BEEP—BEEEEP—BEEEP!

The computer stuttered, numbers scrambling as it failed to lock onto a clear reading of my power.

Franky, I was expecting some dramatic announcement—something like, "His power is over 9000!"—but there was none of that.

So much for the cutting-edge technology the Seeker Association loved to brag about.

Years of research, oceans of funding, and this was all it could withstand? My modest display of my power?

From the corner of my eye, I saw the testers scrambling, trying to figure out what was happening.

Then a twisted idea slipped in.

I mean, I basically built this persona to flex on everyone, soak up the attention, and rake in money while doing it. That was the whole point.

So… why stop now?

I pressed a little harder, feeling the power buzz under my fingers.

The cracks grew bigger, the metal groaned, and with one last surge, the whole machine broke apart, sending sparks and shards flying everywhere.

Everyone stood frozen, completely speechless, while I stayed there, chest puffed out and eyes closed, half-expecting a round of applause.

"So," I let my confident gaze glide over them "Care to tell me… what rank I am?"

One of the testers adjusted his glasses, his voice trembling with disbelief.

"It's… immeasurable."

"Immeasurable?" I chuckled, glancing around the room. "At least S Rank, right?"

He shook his head.

"No. Not even S Ranks can overload our machine like this." His voice wavered as he stared at the shattered console.

"Sir… please wait. I need to report this to Director Hayes. This is the first time one of our machines has ever overloaded."

I opened my mouth to respond, but no one was listening. Phones were being picked up, voices murmured in hurried tones, and before I could process what was happening, a new group of people entered the room.

They locked the door and instructed everyone present to say nothing about the incident.

They examined the machines.

"It's just a system malfunction," one of them said. "We'll run another test on him."

A woman in her forties stepped forward, her gaze shifting between the destroyed machines and me.

"Mr. Chase, please come with us for another test. I apologize for the inconvenience, but we seem to be having technical issues."

No kidding you're having issues—I just destroyed your equipment.

I just smiled and followed them wherever they wanted me to go.

In the elevator, the woman kept firing questions at me. I answered as directly as possible—she wasn't exactly pretty enough to warrant more than a few words.

My responses were a mix of: "Okay," "Ahuh," "Fine," and "I guess so."

Was I being biased and petty? Absolutely. There was a very good reason I ended up with the Degenerate System and not the Gentleman System.

Seeing I wasn't in the mood to talk, she decided to shut up. By the time we reached the floor, I already knew exactly where I was headed.

Hayes's office.

He stood up from behind his desk—a gesture he didn't show the first time I came here.

Talk about someone with biases… not that I'm exactly innocent myself.

"Mr. Chase. My name is Director Hayes." He reached out for a handshake.

I took it. His grip was firm, but loose enough that it didn't feel like he was trying to assert dominance. This wasn't the man I remembered.

What the hell was happening?

Do S Rankers really get treated like this?

…Or had I screwed myself over by showing off too much.

"Chase Nate, glad to meet the person behind the Seekers in this city," I said, breaking the silence. "I heard I'm supposed to take another test—are you going to do it yourself?"

He shook his head. "There's no need for that. The readings already made it clear—you're extremely strong."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

Hayes didn't comment further and smoothly shifted the topic.

"Mr. Chase, what do you know about the Seeker Association Ranking?"

"Just the common stuff. F Rank is the lowest… S Rank is the highest."

He stayed quiet at first, just observing me.

"You're right. However, what you're describing is just the result, not the cause. Would you mind if I gave you a little history lesson?"

"Sure," I replied, "as long as it's related to why you called me out here."

"Oh, it's related,"

"Let's start with the ranking. Right now, there are two ways to become an S Rank: either through initial assessment or through promotion. A good example is our very own Hai-Yen—she became S Rank immediately because her energy level hit the required threshold."

"On the other hand, most S Ranks start at A Rank and work their way up through retesting, getting a powerful weapon, and notable achievements."

I nodded, already familiar with that information.

"However," he paused, "like any other man-made policy, the ranking system isn't perfect. Energy level is only one of several variables to consider. That's why promotions are necessary."

My eyebrow furrowed. "And how does this relate to me?"

"More than you think. I received the results of your energy levels before the computers were destroyed—and you didn't just exceed the limits. You completely broke every metric we currently have."

Damn it. So my impulsive behavior landed me in this mess. Just great.

"You're above a normal S Rank, Mr. Chase. And right now, you're in a position where you can't just reveal this to the world—for very good reasons."

Curiosity spiked, and I instinctively leaned on the desk, resting my chin in my hands.

"Go on. Tell me more."

He cleared his throat and continued.

"This new category was only created this year, and the number of people reaching it is increasing. We believe it's a warning from the world itself—a reminder that we need to prepare for the worst."

My hands twitched slightly.

"Why am I only hearing about this now? If someone that powerful exists, shouldn't it be public knowledge—especially when strong Seekers are treated like celebrities?"

He let out a deep sigh. "Actually… that's one of the reasons I'm talking to you."

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