Chapter 47
Part 46
After all, Monster Waves occurred across the entire world simultaneously.
The bosses were what really mattered.
The National Alert Authority alone won't be enough.
It was effective in Korea.
However, there was no guarantee that other countries would respond immediately.
In that case...
"I'll undergo the assessment."
"Ah! You've made the right decision."
"But I have one condition."
"...A condition?"
Seunggil's expression stiffened slightly.
What is he going to ask for this time...?
The situation felt strangely familiar.
Yugeon had said almost exactly the same thing when negotiating for his Independent Operational Authority.
"I want you to establish a system for sharing Monster Wave information internationally."
"Pardon?"
"More precisely, I want an official communication system."
Yugeon leaned forward.
"Whenever I provide information about a wave, I want the World Awakener Association to issue a warning simultaneously to every national government and Awakener Association under its official name."
"..."
"I can't go around convincing everyone to believe me every single time."
Seunggil couldn't find an answer.
Yugeon was right.
If anything, the recent wave had made the need for such a system even more apparent.
However, there was one problem.
"That would mean releasing information that only Korea currently possesses to the entire world."
"I'm aware of that."
"Information about Monster Waves isn't just ordinary information. It's strategic intelligence that could drastically reduce a country's losses if obtained in advance."
"That's exactly why I want to share it."
"..."
Yugeon calmly met Seunggil's gaze.
"If other countries collapse, their monsters will eventually reach Korea."
"..."
Seunggil closed his mouth.
It was a valid point.
Monsters didn't recognize national borders.
The wave that had begun in Mongolia had swept south into China.
The same thing could happen elsewhere.
"I'm sure the government won't be happy. We could gain an enormous advantage by keeping this information to ourselves, yet I'm proposing that we share it."
"..."
"But the moment we start thinking that way, we'll invite disaster. Manager Kim, do those Towers look like a blessing to you? Because to me, they look like monsters trying to devour humanity."
"..."
Seunggil remained silent.
After a long pause, he finally nodded.
"...Understood."
He straightened his posture.
"I'll convey your request to the government and the World Awakener Association exactly as you've stated it."
"Make sure they understand that this is my condition for taking the assessment."
"Yes."
Seunggil gathered his documents and rose from his seat.
"I don't think it will take long to receive an answer."
"Let's hope so."
Two days later.
Ding!
A text message from Seunggil arrived on Yugeon's phone.
[Your condition has been accepted.]
That was fast.
The moment Yugeon checked the message, his phone began ringing.
"Hello."
"Mr. Yugeon, have you seen my message?"
"I just read it."
"The World Awakener Association has agreed to your condition. We'll still need to coordinate the finer details, but they've decided that any Monster Wave information you provide will be classified as top-priority disaster intelligence and delivered simultaneously to national governments and Awakener Associations around the world."
"That's sufficient."
After all, there was only one thing Yugeon needed.
A system that would prevent people from simply ignoring his warnings.
As long as he had that, everything else could be worked out.
"And we've also scheduled your assessment."
"When will it take place?"
"One week from now. The venue will be the examination grounds designated by the World Awakener Association."
"Understood."
Yugeon answered casually.
It was just an assessment.
They would probably do little more than test his combat strength.
Then Seunggil continued speaking on the other end of the call.
"Oh, and your examiner has been decided as well."
"Who is it?"
"We thought we'd need some time to coordinate the schedule, but apparently, he happens to be available and has offered to come personally."
"So who is it?"
A brief silence followed.
Then Seunggil cautiously answered.
"The number-one Awakener in the world rankings."
"..."
Yugeon blinked in surprise.
At the same time, Mincheol and Woojin, who had been listening in on the conversation beside him, opened their mouths in astonishment.
"H-Hyung, are you really going to fight the world's number-one Awakener?"
"Wow..."
Hwarin's eyes also widened in surprise.
But after thinking about it for a moment, Yugeon chuckled.
"If there's only one opponent, it shouldn't take long."
The World Awakener Association's designated examination grounds.
"Move those cameras farther back!"
"That's a passageway! You can't block it!"
"Has the equipment from BBA arrived yet?!"
"Send the American broadcasting team to Gate Three!"
The area surrounding the examination grounds had been crowded since early morning.
Broadcasting companies and reporters from various countries.
Executives sent by major guilds around the world.
Even officials from different Awakener Associations had gathered there.
The spectator seats had filled up long ago, and people were standing in the corridors.
After all, what was about to take place was more than enough to attract the attention of Awakeners across the globe.
For the first time in history, an Awakener below Level 100 was undergoing an assessment to become a Great Star.
"He's coming!"
"It's Arthur Bale!"
The already noisy stands immediately grew even louder.
Step. Step.
A middle-aged man with blond hair slowly emerged from the passageway on the opposite side of the examination grounds.
He wasn't particularly large.
Nor was he wearing extravagant armor.
All he had was a black combat uniform and a long spear in his hand.
Nevertheless...
The moment he appeared, the expressions of the surrounding Awakeners became serious.
[Lv. 100] Arthur Bale
The number-one Awakener in the world rankings.
Among the ten Great Stars currently in existence, he was regarded as the strongest.
"He really came in person."
"I heard he barely comes out of the Tower these days."
"Do you think he came specifically to see Han Yugeon?"
In one corner of the stands, Mincheol leaned forward to get a better look at Arthur Bale.
