Chapter 53: Let my team go first—

Breaking the silence, Lucien’s father was the first to speak. The same old man who treated even his own son with indifference now spoke with courtesy and politeness.

"It was only to find out why Zephyr’s compatibility was 100% with every Guide and to advance the study of increasing compatibility rates between Espers and Guides. It was for the good of the world—"

Erick’s eyes darkened. He slammed his hand against the table, silencing the old man instantly as his voice thundered.

"I asked whose idea it was!"

The others in the room quickly pointed toward the old man who had just spoken.

Theo O’Connell’s face turned pale.

There was a reason why they were all so afraid of Erick Everlette. He was different from all the other S-Ranks in the Awakened Association. To the outside world, he had always been portrayed as a hero. Yet the four heads knew the truth. They knew he was crazy enough to kill every one of them and walk away without the slightest guilt!

They had learned that the hard way when Erick first joined the Association. After all, he had nearly killed them all back then. The only reason they had survived was because he had decided to let them live. And since then, they had never dared to provoke him.

Erick stared at Theo O’Connell.

He slowly rose from his seat and walked toward the old man. Stopping behind him, Erick leaned down until he was close to his ear. His voice was heavy as he spoke.

"You don’t want to live anymore?"

The old man immediately wanted to shake his head, but his body was nailed still by the pressure that suddenly fell upon him. Erick straightened up, then placed a hand on the old man’s shoulder. A sneer escaped him.

"First, you failed to control your unruly son. And now, you can’t even control yourself?"

He patted his shoulder.

"How about I cut off one of your arms so that you’ll remember not to irritate me?"

The four old people in the room trembled. None of them dared to speak, let alone call for help, because they all knew exactly what would happen if they revealed his true face.

He would kill them before help could even arrive. Erick was an S-Rank, just like many others in the Association. But... they knew the truth—no one in the entire Association was powerful enough to stop him. He was far stronger than many S-Ranks combined!

They had learned that firsthand when they once sent two S-Rank assassins to get rid of him. That very night, the assassins’ dead bodies were hung in the center of the same meeting room they were in right now. Erick had even eaten his dinner in front of them.

Moreover, the government valued Erick greatly for the immense wealth he had brought them over the years by venturing into many dangerous Dungeons. It wasn’t just the government—the entire Continent adored him. To them, Erick, who had saved countless ordinary civilians, was a hero, a symbol of hope and strength. So, the old heads had no choice but to tolerate him.

They couldn’t afford to turn against someone so powerful, especially when Erick was deeply revered by the people.

At that moment, Theo O’Connell shut his eyes. Everyone in the meeting room was convinced his arm might be gone today.

But just as Erick tightened his grip on his shoulder, an emergency alarm suddenly rang throughout the Association building.

The sudden alarm was followed by a panicked and frantic announcement.

"Emergency! All available teams in the building, report to the ground floor quickly!"

"I repeat! All available teams, report to the ground floor immediately! Do not delay!"

Erick frowned but ultimately released the old man’s shoulder as he turned to leave.

"Consider yourself lucky this time. I put Zephyr in my team. Don’t touch him again. Because next time, you won’t be so lucky."

With that, Erick vanished, leaving the four heads behind, each drenched in cold sweat.

Trembling, Theo wiped his forehead.

His voice was barely audible.

"Sometimes I wish I had never had a son who could actually fall for this maniac!"

The others gave him sympathetic looks.

The only woman in the group sighed.

"It’s too late to regret it now, old man."

***

Meanwhile, on the ground floor, in the open space facing the Association building’s exit, numerous Espers and Guides were quickly gathering. The air was filled with murmurs.

However, when the S-Rank Espers who had only returned the previous day rushed down to join them, the entire area fell silent, every eye immediately turned toward them. After all, they were the Espers they looked up to!

Erick also arrived at that moment, and instantly, everyone’s attention shifted to him. Because if the other S-Ranks were Espers they admired, Erick was their idol!

Seeing Erick and the other S-Ranks, the emergency announcement team didn’t waste a second. One of them stepped forward and went straight to the point.

"A Dungeon Break has occurred in B City this morning! The Dungeon’s rank is still unknown, but a large part of the city has already been wiped out within an hour."

His voice grew urgent as he continued.

"Only a few Espers possess teleportation abilities, and we don’t have time to assign leaders to those who aren’t part of a team. For now, the available teams will depart for B City immediately and provide assistance!"

Erick was the first to step forward.

After so many years of rushing to the front whenever dungeon breaks occurred, helping others had become second nature to him.

"Let my team go first—"

He had barely gotten the words out when, from the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Zephyr stepping out of the elevator.

Erick froze.

Right. He had put Zephyr in his team.

But this situation was different.

A Dungeon Break was a very dangerous situation, and he couldn’t take him along!

The emergency team had already heard Erick’s half-finished words. Moreover, they were used to Erick taking the lead in every emergency, so they didn’t hesitate to call for one of the three Espers with teleportation abilities. The person who had announced the situation earlier immediately shouted.

"All of Esper Erick’s teammates, gather immediately! I repeat, all of Esper Erick’s teammates, gather immediately!"

Erick reached out to shut his mouth, but Zephyr’s calm voice came from behind him.

"I’m also part of his team."