Chapter 223: Ch 223: Joining the Association - Part 1

The head researcher’s smile faded slightly.

"No."

His answer was immediate, leaving no room for negotiation. The others looked between them curiously, wanting to see if there was anything they had missed.

"We cannot afford to lose a valuable guide like you to fieldwork. You are far too important to be sent out on missions where you might get injured or, worse, fall into someone else’s hands."

Noah almost laughed at that explanation. The man spoke as if he were genuinely concerned about his safety, but Noah knew better than to believe such a convenient lie.

"According to the association’s own guidelines, anyone below A-grade is required to work in the field unless they have a special exemption. I am a B-grade guide, so there is no reason for you to keep me here. Besides, I will only sign the contract if it specifies that I am to work as a field guide."

The head researcher stared at him, and for a moment, neither of them spoke.

Noah knew he was taking a risk by challenging the man so openly, but he had no intention of returning to the labs willingly.

If he had to remain under the head researcher’s watch, then he would at least make sure he had enough freedom to investigate the association and find a way to bring the entire operation down.

Finally, the head researcher let out a sigh and pulled a document from the stack on his desk.

"Very well. I will approve your request for now."

He signed the contract and slid it across the desk towards Noah, who checked the contents carefully before accepting it.

"But do not mistake this temporary arrangement for freedom, Noah. You will return to the labs one way or another, and when that time comes, I expect you to come without making things difficult for me."

Noah lowered his eyes to the contract, hiding the cold expression that briefly crossed his face.

’We’ll see about that.’

Noah had no intention of backing down for now, and he knew that the head researcher was too invested in his reputation to do much either.

It was a stalemate that could only be broken when one of them gave up.

The head researcher let out a sigh and shook his head.

"Well, you can join the outside forces in the front zone to start. I will let the captain know that you will be heading there."

Noah had no complaints about this, but the esper leader who had brought him here had a lot to say.

"Sir, I know this is not my place to say anything, but perhaps we should assign Sir Noah to Alan and Daniel’s team. We have found that he can keep them calm and—"

"That won’t do. Those two make up our elite pair. They are more than a pair, you know. They are a symbol, and getting someone between them will only damage their reputation and ours. I don’t want our defence budget to get cut in half."

The head researcher had a silver tongue that could deceive anyone.

He was speaking so much nonsense, but it felt as though he was making so much sense. Noah had to at least give him this much.

The other espers could not say anything to protest, but they did look scared about what this would do to Alan and Daniel.

The head researcher ignored their concerns and headed towards the computer, where he started typing.

Once he was done, he threw a pass towards Noah that had his name and designation printed on it.

"This will be your access card. As I told you, this will be the lowest level, so you won’t be able to wander around. From this day forward, you are a member of our association. Welcome aboard."

The head researcher spoke to Noah as he rubbed his forehead. He seemed to be suffering from a headache, and Noah could feel that he lacked guiding.

Had it been anyone else, he would have offered to help. But the head researcher was someone he wanted to stay away from.

He quickly ran out of the room before anyone could say anything else, and the others followed after him.

Noah was fine, but the others looked ready to cry on his behalf.

"What’s with that heavy look on your face?"

Perhaps it was because Noah had just met the head researcher, or perhaps it was because these espers felt like the kids from the labs whom he had helped, but Noah could not help but feel a little fond of them and regard them kindly.

He wanted to help these kids as much as he could. At least, those were his feelings for now.

"You don’t have to explain anything to Alan and Daniel. I will handle them on my own, alright?"

Noah told the espers, who suddenly looked relieved and nodded.

"Alright. We will take you to their quarters for now."

The espers hurriedly told Noah to use his pass for the lift. But there was one problem—Noah’s pass was of the lowest level, so it could not access the floors where Alan and Daniel lived.

This was not something that anyone had taken into account.

But while everyone else panicked, it was not an issue for Noah. Hacking the main system and increasing his authority level was child’s play to him.

But it was not something he could do for now.

"Don’t worry about it. I will get Alan to help me with it later, and I will emphasise that it was not your fault."

Noah assured the espers around him, who suddenly felt like terrified kids.

He truly was growing fond of these kids.

The espers exchanged glances before finally relaxing, although they still looked as if they were expecting something terrible to happen at any moment.

Noah found their reactions rather amusing, but he did not comment on them and simply followed their directions, wondering how Alan and Daniel would react when they found out about his new position.