NABC Chapter 123 123: Association Chairman
Chapter 123 123: Association Chairman
The testing chamber fell silent as all eyes fixed on Liu Meihua. The crystalline apparatus dimmed, its assessment complete, leaving behind an echo of the guide's words hanging in the air: "A B-rank intelligence-type with a Mythical-Level Calculation Talent."
Marcus stared at Meihua, his jaw slackening with undisguised shock. His mind raced to process this revelation. In his original timeline, Meihua had never appeared—her existence alone represented a deviation from the future he remembered. Initially, he'd dismissed her as an inconsequential alteration in the flow of events, but this shattering revelation forced him to reconsider everything.
A Mythical-ranked talent? That alone had been difficult enough to reconcile. But now this—a B-rank advancement at her age, she was progressing even faster than him despite him being a combat-type and a regressor. The disparity seemed impossible, defying the natural order of advancement he understood.
She's an intelligence-type, yet she's advancing faster than me, a combat specialist, Marcus thought, his fingers unconsciously tightening around his freshly-issued license. What's happening here? How is this possible?
His gaze shifted to Ambrose,
"Then I'll have to thank you for that," Ambrose acknowledged.
Darius responded with hearty laughter that filled the chamber. "Hahaha! It's no problem at all," he assured, moving toward the crystalline testing apparatus with practiced familiarity.
His fingers danced across the control panel in a complex sequence, bypassing standard protocols with the authority his position granted. Within moments, two cards emerged from the machine's base—passes rather than licenses, but serving identical practical functions. Ambrose accepted both cards, deliberately keeping Hualing's rather than handing it to her directly. He didn't know what she would do with it so it was better to just keep it for her.
Examining the passes, Ambrose noted they appeared nearly identical to the licenses his companions had received, distinguished only by subtle variations in the embossed symbols and the absence of some information. He slipped both cards into his spatial storage pocket, mentally checking this task off their agenda.
That's one objective completed, he thought, contemplating their next move. Should we return immediately, or take the opportunity to explore the capital further? The rare chance to experience Lumina Crown seemed too valuable to waste.
Before he could complete his deliberation, a thunderous explosion shattered his thoughts. The entire building shuddered violently, dust cascading from the ornate ceiling as tremors rippled through the stone foundation. The atmospheric pressure shifted perceptibly as distant screams penetrated the thick walls.
The testing chamber door burst open as the guide stumbled back in, her face pale with fear, clothing disheveled from her desperate sprint.
"What happened?" Chairman Darius demanded, his casual demeanor instantly replaced by the commanding presence of a veteran warrior.
"We're under attack!" she managed between ragged breaths, her wide eyes reflecting genuine terror.
…
[Name: Athena Lumina]
[Level: S]
[Talent: Battle Frenzy (Mythical)]
[Health: ???]
[Mana: ???]
[Strength: ???]
[Stamina: ???]
[Agility: ???]