Chapter 35: Background

Chapter 35

In a minimalist-styled office.

A stern-faced man in a formal suit sat upright at his desk. Beside him stood a graceful woman, dressed in the attire of a secretary, exuding an air of deep respect.

“Aya, what’s wrong with this year’s Battle Tower data?”

“Why have so many participants withdrawn early?”

“Even the average number of floors cleared has dropped compared to previous years!”

“Is it the quality of this year’s candidates?”

…

“Minister, sir!”

“I’m not fully informed of the specific situation.”

“I’ll go and consult the relevant staff!”

Seeing the stern middle-aged man nod slightly, though his expression remained displeased, Aya hurried out, carefully closing the office door behind her.

Once outside, Aya seemed to transform entirely. The respectful composure vanished without a trace, replaced by the strong, self-assured aura unique to a woman of authority in the workplace. Even the subtle charm that had lingered on her face now gave way to a poised, capable air.

She strode through the labyrinthine halls of the office building, her long, elegant legs moving with practiced ease, until she arrived at a quieter floor. Producing a key, Aya unlocked her private office.

Lifting a slender, fair arm, she gently wiped the faint sheen of sweat from her brow, then picked up a white cup from her desk and pressed a button on the nearby coffee machine.

With a soft hiss, steaming, dark-brown liquid poured forth.

As the machine worked, Aya picked up her compact phone, her gaze fixed intently on the screen as her slender fingers glided across it. Dressed in a fitted work outfit, she leaned lazily against her desk, a hint of languor settling over her.

She picked up the fragrant coffee with her right hand, sipped lightly, and let the rich bitterness fill her lips.

Gradually, the tension in her brow eased, replaced by a rare moment of relaxation.

Suddenly, her eyes brightened as she found the contact she sought in her directory. She dialed.

The dial tone sounded only twice before a composed male voice answered.

“Hello, Aya, what can I do for you?”

“Give me a report on the Battle Tower’s situation this year,” Aya inquired, her voice crisp yet tinged with languor.

…

On the other end, the man fell silent, as if at a loss for words. After a moment, with some trepidation, he began to explain.

Aya listened quietly, sipping her coffee from time to time, still leaning against her desk.

But as the man’s voice grew quieter, his tone guilt-ridden, Aya’s expression shifted from calm to surprise. She slowly straightened, forgetting even to drink her coffee.

At last, the man’s voice, tinged with embarrassment, declared, “That concludes my report.”

Silence enveloped the office, so deep that even the fall of a pin might have echoed.

With a complicated look, Aya took a mechanical sip of her coffee. A coldness spread on her tongue and seeped into her heart.

Setting the now-cold coffee on the desk, she spoke softly to the man, who seemed about to offer an explanation.

“Say no more. Send me a written report.”

“The Minister wants to see it.”

Tucking away her small phone, Aya furrowed her brow, her mind heavy with thoughts.

…

The familiar minimalist office once again.

Tap… tap…

The sound of fingers drumming on the desk reverberated through the room.

The stern middle-aged man, now wearing glasses, pored over the report with intense focus. Aya stood by, hands folded neatly before her, head bowed with a slight stoop, respectfully waiting in silence.

Minute after minute passed before the man finally finished reading. He removed his glasses, set them down, and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“I understand the situation now,” he said gently.

Aya breathed an inward sigh of relief, realizing the Minister would not be venting his anger on her today. Her face brightened as she spoke.

“I just don’t know what the logistics department was thinking this year. How could they mistakenly assign such a powerful spirit to the third floor? The responsible party must be dealt with severely!”

The stern man waved a hand dismissively.

“It’s not their fault this time. Even if I’d been present, I might have misjudged that Fluffy Sheep.”

“Though the results are poor this year, discovering such a promising candidate is quite an achievement!”

A hint of curiosity in his eyes, he asked, “Do we have specific information on this Fluffy Sheep?”

“We do!” Aya quickly retrieved a few thin sheets from her document pouch and handed them over.

The man read with great interest, murmuring to himself.

“Hm… a rental spirit?”

“Only one task recorded?”

“A newly registered spirit!”

“Wait… let me see… Case?”

He laughed heartily. “Well, that fellow certainly found a good candidate.”

Aya asked quietly, “Minister, this Case—he’s from the Arena of Death…?”

“That’s right!” The stern man’s eyes grew distant, lost in memory. His rigid features softened with a rare smile, recalling something amusing.

“Back then, he and I were in the same squad in the Battle Division. We fought together, trained spirits together, received punishment together for failed missions… Now that I think about it, those were precious memories.”

“Unfortunately, he was too honest and straightforward, not shrewd enough, and offended many in the division, losing his chance to further his career there.”

“But it seems he’s finally learned the importance of adaptability,” he chuckled.

Catching himself, the man cleared his throat awkwardly, then resumed his calm, steady tone.

“Since Case has changed, I’ll support him with all my might.”

“Aya!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Give this Fluffy Sheep an S-rank task evaluation! Award it the top-grade Thunder Stone from storage as its mission reward! And tell Silo in logistics that this Fluffy Sheep is under my protection!”

“Yes, sir!” Aya replied loudly, feeling a touch of envy for the Fluffy Sheep, wherever it might be now.

In truth, the first two rewards weren’t so crucial; it was the last one that mattered most. Aya knew that this lucky Fluffy Sheep now had the backing of Lecafort, Minister of the Battle Division. The influence of such powerful support would be immense.

From now on, not only would its task rewards be upgraded, but even the difficulty of its assignments would likely be adjusted downward. Its safety within the organization would be significantly enhanced—after all, who would dare offend the Minister of the Battle Division?

All these benefits, with a single word from the stern man, would flow to Lu Yun, who at that very moment was peacefully lost in sleep.