CHAPTER 147: EX 147. PROMOTIONAL CEREMONY

A hush swept through the ceremonial hall like a curtain dropping before a play.

The air grew heavy, no announcement, no trumpet fanfare, just a sudden, crushing presence that made every Trial Taker in the hall stiffen. Rebecca’s voice cut through the silence, low and sharp.

"The Golden Arbiter has arrived."

At the front of the vast hall, the double doors opened on their own with a slow groan, revealing a man as still as stone. His grey hair was slicked back, framing a face carved by decades of command. He wore a crisp golden military uniform, flawless and radiant under the ceiling lights. His steps were measured. His eyes saw everything.

SSS-rank aura poured off him like heat from a furnace.

Franklin George.

A Golden Arbiter, one of four in the Federation.

The highest rank any officer could reach, and even they answered to only one person.

Akira Yakomoto. The Supreme warden.

The Governor and the only SSS-rank Supreme in the federation.

Franklin wasn’t here for formality. His presence meant someone was about to cross a line few ever touched. Leon Kael’s name wasn’t whispered, it was known. His rise, his record, his unshakable strength.

To be promoted to Azure Colonel, someone from the top had to oversee it.

Rebecca stepped forward first. She saluted crisply and bowed her head.

"Welcome, Arbiter."

Franklin nodded but didn’t speak. His gaze scanned the hall, unbothered by the weight his silence imposed.

Nikko was just about to speak, her posture perfect,.then froze.

Her breath caught in her throat. Her eyes narrowed slightly.

There, just a step behind Franklin George, stood another figure, this one unfamiliar to most... but not to her.

Sakura Yakomoto.

Same sharp features. Same chilling presence. But where Nikko’s bearing screamed duty and discipline, Sakura’s smile was soft.amd unsettling.

"Long time no see, sis."

The words were casual, but Nikko felt the weight behind them. A challenge wrapped in silk.

’What is she doing here...?’ Nikko thought, eyes locked on her sister.

****

The atmosphere inside the ceremonial hall hadn’t fully relaxed since the arrival of the Golden Arbiter. Tension still clung to the air, a subtle charge like static before a storm.

Sakura Yakomoto’s heels clicked softly against the polished floor as she followed George down the aisle, a deliberate smile playing on her lips. She wore her Supreme Heir status like a crown, effortlessly drawing eyes even in the presence of an SSS-rank officer.

She hadn’t come out of obligation. No, this was personal.

After completing the task assigned by her father, the Governor and Supreme Warden Akira Yakomoto,.Sakura had decided it was time to visit her little sister. A surprise appearance. So when she heard that Golden Arbiter Franklin George was scheduled to attend a ceremony at Base 1, she joined the entourage without hesitation. George hadn’t objected. No one ever really objected when a Supreme Heir decided to tag along.

As they reached the center of the hall, her voice rang out like a bell, light and mocking.

"Why does it seem like you’re not happy to see me, little sis?"

Nikko didn’t respond. Her gaze locked onto Sakura, sharp, cold, and unflinching. The kind of look that made grown men reconsider their life choices.

Sakura only clicked her tongue and tilted her head, that syrupy smile never wavering. "Tch. What a killjoy. I wonder if your crush will be any more fun."

It was instant.

A wave of killing intent slammed through the space, invisible yet heavy, like gravity had doubled. The crowd didn’t see anything, but they felt it. The air seemed to shiver. Then, just as fast as it had appeared, the pressure vanished, swallowed whole by Nikko’s iron will.

"Sakura," Nikko said, voice low and firm. "Don’t do anything you’ll regret."

Sakura put on an exaggerated pout, as if she were heartbroken.

"You think so little of me, sister."

Nikko didn’t answer. But the way she looked at her... if glares were blades, Sakura would’ve been shredded where she stood.

Rebecca cleared her throat and stepped forward, trying to sweep the moment under the rug. "Arbiter. Supreme Heir Sakura. Your seats are this way. You may wait there before the ceremony begins."

George’s golden cloak shifted as he frowned faintly. "Why are we waiting? Shouldn’t the ceremony have already started?"

Before Rebecca could respond, Nikko’s voice cut in, smooth and composed.

"One of the soldiers to be promoted was held up by something important," she said. "But it’s nothing to worry about."

George studied her for a second longer than necessary, then gave a nod. "As long as he doesn’t take too long. I trust your judgment."

Because a Supreme Heir vouched for him. The unspoken part didn’t need to be said. That kind of political weight was rarely questioned.

"He won’t," Nikko replied, tone confident. "Let’s go and wait."

George moved toward the reserved seats without another word. Nikko followed beside him.

Sakura lingered a moment longer, watching her sister’s back with a gleam in her eye.

’This is going to be fun.’ She tought before following the rest.

****

Leon’s boots echoed down the corridor, each step pounding against the steel floor as he sprinted through Base One’s inner halls. His jacket flared behind him, half-buttoned, the Federation insignia catching flashes of light as he passed. Soldiers he dashed by turned their heads, stepping aside with murmurs.

Before he finally reached the door for the ceremonial hall.

"Here we go," Leon muttered, as He smoothed his hair back, adjusted his cuffs, then rolled his shoulders once, before pushing the doors open and the moment he stepped in, silence fell like a guillotine.

Hundreds of eyes snapped toward him. Rows of soldiers, elites, commanders, and every rank in between, turned to watch the last entrant of the day. The air inside was charged, and weighty. Leon didn’t flinch. His back straightened, his gait fluid and unhurried. He walked with the elegance of someone born to wear command, each step echoing with quiet confidence.

He made his way down the central aisle toward the reserved seating where the soon-to-be-promoted officers sat.

On the stage, the Golden Arbiter Franklin George narrowed his gray eyes in assessment. Beside him stood Sakura Yakomoto, smile unreadable. Leon met Rebecca’s steady gaze and offered a respectful nod. Then his eyes shifted and met Nikko’s.

She didn’t smile, but the faintest softening in her gaze betrayed something else.

Leon flashed a crooked grin. Then he moved to the front row and slid into the empty seat beside Elizabeth.

"You really took your time," she whispered, lips barely moving.

A vein twitched on Leon’s forehead. "Very funny," he muttered, leaning closer. "Just know, you’re not sleeping tonight."

Elizabeth gave him a sly, satisfied smile. "I’m counting on it."

At the front, Rebecca stepped forward, her voice rising above the murmurs.

"Let the promotional ceremony begin."