Sarah let out a long breath, her burgundy dress shifting with the movement. "I know you feel responsible for what happened back then. But Hope already apologized, didn’t she? She’s trying to make things right."

Andrey adjusted his glasses, his gaze distant. "I know. But I still can’t fully accept it. Part of me wants to blame myself. Another part wants to blame someone else. That conflict... it makes me hesitate. I don’t like it."

Sarah tilted her head. "So what about Sein? She was one of the main players in that operation too. Are you going to blame her as well?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Lisa immediately stepped in, her voice gentle but firm. "Sarah, this isn’t the time to point fingers at other people. We’re all here together now, trying to move forward."

Before Sarah could respond, a wave of applause rippled through the grand hall.

Heads turned toward the sweeping staircase at the far end of the room. A man was descending—tall, broad-shouldered, with silver-streaked dark hair and a commanding presence. His tailored suit was impeccable, and he moved with the easy confidence of someone accustomed to power and respect. This was the leader of the Horizon Guild.

But it was the woman beside him who drew whispers.

She was striking—pink hair cascading over her shoulders in soft waves, her crimson gown flowing like liquid fire. Her features were delicate yet sharp, and her smile was warm, welcoming, almost motherly. She walked with grace, one hand lightly resting on the guild leader’s arm.

The crowd murmured.

"Isn’t that his assistant? I’ve seen her at events before."

"They do seem close, don’t they?"

"I heard a rumor they’re actually together. Looks like it’s confirmed."

Andrey’s eyes lingered on the woman. Something about her made his Ki senses prickle. But before he could focus, the guild leader raised a hand, and the room fell silent.

Ernando Bainz stood at the bottom of the staircase, his voice carrying across the hall with warmth and sincerity.

"Good evening, everyone. Thank you all for coming tonight. Your presence here means more than you know. This city has faced countless threats. Gates, monsters, chaos. But because of heroes like you, we’ve endured. We’ve survived. And tonight, we celebrate not just our victories, but our unity."

He paused, letting his gaze sweep across the crowd.

"Please, enjoy the evening. Eat, drink, and connect with one another. The challenges ahead will require all of us—working together, trusting one another. So let this night be a reminder of what we can accomplish when we stand as one."

A final round of applause. Ernando smiled, nodded, and stepped aside, the beautiful assistant still at his side.

Sarah leaned toward Andrey, her voice low. "Well, he seems nice. At least this event isn’t starting with monsters crashing through the ceiling."

Lisa giggled nervously. "Please don’t jinx it, Sarah."

Sarah clapped her hands together, her burgundy dress shimmering under the chandelier light. "Alright, let’s enjoy this! This is the first time I’ve ever been to such a fancy party. It’s nothing like office work."

Lisa tugged at her sleeve, her eyes sparkling. "Over there, I saw a chocolate fountain! Let’s go try it. Andrey, do you want to come?"

Andrey shook his head, his gaze sweeping the room. "You two go ahead. I still need to find Markus."

Sarah waved a hand. "Suit yourself. Come on, Lisa—let’s eat as much as we can!"

Lisa hurried after her, calling back, "Wait, Sarah! I’m not going to eat that much, okay?!"

They disappeared into the crowd, leaving Andrey alone near the edge of the hall.

Andrey scanned the room, his internal thoughts forming a quiet analysis. ’Most of the people here are A-rank and B-rank. I can tell just from their faces. I haven’t seen a single C-rank since we arrived. Well, that’s to be expected. Events like this are about making connections and exchanging information, especially for higher-ranked heroes. Lower ranks rarely get invited.’

He accepted a glass of water from a passing waiter and took a sip, his eyes still moving across the crowd.

Then he spotted Sarah and Lisa. They had been approached by a small group of men, well-dressed, charming, clearly interested. One of them said something that made Sarah laugh, though her posture remained guarded. Lisa smiled politely, her hands clasped in front of her.

Andrey’s lips pressed into a thin line. ’Right. Back at the office, there were always people interested in them. I guess some things don’t change.’

He glanced toward Sein. She stood near a tall pillar, a glass of champagne in her hand, her expression flat. A few heroes were talking to her—trying to, at least. Sein answered in monosyllables, her body language radiating ’leave me alone.’ A cluster of people across the room stared at her with barely concealed disdain. Former S-rank, now fallen. The gossip must have spread.

Andrey’s gaze drifted further. Near the center of the hall, a small group of S-rank heroes stood together—faces he recognized from news broadcasts and hero profiles. They laughed easily, their postures relaxed. Untouchable.

And finally Hope.

She was still engaged in conversation, her silver gown catching the light. She laughed at something her companion said, but her eyes seemed distant. A practiced smile.

Andrey exhaled slowly.

’Sarah was right. I’ve been too cold to her. Hope didn’t know the incident would happen. No one did. And I’ve been blaming her for something that wasn’t her fault.’

He looked down at the glass in his hand, watching the clear liquid catch the light.

’I need to apologize.’

A voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Andrey Thompson."

He turned.

The man who had spoken was tall, with carefully styled blond hair and sharp, handsome features. He wore a perfectly tailored navy suit, and his confidence radiated effortlessly. Beside him stood a woman of striking beauty—long black hair that seemed to absorb the light, dark eyes that sparkled with quiet intelligence, and a deep emerald gown that hugged her slender frame. She smiled warmly, her hand resting lightly on the man’s arm.

The man extended his hand. "I’m surprised to meet you here sooner than I expected."

Andrey took his hand, a firm, professional shake. The man’s grip was strong but not aggressive.

"I’m Allen Franquiz," he said, releasing Andrey’s hand and gesturing to the woman beside him. "And this is my fiancée, Harrith Jane."

Harrith inclined her head gracefully. "A pleasure."

Andrey gave a small nod. "Andrey Thompson. The pleasure is mine."

Allen’s expression softened, his blue eyes carrying a sincerity that seemed out of place in such a formal setting. "I wanted to thank you personally. You saved my younger brother during the Vixion gate incident."

Andrey’s brow furrowed slightly. He searched his memory, the chaos, the monsters, the desperate faces. And then he remembered. The blond hero who had mocked them, who had been abandoned by his companion. The one Andrey had pulled out of the path of the beasts.

"...You’re talking about the blond guy," Andrey said slowly. "The B-rank who was left behind."

Allen nodded, a shadow passing over his face. "That’s him. My brother, Felix. He’s... not always the easiest person to like. Arrogant, impulsive, and he runs his mouth before he thinks. But he’s family. And when I heard that someone had risked their own safety to save him..." He paused, meeting Andrey’s eyes. "I owe you a debt I can’t repay."

Andrey shook his head. "You don’t owe me anything. I just did what anyone should do, help another human being in danger."

Allen let out a small, rueful laugh. "You’d be surprised how many ’heroes’ would have walked past him. Felix told me everything. How he’d mocked you, how his own partner ran away, and how you still put yourself between him and those monsters." He placed a hand on Andrey’s shoulder. "That’s not nothing. That’s character."

Harrith spoke softly, her voice melodic. "We’ve both tried to teach Felix humility. It’s... a work in progress." She smiled, and there was genuine warmth in it. "But perhaps meeting someone like you will help him realize what true heroism looks like."

Andrey shifted slightly, uncomfortable with the praise. "I appreciate the sentiment, but I’m just a C-rank. I was in the right place at the right time."

Allen’s eyebrows rose. "C-rank? Based on what Felix described, I would have guessed at least B. You handled yourself like someone with far more experience."

"I have good teammates," Andrey said simply.

Allen studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I see. Well, Andrey Thompson, from this day forward, you have a friend in the Franquiz family. If you ever need anything, you reach out to me directly." He pulled a small silver card from his pocket and handed it to Andrey. "That’s my private contact."

Andrey took the card, examining it briefly before slipping it into his blazer pocket. "Thank you, Allen. I’ll keep that in mind."

Allen nodded thoughtfully, a faint smile playing on his lips. "So it’s true. Sein Alpis is with you now."

Andrey adjusted his glasses. "That’s right. She’s part of our team."

Allen let out a slow breath, almost a sigh of relief. "I see. So someone finally managed to tame her." He shook his head lightly. "Back in the day, she was impossible to work with. Brilliant fighter, but wild. Completely uncontrollable."

Jane added, her voice soft but carrying a hint of old exasperation. "Even when we were on the same party, her attitude made things difficult for everyone. She’d charge ahead without warning, ignore strategies, and then get angry when we couldn’t keep up." She glanced toward the pillar where Sein was still standing, now surrounded by a small group of heroes who were clearly trying to engage her in conversation and failing. "I’m surprised she’s lasted this long with anyone."

Andrey’s internal thoughts surfaced: ’So they’re the S-rank heroes I’ve seen on the news. The ones who always fought spectacular battles. Allen and Jane... I remember now. Their names were everywhere a few years ago.’

He was about to respond when the lights flickered.

A pulse that ran through the chandeliers like a heartbeat. The orchestra stumbled, a few notes jarring before recovering. Conversations faltered, heads turning toward the ceiling as if expecting something to fall.

Then the lights steadied. People laughed nervously, shaking off the moment.

But then a voice.

Ernando Bainz had reappeared. He stood in the center of the grand hall, his silver-streaked hair catching the light, his posture no longer relaxed but commanding. The warm, welcoming expression was gone. In its place was something cold.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began, his voice carrying across the room without amplification, yet every word was perfectly clear. "I hope you’ve all been enjoying the festivities."

The crowd quieted, uncertain.

Ernando’s lips curved into a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Because now... the real event begins."

A low hum filled the air. Pressure, like the moment before a thunderstorm, pressed down on everyone in the hall.

"You see," Ernando continued, spreading his arms wide, "this gathering was never about celebration. It was about gathering. Collecting the finest heroes in one place. And now..." His eyes swept across the crowd, lingering on the S-rank heroes, the A-ranks, the B-ranks. "Now, the glory will come. The true leader will emerge. And you will all bow."

A wave of dark energy erupted from Ernando’s body.

It was a pulse, a suffocating blanket that spread across the hall in an instant. Heroes gasped, staggered, clutched their chests. Some dropped to their knees. Others cried out in confusion and fear.

Andrey felt it too, a crushing weight pressing down on his Ki, suppressing it, smothering it. His connection to the system flickered. His skills felt sluggish, unresponsive.

"What... what is this?!" someone shouted.

"Can’t move... my power is..."

"It’s a trap! We’ve been trapped!"

A shimmering barrier ignited along the walls of the guild hall—translucent, dark, pulsing with an oily purple light. It crawled up the windows, sealing the doors, covering every exit.

Andrey’s mind raced. ’A barrier. Like the system’s, but corrupted. It’s suppressing our mana.’

Beside him, Allen grabbed Jane’s arm, his face pale. "Jane, can you feel your power?"

Jane shook her head, her dark eyes wide. "Barely. It’s like something is... drinking it."

From across the hall, Andrey heard Sarah’s voice, high and panicked. "Andrey! Andrey, what’s happening?!"

He turned to look for her and then something moved in his peripheral vision.

A blur of pink.

Gea.

And she was heading straight for Andrey.