Two men walked across a long and chilling corridor.

The man walking at the front looked like he was already in his eighties. He was walking with a cane and the vigor in his body had disappeared, but his eyes remained sharp like an eagle’s.

Behind him was the man who had contacted Auric not long ago, Steven.

They finally reached the end of the corridor, with two soldiers checking them first before letting them in.

There were three people waiting inside. The first man was sitting on the couch. He had short black hair. He might look like an old man in his sixties with all his hair having turned white, but his body was still brimming with energy.

The woman on his right looked much younger, but it was apparent that she was already in her thirties or even forties. She stood straight and observed the two people who had just come in.

Meanwhile, the last person was a muscular man whose suit was barely covering his muscles. He had two scars on his face, one on the left cheek, while the other ran across his forehead.

"Welcome. I’ve heard about the situation, so I’ve agreed to this meeting. I’m sure you know them. This is Cynthia from the National Cyber Security and this is Ethan, the Minister of Defense. I can’t believe what I heard earlier, but since it’s you, the Supreme Chief of the Evolution Association, Chief Lucasta Robein, who said it, I have to take this matter seriously."

"Thank you for receiving me on such short notice, Mr. President." The old man nodded with a serious expression.

After the magic apocalypse, countries were destroyed. The remnants united under a few banners. One of the countries that formed in the former European Union after the apocalypse was this country, Esfrata.

The man before him was none other than the president of this country, President Gulkhas Riquez.

"Please sit down." President Gulkhas extended his hand, gesturing for him to sit in front of him.

After he saw Chief Lucas sit down, President Gulkhas turned solemn and said, "All right. Can you explain to me in detail about this matter?"

"Yes." Chief Lucas nodded. "Thanks to this colleague here, the president of the Evolution Association in Kelesnia City, I’ve found out about an incredible person that you might want to pay attention to."

President Gulkhas nodded. "So, who is it?"

"Please take a look at this." Chief Lucas took out his phone and showed the store page to President Gulkhas. "Apparently, there is a new store that provides a new method of evolution.

"As an evolution master, I certainly welcome such a thing. However, there are many things that I have to consider before deciding that I need to bring this matter to you."

President Gulkhas asked, "How about explaining this method first?"

"Yes." Chief Lucas nodded. "According to the books provided in this store, the new techniques are called gathering techniques. As the name implies, it’s a technique that allows you to gather energy into your body. This might not be surprising, but this change is apparently permanent."

"!!!" Minister Ethan was the first one to react. As a fighter himself, he knew how to absorb energy, but it was impossible to make the effect permanent.

"Ethan?" President Gulkhas turned his head.

"Sir, it’s impossible. Even at the highest level, there is no technique that allows you to gather the elements and make that change permanent."

"I believed the same thing not long ago until I found out about this store." Chief Lucas pointed to the side with his hand. "Thanks to Association President Steven, we’ve confirmed that several people have actually evolved using this method."

President Gulkhas crossed his arms. "Are you perhaps asking me to consider this a threat to the evolution masters?"

Chief Lucas understood the implication, but he shook his head. "No. This is just an additional method. It may affect evolution masters, but it’s not the end of the world. If I have to give you an example, this technique is like introducing a robot in a factory. It affects your job, but it doesn’t entirely replace it.

"You can have new technology to help you and you can evolve on your own, but the disadvantage is the time, which is linked to your affinity. So, if you want a faster and more accurate treatment, you go here. If you don’t want to, you can use this technique."

President Gulkhas nodded in understanding. "So, what do you want from me?"

"Unfortunately, this is still unproven, so I can’t say for sure. If we actually use this at the beginning of the curriculum, we can actually allow the students to accumulate 10% to 30% of element over the span of a few months."

Minister Ethan gasped. "Are you saying that we can help them gather energy while training them in other things?"

"Yes. By using this technique, it’s possible. Normally, people are required to acquire materials to obtain their initial energy. However, with this technique, a formal curriculum that will make it more like an education can be formed."

"Any chance it will affect their future?"

"We haven’t been able to check it yet. However, once you use this technique, you can’t stop until it’s maxed out. So, if you use it at the start, you will gain the initial energy, but you can’t use it for your evolution, and vice versa. This is also why I think it’s a good advancement, rather than a threat."

President Gulkhas pondered. On the one hand, it sounded like a good advancement. On the other hand, there were too many unknown variables. "So, you want to research this technique?"

"Yes. If these techniques are useful, we may be able to introduce them to everyone. Of course, we need to get this person’s permission first."

"Permission..." President Gulkhas narrowed his eyes. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Do you want me to check this person’s information, sir?" Agent Cynthia asked.

"You can try, but we’ve checked it as well. It looks like this mysterious person is intentionally using the international online store to make it difficult for us to obtain his data privately."

"Well, it doesn’t hurt to try." President Gulkhas nodded.

Minister Ethan added, "You should figure out that person’s information immediately. If you want my people to bring him here, I’m ready to send my people to escort him."

"I don’t think it will be a good idea." Chief Lucas shook his head.

President Gulkhas raised his eyebrows. "Please elaborate, Chief Lucas."

Chief Lucas smiled. "My guy has tried to probe him, but it looks like he’s ready to leave the country if you try to act behind his back."

"Does he have no sense of patriotism?" Minister Ethan frowned.

"Oi, oi." Chief Lucas raised one finger. "If your parents abused you and then told you to take care of them after everything they did just because they gave birth to you, would you help? I would rather find a new home. That’s just me of course."

"..." Minister Ethan’s eyebrows twitched. "There’s no abuse."

"Yeah, but you’re just trying to control him." Chief Lucas frowned.

"We’re not. We’re merely trying to help him."

"Help? So, shouldn’t I also help this guy because he’s one of mine?" Chief Lucas’ expression turned dark. "Watch your next words. I do this kind of work and even give this report to you simply because the country has done good for me. However, I’m still the Supreme Chief of the Evolution Association."

Minister Ethan gritted his teeth. President Gulkhas raised his hand, gesturing to Minister Ethan to stop.

He continued, "Let me correct what he says. This kind of research has definitely never been seen before. We’re just trying to understand the true nature of the research. After all, let’s be honest, questionable things can be done behind closed doors, so by understanding the true nature, we know how we’re going to approach this matter."

Chief Lucas said, "I may not have the best eyes to judge a person’s character, but there’s something I can say about this person. Whatever you think you’re doing right now, don’t do it or you will probably regret it for the rest of your life."

President Gulkhas frowned. "What do you mean?"

Chief Lucas crossed his legs, his expression turning grim. "If you decide to do anything to this person, the Evolution Association will spare no effort to help him."

"Even against the country?" President Gulkhas’ eyes turned cold. Seeing there was no trace of doubt in Chief Lucas’ eyes, President Gulkhas asked, "May I know why?"

"The reason is simple. He’s a pioneer of a new era. He is basically the holy grail of our Evolution Association. All these techniques—higher-level techniques aside—have shown us that he’s capable of achieving something that not a single evolution master in the world has ever achieved."

"!!!" President Gulkhas’s body trembled. He couldn’t help but wonder what achievement could make Chief Lucas hold him in such high regard.

Chief Lucas raised one finger. "A unique-element evolution master."

The moment he heard this answer, President Gulkhas felt like his brain stopped for a moment.

Everyone in the room understood the significance of a unique-element evolution master.

President Gulkhas looked down before saying, "Do you mean that the books can let people with unique elements gather their energy gradually and reach the perfect number, thus allowing them to evolve?"

"The theory is possible. In fact, he may not want to make that kind of disruption yet. If you really try to corner him like that, this country may lose a unique-element evolution master. So, do you think it’s wrong for the Evolution Association to turn our backs on the country?"

If what Chief Lucas said was true, President Gulkhas understood why the Evolution Association chose to protect this person. Even if it wasn’t in this country, a unique-element evolution master would be welcomed anywhere.

If that kind of person asked for help, there would be many countries willing to send their elite units to break him out.

President Gulkhas frowned. "So, what do you suggest?"

"I suggest that we leave him alone. The fact that he hasn’t put unique-element gathering techniques or higher-level gathering techniques yet means he’s planning to let the fame gradually rise. This won’t cause much disruption to the country, yes?"

President Gulkhas couldn’t help but agree. "Indeed."

"So, just let him do whatever he wants in the initial state. I believe he will take those out gradually. Rather than focusing on finding that person, I think the country should watch out for the outside."

President Gulkhas contemplated. "Other countries."

"Yes. That’s why I’ve come to give you this report. It’s better for the country to protect him and his privacy from outside forces. This way, there’s no way for the outside force to find him, while he thinks the country is supporting him.

"Once he gradually reveals higher-level gathering techniques or even unique-element gathering techniques, his identity will surface naturally. And it’s only right for you to appear at that time. If not, I don’t see any reason for you to dig up someone who doesn’t want to be on the surface."

This was the reason he came here. Chief Lucas wanted to redirect the country’s focus from this mysterious evolution master toward other countries and let this person develop even more.

He also wanted to give a warning due to the unimaginable value that a unique-element evolution master possessed.

Chief Lucas stood up gracefully. "That’s the reason I came here today. Hopefully, the president will consider my point carefully."

"I see." President Gulkhas nodded and stood up, shaking Chief Lucas’ hand. "Thank you for bringing this matter to me directly, Chief Lucas."

"That’s what I should do, Mr. President." Chief Lucas nodded and walked away.

Once they exited the building, Steven couldn’t help but ask, "Chief. Isn’t it too far to give a warning? Are we really going to turn our backs on this country?"

"Just think about it. If a unique-element evolution master appears and leaves this country and sets himself up in another country, will you follow him?"

Steven thought for a moment. "If I met the requirements to become what it takes to become a unique-element evolution master, then probably."

"That’s exactly why I gave the warning. You know how dangerous a unique-element evolution master is at an early stage, and if their element limitation is gone, whichever country has a unique-element evolution master will have a massive boost in the country’s overall strength. If you see it that way, you will understand that my warning is mild in comparison."