The Transcendent Recruit

Two men dressed in the Combat Department's uniform were called to take Alexander away, and the latter said nothing or tried to resist. Then Ava turned towards Claire, who was clearly confused about what had just happened.

"You are Miss Claire, isn't that right? I had heard you worked hard in the Research Department even if someone tried to hide it."

Claire's eyes got wide with surprise at what Ava had just said.

"My Lady… I don't know what rumors you had heard, but Dr. Alexander had been a great boss. I know it isn't my position, but what happened with Mr. Mark was a misunderstanding. If you don't mind my opinion, I think it would be best to forgive him."

As Claire finished her sentence, the sound of something snapping came from somewhere. Everyone turned towards the source and noticed the otherwise calm-looking Erinne holding the two halves of her pen.

Ava raised her hand in front of Erinne and turned to her to let her know there was no reason to get mad.

"I must admit, I wasn't expecting you to say something like that. You are really loyal even if you know you were used. As for the 'rumors' you are talking about, I was aware of them for some time and made certain they were genuine. I just wanted to see if he would reveal his real self at any point, but unfortunately, he didn't. Even if he is a genius, stealing ideas isn't something we approve."

Claire lowered her head as she seemed too afraid to keep looking her Boss in the eyes after what she said. It could also be because she was scared that Erinne would charge at her if she continued looking at her idol.

"Well, Miss Claire, why don't you take your seat? After all, it is against the protocol for Department's representatives to stand like that. "

Claire raised her head as she heard that, looking at Ava with evident confusion. But it didn't last long, as she slowly took her seat. After all, the meeting wasn't over, and they needed representatives of All Departments.

"Now that you all have finished your reports about your tests, we are to decide where to assign our newest recruit. "

Ava raised her hand to have two fingers touching her chin, making it seem like she was in deep thought.

"Lady Ava, shouldn't we wait for the Research Department to actually test him?" unexpectedly, it was Erinne who spoke.

"Well, given how well he tricked his way to the top, I doubt it would be any different for further tests. "

Everyone, including Erinne, turned towards Ava with a look of confusion. What trick was she talking about? Erinne turned towards Mark throwing dagger stares at him, but Ava once more made a sign that everything was ok.

"Well, trick, I guess, isn't the right way to describe it as, after all, what he did used his own skills and effort. Still, compared to others, he had an advantage that most didn't. Isn't that right, Mister Transcendent? "

Mark looked at Ava with apparent confusion, which was what he felt. He had never heard of referencing someone, and it wasn't anything close to what Turck-kun had told him. Although there was a lot that he hadn't, or at least Mark presumed.

Everyone also seemed surprised and looked at Mar with more impressions in their eyes than before. Even the 'Red Devil' and Erinne did so, although the latter tried to hide it.

"Although, I must admit that I am surprised to see the variety of talents you have been given. The Keepers have really taken a liking to you. "

This time Mark understood part of what she referred to as Keepers was something he had read before in Truck-kun's messages. That was a way that some people called the Higher Beings to keep the balance and peace between the realms.

"Lady Ava, are you confident you should speak of that information openly? "Erinne said as she looked towards Claire for the last part.

"It is ok. I wasn't planning to keep it a secret either way. Even if that information is released, Mark has proved himself capable of handling himself against another of the power of a Transcendent unless he gets ambushed by one. But the last part, we can fix it quickly with our resources. "

Mark was confused about who she referred to about the other Transcendent he had faced but then had a thought. But he needed to clear something up first.

"What is a Transcendent? "

Everyone turned towards Mark with a look of confusion, even Erinne. Only Ava didn't have that look on her face, but still, she turned to face Mark.

"I guess that would be the first time you would have heard that term since our Organization uses it for people like you who were given some power from the Keepers. What you mentioned before was partially true, except that I wasn't the person who returned. That was my mother, who was pregnant at the time of her return. She had mentioned her adventure days, and because of how she got pregnant with me, I was given some similar ability to control my Aura as she could back where she was sent. That makes me similar to a Transcendent, but my powers are limited because I don't have the Blessing of the Keepers. But you are the real deal, as we have detected your Blessing from the Keepers. Fortunately, we were first; otherwise, you would be in a lab, possibly in pieces."

Her story surprised Mark, and if it was some days ago, he wouldn't believe it, but at his current self, it didn't sound that crazy. Still, he was curious about some parts of her story.

"So how many Transcendent have you found? "

Since she mentioned that he had fought one, which he presumed to be Rubes, he was curious how many others existed. Erinne most likely was one too, or at least, so he assumed.

"Well, quite a few have taken the first step to possibly become Transcendent, and of course, we have recruited some of them that showed real promise. Rubes and Erinne are two of those people, as you seem to already have presumed so. But there were a few that didn't seem to fit our Organization, but we monitored them. You beat one of them the other day, even if you tried to hide it."

Mark didn't need to think much about it as he knew who she referred to. After all, he hadn't fought many people, and the only ones that she could refer to was that group that Sarah was investigating.

'Give the difference in the exp give the person who shot Sarah should be the one she is referring. '

"But enough chatting. It is time to announce where you will be assigned."

Mark was confused, as she hadn't asked him where he wanted to be assigned. But thinking about it, it made sense for her to choose as she was the Boss.

"Mark will work in the Mechanic Department from Monday to Tuesday and help in the Research Department on Wednesday and Thursday. He will also help the Transportation Department with the Friday deliveries and any special deliveries above A-Rank. He can also participate in any mission of the Combat Department as long as the Head or Second in charge of the Department he is working on the day of the mission agrees, unless it is a mission of B-Rank or higher. Everyone understood?"

Everyone nodded, as this was a solution that worked for everyone. The Research and Mechanic Department had him for more days than the other two, but the Transportation and Combat Departments could request his services at any time.

The outcome also surprised Mark initially, but after thinking it over, it made sense for Ava to make that decision. After all, he was a Jack of All Trades in this situation, so she should use this in the best way.

It also worked for Mark, as each Department had its benefits in helping him improve, and now he had access to all of them.

Ava told everyone except Mark to leave, and everyone did without a second question. Since it was a Saturday, Mark didn't need to get work on any of the Departments, but every representative, except Erinne, had asked him to come to visit them if he wanted to be toured about his new place of work.

Only Mark and Ava were in the meeting room, as even Erinne was told to leave.

"So now that we are over with your briefing, how about you tell me what I asked you before? "

Mark expected her to bring it up. She had asked him to show someone's face, which he was sure she referred to Truck-kun.

"Why do you think I can call him here? "

"Oh, so you got him? That narrows the list a bit. But to answer your question, I know from my mother that the ones we call Transcendent aren't that much different from those sent to the other Realms, although they are weaker. Still, given their similarities, and since both have a Blessing of the Keepers, which connects the two, you should be able to speak to him and tell him to appear," Ava explained calmly.

"I see. Well, what you say is true, but not entirely. Even if my knowledge isn't comparable to yours, the ones you call Keepers can't show themselves here. After all, getting themselves a D-Tier is not an option for them. But I can indeed communicate with him, or more specifically, he can communicate with me. I cannot do it at will and have to wait for him to make a 'call 'first, so to speak. "

Mark could feel Ava was reading every move he made to understand whether he was lying. But what he said was true—- at least partially.

D-Tier was the mortal Tier, which Keepers couldn't reach unless they wanted to take the risk of losing their life. Truck-kun was a special case, but even for him, it wasn't great to reach the lowest Tier possible.

As for Truck-kun, being the one calling, it wasn't that far from the truth, as, after all, he rarely answered when Mark tried to speak to him.

"I see. Then let me know if that Being calls you back, and try to gather any necessary information from him. Try to see if he truly can't get here, or at least if he can help us develop our tech to go to other Realms. "

Mark nodded but then looked at Ava with widened eyes.

"You doing what?!? "