Preparedness Prevents Peril (Big Chapter Seeking Monthly Ticket)

Ika Republic · Mote City

Inside a vast, luxurious office decorated with all kinds of statues, He Ao stood beneath the bright lights and looked up at the sun obscured beyond the broad floor-to-ceiling window. Strands of red light spilled from the sun's edges as he slowly spoke.

"Are the heads of all the branches here?"

The crowded people behind him fell silent at the question.

They glanced at one another, and a ripple of unrest passed through the crowd. They seemed unsure how to answer He Ao, afraid that one careless word might anger him and turn them into one of the corpses lying below.

"Seth summoned all the branch heads near Mote City here,"

A somewhat thin young man standing at the very back of the crowd spoke tremblingly. At the sound of his voice, the crowd naturally made way, opening a path toward He Ao.

The young man hesitated, but still stepped onto that path. Passing through the various looks of contempt, mockery, and pity from the people on both sides, he walked behind He Ao and continued,

"About thirty percent of the branch heads from farther away haven't arrived yet."

He Ao turned to look at the young man behind him. He appeared to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight, thin and gaunt, with somewhat messy brown hair. He asked, "What's your name?"

Under He Ao's gaze, the youth lowered his head somewhat tremblingly and said slowly, "Como, Director of the Ika Republic Branch Liaison Office."

"Branch liaison officer?"

He Ao swept his spiritual sense over Como's body. Judging from his extraordinary energy, he seemed to be D-rank.

"I'm responsible for communications between Mote City headquarters and the various branches, receiving and sending all kinds of materials, then archiving them."

Como explained slowly.

"So,"

He Ao looked at