Chapter 416: A New Position

"In that case, I’ll take my leave," said Alexander, turning toward the exit.

"Wait, before that, we have an offer to make you," said Scott, stopping him with a wave of his hand.

"I’m listening," said Alexander, turning around to face them.

"The offer is simple: I want you to be the substitute Vice-Leader; that way, you’ll answer to Stephen and me," said Scott.

"And what are the obligations?" asked Alexander, narrowing his eyes.

"You’ll share our enemies," said Scott. "To comply with regulations, I must inform you that no Platinum rank can be forced to join a faction, and they are free to establish their own. So you can join us or choose to create one yourself."

"If I choose to make my own, will I clash with you?" asked Alexander.

"It’s certain that you will," said Scott. "However, if you join us, we advance together and retreat together, meaning your enemies become ours. Consider it."

"I would rather be independent," said Alexander without hesitation.

"I respect your decision, but I must tell you that the fact that you are a Platinum Rank and a member of the TMC has spread," said Stephen, taking a step forward. "So whether you join us or not, you’ll be in the same boat. Take time to decide."

Stephen raised his voice toward the ceiling.

"All-Seeing Eye, grant him Vice-Leader level access," said Stephen.

[Access Granted.]

The system’s voice echoed through the room before Scott handed a device to Alexander.

"Here," said Scott, passing him a smartphone. "We can no longer spy on you. The All-Seeing Eye monitors no one above the Manager level, much less a Vice-Leader like you. Talk it over with her and make your decision."

"I’ll consider it," said Alexander.

Scott offered his hand. They exchanged a handshake and Alexander walked out of the room. Stephen followed behind him.

"Consider it, the situation is dangerous," said Stephen, walking alongside him down the corridor. "If you could evade danger before because there were restrictions placed on you, things are different now. On the surface, you have the federation’s protection, and as a Platinum Rank, you should be able to travel the world without consequences, but the reality is the opposite."

"What do you mean?" asked Alexander, keeping his eyes forward.

"Think about it, we saw the data from your battle against Big Black," said Stephen. "We saw his minotaur transformation; he never showed that to the federation, he kept it as his trump card. That skill should have granted him Platinum rank."

"But he wasn’t that strong," said Alexander. "He was weak."

"You say that because you killed him, but you’ll learn in time," said Stephen. "Platinum isn’t just a rank, it’s a right, and Platinums are scarce. You can imagine why."

"Did they die in The Breach?" asked Alexander.

"That’s right," said Stephen with a sigh. "The Breach isn’t what you were told. How do I explain it to you?"

"Say it as it is, straight to the point," said Alexander.

"Yes, it’s a spatial rift," said Stephen. "You can imagine it as a desolate desert. On the surface, there’s nothing but sand, rocks, and ruins. However, it’s inhabited by beasts we call Gravediggers."

"Gravediggers?" asked Alexander.

"Yes, humanoid beings that wander the area hunting undead," said Stephen.

"Undead exist?" asked Alexander, turning his head.

"You came from a world filled with alien races and you’re surprised undead exist?" said Stephen with a smirk. "You’re a vampire, basically one of their kind. It would be interesting to see if the undead recognize you as one of their own."

"I’m not a real vampire. I can transform into one," said Alexander.

"It doesn’t matter whether you’re a real one," said Stephen. "What matters is whether they believe you’re one of them."

"What else is down there?" asked Alexander.

"Relics," said Stephen. "That’s why we go to that place, for the relics. They call them Awakening Stones; we don’t know how they’re created, but we know they awaken skills... I have a theory, want to hear it?"

"It would be an honor," said Alexander.

"My theory is simple," said Stephen, slowing his pace. "That race couldn’t reproduce like us, they were asexual beings. Somehow, they could encapsulate their memories, strength, power, and vitality into small orbs that they would pass down to descendants. I know it sounds stupid, but I roamed deep into that place; I was lucky perhaps, but I found ruins containing tanks and a mural depicting them presenting an orb to an infant."

"What happened to that place?" asked Alexander.

"I was ambushed by the Gravediggers," said Stephen, his expression darkening. "You can think of them as echoes of the past wandering the ruined realm. I believe they are trapped souls in that land, doomed to fight the undead. No matter how many we kill, their numbers don’t drop; it seems like they respawn elsewhere and return. We have explored little. Don’t think of them as mindless monsters from movies, they are terrifying. Each of those Gravediggers can fight on par with one of our Platinum warriors. Sending anyone inferior would be suicide, it’s not worth it."

"And what does all of that have to do with Big Black?" asked Alexander.

"It sounds packed with benefits, right?" said Stephen, looking up at the ceiling. "But he tried by every means possible not to be promoted to Platinum. Platinums must go to The Breach, no exceptions. If you die on this planet or another, there will be records of you; all factions use phones like ours, which aren’t hard to make. However, none of that works in The Breach."

"So if someone disappears up there, no one investigates," said Alexander, catching his drift.

"Exactly, everyone will say you got unlucky," said Stephen, stopping in front of the main doors. "There are no investigations, no questions, nothing. I can bet that half of those who have died in that place didn’t die by the Gravediggers or the undead, but by other humans."

Alexander looked at the terminal in his hand and let out a laugh as he pocketed the device.

"I understand," said Alexander, glancing at Stephen before stepping through the exit. "Then I’ll make sure I’m no one’s prey when I set foot in that desert."