Chapter 162: East Anekta Crisis

Choi stopped.

Eden looked at him.

"I want permission to use the Association’s warp gate to East Anekta."

Choi blinked.

"East Anekta?"

"The islands in Europe. The Awakened Auction is being held there in two weeks, isn’t it?"

"Yes. It’s the largest auction of its kind in Europe. Why?"

"I want to attend."

Choi stared at him for a moment.

Then, internally, he sighed.

’Why would he want to attend an auction like that?’

The event was notorious for the absurd prices of its merchandise. Even the cheapest items were generally reserved for wealthy guilds, national Associations, and private collectors. Some of the more prestigious artifacts could cost more than the annual budget of a small Association branch.

Eden, despite his recent accomplishments, was still a young Awakened. Choi had no reason to believe he possessed the sort of wealth necessary to compete with the people attending.

Still, refusing him would accomplish very little.

"Very well. I’ll arrange access to the warp gate."

"Thanks."

"I’ll also prepare a guide for your stay. East Anekta has its own security regulations, and visitors are expected to follow them. You won’t be able to wander around wherever you please."

"That’s fine."

Choi looked at him for another moment, clearly wondering what exactly Eden intended to accomplish there. In the end, he decided not to ask.

After all, Eden had a habit of doing things that made little sense until the moment they became unavoidable.

"I’ll contact you once the arrangements are complete."

With that, he left the room.

Eden watched the door close before turning back toward Lucy.

She was looking at him.

"East Anekta?" she asked.

"That’s the plan."

"Did you win the lottery or something?"

’Uh...’

"Sort of."

Eden paused for a few seconds.

"You’re coming with me, by the way."

Lucy looked at him as though he was talking a different language.

"Sorry? You want me to tag along?"

"...Yes."

"I’m sorry Eden, but that’s not an environment I bel—"

"I missed you." Eden cut her off.

"So I figured we could spend some time together.

Lucy puffed her cheeks slightly, clearly flustered. "Could have told me right away..."

She paused.

"Fine, I guess there’s no reason to refuse."

Eden studied her expression. There was a certain softness in her eyes, one he had become rather familiar with.

He eventually nodded.

"Thank you, Lucy."

Lucy smiled faintly.

"Of course."

Eden looked away, hiding his own small smile.

’Good. That makes things easier.’

He had a reason for wanting Lucy to accompany him, though it wasn’t quite the one he had told her.

He would be leaving for Japan soon. Depending on how things unfolded there, he might be gone for quite some time. After what had happened with Luka, he wasn’t particularly comfortable leaving Lucy behind without a way to protect herself.

She was talented, certainly. Her progress had been impressive, and she had some exceptional skills. But talent alone wouldn’t be enough if someone like Luka appeared again.

Eden wanted to leave her with something that would allow her to grow stronger independently. A few potions to accelerate her growth, Ideally.

And East Anekta was the perfect opportunity.

...Not that Eden was actually planning to pay for any of it, of course.

---

Two weeks came in and by in a blur.

Lucy recovered faster than expected, and by the time their departure date arrived, she was cleared to travel. Choi had arranged everything, including their access to the Association’s warp gate and the guide who would meet them on the other side.

The gate itself was located inside a restricted transportation facility. Several Association personnel stood guard around the enormous circular structure, its surface shimmering with pale blue light.

Eden stepped through first, with Lucy following close behind.

The sensation of spatial displacement lasted only an instant.

When they emerged on the other side, the first thing Lucy noticed was the sea.

East Anekta was a small island complex situated somewhere off the European coast. Its coastline was dotted with private docks and luxurious resorts, while the interior had been developed almost entirely for the Awakened community. Despite its relatively modest size, the island was one of the most heavily regulated locations in Europe.

A woman stood waiting near the arrival platform.

She was tall, with long black hair that fell neatly down her back and equally dark eyes. Her attire was practical rather than extravagant, consisting of a fitted black jacket and trousers bearing the insignia of the Association.

The woman approached them.

"Welcome to East Anekta. I assume you’re Eden and Lucy?"

"That’s us," Eden replied.

"Excellent. My name is Vespera. I’ll be your guide during your stay."

She offered a professional smile and shook their hands.

Then she looked at Eden again.

Her expression changed.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Eden."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Uh... likewise."

Vespera seemed momentarily embarrassed.

"I apologize. It’s just... I’ve heard quite a lot about you."

Lucy glanced at her.

"Have you?"

"Of course! You’re the Awakened who defeated an S-Rank boss during the tournament incident, aren’t you? The first A-Rank to accomplish something like that."

Eden scratched his cheek.

"That sounds a little exaggerated."

"It really isn’t! The entire Association was talking about it. Even some of the senior Awakened were impressed."

Vespera’s enthusiasm was genuine. She was clearly trying to remain professional, but the excitement kept slipping through.

Lucy watched her closely.

’That woman is awfully enthusiastic.’

"Well, I had help," Eden said.

"Still! It was an incredible achievement."

"Thank you."

Vespera looked as though she wanted to ask several more questions, but eventually remembered that she was supposed to be working.

"Anyway, I’ll show you around the island. Your hotel is already prepared, feel free to ask me Questions, if you have any."

"Sounds good."

As they began walking, Lucy moved closer to Eden.

Vespera noticed but didn’t seem particularly bothered.

The island was smaller than Lucy had expected. From the central promenade, most of its important facilities were visible. Expensive shops and restaurants lined the streets, catering to wealthy Awakened and the various organizations attending the auction. Several private security checkpoints controlled access to different sections of the island.

The hotel was impossible to miss. It was an enormous skyscraper overlooking the coastline, with a glass exterior that reflected the sunlight. It appeared to have been designed specifically for the auction, offering accommodation to the wealthiest guests and representatives.

Nearby stood two smaller skyscrapers.

"Those are the storage facilities," Vespera explained. "The auction’s merchandise is kept there until it’s time for inspection or display. Both buildings are heavily reinforced and protected by multiple layers of security."

Eden’s gaze lingered on them.

"And the building next to them?"

"That’s the security headquarters. All security operations across the island are coordinated from there. The auction house has its own internal security department, of course, but the island’s main defense force operates from that building."

The final structure stood near the center of the island.

It was a massive, elegant building, wider than most of the surrounding skyscrapers. Its architecture was considerably more extravagant, with enormous glass windows and a grand entrance guarded by several Awakened.

"The East Anekta Auction House," Vespera announced. "The most prestigious auction house in Europe."

Eden looked at it briefly.

Two storage buildings. One security headquarters. One auction house. A hotel. Several checkpoints.

He continued listening to Vespera’s explanation, but his thoughts had already begun drifting elsewhere.

According to his memories from his first life, a terrorist attack would happen on the third and final day of the auction.

That gave him two days to familiarize himself with the island.

Two days to identify the security arrangements, understand the movement of the merchandise, and determine which parts of the island would become inaccessible once the attack began.

Most importantly, he needed to find a way to get what he wanted and leave before anyone realized what had happened.

The attack itself would be carried out by Aphelios, the Mad Summoner.

Eden came here intending to use the chaos of the attack to slip in, and steal the items he was interested in.

The news reports from Eden’s first life had been frustratingly vague. They mentioned the attack, the casualties, and the destruction, but very little about how the island’s defenses had been overwhelmed.

The one detail Eden remembered clearly was the person eventually called in to resolve the situation.

Hades.

Germany’s strongest S-Rank.

Although Rex was widely regarded as the strongest Awakened in the world, that reputation had always been influenced by two things: America’s excellent public relations and Hades’ own reluctance to step into the spotlight.

Hades stood at the absolute peak of S-Rank. He had defeated an SS-Rank boss alone while still an S-Rank Awakened, an accomplishment nobody else in Eden’s first life could claim.

He was a national-level asset, the kind of person a country would rather keep in reserve than send into every crisis.

And yet, according to the reports, even he had eventually been called to East Anekta.

’If Aphelios managed to cause that much trouble with Hades eventually stepping in, then something must have gone terribly wrong with the security.’

Eden glanced toward the security headquarters again.

’Two days. I need to figure out what.’