Drew spun a coaster between his fingertip and the bar countertop at the Harbinger’s hideout in Yerburn. He was never actively looking for clues about Sai. Sure, he initially made an empty threat to Heartman back in January to rattle him, but now that the pieces were falling into his hands one by one, he might as well continue pursuing this avenue.

After all, if he managed to bring a living, breathing Sai into the picture, Heartman would have no choice but to spill the beans to mitigate the damages. It would also mean bringing in business for himself, which was a bonus.

Strictly speaking, knocking down Heartman a few more pegs would also do this planet some justice. He only saw the short-term profits but came short of understanding the necessity for long-term prosperity. Yet, being the monopolist, he had that power since there was no one else people could turn to. Unfortunately, that greedy nature of him was going to bite him back in the arse.

Of course, when someone is cornered, sometimes they become a more significant threat.

Sylvia had known about the deal about Sai Heartman’s disappearance since it was the hottest topic amongst the Great Families when it happened, but like many others, she also just assumed he was dead. The notebook that fell into the Facton’s hands proved that he wasn’t and had made a run for Earth. Unfortunately, this also meant that the entire friend group was now involved in this matter, so the best option was not to mention the notebook until they could think of what to do with it.

[Shocking! Heartman Releases A New Regiment That Widens Otrio Channels!]

The headline flashed across Drew’s wristband.

“What a shame.” Drew sighed. “He didn’t last this long in the Alchemy Circle for nothing. I might’ve just awoken a slumbering beast.”

As he placed the coaster down, his wristband buzzed, revealing a message from Terra. Ever since completing the Otrio Blood Poisoning Regiments, Terra and Alvin were elected de facto leaders in the battle against Heartman. Since many Alchemists trusted them, Drew found it acceptable to leave things in their care while on ‘business trips.’

Terra: Boss, did you see the news?!

Snow: I did.

Terra: This isn’t good! We have no regiments to compete with him right now! Equipment is still arriving at the lab as we speak!

Snow: We’ve already played enough cards for now. For now, focus on building our arsenal so we have enough to fire back.

Terra: Woah, Boss. Wise words!

Snow: There is no time for praise. Have you all finished deciding what projects you would like to focus on?

Terra: We have. Except we have a bit of an issue….

Snow: Do tell.

Terra: While we have enough funds to operate for a while, we severely lack manpower. If we want to increase production, we’ll need to double our workforce.

Snow: That’s fine by me.

Terra: We’ve had many applicants come in over the last week. If you don’t mind, may I recommend a couple of capable Alchemists I’m acquainted with? Both Alvin and I swear on our careers that they’re trustworthy.

Drew tapped his finger against the countertop. If Terra and Alvin were willing to go this far to vouch for them, they must also host a deep grudge against Heartman. With that, Drew quickly replied to Terra.

Snow: Send me their profiles. I’ll determine if they meet my standards EOD.

*EOD = End of day

Terra: Okay! Just send them over now! I can guarantee they won’t disappoint!

Drew opened up both links Terra sent to him. A smirk curled onto his face.

“What a small world.”

The two Alchemists Terra had recommended were Rika Tseng and Keith Flemming.

“I’ll have to contact them again at some point.” Drew chuckled, closing his tabs and quickly pinging Neilson.

Drew: Neilson, please send me Rika Tseng and Keith Flemming’s information as soon as possible. Also, I would like you to investigate Keith and Sai’s relationship further. We might have acquired some keys to propel us in this game.

Instantly, Neilson replied.

Neilson: Understood. We’ll retrieve and update the information for you by the end of this week.

Drew: Thank you.

With that, Drew shut down his messenger system. As soon as he did so, the tattooed man from the hideout's entrance approached the Avian.

“Sir Raven,” He began. “Cadmus is waiting for you upstairs.”

Drew was a bit confused. Why would Cadmus require him to meet outside of the hideout? Yet, it was better if he didn’t question it. Rowan informed him that the fierce examiner would oversee his training, but the Nightengale was unsure of what that entailed. The Founder, unfortunately, was just as clueless as Cadmus. He said he had his agenda, but if the examiner did try pulling anything, Rowan assured Drew that he would receive a “scolding.”

Drew moved out of his seat and followed the tattooed man to the pawnshop's entrance. A white van with tinted windows blocked Drew’s view of the street. The van’s door slid open, revealing two leather seats separated by a space between them.

From where the Avian was standing, he couldn’t see who was behind the two seats besides the driver.

The tattooed man gestured with his head for Drew to get into the van, to which he obliged and climbed into the seat right behind the driver.

“Hello there, Raven.” A familiar deep and cocky voice greeted from behind the Avian, causing him to jolt up as he clicked his seatbelt into place.

Drew whipped his head behind him as the tattooed man shut the door.

“Ryze, don’t startle your new Assistant like that!” The driver, a girl with sandy skin decorated with freckles, short brown hair, and brimming green eyes, glanced at the figure behind Drew.

There was no way. Drew stared at the figure, his jaw almost dropping to the floor. This has to be a dream!

“My bad, Prezy!” The voice giggled.

Bright crimson hair is akin to an Ifrit with streaks of orange between them. Green eyes with vortexes swirling within them emphasize his sharp features, especially that jawline that could cut through hearts as easily as paper. Fair-skin that was so bright the two sun/light bounced off of it through the tinted windows. Top it all off with a frame that was The perfect combination of tall, lean, yet muscular all at the same time; there wasn’t a single person in Ozwarth, let alone Kraus, who wouldn’t recognize him.

Ryze Vermillion is the number one male superstar amongst the younger generation. A Spirit of Phoenix Descent from the streets of Yerburn, Ryze made a name for himself in Intergalactic Stardom in just five years. Featured in films with trillions in revenue, top hits in Cerber System music, a model, and host own talk show, Trailblazers, with billions of viewers per airing. Ryze is a talent that recruiters and fans from all over the universe would start a war over.

At that moment, it had dawned upon Drew.

Ryze Vermillion was the same Cadmus from the Harbingers.

“I was expecting a lot of things. But this-“ Drew shook his head, completely dumbfounded. “This wasn’t one of them.”

“Surprised?” The superstar, dressed in a gray hoodie, black slacks, and some flip-flops for child discipline, folded his arms and plopped down in the unoccupied seat next to the Avian. “The Ryze Vermillion worshiped by the public is a Harbinger.”

“No shit!” Drew shouted, the realization finally sinking into his head. “I can’t believe it myself!”

“That’s great you say that ‘cause no normal person would even think I would have ties to the Harbingers.”

“Then why are you working in the entertainment industry?”

“I’ll have Prezy answer that one.”

“It just kinda happened.” The driver, Prezy, answered, maneuvering through the streets of Yerburn. “Rowan raised both of us to become elites of the Harbingers. One of our commissions required us to eliminate the CEO of a rival talent agency. To get close, Ryze played the role of an aspiring actor and a set hand while I took on his manager role. While doing the job, it turned out Ryze had an aptitude for acting, and a director rushed to cast him in his next movie. From there, it snowballed, and now we’re here.”

“By the way, that CEO we were assigned to handle passed away from a heart attack two days after we picked up the commission, so we didn’t have to do anything.” Cadmus, Ryze shrugged, stuffing his hands into his hoodie pocket. “The Founder had a good laugh and told us we were free to leave the Harbingers if we wanted to. But, we couldn’t leave him with all the work so Prezy and I come help out here and there.”

“Name’s Priscilla, by the way.” Prezy gave a thumbs up to the duo sitting in the back. “Just call me Prezy like everyone else. I’m this fried chicken’s manager.”

“Nice to meet you.” Drew nodded and laughed.

“Raven, eh.” Ryze leaned over his armrest to look at him better and smirked, knowing very well that Drew’s current appearance was fake. He was curious about what forced the Avian to disguise himself that much, but he brushed it off, knowing that it might put him in trouble with Rowan. “We can’t keep calling you that on-site. Got a name we could refer to you as instead?”

Drew paused momentarily, shuffling through all the monikers he’s used over the past half year.

“Owen.”

“Okay then, Owen~!” Ryze beamed. “Welcome to your first day of training! Our agenda today is to have you follow me.”

Drew’s eyes narrowed, taking the superstar’s words with a grain of salt.

“Just that?”

“Now, why would I make it that simple?”

“Right…” Drew exhaled. “What do you need me to do?”

“I would like you to learn how to conceal your presence. The goal is for you to be within ten meters of me without Prezy or me noticing you for at least half an hour. Other people can spot you, but not us, and you must be where Prezy and I can find you within three seconds. No hiding in different areas or rooms.”

The Avian found himself confused at what he meant by that. “Like silencing my footsteps or concealing my Otrio presence?”

The Phoenix chuckled, placing his hands behind his head.

“Sort of, but think of it as hiding in plain sight. Footsteps and suppressing your Otrio are only part of it. You also need to understand that to conceal your presence, you have to blend in with the surroundings you’re a part of. Be it changing how you breathe or even how you dress, grasping the essence of your environment is how you can truly hide your presence.”

“How so?”

“Take, for instance, an actor. One must wear different hats depending on their role. You must immerse yourself in that role while creating a clear separation between others. We do this naturally in our daily lives, portraying ourselves one way to the public and another in private. The real challenge is to be able to do this consciously and instantaneously. Observe your surroundings, see what people are doing, understand the atmosphere created by what you notice, and determine the best course of action. Ask yourself, how do I become a part of this flow? That’s my hint for you today.”

“When do I start?”

“The moment we step into the venue. Your time will end by five today.”

“What venue?” Drew asked, realizing that he never asked where exactly they were going.

“The recording studio for Blazing Youths. Have you forgotten what day it is today?”

Drew tapped his finger against his wrist and opened his calendar.

“Today is interview day for the 40th Royals.”

“And do you know what that means?”

Drew’s eyes widened as he glanced over at Ryze. “Trailblazer is hosting this Wars interview.”

“Ding ding ding! Right on the money!”

Drew slumped in his seat.

“Dear Kraus…”

Now, the Avian needed to figure out how to hide himself. Not just from the two Harbingers but the bloodthirsty Hunter 40th Prince known to the public as Liam Ederas and one of the last people Drew wanted to know about what was doing.

Elias Ryhard.

“I’m screwed.”

>>>

“Your Highness!” A guy called out to Elias, who was fiddling with the strand of platinum blonde hair from his wig.

Elias turned to the Cetus standing behind him.

Zander was one of the Commissioner's most trusted Hunters and used to be the youngest amongst them until Elias came along. He was also a student at Star, one year his senior in Middle-Class B, and a fellow member of Star’s Gunner Club. He was the one who recruited Elias to the Hunters half a year ago after hearing his story.

He stood around Drew’s height of 180 centimeters. His hair was a dark blue color with hints of black at the tips, mimicking the depths of the deep sea, while his amber eyes with dark round pupils glowed an eerie hue in the dimly lit studio behind those wired-framed glasses of his that he did not need.

Within the Hunters, he was an enigmatic character. As capable as he was, as demonstrated by his role as Leader Callex, no one other than the Commissioner knew why he had joined them. Elias had asked him several times, but the Cetus had always dodged the question. However, even without knowing his motives, Zander was the most reliable person in dire situations.

Hence, he was assigned by the Commissioner as Elias’s attendant for this particular job because he would attract the slightest suspicion. However, at this very moment, this very enigmatic figure was panicking.

It was entirely out of character.

“What is it, Zander?”

“We have a minor issue!”

“Speak,” Elias ordered, keeping up Royal appearances.

Zander’s face twitched. Initially, he hesitated to tell the newly inaugurated Prince, but it wasn’t right for him to withhold information from the one he would be serving.

“That ‘headache’ is arriving here.” The Cetus stammered. “She’s heading to this room.”

“But the interview isn’t for another hour and a half!”

“Your Highness, I believe she’s here to see you.”

Elias pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Do anything in your power to stop her!”

“I can’t! She flung me into a wall the last time I tried in the Selections!”

“Highborn ladies.” The Human rolled his eyes, his head throbbing at the thought of facing her all day. “Always marching to their beat.”

Blue scales grew onto Zander’s face as he gritted his teeth, but he quickly regained some composure, which caused them to fade away.

“Tell me about it! But damn, I’d never would’ve imagined that she would act like that off-camera.”

“Me neither-“

“Augh! I knew your good looks would bring trouble!”

“I don’t think that’s the only reason-“

“Oh, so you admit it, Your Highness?!”

“I never denied it.” Elias retorted. “And for the record, I have zero interest in this one!”

The Cetus batted his eyelids with a deadpan expression.

“If any other person heard you say that, they’d think you’re blind. So spill it, who’s the lucky lady who’s gotten your attention?!”

“Well,” the Human grew quiet. His face flushed beat red. “She’s someone from the same District as me. We took the Team Exam together along with another friend-“

Elias kept rambling for a few minutes, but a thought crossed Zander’s mind, and he couldn’t help but sigh.

This guy is hopeless.