Mark had utterly collapsed. His mind went blank, finally surrendering to the absurdity of it all. He sat huddled in the corner of the room, wallowing in self-pity while the Saintess's words—the ones that had effectively "hacked" his life moments ago—echoed in his head.
"This is of the utmost importance... for all of humanity," she declared. "We must unite and find this Awakener before he strays from the righteous path. Who is with me?"
Mark slammed his phone shut before he could hear another word that might fuel his rage.
This was unacceptable. If they could breach his privacy with such overwhelming power, it felt as though they could pinpoint his exact location at any second. She had even exposed his plan to flee to the mountains!
But he tried to remain calm. Yes, keep it together.
There were many countries in the East. Surely, it would take them some time to narrow it down to him. He had to do everything in his power to prevent that.
"Challenge accepted," he muttered. "Catch me if you can."
Suddenly, a system notification flashed directly before his eyes.
[The Wisdom Lord System deeply apologizes for the delay in evaluation... As compensation, Awakener Mark Howe has been gifted an Epic Item (Rank B).]
{ Epic Item: The Multi-Purpose Spoon }
{ This unique item is a complete mobile kitchen. Should you face cooking difficulties anywhere, this spoon can manifest every culinary tool imaginable—from a chef's knife to corn-on-the-cob grilling equipment. }
In his previous life, Mark had actually been a chef. He was known for his impeccably clean cooking, prepared with staggering precision and dedication. He hadn't expected the System to know his deepest needs so well.
Since this body was drowning in debt, he decided to work as a chef—his original profession. He was surprised by how considerate the System seemed, meeting his needs so quickly.
"No... I still won't thank you," he grumbled.
Even though it gave him the perfect tool, there was no way he was offering gratitude after the System had just outed him to the entire world.
He wasn't entirely sure how to play this, but he made a decision: he would go to the Guild tomorrow and submit his resignation immediately. He would work as a cook instead of continuing the Player career that his predecessor had been so pathetic at.
Even though it felt like walking straight into the beast's maw, he didn't want to arouse suspicion or get arrested for failing to show up. Instead of undergoing re-evaluation, he would simply quit.
Surely, no one would suspect him. After all, in their eyes, he was still just "Unranked" trash.
The following morning...
Mark Howe stepped out of his apartment and headed straight down the stairs.
Naturally, no one spared him a glance; being unranked trash had its perks, and he found a sliver of comfort in that—at least until he stepped out of the building and onto the street.
"Did you hear about what happened yesterday? Who do you think this guy is? Damn, do you think he's one of ours?"
A group of young men were talking nearby. Mark felt a wave of numbness and insecurity wash over him as he listened. He desperately wanted to shout that he wasn't from here, that he had nothing to do with any of this.
"How could I not know? The entire internet has been upside down since last night. Look at this..." One of the men pulled out his phone. "They've already made a fan-base platform for him. Look at how they're idolizing him! Man, the girl I like hasn't stopped cheering for him since yesterday. I wish it were me."
Mark stood frozen at the entrance of the building, listening to the entire street buzzing about him. The theories and speculations about his location were endless.
"Mr. Mark? Why are you just standing there? Move along."
Mark spun around in a panic. Behind him stood a short, elderly man.
"What's the matter, lad? Did this old man scare you? Don't worry, my teeth have all fallen out; I couldn't eat you if I tried. Ho ho!"
Mark exhaled a long breath, forcing a fake smile as he recognized Old Man Jeff, one of his kinder neighbors.
"Where are you headed, Mr. Jeff?" Mark asked, genuinely curious since the old man rarely ventured past his own doorstep.
"Ho ho... don't you know, little one? Every Awakener has been forced to go for re-evaluation. Even though this old man is only an F-Rank, I'm obligated to go, as you know."
"So... you're an Awakener, Mr. Jeff?"
The old man smiled bitterly, looking slightly annoyed by the question. In truth, Mark was genuinely shocked. Jeff had always been incredibly private and didn't mingle much. If it weren't for this mandatory check-up, no one would have ever known.
Mark apologized and was about to set off on foot when Jeff stopped him.
"Lad... how about I give you a lift in my car? She's a bit old, but she can get us there fast enough."
When the two of them reached the car, Old Man Jeff yanked off the cover, sending clouds of dust billowing over them like a sandstorm. The vehicle was so caked in grime it was impossible to tell its original color.
Mark was speechless; he was on the verge of a mental breakdown at the sight of the filth. He bolted to a nearby pharmacy, returning with gloves and a medical mask, still shivering with a mix of disgust and dread.
After scrubbing the car down with Jeff's help, the old man pulled two low-grade mana stones from his pocket, tossing them in his hand with a grin.
"You know, kid? This car was one of the very first models to run on mana stones. It's incredibly efficient!"
Mark forced a strained smile, trying his best not to let his irritation show. Once they climbed inside, Mark tried to coexist with the dust lingering in the upholstery while Jeff struggled with all his might to crank the engine. After five grueling minutes, it finally sputtered to life.
"Phew, that was a tough one! Pardon the delay... let's go."
The car lurched forward at a snail's pace, groaning and creaking as if in physical pain. It was a living nightmare for Mark and his germaphobic tendencies; he felt like he might actually pass out.
After a journey that felt eternal, they finally arrived. Mark scrambled out as fast as he could, frantically brushing off his suit before ripping the mask off his face to breathe.
But when he looked up, his heart sank. A massive throng of people stood before the Guild gates, forming a line that stretched as far as the eye could see.
"Looks like we'll have to wait a bit," Jeff noted casually.
Mark looked toward the heavens and wailed internally: "NOOOOOOOOO!"