Impending Trouble

Rustle! Rustle!

The sound of paper brushing against paper was all that could be heard in the conference room.

Their eyes were fixed on the documents they had been given. Everything about Heero and his deeds was written on them.

Everyone was interested in a new Chief Hero Instructor of the Hero League. A new position designed for this guy. It certainly made them all interested.

In the silence, one man raised his hand.

"But how? The money won't be enough to attract him, will it?" Jayden Duran asked doubtfully.

Jayden Duran, Legendary Class Ranker - Rank 6. He was the founder of the Duran Consortium. An organization that focused solely on the growth of rankers.

An organization that started with a small martial club. Now, the tiny martial club had become a huge organization feared by many.

Jayden Duran had seen the materials in his hand. No, he had also done his own research on Heero. He could find no way to entice Heero to join his organization.

"Money? This guy could make millions or even billions by opening his auction house. His income from the smithy and the Xing Pharmacy is also enormous. This guy is not short of money! As for authority..."

There was no need for Jayden to finish his words. Everyone knew who Heero was, Chief Hero Instructor. His authority was one of the highest in the city.

"That is why I am calling this meeting. We need to discuss what to do with this guy. We need him!" Park Haneul raised a paper.

"Within a few months, he managed to turn a useless Wood Class Hero into a famous Emperor Class Hero. Not just one, but two!"

"Then this guy!" Park Haneul held up another paper. It was a paper with Butcher Wang's photo on it.

"This guy is a lowly hunter, but within a few months, he transformed into someone on par with a Gold Class Hero. He became an excellent hunter who managed to capture one of the fastest aerial beasts, the Luminous Hyacinth.

"Not only that, but he easily won the Free Fighter during the Fighter Anteriority. The other two junior disciples, Kang Dong-Woo and Xu Lingxun. There's no need for me to go into detail about their final match, is there?

Park Haneul's statement was met with silence. Even Jayden Duran, who had brought up the subject, was silent.

No doubt, they really needed someone like Heero. Not only to get through the current crisis they were facing but also to grow for the future.

"We need him! Money and authority may not be able to get him on our side. But I believe that everyone has a weak spot, a weakness, including this guy!"

"No matter how, we have to get him on our side!" Park Haneul continued with a mad look on his face. He was deadly serious about bringing Heero into the Ranker Alliance.

"This is insane! Are you going to declare war on the Hero League now? The two Supreme Guardians might not interfere, but what about The Elder?" A yellow-skinned middle-aged man with a thick beard immediately objected.

Nayan, Legendary Class Ranker - Rank 17. This guy was a ranker from Mongol House, the descendants of Mongols. One of the most influential families in the core region.

A few Legendary Class Rankers nodded at Nayan's objection.

This Xing Heero was someone the Hero League held in high regard. Touching him was tantamount to declaring war on the Hero League.

If they could persuade Xing Heero to join them, it might be worth going to war against the Hero League. If Heero joined the Ranker Alliance, they would automatically get two Emperor Class Heroes in their formation.

What if they failed? The risk of failure was much greater than the risk of success. If they failed and faced the wrath of the Hero League, not only would they not survive the crisis. The Ranker Alliance would sink even deeper.

"Kuhuhu... Really? The savage Mongol is afraid of the Hero League? Are you serious?" Park Haneul grinned at Nayan.

"You..." Nayan pointed his finger at Park Haneul, but no word came out of his mouth other than 'you'.

"Do you think they can afford to make war on us? Come on, don't be stupid. We are not the only ones who have suffered, the Hero League has suffered as well!"

"Even if we failed to get that guy on our side. Apology and compensation is what we have to do. It's worth the risk!" Park Haneul continued with a shrug.

After his words, the conference room fell silent again. Everyone in the room was thinking about the possibility of a war between the Hero League and the Ranker Alliance.

With Park Haneul's words, everyone could only agree with him. Just like what Haneul said to them, the Hero League could not afford to go to war with them in such a situation. An apology and compensation for what they had to do when the situation got out of hand.

"Besides, if this guy doesn't want to change sides, we can use his family as a bargaining chip with his secret. We don't necessarily need him, but we do need his secret technique. I think his two wives are worth his secret technique, right?" Park Haneul sneered.

The other rankers were somehow convinced by Park Haneul. The risk was minimal, while the reward could be great.

"I agree with the plan!" Hanzo Keiji was the first to agree.

The temptation of the secret technique was too great to refuse. Any power with a secret technique was bound to prosper, just like the old family of Bai, Kim, Musashi and Wu.

In the end, their greed overcame their concerns. They all agreed on a plan to get Heero on their side.

*** ***

Meanwhile, Heero was oblivious to the Ranker Alliance's plan. He was preoccupied with the awakening.

After watching a total of twenty awakenings, Heero came to the conclusion that the Awakening Elixir was a kind of stimulant for the existing inner energy in the human body.

But of course, not every elixir could be successful in awakening an ability. It all depended on how much internal energy they had.

Of the twenty chosen ones, only eight were successful. Eight of them had one thing in common: they had thick coloured energy and less grey energy inside their bodies.

As for how they could use the inner energy. That remained a mystery to him. They had no control over their internal energy, but somehow they could stimulate it and use it to perform a certain technique.

Just like the guy who could summon the wind and the guy who could turn his hand into a sharp blade. Somehow they stimulate the energy in their body.

These people used their instinct to use their internal energy. Just like a beast spitting fire out of its mouth, they were using their instinct to use their internal energy.

That was his conclusion after watching twenty awakenings. But of course, it was not the final conclusion.

He had once seen someone who used their internal energy without understanding Ki. Long Bin, the old man from The Elder. Heero had seen him using his internal energy during the fight against the specters. Not only Long Bin, the Chief executive, Bai Xian Ming could use his inner energy well.

"Don't you have any interest in taking one of them as your apprentice?" Bai Xin Yue could not help but ask as the lift went up.

They were on their way back to Heero's office after two full hours of watching the awakening process.

Kang Seo-Yeon also pricked up her ears. She was curious as well.

Heero did not answer until they reached the office.

"No, I am not looking for someone talented to be my apprentice," he shook his head and sat down in his chair.

He put his hand on the table and looked at the two girls with interest.

"What about you two? Would you like to learn from me?"