CHAPTER 51: START OF BANQUET {1}

Yu’s eyes lit up as he saw his device glow. It wasn’t bright at first, but it was slowly becoming brighter.

His heart pounded Five hours that was all he needed. Surely, he would be able to track him.

It had been a week, but finally, Yu had succeeded He was exhausted truly exhausted He stood up

feeling a bit dizzy as he rubbed his eyes, which were shadowed by prominent eye bags.

He opened the door.

The room was quite spacious and resembled a typical living room. A television and couch sat neatly in the center, and the entire space appeared meticulously clean. The floor was black, and the walls were painted white.

He saw Elisa slouched on the couch, looking as if she were having the time of her life now that they finally had a chance to rest.

Ashton meanwhile was still not back as a B ranked operative, his position within the Nightgazer organization was fairly high and with that came significant responsibilities.

Sarah, on the other hand, was reading the latest news, researching current developments.

Their gazes darted toward Yu.

"Sarah! Elisa! Great news we may have found the culprit. This device will soon track his location!"

His voice brimmed with excitement, though it was laced with fatigue.

"What?!" Elisa exclaimed, standing up with such speed it seemed as if she had teleported. She appeared instantly in front of Yu.

Her fiery red hair was tied in a ponytail. She studied the device intently as it gradually brightened.

She smiled and patted his head. "Good Good Rest for now. We’ll take it from here," Elisa murmured gently.

She had complete trust in the technology Yu had developed it had never once disappointed them.

"Very well. You’ve done good work, Yu," Sarah said with a gentle smile, deciding to call Ashton. Going after the culprit with only the two of them would be too risky.

She had uncovered some critical information although Elisa had previously defeated him in combat, the man had backing. Possibly an organization.

Whether it was a bluff or not, she couldn’t say for sure but having a B ranked ally would certainly be more reassuring.

As a C+ ranked agents, they were considered formidable nearly invincible Yet even a single rank difference could present a massive power gap.

Even if someone was only one rank higher, the disparity in strength was often immense.

"Ashton, are you busy?" Sarah asked through the phone, waiting for his response.

Ashton yawned His muscular form was imposing. In his hand was a lifeless man his neck crushed by nothing more than Ashton’s own grip.

Still, the faint aura of a C- ranked fighter lingered in the man yet Ashton had dispatched him effortlessly.

Behind him were several captured men, trembling in fear and incapable of resisting.

The surrounding area resembled an abandoned building.

Ashton had just carried out the final order from Nightgazer.

He had eliminated the villains who had blocked Nightgazer’s movements and targeted its members.

His phone was in his other hand as he stood tall.

"Yes, I’m currently free. What is it?" he said, stifling another yawn he was clearly tired.

"Can you return to base and join us later? We may have located the person who stopped us at the Union Facility," Sarah said with a calm yet resolute voice. "Yu will be able to track him within at least five hours."

Ashton was silent for a moment, then sighed inwardly He didn’t particularly care about the one who had stopped them.

But seeing how hard Yu had worked over the past week, he couldn’t help but support him.

To Ashton, they were family Sarah, Elisa, and Yu. Everything he did, he did for them. If they wanted revenge, he would not hesitate. Since the day they had formed this group they had become a true family.

He didn’t waste another second. Turning to the remaining captives, he delivered a series of crushing attack from his punches shattered their skulls without even making direct contact.

Without glancing back, he mounted his aesthetically designed motorcycle, enhanced with incredible technology.

...

"Are we there yet?" asked a boy with brown hair and piercing red eyes beneath his glasses, his aura clearly that of a C+ rank.

Beside him was a tall, tan-skinned man with long black hair piercing Purple eyes piloting the floating vehicle known as Alfred.

Below them stretched a vast terrain dense forests and treacherous lands filled with monsters constantly engaged in brutal combat. The area beneath was a designated Danger Zone.

Traveling through cities had become increasingly dangerous. For someone of D+ rank attempting a solo trip, the survival rate was less than 20%.

Only fortified cities remained safe zones, as humanity had built massive fortresses to defend themselves from monster attacks.

These monsters, like humans, were ranked from G to S, though many were deadlier than their human counterparts—especially at D or C rank and above.

Alfred narrowed his eyes. "Not yet. It’ll take about four to five hours depending on the weather, assuming no storms arise," he muttered.

"Really? I’m dying of boredom here~ We know his location, yet it’s still going to take three or four days of traveling," the boy replied, barely containing his impatience. "Can’t we just kill those monsters below us?"

Alfred scoffed coldly. "Just wait. The Union has approved your request you’ll be joining the tournament."

Hearing this, Lux smiled suddenly, humming with anticipation.

"Then let’s wait a bit longer and reclaim the core and the black meteor."

...

Reo sat in an enormous mansion, one even more extravagant than Clara’s own estate enough to leave any visitor in awe.

But to these families, it was merely another routine banquet.

Clara’s birthday was being celebrated with great anticipation. She was a rising star in the Aspiring City, and her name was already known across several other cities.

Her father, Haros Reign, was a mighty figure in the southern region respected and renowned by every noble family and city lord.

Families like the Xeno, Azure, and Ray clans arrived, along with several other powerful bloodlines, to show their respect some even traveling from distant cities.

Reo concealed himself in the background. With Andrea and Clara merged into his soul, he suppressed his aura to the F+ level to blend in, as many families had members of that rank.

Then, silence fell over the room as Clara appeared at the top of the grand staircase, dressed in a white gown and wearing a stoic expression. She walked gracefully down the red carpet.

Ahead of her stood Haros, with gray hair and a beard. Though aged, he radiated the formidable aura of an S-ranked figure. His piercing blue eyes held a quiet strength.

He began his speech.

"Thank you to all the families who have attended this banquet. As many of you know, there will be an auction."

"This event is not only in celebration of my daughter’s birthday, but also a chance to strengthen the bonds between our families."

"I, Haros Reign, will be hosting both the banquet and the auction."

His voice was deep and commanding, yet filled with wisdom The crowd erupted into respectful applause acknowledging his status and authority.