President Gunther squinted. "Hmm. Interesting."
He was staring at the file he had just received about the club.
"The top club in the Grand Magica College. That is rather interesting. However, the one threatening him is…" President Gunther stroked his chin before a smile formed on his face.
"Layla!" President Gunther called aloud.
A few seconds later, a woman opened the door and took a peek. "Yes, sir?"
"Can you please send a message to Mr. Sam from the Silver Pinnacle Group? Tell him that I would like to meet him and see if he is available right now. No, don't tell him that. Tell him I will be visiting right now."
President Gunther's order carried his authority. He was basically telling the other party that he couldn't refuse him.
"Yes, sir!" Layla acknowledged the order.
President Gunther immediately grabbed his suit and walked out of the office. "Well, then. I'm going for an hour and a half."
"Have a nice day."
President Gunther casually visited the so-called Silver Pinnacle Group. As expected from the president of the Evolution Association, the receptionist immediately led him inside.
To President Gunther's surprise, when he was waiting outside, he actually saw another man who seemed to be waiting for an appointment with the president of the Silver Pinnacle Group.
"Well… isn't this the new director of the X-Guard?" President Gunther smiled and offered his hand for a handshake. "It is an honor to meet you, Mr…"
"Popo. People call me that. It's much easier to pronounce." Mr. Popo smiled back and shook his hand firmly. "It's a pleasure to be remembered by you, President Gunther."
"Not at all. Compared to you, I'm nothing special." President Gunther waved his hand. "Well, it's a coincidence to meet you here. What brings you here today?"
Mr. Popo scoffed. "I think we're coming for the same reason."
President Gunther asked, "A certain talented young evolution master?"
"We are definitely coming for the same reason." Mr. Popo nodded.
"This is a surprise. How come someone like you gets involved in this matter?"
"You must know the reason I came here, right?"
"Yes. A certain club is bullying a freshman. It's nothing unusual, but the target is someone I can't ignore."
"Indeed. Then, do you know who stopped them?"
The president shook his head. "I'm sorry?"
"It was Professor Vienna, my wife."
"Ah!" The president finally understood the full picture. He was surprised that Mr. Popo would go to such lengths.
It was true that Professor Vienna was affiliated with the college, but she should remain neutral.
There was no reason for her to ask Mr. Popo to come here in person. Even if Professor Vienna knew how talented Auric was, she should know Auric was a unique element user. There might be something he didn't know yet.
Nevertheless, the president didn't come here to question Mr. Popo. There was no time for that either.
"President Gunther. President Sam would like to see you. Director Popo, please allow me to extend my apology—" The secretary was cut off by President Gunther.
"No need, Lady. We are actually here for the same reason. We can discuss it together." President Gunther waved his hand.
"Please come in." An aged voice echoed from behind the door.
President Gunther and Mr. Popo exchanged smiles. President Gunther put his hand on Mr. Popo's shoulder and extended his hand forward as they entered the room together.
Inside the office sat an old man in his sixties. He stood up and spread his arms. "Well, it's a pleasure to be visited by President Gunther of the Evolution Association and Director Popo of the X-Guard.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today?" Sam asked calmly. He was completely clueless as to why two big shots of the city would be visiting him at the same time.
President Gunther turned his head back and stared at the secretary.
"Elsa. Why don't you get us some tea?"
"Yes, sir."
"Please take your seats." Sam led them to the couch in the corner of the room.
While walking, President Gunther dropped a clue. "Do you know what your grandson has done?"
"Pardon?" Sam furrowed his brows. "Has my grandson offended you in any way, President Gunther? And I overheard your conversation earlier. Director Popo, has my grandson somehow offended you?"
"Well, not really." President Gunther waved his hand. "Your grandson is pretty talented. Being a vice president of the top club in the Grand Magica College. That's impressive."
"Yes, of course. I'm proud of him." Sam agreed, but this made him even more suspicious than before.
"It is a shame if your grandson ends up not being able to evolve anymore, right?"
"Sorry?" Sam's expression turned grim. "What are you talking about?"
"I wonder if you have heard the news about a wonder boy from the Evolution Association." President Gunther dropped the next clue.
"Yes, I have. From what I've heard, he is currently the youngest and most talented evolution master that your association has. The mayor is supporting him as well."
"Indeed. Actually, that person is now a dual-element evolution master. I have just registered his credentials as a wind evolution master, on top of being a plant evolution master."
"What? Congratulations. The Evolution Association will grow even further because of him." Sam didn't know why President Gunther had brought up this topic.
"Well, what happens if I tell you that your grandson almost hurt the person I have my eye on?"
"I beg your pardon?" Sam shook his head. "No way. My grandson is not someone like that."
"Well, you never know. Attending college and getting such a position might have changed him. Today, I come here just to bring this matter to your attention. You are a smart man, Mr. Sam. This company is the proof. I just hope that you don't make the wrong decision."
Sam was dumbfounded. He had always believed in his grandson, but it must not have been a small matter for two big shots to take the time to visit him.
"I don't understand…"
"Well, I have said my piece. But I guess I can give you a bit of information. I personally come here because I respect you, Mr. Sam. If I don't come here, I'm afraid another person will be coming for you, and he won't be as polite. His skill is still like a rough diamond, but the student has the knowledge and ability of a diamond-grade evolution master. You don't think that kind of knowledge can be studied on the Internet, do you?"
Sam's body shook. This information entirely changed the meaning of his visit.
Sam thought, 'Another person? The student? The person coming must be his teacher. The student's ability is comparable to a diamond-grade evolution master. And this is just the student… there's no way his teacher's limit is just a diamond grade…'
The moment he reached the conclusion, it felt as if his body was being electrocuted.
It was not a small matter. President Gunther was a gold-grade evolution master, closer to diamond grade. And this person's expertise was supposed to be much better than his, to the point that he could take his position if he wanted to.
In that case, he was indeed lucky that President Gunther was the one visiting. He couldn't offend President Gunther, let alone this hidden teacher.
Mr. Popo glanced at President Gunther at first before saying, "President Gunther has said his piece, and it's similar to mine. But I'm here to give you a direct warning. If you do something to him, I will be coming for you."
Sam became even more confused. Mr. Popo was even more direct than President Gunther, making him wonder if Mr. Popo was someone sent by Auric's hidden teacher.
Mr. Popo added, "If you want to know the reason, just do some basic investigation. You will probably find a picture of me helping him with his store. As for the reason, you have to find out for yourself, and I can assure you that what you find will be wrong. You will never know the exact reason."
"I'm sorry." Sam raised his hand, asking them to pause for a moment. "I don't really understand right now. I suppose I should thank you for bringing this up. How about giving me time to check it myself?"
"Sure." Mr. Popo nodded. "Since I've said my piece, I will take my leave now."
"Y-Yeah." Sam was a bit overwhelmed with all the warnings. "Please."
Sam's expression turned solemn once both of them left.
"Sir. They've left the building."
"Yeah." Sam's tone was cold. "Call my grandson here. I want him here. NOW!"
…
It took only thirty minutes for the Vice President of the Phoenix and Dragon Society, William Connor, to stand in front of his grandfather.
"You stand right there." Sam pointed at the space in front of his desk. His tone was stern and filled with anger.
William was confused, with his heart beating faster. "G-Grandpa. What's going on?"
"I should be asking you that question." Sam slammed the table. "What the hell did you do?"
"W-What? I did nothing."
"Don't lie to me. I just got a visit from Director Popo from the X-Guard and President Gunther from the Evolution Association because of you. Tell me, what the hell have you done to that young man?!"
He didn't understand why an X-Guard director would come, but if it was President Gunther, that would only point to one person, Auric Elfe.
"Grandpa. He is just a unique element user!" William tried to explain himself before he was hit in the head by a cup. He stumbled but managed to stop himself from falling. "Wha—! Grand—!"
"SHUT UP!!" Sam stood up and pointed at him. "Do you think just because you have that position you can do whatever you want? You don't even know who the hell you have offended!"
"But Grandpa. He is a unique element user. His future potential is limited."
"Limited, you say? His fucking master is at least a diamond-grade evolution master. It might be even higher. Just because he is a unique element user, do you really think his potential is limited? Even if his potential is limited, he is still better than you, punk! Do you think your judgment is better than that of a diamond-grade master or even a titanium-grade master?"
"I…" William was trying to explain, but no words came to mind.
"You think such a high-ranking person would take someone as their disciple on a whim? Can't you see that his skill is already above his peers? Can't you see that there is something different in him?
"An evolution master at the age of seventeen, whose master expects so much from him that his knowledge and ability are on par with that of a diamond-grade master…
"Not to mention that he is now a dual-element evolution master recognized by the Evolution Association.
"Now, you tell me, do you think he's just a unique element evolution master? That kind of teacher must know about his potential, and he might even know how to help him.
"Besides, there's no telling whether he is telling the truth about possessing a unique element. I read the news after the visit, and I was surprised… by how dumb my grandson had become.
"Even though he claimed to possess a unique element, he didn't show any gray magical energy. Did it never occur to you that he might be lying? He might lie about the unique element just so that we didn't figure out the fact that he possessed two avatars or something unknown?"
Sam fell back into his chair, completely speechless. He could get all that information just by sitting there and taking a quick look at the news.
He thought his grandson, who was in college, would know more about the situation. Yet, the result was more than disappointing.
"What am I going to do with you?" Sam rubbed his forehead. "Have you been too focused on studying combat that you can only think with your ego rather than use your brain?"
William gritted his teeth. "Even so, the Phoenix and Dragon Society is the top group. The people there come from famous families or have enough talent to become big shots in the future. There's no way he—"
"Just shut up. Don't make me more disappointed than I already am. If a titanium-grade or even just a diamond-grade evolution master came there, would that little group of yours really back you up? For the dignity of the club? That club would simply abandon you for its own survival. So, for your own sake, shut your mouth."