With numbers, it should be simple and easier to figure out the world. It all makes sense in the sense of simplicity, but tell it to the Dark being. Those monsters don't care and they can even fight with numbers while hunting humanity for whatever reason.
There is no good, or right way to go around this, as the only place that could be safe is the Federation and a few places around the world. Being in the middle of the ocean proves to be a more successful idea, as any attacks across the oceans are not as effective.
Still, the Federation has multiple attacks a week. Yet, not a single one ever breached the bridges and the towers around the perimeter of the Federation.
Mi-Yung knows a lot about this, and she even explains it to William in the best way she could.
William understands how important it is, so he doesn't talk nonsense any longer and listens to everything she has to tell.
“All of these organizations act as the web of a good deal of information against the Dark. We can't win at the moment, but the survival of humanity is strong. We are resilient, so the continuation of the Federation and helping others is a work of mine. I am the Assemble member of the Federation and General division leader.”
“I did not think you had such an important position... I apologize for upsetting you.” William gazes away from Mi-Yung's glance, which could see right through him.
Unbothered by him, she continues in a steep change of topic, and even her tone turns that much more serious. “There are also many other things to consider. The places breached by the Dark beings could be converted to their homes or nests, or however, you want to call them. They... those monsters are already never-ending trouble, while we, as the Walkers, had to destroy them all!”
Hearing her agitation, William stares at the many sections of the Earth in front of his eyes. Her words... he understands them, as he has seen the world from the helicopter not long ago. He notes the position of the places Mi-Yung tells him about. Though not exact positions, there are people out there, and that matters. Humanity will drive forth, toward never-ending breaks, towards survival.
With the next couple more dozen minutes of her lecture, Mi-Yung has nothing to add to this any longer. The amount of organization in her words sounds promising, but every single one of them has always some distinct issue. Be it from the internal structure, missions, and everything else.
That included the rules, such as fixed stay, which Luke has in the Yondu division. There is none that she would dare to call perfect. Even Federation isn't. The peculiar location of the place is out of everything. Caring for materialistic goods is problematic and takes time and additional resources.
As it sounds, a certain choice comes with certain criteria and rules for each organization. The military is a single one of them, while the young Walker can choose to go to others as William learns from Mi-Yung. There is a surveillance division named Red which is the main traveling and spying place for Walkers. It gathers information about the Dark beings and criteria for gathering recourses.
William even considers the other places that Mi-Yung mentioned. He could go to New Zealand, Japan, or even far China if he wants to. It is a choice. A life choice that comes with everything for the future. As he feared, there is no taking back his decision unless certain problems or mess calls for it.
“What about Academy?” William asks, while this special place hasn't been uttered by Mi-Yung at all.
“What about it?” she asks.
“Is it not the organization?”
“I guess. Wanna learn about it?”
“I want to try joining it.”
“Pffhhfhahah. Sure. Sure. If you will be lucky to do so. Sure.” Mi-Yung chuckles while finding his words rather naïve. Before William has a choice to voice another question, she hit him with words of wisdom.
“One could not join the Academy because they want. Any talented young Walker needs to first became worth the invitation. The Academy is like the very top of the pyramid of the Walkers. Where do you think the word Academy comes from? It is a school, institution, and a few more such words. A humongous place of importance and the strongest force in the world. That is at least my assumption of it. Research is done there regarding the Emblem. They do their fighting, and everything they do there is to make the best place for making monstrous Walkers.”
“So... everything comes to the so-called affinity or whatever it is that determines the talent of the Emblem?” William assumes after gaining a bit more context.
“ That too, but not only that. There are certain criteria they can decide on. I believe there are even tests put for the young walkers and higher ones if one wishes to join it. I was not chosen because I was unlucky to be born in Korea. I never had a chance to become a member of the Academy, nor the forceful awakening was available to me. Although I am sure I had plenty of talent and potential to reach it.” Mi-Yun says in melancholy, while her words sound quite harsh to William's clues.
Walking closer to William, Mi-Yung puts one hand on her head, while striking the buttons of the blouse open. Revealing a sliver of her chest, the mesmerizing Emblem comes to a view of William for the most part. In truth, it goes much further down, but William is not lucky enough to see everything.
“My Emblem was at first, quite smaller. Almost like a pencil between my chest. As I was reaching further Ranks, the embodiment of the Emblems became more active and changed. It is almost 30 times larger and stronger since I became a Walker. What do you think it implies?” she looks at William up close. Her idea is to make a point.
“Start is not the finish?”
“Exactly. I trust myself that I am strong enough as some Rank 6 or even Rank 7 Walkers of the Academy, but that is my assumption. Fighting between Walkers makes very little sense after all, but the extermination of the Dark being is another question. I would not lose to them at all. For the most part, that is...”
“What a proud woman...” William laments in her mind while trying to figure out more from her words.
“So it's the case of your Emblem being special? Or is it through the System it improved on?”
“C-clever words... It's the former. Although there could be some minor differences and similarities with emblems among the few Walkers. They are quite incredible in their vast effects and changes.” Mi-Yung stops her fierce gaze and frowns. The system of her own is hers alone. She has not heard of any other like her, while some others had definitely certain mutations as well. But not like her, to be exact.
“I won't share my secrets with anyone. You included.” she smiles in amusement.
“Then what about some words of encouragement about the system or how Walkers work at all? Luke never told me anything, apart from the Arcalist. The little pieces of Outside Information could not be everything to the Walkers and don't even let me start on the 6th floor. I doubt it's all that incredible.”
“Well, since you insist, what would even Outside know?” Mi-Yung asks, and curiosity piqued her question. She grew up outside of the Federation, so that is about that.
“We know that Walkers are users of weapons and strange abilities they have with them. They can get stronger with each killed Dark being. Is it wrong?” William tells her the truth that no one could conceal from Outside. Even the topic of Walker's deaths is common knowledge. So are their fights against the Dark being outside of the camps, or whenever the fights take place.
“That is rather simple to say, but not the least bit wrong. We are hunting the hunters, after all. One has to kill the other, while the Dark beings can get stronger from....” Mi-Yung smashes her mouth with her hand as she turns away from William. She utters the prohibited information.
“Again with that? What is so strange about the mysteries and the lack of telling? I hate these limits..” William says in disappointment while showing MI-Yung's hands away. It still lingered there, as her lecture kept him grounded for good.
“Well, I am used to the rules. They come with punishments after all. Anyway, don't think too much about this. It is a deal of the higher-ups, nothing else, nothing more.” Mi-Yung finds the right excuse while no longer continuing with saying something that she would regret. She isn't even considering his trying to question her about talking of emblems or the system. She is sure the place on the 6th floor is a better place for such a thing.
“As for your wonders of the Emblems, or whatever is there for the System and everything, it is complicated. I can't tell you much, but the general overview of it. That's what I did, so don't find my words bad. Wait for the 6th floor. That is the best I can tell you.”
William adds. “So much for being a teacher.”
“So much for living in the apocalypse.” Mi-Yung sneers and closes her blouse with both hands. No longer obscuring William.
“Since your Emblem is special, how about others? Since the Walkers are strong, there must be a lot to say about them, isn't it true?”
“Look at the orphaned boy. All of sudden, gaining the upper hand in conversation against the senior. I will teach you some manners.” Mi-Yung chuckles and pounced on William, who is in a single moment defeated, and put around her armpit. Pinching him to his forehead, Mi-Yung enjoys this very much.
“I apologize for being rude.”
“Again.” she snorts the word.
“I apologize for being rude, miss Mi-Yung.” William cries out, while his head hurts in her grip.
Releasing him after a few more pinches, Mi-Yung grabs his face between her palms and smooches his face between her palm.
“I am doing what I want to. Telling you what I can. I hope you enjoyed your day so far, as the second one won't happen.”
“Ay undeshant.” he mumbled from her grip.
“Good. I will show you the 6th floor at the end of this day. I promised you that, so following through with my words shall happen.” Mi-Yung orders, while putting her grip away.
Rubbing his face, William could not help but mumble intangible words as he follows Mi-Yung. She walks outside of this room.
Truth be told, He still believes she learned a ton from her, so the bit of pain is manageable. Perhaps he even enjo... No. He definitely doesn't.
Walking outside, and reaching the entrance on the 4th floor, Mi-Yung stops and William bumps into her back.
“Greetings to you, miss Mi-Yung.” Familiar sounding voice echoes in the scrounging. William even recognizes this voice. It is someone he knows.
“Why is the former director strolling the library alone in the middle of the day?” Mi-Yung asks as she watches the figure of the older man with the same old cowboy hat appear around a corner of some exhibition.
The hat doesn't suit him all that much, but who has to say that to a high-ranking Walker? No one would dare. Unless...
“Why should I not? It seems your return went rather well since you are taking care of a boy. Doing a lecture without dealing with the aftermath of your mission the very next day. I must say it's a rather strange way of doing things.” Kaufman replies.
“I can do what I want.”
“Unwritten rules are included in Assembly, girl.”
“I don't think some punishment will bother me if you are implying that, sir Kaufman. Not like you are very familiar with it, anyway.” Mi-Yung smiles at Kaufman with not one bit of the nervous expression on her face, or voice.
“I figure that much. Never mind that, but that boy won't reach the 6th floor as for the rules.”
“I think his pass is having effects of reaching the 6th floor however he sees fit, sir.” Mi-Yung argues, while her gaze isn't leaving the figure of the man before her.
William shudders at the fierce exchange between these familiar figures. He is unsure what to make of that. It almost seems those two know each other. The atmosphere and even Mi-Yung herself change to a much more serious tone.
“Walkers are freaking menace... I won't argue with one... ever.” he laments inside his mind while stepping away.
Alas, the hand grasps his shoulder as he is stepping away from this exchange. “Where do you think you are going? This includes you.” Mi-Yung coldly, yet with a warm smile says to William's terrified face.
“I...I... I never did anything wrong. I did nothing wrong.” he mumbles in defense.
“See that, sir Kaufman? That is what happens when you play with kids who don't know any better. Is that to your satisfaction?”
“Very much so. I enjoyed this play to my heart's content.” Kaufman sneers a reply with amusement in his voice.
“Freaking old man... I won't bother you. What do you want? I will show him some rooms that a young Walker should know about. Not something regrettable, for obvious reasons.”
“I am only taking a stroll here while meeting the two of you here by accident,” Kaufman says the lie that sounds like truth or truth that sounds like a lie. No one would be sure apart from Mi-Yung what knows that something is brewing in Kaufman's mind for seeing them here.
He comes here talking sensible words about her manners while lecturing a youth. She couldn't help but find his world full of lies, or a problem that could mean trouble.
“I bet the second apocalypse would start before such things happen. Let's go then, William.” Mi-Yung declares and drags an unwilling William behind her back.