleashed in a devastating display of force. Flames roared, and darkness swallowed, obliterating the monsters that dared to obstruct their path. Daniel, his barrier shimmering around them, plowed forward, his presence a bastion against the onslaught.
“Out of the way!" Daniel bellowed, his voice a rallying cry that spurred them on.
Hundreds of creatures, many of which were indeed above the stated H-rank, threw themselves in their path in a frenzy. James couldn't say whether it was because they were not attempting to conceal their presence as usual or if something was stirring them up, but they certainly displayed unusual aggression.
Luckily, nothing present could halt them. The Hudson's waters burned as Maria unleashed torrents of liquid flames upon them, boiling fish monsters alive before they could attack.
Plant creatures died without being able to spring their traps as the darkness they hid in turned against them.
Anything that escaped the two was instantly crushed into a paste as Daniel rushed forward without slowing down. Trees and animals alike were simply trampled, treated as nothing but styrofoam before the Tank's skill.
As they neared the location James had pinpointed, the resistance grew fiercer, but so did their resolve. Every monster that got in their way was met with deadly efficiency, their attacks futile against the united front of Team 0.
Finally, they broke through to a clearer area, the forested part of the dungeon giving way to an empty space where the feeble human presences James had sensed were clustered. The mana was thicker here, enough so that it wasn’t surprising a few F-rank creatures had spawned.
Dozens of monster bodies were scattered on the ground, which showed that Team 14 had been holding their own.
"We're close," James whispered, the weight of the moment settling over them. "Let's bring them home."