Inside the Guild building, the activity of Awakeners and staff had reached its peak; everyone, everywhere, was in constant motion. The lobby alone was vast, and the floors above seemed to span the same immense area.
The scene felt like a colony of ants. Knowing that Awakeners make up roughly 1% of the world's population, seeing them all in one place made that number feel far larger than one could imagine.
Mark and Old Man Jeff looked around, bracing themselves for what they assumed would be yet another endless line.
"Well... I guess I should wish you luck in getting through all these crowds," Mark said with a smile, trying to be mindful of Old Man Jeff's feelings. The old man looked like he was on the verge of tears at the thought of more waiting.
At least here, the air conditioning, purifiers, and scents were top-tier. Unexpectedly, the floors, the sofas, and the air itself were far cleaner than Mark's own house—the one he had nearly broken his back scrubbing. While this didn't change much for Old Man Jeff, for Mark, it was heaven.
"Hah... You'll need luck too," Jeff grumbled. "After all, you're standing here with me. Or do you have some secret connection in the Union or something?"
Mark smiled, trying not to mock the old man. He turned his back and gave a farewell wave.
"Actually... I didn't get a chance to tell you, but I'm here to resign. I have no plans to go through with this evaluation."
Old Man Jeff's expression shifted as if he had just swallowed a fly.
"Are you really thinking of doing that? But... have you thought this through? Not everyone gets a chance to be an Awakener in their lifetime."
Jeff stammered slightly, trying to wrap his head around it. His logic was sound; being an Awakener was undeniably a thousand times better than any other career. It wasn't an exaggeration—even as a low-rank Player, you were better off than in any ordinary job.
"You don't know the half of it, old man. I didn't exactly choose to be an Awakener. In fact, I don't really prefer it... Hahaha, I probably sound crazy. Anyway, see you later."
Old Man Jeff raised his hand, wanting to tell him to wait, but Mark had already vanished into the crowd, moving as fast as a man who was already late.
Mark didn't notice it.
In any case, he was now standing in the middle of the crowd, occasionally being bumped into by passersby. As he navigated through, his eyes suddenly caught sight of a woman in a formal suit and black glasses. She wore the Union emblem, clutching a tablet she was intensely focused on even as she moved.
Mark moved through the throng with surprising smoothness until he reached her side.
"Excuse me, could I—"
"Take a number from the board over there and wait for your turn to enter one of the evaluation rooms," she interrupted coldly, without looking up.
"No, no, excuse me, but I'm not here for the evaluation."
The woman seemed somewhat annoyed. She stopped in her tracks and looked at him. "Fine then. How can I help you?"
She tapped her heel impatiently on the floor, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Well, I was wondering where I should go to submit my resignation."
The woman's expression shifted slightly, caught off guard. In her mind, the probability of him asking for her number was significantly higher than him making such a request. Mark wondered internally if he had said something wrong.
"Resignation? You want to quit the Player profession and have your license revoked? Are you absolutely sure about this?"
For a moment, Mark felt as if the people around him had never seen a player decide to resign in their entire lives. It was irritating. He thought to himself that almost no one seemed smart enough to prioritize their own survival.
He didn't know exactly what to say to her. He feared that if he simply said "yes," she would start prying into his reasons.
"Actually, I decided this a long time ago. Could you just tell me the procedures quickly?"
The woman looked at Mark, scanning his appearance. He looked like he could collapse at any second—thin, dark circles under his eyes, sunken features, and soaked clothes.
In that moment, she recalled her boss's words from the emergency meeting last night—a night that had been chaotic following the message that appeared to all Awakeners. Every member had joined a long video conference, and at the very end, there was a specific note:
"If anyone comes to resign from being a player—no matter who they are—send them to my office immediately."
"Excuse me..."
The girl adjusted her glasses, looking at Mark once more.
"I'm sorry... I was just thinking. Please, wait here for a moment—anywhere you like—and I'll be back shortly."
Mark frowned as he watched her dash away. He was forced to stand there, stuck in place again. Why does everything require waiting? he wondered bitterly.
He clenched his fists, feeling a flicker of anxiety as he looked around, feeling completely isolated despite being surrounded by such an immense display of power. He felt as though people were staring at his back because of his drenched, disheveled state. Being noticed was the last thing he wanted. He tried to act natural, though he found himself glancing over his shoulder every few seconds..
Meanwhile, the woman tapped her earpiece and quietly murmured some codes, moving away from the noise. When the reply came through, she nodded almost mechanically.
At that same moment, Mark's eyes met the Young Master's again. Finding himself standing alone, and feeling a chill run down his spine, Mark quickly tried to flash the friendliest smile he could muster. He had to show that he was a nice, approachable guy—someone who definitely didn't deserve to have assassins sent after him.
The Young Master whipped his head away instantly and hurried off in the opposite direction.
A few moments later, the woman returned. She stood there with professional poise, looking at him through her glasses.
"You'll need to come with me."