Chapter 352: You Have Been Promoted

Luxury black SUVs rolled into position while several men in matching suits scanned the surroundings with keen eyes.

A tall young man descended the staircase clad in white coat that fluttered lightly in the morning breeze.

He had golden-blond hair that reflected the sunlight and a calm expression effortlessly exuding confidence.

Almost immediately... someone screamed.

"OH MY GOD!"

"IT’S HIM!"

"ANGEL TRIGGER!"

The airport erupted as people rushed toward the barriers with their phones shooting into the air.

Some even began livestreaming immediately.

"I can’t believe it!"

"What’s Angel Trigger doing in Misty High?"

"This is insane!"

"First West Einstein..."

"...and now Angel Trigger?"

"Is today some kind of awakened convention?!"

Excited voices echoed throughout the terminal.

Angel Trigger was one of the most recognizable awakened from an overseas gang.

A young fighter whose reputation extended far beyond his own city.

Despite the commotion, Angel Trigger himself remained composed.

He acknowledged the crowd with a small wave before continuing toward the terminal exit.

Several guards calmly maintained a protective perimeter around him.

As they walked, one of his subordinates leaned closer. "Sir."

Angel Trigger didn’t stop walking. "Hm?"

"West Einstein."

Angel Trigger’s eyebrow rose slightly. "What about him?"

"He was here."

Angel Trigger finally slowed. "When?"

"Less than half an hour ago."

His interest was immediately piqued. "He left?"

"Yes."

"Flight to Orizon City."

Angel Trigger smiled faintly. "...Interesting."

The group continued toward the airport exit where luxury vehicles waited in a long convoy.

Just as Angel Trigger stepped beneath the covered entrance, another subordinate discreetly pointed across the parking area.

"There."

Angel Trigger followed the direction of the gesture, spotting a smooth black vehicle which had just pulled up.

The rear passenger door opened and a young woman wearing professional business attire calmly stepped inside.

Her glasses caught the morning sunlight for the briefest moment before the door closed again.

As the engine started, Angel Trigger posed a question. "Who is she?"

The subordinate answered immediately. "Aria."

"West Einstein’s chief assistant."

"She’s returning to Shadow Reapers Headquarters."

Angel Trigger’s eyes lingered on the departing vehicle until it disappeared into traffic.

A slow smile spread across his face. "...Very interesting."

His men remained silent as Angel Trigger folded his hands behind his back.

"The universe..." he chuckled quietly. "...has remarkable timing."

One of the guards looked toward him. "Sir?"

Angel Trigger’s smile became noticeably more calculating. "West Einstein leaves the city..."

"...and his most trusted assistant remains behind."

He glanced toward the road where Aria’s car had vanished. "It almost feels..."

"...like fate is trying to make things easier for me."

None of his subordinates responded.

They had worked under Angel Trigger long enough to recognize that particular smile.

It usually meant... someone’s carefully laid plans were about to be disrupted.

As the convoy pulled away from the airport and merged into the bustling streets of Misty High City, no one inside Aria’s vehicle had the slightest idea that another powerful awakened had already taken an interest in the Shadow Reapers.

And hundreds of kilometers away, with his plane steadily crossing the clouds toward Orizon City, West remained completely unaware that a new player had quietly stepped onto the board the very moment he left the city.

•••

•••

Elsewhere across the city...

Monday morning breathed new life into Haden Groups.

Employees hurried through the lobby with cups of coffee in hand while elevators continuously opened and closed as another busy workweek officially began.

For Liz... every step toward the building filled her with uncertainty.

She stood outside the revolving doors for several long seconds with her employee identification card resting tightly in her hand.

After everything that had happened... her former boss sent crashing through the executive office windows... her disappearing for days... she genuinely expected one outcome.

Termination.

She let out a nervous breath before stepping inside.

The receptionist looked up and the moment she saw Liz, she immediately smiled.

"Good morning, Miss Liz."

Liz blinked. "...Good morning."

There was no hostility, awkward silence or strange looks.

She cautiously made her way toward the elevator.

Several coworkers who normally paid little attention to her suddenly greeted her.

"Morning, Liz."

"Glad you’re back."

"You look much better."

One even held the elevator doors open for her.

She entered almost absentmindedly. "...Thank you."

The ride to her floor felt unusually quiet but the pounding of her remained ridiculously loud in her ears.

She stepped out and the entire office was already buzzing with activity.

Conversations paused briefly as people noticed her arrival and to her surprise... several employees actually stood.

"Good morning, Miss Liz."

One after another, they greeted her respectfully.

Her eyes widened. "...Morning..."

She slowly walked toward her desk and eas surprised that nothing had been touched.

Everything remained perfectly organized.

Before she could even sit down, a familiar colleague approached. "Oh, there you are."

"The new boss has been looking for you."

Liz stiffened. "...New... boss?"

The woman nodded enthusiastically. "You didn’t hear?"

"Our previous director has officially been removed."

"The board appointed someone else over the weekend."

Liz stared. "...Already?"

"Apparently it happened very quickly."

"I don’t know the details."

"But everyone says headquarters stepped in."

Another employee joined the conversation. "And congratulations."

Liz looked confused. "...Congratulations?"

"You’ve been promoted."

She blinked twice. "...I’m sorry..."

"...what?"

The employee laughed. "You’ve been promoted to Senior Project Coordinator."

"The announcement came through this morning."

"We’re all jealous."

Liz simply stood there, unable to process what she was hearing.

She wasn’t fired or suspended... instead, she had received a promotion.

Moments later... a middle-aged man wearing a navy-blue suit stepped out from one of the executive offices.

The room immediately quieted upon his arrival.

He smiled warmly. "You must be Liz."

"Yes..."

He extended his hand. "I’m Daniel Foster."

"I’ll be overseeing this department from today onward."

"It’s nice to finally meet you."

Liz shook his hand automatically. "...Likewise."

"I’ve already reviewed your performance records."

"They’re impressive."

"I look forward to working with you."

His tone carried genuine respect unlike her former superior.

After a brief conversation, he excused himself to continue introductions with the rest of the department.

Liz slowly looked around, noticing the change.

Coworkers who once ignored her now consulted her before making decisions... Several junior staff even asked for her opinion regarding ongoing projects and from this moment on, she found herself giving instructions during meetings.

People listened, no one interrupted or dismissed her.

It almost felt unreal.

She quietly stared through the large office windows. "...West..."

A small smile appeared on her face when she thought of him.

Whatever he had done before leaving Misty High City... hadn’t merely solved her problem, it had completely changed the course of her career.

The burden she’d carried for months... had disappeared almost overnight.

She whispered softly enough that only she could hear. "...Thank you."

---

Meanwhile... on a the same floor, the executive office remained sealed.

Yellow police tape stretched across the entrance.

Evidence markers still rested on the floor where investigators had documented the violent confrontation days earlier.

The shattered panoramic window had yet to be replaced causing cold wind to drift freely into the abandoned room.

Standing quietly inside, was a lone figure in long white coat with black gloves covering his hands.

A dark face mask concealed the lower half of his face, leaving only a pair of sharp, observant eyes visible.

His gaze slowly travelled across the ruined office, observing the cracked desk, broken furniture and deep gouges left in the floor.

He proceeded to walk toward the massive opening where reinforced glass had once stood, stepping casually over the police tape.

He paused at the edge and far below, the busy streets of the city stretched into the distance.

A cold chuckle escaped him. "So..."

"This is where West Einstein threw my brother through."

He looked down over the edge, feeling not a single ounce of fear. However, this height was enough to make an ordinary person uneasy.

"...Interesting," he closed his eyes briefly. "It’s been a long time..."

"...since my fingers tingled this much with anticipation."

Slowly, he flexed both hands, opening and closing his gloved fingers one after another... almost as though imagining the confrontation to come.

He spent another minute silently inspecting the office before finally leaving.

Eventually, he emerged near the main office area and from around a distant corner, he could clearly see the employees at work.

His attention settled upon an immensely beautiful woman with black silky hair.

She stood beside several coworkers reviewing documents while calmly giving instructions.

People listened attentively while the masked man watched in silence.

"So..."

"That’s the woman who was involved in the incident."

His eyes narrowed slightly as a cruel smile formed beneath the mask.

"I could rip her to shreds right now..."

He considered the thought for only a moment before slowly shaking his head. "...No."

"That would be far too simple."

His gaze remained on Liz. "West Einstein..."

"You’ll learn that destroying someone isn’t always about killing them."

"Sometimes..."

"...it’s about taking apart every piece of the life they’ve built."

He turned away from the office, towards the nearly empty corridor. "One by one."