I Awakened The Most Powerful System

Chapter 6

Six

Ren quietly observed the flow of mana within Rhys’s body, his expression carefully controlled. To anyone watching, he appeared calm and neutral, but beneath that composed exterior, he was genuinely impressed.

Rhys’s mana was far from refined. It moved unevenly through his body, unrestrained and untrained, surging without structure. Yet despite its chaotic nature, the flow itself was smooth. More importantly, Rhys’s body accepted mana naturally, circulating it without resistance.

That kind of innate compatibility was rare, especially in someone who had only just awakened.

“So, Guildmaster,” Rhys asked after a moment of hesitation, his voice cautious but hopeful. “Did you find anything about my sister?”

Ren’s jaw tightened slightly. He did not answer right away.

“To be honest,” he said at last, “we have no concrete leads.”

Rhys’s chest tightened.

“Our top investigator suspects involvement from Olympus affiliated agents, but we cannot confirm it yet. I have personally been working on this case for nearly twenty hours straight, and so far it has been a complete dead end.”

Ren’s voice carried a restrained frustration.

“No active trails. No confirmed sightings. No information on her condition. We do not even know what the enemy’s objective is.”

Rhys felt the fragile hope he had been clinging to crumble.

“Our intelligence division has already deployed agents within the Tower and is gathering information from every available channel. Still, this kind of operation leaves very little behind. It will take time.”

Silence settled between them.

“I want you to understand something,” Ren continued, his tone firm. “I will not abandon this search. If it comes to open conflict with another faction within the Tower, we will not back down.”

He met Rhys’s gaze directly.

“The Tiger live by one rule. One for all, and all for one. Violet is one of us. We will not allow harm to come to her.”

The sincerity in his voice was unmistakable.

“I understand, Guildmaster,” Rhys said quietly. “Thank you for everything you are doing.”

The words felt hollow even as he spoke them. He knew Ren was doing everything within his power, yet the lack of results weighed heavily on him.

“In Violet’s absence, I consider her family my responsibility,” Ren said. “That includes you.”

Rhys looked up in surprise.

“I have assigned Emma as your caretaker. From what I understand, you still need to complete high school. The academic year ends in March, and association regulations prohibit Ascenders from entering the Tower without a completed secondary education. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” Rhys replied, nodding.

Even after awakening, the law was strict. Without a high school diploma, a Ascender permit could not be issued.

“It is only three months,” Ren said. “Finish school, obtain your license, and then we will help guide you forward. Depending on your aptitude, the guild will assist you in selecting an appropriate university within the Tower.”

He paused briefly.

“We cannot replace your sister. But while she is gone, this guild will be your family.”

Rhys felt something tighten in his chest.

“Thank you, Guildmaster,” he said earnestly. “I really appreciate this. If there is anything I can do to help with the investigation, or anything else, please let me know.”

Ren nodded, satisfied.

He had expected anger. Demands. Reckless pleas to join the investigation despite lacking qualifications. Instead, Rhys had shown restraint and maturity well beyond his age.

As Rhys exited the office, he noticed Joe lingering nearby. The man waved him over and casually draped an arm around his shoulders.

“Did Ren say anything useful?” Joe asked quietly. “Any progress at all?”

The question made Rhys uneasy. Joe was part of the investigation team himself, so the inquiry felt oddly placed.

“Not really,” Rhys replied.

At that moment, Emma appeared in the hallway. Joe immediately withdrew his arm.

“Take care, kid,” Joe said loudly, patting Rhys twice on the back. “If you need anything, Uncle Joe’s always got your back.”

He gave Emma a nod and walked away.

Emma narrowed her eyes slightly as she watched him leave, but said nothing.

“Miss Emma,” Rhys said cautiously, “the guildmaster mentioned that you would be taking care of me. I am not really sure what that involves.”

Emma let out a slow sigh.

“First of all, do not repeat anything the guildmaster tells you. Especially details related to your sister’s case. That subject is sensitive and should not be discussed openly.”

She fixed him with a stern look.

“Yes, I have been assigned as your caretaker. You will be staying with me temporarily until you finish school.”

Rhys stiffened.

“I should warn you,” she continued, “I am very strict. You will not slack off. Your studies, your diet, your sleep schedule, and your physical conditioning will all be monitored. I expect discipline.”

She waited for his response.

“I understand,” Rhys said.

He had countless questions swirling in his mind, but now was not the time to ask them. For the moment, he chose to listen.

And endure.