...
After 15 long days, Cale finally emerged from the Fracture, dressed in a worn black hoodie that hung loosely over his lean frame. The air felt charged with energy, reminding him of the power he had just passed through. The Fracture was now established as the first reusable Fracture, its edges shimmering faintly in the distance. As he stepped into the busy crowd, no one stopped him; everyone simply bowed slightly to greet him, their faces a mix of respect and awe.
‘Should we go check out how everything is going?’ Cale wondered, slipping easily into the crows, the sounds of chatter blending into a comforting background.
...
He found himself standing in front of a tall red building, its bright facade striking against the blue sky, with “The Fracture Restorer's Alliance” written in bold black letters. A smile crept onto his face as he pushed through the glass doors, feeling the cool air inside contrast with the warmth outside. Once again, he was met with no resistance—he felt almost like a ghost among the living.
Taking the elevator, Cale felt it hum softly as it went up, his heart rate steadying with each passing floor. When the doors slid open, he stepped out into a grand hall filled with activity. People rushed about, some clutching stacks of papers, while others were engaged in lively discussions. Cale’s cold expression remained unchanged as he walked through the chaos, his gaze moving from one busy face to another, the air thick with anticipation.
Walking down a long, lit hallway lined with framed paintings and some weapons attached to the walls of the Alliance, he passed two guards who, instead of questioning him, offered respectful nods, their serious faces revealing nothing. Cale finally reached a door decorated with intricate dragon images, with a height of "10,4." ‘Here we are again~’ he thought cheerfully, the contrast between his thoughts and his serious looked striking. The strong looking Four guards guards around the door bowed slightly when he arrived, and two quickly opened the door after scanning an ID next to it.
As the door closed behind him, Cale entered the Director's office—a large space with dark pillars reaching up to the ceiling, while a luxurious red carpet covered the floor. The beautiful architecture showed the Alliance's importance. Soojin sat at his desk, the soft light of a lamp illuminating his features as he glanced up from a stack of papers, his brow furrowed in concentration. "You're here again?" he asked, frowning, a mix of irritation and surprise on his face.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
"Why? Am I not allowed?" Cale feigned surprise, treating Soojin’s remark like a joke, his lips curling into a smirk.
Soojin scrutinized him, frustration clear on his face. "I seriously don’t get how you’re different in person compared to the news. You look like a hero but act like a cold monster but with me you're a clown."
"...?" Cale raised an eyebrow, still confused. "What are you trying to say?"
“Do you remember the speech you gave to the news reporters?!” Soojin’s voice was strained, his annoyance bubbling up like water about to boil.
“...Yeah! What about it?” Cale replied, his confusion growing, glancing around the room as if looking for answers in the fancy office.
“Thanks to your amazing speech, everyone in the world is excited to come to our competition and, of course, see the strength of the strongest person right now!” Soojin's tone was serious, and he pointed at Cale as if the blame could actually reach him.
“Isn’t that good?” Cale countered, not wanting to take all the blame if it was not a positive one. Will he?
“So it’s good that we had to create an arena as big as four—no, five football stadiums?!” Soojin shouted, slamming his fist on the table. Tea spilled across the surface, a few drops landing on the red carpet, but Cale expertly saved his own cup from disaster.
"Hm~ That's good," Cale replied, a hint of mischief shining in his eyes.
Soojin's patience snapped. He grabbed a teacup and threw it at Cale, who ducked just in time, the cup shattering against the wall behind him. “How the hell is that good?!” Soojin yelled, his face filled with anger and disbelief.
“I meant the tea was good!” Cale said, casually sipping from his cup, his nonchalance only making Soojin angrier.
Soojin, in a fit of irritation, swung a punch at him, but Cale easily caught his fist, their eyes locking in a tense moment. “How about this: I will train you until the competition is settled!” Cale suggested quickly, hoping to calm Soojin down.
“...” Soojin fell silent, the fire in his expression fading. “Fine,” he replied, though annoyance still lingered in his gaze, 'My, my he is still mad' thought Cale awkwardly.
“Awesome! So, how are the preparations for the competition going?” Cale asked, settling into his seat, the soft leather comforting against his back as he looked at the remains of his drink.
“all the most talented 10,000 people are selected. First, there will be a Battle Royale among themselves, then the remaining 500 will form teams of five. The top 100 will face off individually against their opponents. The top five will get the chance to fight you, the great one!” Soojin explained quickly, not pausing to let Cale respond.
"_"
Cale blinked, initially surprised before bursting into laughter. "So I will only have to watch the top 100 fight. Hm~"
“Until then, I will borrow your old self!” Cale laughed, grabbing Soojin by the collar, who shouted, “Who will take care of the responsibilities of Director?!”
“Don’t worry; someone will!” Cale replied, his eyes gleaming with mischief as he thought about tossing Soojin into chaos, He laughed as if he was a devil who was about to throw the sinners in the deepest pits of hell right here right now.