SS Awakening: My Monster Merging System!

"When you introduced yourself the first time, you should have mentioned that."

Helen could not help but frown. "Why?"

"So I could have reassessed your level of trouble much earlier."

"So now you finally understand how troublesome I am?"

"I do," Zich nodded. "It’s worse than I thought."

Helen chuckled lightly but her expression soon became serious again.

"My father is a very good person."

"There’s only one way to find out."

Helen blinked.

"Why?"

"I have to meet him first and assess him myself."

Helen looked at him, her gaze changing slightly.

"You’d better be careful. He’s not easy to fool."

"I generally don’t lie."

Helen stared at him with a look that asked, Seriously?

Some time later, the two entered the administrative building together.

People were already waiting inside the conference room.

Arnold sat near the main seat. Cole stood off to one side, while several Association recorders sat behind a long table. Jaden had also arrived. He sat far away from both Helen and Zich, his expression as cold as ever.

When he saw the two of them enter together, his gaze became even colder.

Zich pretended not to notice.

Since this was an internal Human Faction report, there were no representatives from Velhari present. Valok and the others would likely conduct separate negotiations afterward.

After taking a seat, Zich swept his gaze across the room.

Security was tight, and everyone was unusually quiet.

Soon, even the sounds from outside disappeared.

The conference room door opened as a middle aged man walked in.

He wore a simple dark jacket. There were no weapons on him, and he released no aura whatsoever. Yet the instant he appeared, the atmosphere in the room changed.

Cole straightened his posture, Arnold stood up, and even Jaden’s body tensed slightly.

Zich observed the man, trying to see what was so special about him that elicited such a reaction, but he couldn’t sense any aura or pressure from him.

The man looked at Helen first. A gentle smile appeared on his otherwise calm face.

"Feeling better?"

Helen looked slightly embarrassed.

"Father, this is a reporting room."

"That’s why I asked formally."

Helen decided to keep her mouth shut.

Arthur walked over and briefly examined her arm. After confirming there were no serious issues, he finally turned his attention toward Zich.

At that moment, Zich felt as though something incredibly precise had swept across him.

It was not killing intent.

Nor was it a detection skill.

It was simply a gaze.

Yet that gaze was uncomfortable.

Arthur smiled.

"So you’re Zich Grave."

"Yes."

"I’ve heard many things about you."

"Hope they’re good?"

Arthur chuckled.

"Some of them were very good."

"That makes me feel slightly better."

"Only slightly?"

"Feeling too safe tends to cause problems."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Cole glanced at Zich with a complicated expression. Most newcomers would be careful with every word in front of the Association President.

This guy, on the other hand, sounded like he was chatting with an ordinary person.

Arthur did not seem offended.

On the contrary, the interest in his eyes became even more obvious.

"Thank you for saving Helen."

Zich glanced at Helen before looking back at Arthur.

"It was the most useful thing to do at the time."

"Not because of kindness?"

"Yes."

Arthur froze briefly before letting out a soft laugh.

This time, even Arnold looked at Zich.

Helen lowered her head, seemingly unwilling to let anyone see her bashful expression.

After Arthur took his seat, the report officially began.

Arnold first asked Helen to recount the entire incident.

She explained everything clearly. From the Blue Secret Realm turning into a Golden Secret Realm, to the outer courtyard, the Undead Knights, the Knight Captain, the Oath Trial, the underground city, the Soul Stone Passage, and finally the Devouring Bone Giant.

Jaden only added a few details when necessary.

As for the Oath Trial, the market square, and certain things he had done, he hardly mentioned them at all.

When the discussion shifted to the boss’s death, the atmosphere in the conference room noticeably tensed.

Cole looked at Zich.

"How exactly were you involved in defeating the boss?"

Zich had already prepared an answer.

"That boss relied on soul stone supplies. Once the supply was destroyed, its recovery ability weakened. The others kept it occupied while my summons created a critical opening."

"Which summon?" Cole pressed.

Zich looked at him.

"Are you sure you want me to explain my entire summoning setup here?"

Cole frowned, his lips parting.

Arthur suddenly spoke before he could say anything.

"No need to rush."

Looking at Zich, he maintained the same gentle smile.

"Your answer is interesting. It sounds true, but incomplete."

Zich’s eyes flashed. He knew this man was troublesome. He was able to see through him easily. Fortunately, Zich already had a countermeasure in place.

"I have personal secrets. I trust the Association President would respect that."

The room fell silent for a moment.

Arnold stared at Zich, wondering where the kid was getting this audacity. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

A moment later, Arthur laughed loudly.

"I think I’m beginning to understand why Helen said you’re troublesome."

Helen’s expression stiffened.

Zich glanced at her.

"You called me troublesome?"

Helen looked away, acting like someone who had been caught doing something wrong.

"Aren’t you?"

"I’m not."

Watching their reactions, the smile in Arthur’s eyes deepened.

Jaden, who felt left out, was barely keeping himself in check. His fist was clenched under the table, digging into his palm and causing a small pool of blood to form beneath his hand.

Not even he, who had known Helen for a long time, could act this way with Arthur, yet this lowly gravekeeper’s son could.

"One final question."

Arthur’s face suddenly turned serious.

A bad feeling suddenly rose in Zich’s heart.

Arthur looked at him, his voice still gentle.

"Zich Grave."

He paused briefly.

"Have you ever heard the name Master Shroud?"

Zich’s expression didn’t crack.

But inwardly, he let out a sigh.

As expected, Today was proving even more troublesome than he had imagined.