Ricardo pressed the button, and the elevator doors slid open with a soft chime.
He stepped inside and calmly said, "Twenty-second floor."
The doors closed, and in an instant, the elevator ascended. Moments later, it came to a halt, and the doors opened again.
Standing outside was Riana.
She wore a crisp white shirt beneath a tailored black blazer, paired with a matching skirt. Black heels clicked softly against the polished floor, and a pair of glasses rested neatly on her face.
In one hand, she held a document file, her posture straight and composed.
"Good morning, Chancellor," she greeted.
"Good morning, Vice Chancellor," Ricardo replied.
She raised an eyebrow slightly. "Riana," she corrected.
Ricardo gave a small smile. "Alright, alright… Riana. Good morning."
She smiled faintly and nodded.
"There's someone important here for orientation," Ricardo said as he stepped forward.
Riana glanced at her file.
" I'm sorry, but if you're referring to Trezar's daughter, she hasn't arrived."
"No," Ricardo replied calmly.
"I wasn't talking about her."
Riana began scanning through the documents again.
"All ten newly awakened individuals have been confirmed and evaluated; none are noteworthy."
Ricardo's smile deepened.
"There is one. You'll see soon."
When Ricardo approached the great gate, it opened automatically, as if recognizing him—welcoming him.
He stepped inside, and Riana followed closely behind.
Inside, all ten participants turned their attention toward them.
Ricardo walked to the center platform and stood tall.
"I am Ricardo Desmon, the Chancellor of this Tower," he announced.
"And she is the Vice Chancellor, Riana."
At once, everyone stood up—except Sam.
Realizing a moment too late, Sam quickly scrambled to his feet.
Ricardo raised a hand gently.
"It's alright. Please, sit."
Everyone settled back into their seats.
Ricardo's gaze moved slowly from left to right, scanning each participant.
As he observed them, translucent status windows appeared before his eyes—displaying names, levels, abilities, and hidden attributes. Every detail was laid bare to him, as expected.
Until his eyes met Sam.
Ricardo focused.
Nothing appeared.
A faint crease formed between his brows. He narrowed his gaze, attempting to access the boy's status again.
A warning window flashed.
[Access Denied]
Ricardo's expression darkened slightly. He pushed further, forcing his authority against whatever barrier stood in his way.
Another window appeared.
[Warning: Access Denied]
He increased his effort.
Then—
A golden-framed window flickered into existence.
[Name: Sam Lysh]
And then—
Another window abruptly overlaid it.
[Penalty Applied]
All status attributes reduced by 40% for 24 hours.
Ricardo smirked.
ZZZTT!
Without looking away, he spoke calmly,
//Telepathy
"Riana. Check the boy—third row, right side."
Riana gave a silent nod. Adjusting her glasses with a finger, she focused her gaze on Sam.
Her vision sharpened.
She attempted to open his status window.
Immediately—
[Warning: Access Denied ]
Her eyes narrowed.
She tried again.
Another warning.
And another.
The messages began stacking, flashing repeatedly in front of her vision.
Still, she refused to back down.
Her authority surged as she pushed harder, forcing access.
"Riana, stop—"
Too late.
A sudden crack of thunder split the air.
Lightning erupted out of nowhere.
It struck her.
Her body was hurled backward as if hit by an invisible force.
Ricardo moved.
Fast.
Faster than the eye could follow.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind her, catching her midair before she could crash into the wall.
For a fleeting moment before darkness claimed her, a final message burned into her sight—
[You do not have the Authority]
He held her steady, his expression no longer amused—but sharp, calculating.
His gaze shifted back toward Sam.
Ricardo's sharp gaze remained fixed on Sam.
But this time… he wasn't looking for a status window.
He was observing the boy himself.
Sam's reaction was no different from the others—his eyes widened in shock, his posture stiff, confusion written plainly across his face. There was no sign of awareness, no hint of control, no trace of someone who understood what had just happened.
Just… surprise.
Genuine surprise.
Ricardo's eyes narrowed slightly.
So he doesn't know…
That single thought settled quietly in his mind.
Ricardo exhaled softly, his expression returning to calm.
Behind him, Riana lay unconscious in his arms, her breathing steady but faint.
The room had fallen completely silent.
All eyes were on them.
No one dared to speak.
The tension in the room was suffocating.
Whispers began to rise, unease spreading among the participants.
Ricardo turned slightly, his voice calm yet commanding.
"Everyone, calm down," he said.
"It's just a curse she recently acquired. She'll be fine."
His words immediately settled the room, though doubt still lingered in a few eyes.
Just then, a security guard rushed forward, concern evident on his face.
"Sir—what happened—?"
Before he could finish, Ricardo bent slightly and lifted Riana effortlessly into his arms.
"It's alright," Ricardo said, his tone leaving no room for further questions.
"I'll take her to the doctor."
The guard straightened at once. "Yes, sir."
Ricardo turned toward the exit, his steps steady and unhurried, as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.
Just before leaving, he paused.
Without turning back, he added,
"I've already arranged for someone to continue the orientation."
A brief silence followed.
Then he walked out.
The doors closed behind him.
Everyone was thinking the same thing.
What just happened?
The sound of quiet murmurs slowly began to spread across the room.
"Did you see that…?"
"What was that lightning…?"
Sam swallowed hard.
His mind raced, trying to make sense of everything—but nothing added up.
Not the lightning.
Not Ricardo's expression.
Not anything.
A sudden voice cut through the rising whispers like a blade.
"Everyone, keep quiet and listen."
The room fell silent almost instantly.
The voice carried authority—sharp, unyielding.
"I am going to explain this once… so listen carefully."
Everyheadturned toward the source
The source of the voice—
Came from the last bench.