CHAPTER 48: JANET’S DISCOVERY

Two days later, so early in the morning with the fog still present, the faint sound of Godfrey’s white sneakers hitting the smooth concrete floor echoed across the racing tracks of the massive school field.

He jogged in a gray hood and pants, the rhythm of his steps steady, though the sound didn’t quite reach his ears, he had bought a pair of earbuds.

White ones!

Previously, he wasn’t much of a music fan, but now it felt good, strangely good. As though the lyrics poured strength into him, he felt as if he was floating, his body moving in sync with the rhythm.

Of course, his favorite musician was Shooting Star, Isolde’s favorite as well. He panted softly, exhaustion biting at his lungs. Jogging from 3 a.m. until almost five around such a large field was grueling, but he just wanted to push through the remaining three days.

Had Isolde texted him, he would have been calm. But she hadn’t. She hadn’t even gone online since then. Not knowing anything about her was killing him.

Panting heavily, Godfrey finally sat on a bench, leaning back and exhaling sharply. He noticed someone in a black hood sitting on another bench about two meters away.

He looked away, not realizing that person was actually Janet. She lowered her head, making sure her hood covered her face. Her eyes, however, were fixed on the black tablet in her lap.

This was the Gauge Device.

Janet had checked Isaac a day prior, after school closing time, and discovered he had a 5.4 summon with the potential of 7.5, the same potential the elites of Nexus Club possessed.

It was stunning. Not only did it mean Isaac was the most talented freshman, but also that in two years, he might rise to become Manhattan’s King.

Janet had already made a mental note to get close to him. After all, she had never mocked or fought him before, which gave her an advantage.

But that was only sweet gossip for the gang. What would truly be a delicacy was uncovering Godfrey’s secret.

"I’ll see what you’re hiding," she whispered, pushing up the large, round glasses she wore to enhance her disguise, before sneaking a glance at him.

For a second, she froze at his expression. He was staring into the dark sky, his chest rising and falling as he exhaled, his slightly damp golden hair sticking to his forehead and almost hiding his eyes.

Her heart slammed harder than usual. But before she could process it, the tablet beeped sharply twice.

Janet’s head snapped down, and in less than a second, her face drained of color. She stared at the deep black alert with crimson numbers glowing on the screen.

[Summon Tier: 12.1]

[Summon Potential: Beyond Classification.]

Her heart shook violently. She clasped both hands over her mouth to stop the scream threatening to burst out. Slowly, almost fearfully, she tilted her eyes upward, only to find Godfrey staring directly at her.

Her body grew weak, trembling as her eyes widened in absolute shock.

’J... Just what are you?!’

This meant Godfrey had been pretending all along. Such overwhelming talent meant he could very well be the greatest summoner Manhattan had ever seen.

Wait, did this mean that beyond being a dual summoner, he had to be a Tri Summoner? His main summon, the monster with such an outrageous tier, had to be hiding within his soul space.

A Tri Summoner... weren’t those only myths? Yet Godfrey might be both: a king-tier summoner and a Tri Summoner. Just what kind of existence was she sitting beside?

He was truly the Shadow King. He had been toying with Manhattan from the very beginning. There was no competition for him here. With such a summon, he might as well already be sitting alongside the strongest summoners in the world.

’Does he know I’ve figured it out?’ Janet trembled like a frail leaf in the wind as Godfrey suddenly squinted at her.

"Is there a problem?" he asked with a slight frown.

Janet shook her head furiously and bolted to her feet. ’He doesn’t know... he doesn’t know...’ she screamed in her mind as she fled, still squirming with the irrational terror that Godfrey might suddenly appear behind her and take her head.

Godfrey raised an eyebrow. ’What in the world is wrong with her? Do I smell?’ He gave himself a quick sniff, relieved to find nothing wrong. With a sigh, he stood, deciding then and there to skip class.

It was time to continue his search for Green Gate dungeons. This time he would take Isaac. Real battles would sharpen Isaac’s instincts and make him stronger.

His fight with Dale had taught him that sometimes, someone needed to have your back, especially in situations where his summons were restricted from making an appearance.

***

Hours later, as students went through the building to their classes, Janet leaned against a staircase wall, facing Lucy and another freshman, the one who never seemed to stop chewing gum.

"So?" the gum girl asked, eyes gleaming hungrily. "I saw your text. What did you find out about those two?"

Lucy folded her arms, equally eager.

"Isaac has enough talent to become Manhattan’s King once he becomes a junior. So you’d better stay off his path, or at best, befriend him."

"Wow." Lucy blinked in surprise.

"That’s it? Then who’s the Shadow King?" the gum girl frowned.

Janet beckoned for them to step closer. As she leaned in, the corridor speakers crackled to life.

"Janet Blackwood, you are to arrive at the headmaster’s office immediately. Do not delay for even a second."

The stern voice froze all three girls in place.

***

The moment Janet entered the headmaster’s office, she was struck by the presence of three individuals, two men and a woman, all in executive black suits, ties, and earpieces.

Authority Agents!

Their leader, the woman, stood out immediately. She was tall, muscular, with a striking presence. Her long orange hair, ending in black, was tied into a sharp ponytail.

The headmaster, Sebastian, stood with his back to the room, hands clasped behind him as he faced the floor-to-ceiling glass window. Janet couldn’t see his face.

The woman stepped forward. "I’m Cassie. Can you identify the student who registered a tier of 12.1 and an unclassified potential?"

Janet’s eyes widened.

Seeing this, Cassie smirked. "We would like to discuss with her outside the school’s premises."

"You cannot interrogate my student without a warrant," Sebastian replied calmly.

Cassie’s face twisted in irritation. "A talent that could help in rebuilding this world is here, and you’re trying to hide it?!"

"And who told you such a talent wants to save your world?" Sebastian turned slightly, his tone sharp. "That is your duty, not theirs. If such a person is here, they are here to study. Let them."

Cassie turned on Janet. "Speak. Your father could lose his job because of your carelessness, using such an important device for trivial reasons, putting an entire city at risk because of what might be assumed a king-tier threat. He could be punished, and it would be your fault."

Janet’s lips quivered. "It’s a sophomore. His name is Godfrey Daniels. A humanoid summoner."

Cassie and the two agents flinched.

"You planned to hide this?!" Cassie snapped at Sebastian. "This Godfrey Daniels must be enrolled in the Readjustment Program to ensure his mind is clear. If he became one of Cain’s fanatics, they would begin another world conquest!"

Sebastian’s eyes narrowed. "This prejudice against high-ranked summoners who awaken humanoid summons is exactly what fuels Cain’s faction. If the authorities cannot grow out of their fear, we will be plunged back into chaos."

"Hand him over," Cassie said coldly, "or I’ll involve higher forces and have you removed from this post. You are to aid us in building the next generation, not groom a false god for our enemies."

Sebastian exhaled slowly. "I was afraid it would come to this." He snapped his fingers.

In an instant, Janet and the agents vanished.

Cassie found herself back at her HQ, heading toward the exit, only to realize she was walking out to do nothing at all.

Janet, on the other hand, was suddenly standing at the staircase with her backpack. The corridor was empty, everyone else was already in class.

As she turned to leave, she froze. The headmaster was strolling toward her. He pressed a finger to his lips.

"Not a word about Godfrey."

Her eyes widened. ’How does he know?’ The thought terrified her. She nodded and fled.

Sebastian chuckled softly and continued on his stroll. Passing a classroom, he saw students fighting, the wall cracked, the board split into two. The moment the students noticed him, they scrambled back to their seats.

Sebastian snapped his fingers. The wall healed itself, the board restored, erasing all signs of damage.

That was exactly what he had done to Janet and the agents. He had reversed them to the state before they came into his office. To everyone else, life moved on without ever being altered. It was as though those moments had never existed.

And that was why Manhattan still stood, despite its chaos, its violence, its destruction.

Because here, everything could be reversed.

...

A/N: Going strong on 400 powerstones and 200 golden tickets!! What’s happening here?! You guys sure are something!

Thank you and enjoy your Chapter. It’s only one but the veil of volume two has been opened.