Chapter 443: Warning

"Yo! It looks like all of you have come here today." Mathias raised his hand while walking toward Auric and the others.

Mathias followed everything on paper thoroughly. He wore a simple white shirt and light blue unbuttoned shirt with white shorts. Of course, he didn’t forget about his round hat, but this time he brought the white one, as if trying to camouflage it as a summer round hat.

Of course, Mathias scanned everyone. The participants this time were Auric, Maya, Katarina, Stella, and Ellia. Officially, they were there for sightseeing while Ellia did the inspection of her family’s business.

However, all of them knew that their true goal was something else.

Auric stepped forward and extended his hand first. As the one who suggested this trip, he was the leader of the group. "Thank you for helping us, sir."

"It’s okay. You’ve helped me reunite with my granddaughter. Protecting you is just a simple matter. If you really want to thank me, I don’t mind you calling me Grandpa." Mathias winked playfully.

"Ahahaha." Auric just let out a hollow laugh.

Mathias raised three fingers. "All right. Before we get on the plane, I’ll tell you about three things. First, I’m in charge of the protection. Don’t ask me about the rest because I might not have the time to explain it to you. Just do it first, and ask me later."

Maya had told them about this. Auric naturally agreed, considering he didn’t know what he would find after reaching there.

"Second, I know about your original destination. I’m sure that you have the plans already, but you need to stage the buildup. In other words, on top of the vacation, you will go on a tour of other places such as universities or even research facilities. This will camouflage your true intentions. Just act curious and ask a lot of questions, and eventually ask for your goal."

Auric nodded with a serious expression. He understood this point well.

Showing his goal directly would just stop him from being able to enter that facility. He didn’t plan to sneak inside, so the law enforcers could catch him over there.

"I’m sure you’ve heard about this before. If you break the laws over there, they might use it as an opportunity to either use lethal force or detain you indefinitely. In fact, all countries in the world might do the same if someone like you enters their country, so be careful."

"We’re planning to use cameras at all times. If the other party is the one doing it, we will have a justification by simply leaking that video."

"Well, yes and no. You may be able to use it as a justification by leaking the video, but they can also retaliate while you are there, which will make it tricky. If it’s the past, there are many ways to return to your home country. Extraction, sneaking into other countries, and so on."

"However, if we do that right now, it’s very risky because beasts are everywhere." Auric nodded in understanding.

"Exactly. That’s why, even if you have a video, just give it to me. I’ll handle the rest."

"Yes, sir."

"Last but not least, it looks like the people over there are ready to ambush you."

"Are they going to attack us?" Auric was startled.

Auric should be considered a high-profile target, so they couldn’t do anything openly. It was understandable if they came to assassinate him.

"Not really. They should know that I’m with you, so assassins will just become loose ends. They will most likely not resort to assassins unless you provoke them. However, I’ve just heard that they’re trying to use people to monitor everything about you."

"Hmm?" Auric frowned. "Monitor us?"

"Yes. Normally, people like this girl..." Mathias pointed at Ellia. "...wouldn’t have an escort because they don’t necessarily want her in their country. You are different. They want you, so they’re going to have an agent planted near you, most likely for your ’protection’."

Auric crossed his arms. "I understand. I guess that’s something I should accept as normal."

"Yes."

"Remember the time I told you about the honey trap? They’re most likely using their agent for something like this. Maybe as a tour guide, not only to limit your mobility but also to ensure that the assassins won’t kill you. At least, it won’t blow up. Of course, they’ll also introduce their country so that you like it. This way, you will look at their country with an open mind in case you want to leave Esfrata," explained Katarina.

"Do we know who they’re going to send?"

"Yes. In fact, that person was recalled to the country a week ago." Mathias nodded.

"What? That person actually infiltrated our country?" Maya widened her eyes in shock.

"Indeed. I was monitoring everything, and those higher-ups were quite surprised when you ended up wanting to go to another country, a very far one at that."

"Who?" Maya’s expression turned solemn.

"The Song family, specifically the second daughter of the current patriarch of the Song family, Song Xue."

"Oh, wow... They’re really going all out this time." Katarina sounded amused.

"You know her?" Auric tilted his head in confusion. Even though he had learned about geopolitics, there were simply too many things to learn, not to mention the fact that he also had to practice or learn about magic items.

"The Song family is one of the top four families over there. They have a massive connection, wealth, and influence. You can think of it as the combination of the Relesha family and the Schneider family."

"Both connections in the government and the military?" Auric was impressed. "That’s bigger than I thought."

"Unlike Esfrata with a few systems here and there, such as the top ten families, they have the four prominent families. You can think of it as four families being strong enough to control a portion of the government. There are a few comparisons in other countries such as the six chaebols or a few families who have established themselves like dynasties—banking, oils, you name it."

Auric contemplated. Esfrata managed to maintain balance. Even though the top ten families were strong, the government also had their hunting dogs like the adjudicators. Other influential organizations were also there to keep others in check.

"And who is this Song Xue?" Auric asked. "It looks like all of you hold her in high regard."

"It’s actually weirder that you don’t know about her." Mathias chuckled before turning to Maya. "How in the world did you teach him?"

Maya just looked away.

"You know about the seven stars, right?"

"Yes." Auric nodded. "The seven Rank 7 humans in the world. They’re called the seven stars."

"There are also seven rising stars. They’re overshadowed by the seven stars, but these seven rising stars are considered the world’s greatest talent. You can think of them as candidates that will become big enough to change the world, such as becoming the candidates to reach Rank 7 or pioneering something big."

"Oh?! But there are many Rank 7 candidates."

"There are many, but they most likely won’t be able to reach Rank 7. The seven rising stars are different. In fact, you have encountered one of them before."

"Me? Who?" Auric was startled.

"Nicholas."

"O-Oh?!" Auric was surprised but soon became confused. "Wait a minute..."

"No, not a minute. What you are thinking right now is true. That’s why I’m even wondering why you are not aware of it."

"I’m... now one of the seven rising stars?" Auric was taken aback. "What?"

"I did tell you about it." Katarina stared at him with a judging gaze.

"What? When?"

"I gave you the report. Don’t tell me you didn’t read it?" Katarina squinted.

"I read your report."

"Let me rephrase. Did you skim my report?" Katarina stepped forward, looking at Auric as if she was about to blow up.

"..." Auric froze.

"Anything to say?"

Auric lowered his head. "I’m sorry."

"Apology accepted, but if you do it again, I’m really going to get angry. I might stop the report at that time."

"Understood."

Katarina crossed her arms before letting out a long sigh. Auric never placed too much importance on things happening around the world, so she expected something like this to happen sooner or later.

At least, it was because of something not that important.

Katarina explained, "In any case, Song Xue is one of the seven rising stars. Not only is she backed by the colossal Song family, but she is also someone who has reached Rank 5 in the same year she graduates from university. She is currently 24 years old, but she became a Rank 5 human two years ago.

"In a way, if Stella reveals herself, her talent will be recognized, but it doesn’t mean she can become one of the seven rising stars. She doesn’t have any support after all."

Auric nodded in understanding. "So she is one of the youngest Rank 5?"

"Nope. Before Stella broke the record unofficially, the youngest one was from the West. However, she is currently the number one gunner. Expert in all kinds of guns."

"Like you?" Auric remembered that Katarina was using bullets.

"If she’s using assault rifles, she can shoot down all my bullets accurately." Katarina shook her head. "Though, thanks to your help with the fusion, I’ve managed to transform my own power into something different from hers."

"Oh?"

"Your ability is the bane of her ability, but in a complex terrain, she is someone who will probably come out on top. Not only is she the best at controlling her energy, but her vision and instinct are something else."

Auric was quite surprised by the introduction. If that were true, Song Xue was someone no one could underestimate. That left him with one question. "So this kind of person will be our guide?"