L17 Rank Benefits! A Personal Aircraft and Powered Armor

After hearing Ilis's words, Cairns's face darkened like a storm cloud.

Ilis had been in the spotlight for the past ten days, but Cairns had no clear picture of the project's actual progress.

He had assumed the rating process would drag on for several more months before producing a result.

As long as there was time, he still had room to maneuver.

If he could delay Ilis for a few more months, he had a good chance of opening a new route and earning his promotion.

After all, the surges in the Dark Universe had gradually begun to subside. Through his astral journeys into the Void Abyss, he had found a relatively safe approach.

But he had never imagined Ilis would secure her promotion so quickly.

And she had skipped straight past L25 to L26!

"Damn it! Why didn't I hear a thing from the Rating Committee or Human Resources?"

Cairns had contacts and people working for him in both departments.

Yet over the past ten days, he had received no intelligence about Ilis's promotion.

By then, Su Yi had received his own badge. He hung the L17 badge around his neck, bowed slightly, and smiled.

"I owe my leap straight to L17 and the Goddess's recognition to your unwavering support, Supervisor Cairns!"

Cairns's eyes tightened at the sight of Su Yi's badge.

A jump of ten ranks spoke for itself.

Cairns snorted. "What does your promotion have to do with me? Don't act like we're close!"

Su Yi chuckled and raised his bare left wrist. "If not for this, the higher-ups wouldn't have taken notice."

"My rating and the young lady's wouldn't have bypassed Rhode Star and gone straight to Company Headquarters for oversight, either."

At Su Yi's devastating remark, the corners of Ilis's mouth rose despite her efforts