“Are you sure we should pick him?” Krumi asked, raising an eyebrow.
“The boy seems to be stronger than some of the kids here,” Tael remarked, his gaze focused on the young boy.
“Then I shall take your words into consideration,” Krumi said, nodding in agreement.
----
Across the room, in a grand dining hall illuminated by a chandelier made of glowing orbs, 48 people sat at a lavish table filled with an array of luxurious dishes. The atmosphere was thick with tension as the guests glared at Isakawa, who sat with a smug expression. Jennifer, seated beside him, felt the weight of the intense pressure on her shoulders.
'Isakawa, what are you thinking?' she wondered, her thoughts swirling as she tried to make sense of the situation.
“Hey Sakura! How’s your music career going?” a man seated next to a stunning blonde woman with brown eyes asked.
“Well, as you know, I’m traveling here and there, performing inspirational Heroic songs,” Sakura replied with a smile that quickly faded into a frown. “It’s so boring and unentertaining. Some have tried to mess with my career, but it never ended in their favor. Still, I can’t seem to get a moment of peace.”
“Well, what do you expect? We’re Subaru. Most people are just jealous,” another chimed in.
The room buzzed with murmurs as everyone tried to avoid Isakawa’s piercing gaze.
“By the way, Mutsuba, how’s your trading company going? You don’t look like someone who’s truly interested in that,” one of the Subaru members snickered, eyeing Mutsuba.
To everyone’s surprise, Mutsuba didn’t get angry. “Oh, Yue and Lena, not only was I born with good looks and strength, but also with talent. My company is actually thriving, making billions trading Rift items for heroes. Unlike yours, which only pulls in millions from that farming company of yours,” he retorted.
Laughter erupted around the table, directed at Yue and Lena. The couple, though wealthy, were outshone by Mutsuba’s success. They truly were the poorest in the group even though they were making millions. It was tough competition compared with Mutsuba. Yue and Lena sneered, silently 'You'll all regret it once you see our girls' Ability in the Family Games.'
“It’s been a long time, Tomita and Isakawa,” Takase greeted, nodding at his two brothers.
Mutsuba chuckled softly, “Tomita, Tomato, hahahahahaha.”
Tomita shot him a dark glare, his grey eyes narrowing. Despite the years, Mutsuba’s mischievous streak remained unchanged. Tomita turned his attention to their father, Goshi, who sat at the end of the table with an impassive expression, his gaze steady as he assessed his eldest son.
‘He truly holds the Subaru bloodline,’ Goshi thought, his eyes lingering on Tomita.
Tomita fair man stood tall at 180 cm, his striking appearance marked by a unique hairstyle: half of his long hair was black, the other half white, tied neatly into a ponytail with bangs framing his face. His dark grey eyes, muscular build, and pale yet vibrant skin. He wore a sophisticated dark green and black suit with matching black boots. For some reason he didn't have a woman accompanying him but he had brought a child with him.
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"Anne isn't with you huh?" Isakawa blurted out and Tomita's expression softened.
The room fell into a heavy silence as everyone processed the gravity of Isakawa’s revelation. The absence of his wife was now understood—she was deceased, a fact that cast a somber shadow over the gathering. Even in their shock, no one dared to question or defy the Subaru rules.
“Sorry, brother Tomita,” Isakawa said calmly, his expression remaining impassive despite the gravity of the moment.
Tomita sighed, before he assessed his younger brother. ‘He has really grown,’ he thought, reflecting on the changes that time takes on a person.
“By the way, Isakawa, what exactly do you do for a living?” a female voice broke the silence, drawing everyone's attention.
She was Mei, a beautiful brown skinned woman with a different coloured eyes: her right eye was entirely black with a red pupil, while her left eye was a normal white with a yellow pupil. Her short white hair, which reached her shoulders, complemented her slim yet surprisingly muscular physique. Dressed in a black gown adorned with a purple jewel on her chest, she seemed matured. .
“Yes, Mei is right,” another voice chimed in, as the rest of the table joined in their curiosity.
Isakawa looked around with a smirk, clearly amused by their collective interest. Jennifer, sitting beside him, looked worried, but Isakawa responded with a reassuring smile and a gentle pat on her head.
He then took out a white and blue jewel, placing it on the table with an air of triumph. The room fell deathly silent as the guests stared at the jewel, recognizing it instantly.
It was a hero's badge, but not just any hero’s badge. The clear color.......
“A SSS Class Hero?” Takase gasped, his voice filled with disbelief as he looked at Isakawa and the badge.
Goshi Subaru, who had been observing quietly, now turned his full attention to Isakawa, his face reflecting genuine shock. His runaway son was an SSS Class Hero. An SSS Class Hero badge was not only rare but almost impossible to obtain without exceptional merit. It was a badge that marked the highest echelon of heroism. They all knew it was impossible to steal such a badge and it also wasn't just given to anyone.
Yue’s eyes narrowed with a mixture of shock, fear, and anger. Throughout their childhood, she had always seen herself as superior to Isakawa in every way, but he had never acknowledged her. Now, it seemed the world had always favored him, despite her achievements.
Isakawa took a leisurely bite of a grape, savoring the moment. He then casually stated, “SSS Class Hero name: Unranked.”
The room froze once more. The name “Unranked” was a revelation that left everyone in stunned silence. It clarified why Isakawa had been untouchable all these years. The Ability he had demonstrated as a child was not just a show of power.
Isakawa’s identity as the SSS Class Hero known as Unranked had sent shockwaves through the room. The realization that the hero who had killed numerous Abnormalitiss and who had been shrouded in mystery was none other than their own family member—someone they had sacrificed for a dubious Ability project—was staggering.
Takase’s eyes gleamed with curiosity as he tried to put together the pieces. “It can’t be possible for the two of you to be the same, unless you possess transformation magic or a magical item capable of completely altering your appearance,” he posited, setting his teacup down with a definitive clink, seeming happy to have discovered something new about his youngest brother.
Isakawa didn't try to hide it from them, so this way they would stop bothering him. He was tired of the constant home breaks ins and the ants buzzing around him looking for a moment to bite.
Silence reigned in the room as everyone sat with heads bowed, their expressions filled with fear and unease.
Goshi’s gaze was unyielding as he asked, “So all this time, you knew?”
Isakawa’s smile widened. “That you were conspiring against me and my family? Of course I knew,” he replied, his tone light but clearly cold.
Jennifer watched her husband with concern. ‘Isakawa, you could have at least tried to conceal your Hero identity. With all the other roles you play, why choose this one to reveal? What are you trying to achieve?’ she wondered.
A voice interrupted the silence, filled with skepticism. “Even so, this doesn’t add up. How is it that other Heroes know so little about Unranked, despite he is one of them?”
The room turned to see a tall young man with dark brown hair and burning orange eyes. He was dressed in a dark purple suit with intricate floral engravings, and his gaze was a mixture of confusion and anger. His refusal to accept the truth was palpable, despite the evidence before him.
Isakawa remained calm and composed. “I’m also aware that you Kevin tried to poison my daughter, Iris. Unfortunately for him, the attempt was unsuccessful. Like father like daughter.”