11 Spy? Part Two

The next day...

Leo gathered everyone at the Spiritual Stairway. "Everyone, today we will get every one of you to use your merits you earned recently to go through another opportunity at the Spiritual Stairway."

"But Sir! What if we want to save our merits for later?" Ryker questions.

"All of you are still weaklings! Getting stronger should be your priority now! 10 merits can be easily earned when you are much stronger!" Leo reprimands with rage in his face.

As the youths begin to ascend the stairs one by one after Leo's words, Percy also begins his climb. Spiritual energy starts to flow through his body into his heart.

[Host! It seems that the Stairways had been neutered! The outflow of energy is significantly lesser than before!]

"Hmm, they may have installed it with new measures to prevent the same incident from occurring again." Percy ponders in response to the System, "Will you have enough to recharge yourself?"

[It won't be sufficient to exit power saving mode, but I will still be able to unlock a single new functionality.]

"Okay, since they have installed new measures, they may be on a lookout for suspicious activities, make sure you do not absorb too much energy at one go in case we draw unnecessary attention to ourselves," Percy instructs.

As Percy climbs the stairs, he notices that the youths are taking their time this time, even Charlotte has mellow down and climb the stairs slowly.

The charge percentage of the System continues to slowly tick up as Percy walk up the stairs leisurely since the flow of energy is much weaker and slower than the last time, allowing his mind to drift as he thinks of Lucian and how he is doing on his own.

Within his thoughts, he lost track of time as he felt tranquillity while climbing, as it had been quite a while since he felt free to indulge in his thoughts and dreams without any other presence.

[Host! Host! Wake up!]

Suddenly, Percy breaks out of his inner thoughts as he notices that there are no more steps ahead of him. Looking back, he finds everyone, including Leo looking at Percy with a gapping expression on their face.

Finally noticing the situation, he realises that he had unknowingly climbed all 888 steps of the Spiritual Stairway! This feat is impossible even for well-seasoned soldiers, much less a recruit like Percy!

"System! Why you did not remind me!" Percy howls in his mind as he panics and thinks to himself that he is now going to draw more attention to himself! Now Abigale would be more suspicious of him and there is no way to explain it this time!

[Host, I have been calling out to you but you did not respond.]

Percy curses himself that sometimes he is the biggest threat to himself! His mind scrambles as he thinks of a way to get out of this sticky situation. Suddenly, a gust of wind blows through his face as Abigale appears beside him, laying a hand on his shoulder.

"Mr Percy Turner. Either you are an absolute failure of a Spy, or you have a talent unheard of in the whole of Arsenal Stronghold. Either way, I believe we have much to discuss." At this moment, Abigale and Percy disappear from where they were standing.

Before Percy realises it, he is already in Abigale's office, with her sipping a cup of tea.

At this moment, Leo charges into the office, flinging the door wide open and exclaims, "Hey! Abigale! Do not be rash! He may not be a spy!"

"I am not rash, I have been waiting for you before we begin, take a seat." Abigale offers while reaching out for a phone, calling someone. "Dad, we need your presence here."

Percy feels an intense pressure in the presence of these two veterans as they glare at him, studying him. Suddenly, the door opens again, this time a neat looking old man in his 70s with a full beard and bald head walks in.

"Abigale, can't you let these old bones rest?" The old man nags as he takes a seat while Abigale serves him tea. "What happened that called for my presence?"

"Sir! This young man right here managed to climb all 888 steps of the Spiritual Stairway!" Leo respectfully answers. "Abigale here suspects he may be a spy, but from my impression of him, he is too naive to be one!"

"He may also have been too good an actor and fooled you!" Abigale remarks.

Percy remains silent as he looks alternatively between the both of them arguing back and forth as cold sweat starts to form on his head.

"Enough! Let's hear what the young man have to say." The old man raises his voice to stop the argument and motions for Percy to speak up.

Percy takes a deep breath, calming himself down and replies simply, "I am not a spy. Sir!"

The old man looks into Percy's eyes while Percy maintains his gaze. After a short moment, "He is not a spy. His eyes are not clouded with impure thoughts."

"But Dad! There are too many abnormalities around him! He not only climbed all 888 steps of the spiritual stairway but also managed to rally his fellow recruits into working together and hide his presence from my detection!" Abigale argues.

"Or he may be a rare talent that will become a pillar of Arsenal Stronghold's defence in the future." The old man calmly responds as he sips his tea. "Enough Abigale, you may continue to monitor him, but he is innocent until proven guilty."

"Percy, you may excuse yourself now." The old man instructs.

"Yes Sir!" Percy gratefully replies.

"You need not call me sir, I am no longer a military officer, address me by Mr Armitage." Arthur Armitage corrects as he waves Percy away.

After Percy left the office, voices of argument can be heard between Leo and Abigale behind the close doors. Percy proceeds to join his fellow recruits on the next class without staying to hear the commotion lest he attracts attention to himself again.