⁕⁕⁕
"No." Said Juno with a stern expression, crossing her legs on the sofa.
The executive and director both stammered in their words.
"M, miss Juno, please give this a chance. Our planet is in danger. We need all the help we can get."
The young lady simply gazed at the window's city lights, a hand on her cheek as she constantly mumbled to herself. After a moment, she turned back to the people in dismay.
She lifted a finger as she spoke, "You'll have to get through my father first."
"Who is your father the-"
'Rrrrriingg, rrrringgggg'
Juno flinched. Her phone abruptly began ringing in her slingbag. She immediately rummaged through it and answered the call.
"..."
"Yes dad... No.. Yes, I've.. Wait, what?"
Tap.
She then dropped the call.
"Is something wrong, young miss?"
The 12 year old sighed, "My father's in the building."
Executive Mattheo scanned Juno's papers once more, lifting a brow. His face then paled.
H, how could I have overlooked this?
Juno Fuschia Delford. Delford!
It was the same billionare family whose names and faces were all over the billboards. Top Models, CEO's, Doctors, name it!
Just then did the elevator chime. A tall, refined man strode his way in followed by security. He cleared his throat, fixing his collar and eyed Juno. "You're that SSS+ Ranker, am I correct?"
Allistair Delford. Shivers ran through the executive's spine.
Juno's hands slid the phone back into her bag, sneaking the empty stick along with it.
"Ha.. ha. How did you guess?"
He raised a brow at Juno. "I didn't. I knew."
The atmosphere felt strange as the director cleared his throat and spoke up, "Apologies, sir Delford. Your exceptional daughter had broken the world's limits with the SSS+ Ranking. We are in a dire need of summoners-"
"My 12 year old being a hunter?" His ominous gaze dawned over to the two. He did not at the slightest seem pleased with the idea.
Executive Matteo stepped up and spoke, "We understand that she's too young, but there seldom would be an opportunity like this."
Juno stood silently among the adults, lost in thought. This was no ordinary deal. He had a point.
No one could forsee the future arrival of an SSS+ ranker, or if there'll even be another. But at the same time, Juno was 12.
The little girl's safety was her top priority. Exposing herself to the world would make her a vulnerable target, no matter her strength. Besides, Juno had no intention of becoming a celebrity. Far from it, actually.
"For the proposal that Juno Delford will be under Adelcross's Headquarters and Internationals, we'll gladly accept any of your conditions, sir Delford."
Merely imagining of becoming a spectacle for people's entertainment, Juno would rather delete her favorite videogame.
"..I'll do it."
Her words left the room in silence. Allistair turned to Juno.
"Juno, you don't have to force yourself-"
She raised a palm. "I'll state my conditions."
Almost immediately, the director clicked on their watch, hovering his fingers over the hologram-like projector before his eyes. "You may continue, miss."
The teenager took a deep breath.
"One, I'm allowed to refuse when I want to." Just as she finished, the projector recorded her words into text in real-time. The blue hue was eminent in her eyes as she continued.
"Two, I'll remain anonymous. Nobody will speak of my identity besides the highest-ranking individuals of this organization."
"..Three.. You will be responsible for my injuries."
Juno swiftly stole a glance at Allistair, whose brows furrowed towards the director with a gaze she'd never seen before.
"F, four.." Dad can be scary at times, Juno thought. "You will only contact me during important times."
"..And five. No one in this organization is allowed to harm me in any way. That's all."
Without further thought, both the director and executive looked at each other and back to Juno with a reluctant nod.
"Proposal accepted," Juno then extended her palm to the director. "If these conditions aren't met, the deal is off." She smiled.
Their hands shook in return, with a benign smile on the director, Aidan Myers's face.
"We will not disappoint, miss Delford."
Juno turned to Allistair. "..Dad.?"
All of a sudden, he knelt to the ground at Juno's eye level with a soft smile.
"You are free to do whatever you want." He shuffled his little girl's hair. "But if I ever see you in pain, you know dad will burn this place, right?"
The executive's face paled.
Juno, on the other hand, laughed it off.
'He couldn't possibly be serious, right?..'
"Ah, young miss." The director interrupted, handing a smartwatch similar to the executive's. "This'll be your personal device. The guide will pop up once you click this button."
Juno had worn the ordinary-looking watch on her right wrist.
"Let's go home." Juno felt the warmth of her father's hand as she bid goodbye to the funny-looking executive.
⋆
'Rrrrngg, rrrng!'
"Yes?" The director sat upright before the hologram.
The device buzzed, "Aidan. We know you have the 1st ranker."
Aidan Myers sighed, adjusting the camera closer. "Indeed. They rejected the first offer, so we granted them the freedom of conditions."
"And?"
"They've been registered. I'll send the conditions to IHQ."
The woman on the other side with a stoic expression took a sip of her coffee. Her golden badge shone brightly, [IHQ President.]
IHQ.
International Headquarters, the system behind the Decagons. The highest-ranking organization in the continent.
'Beep!'
[Recording Sent!]
"..I see." The woman rubbed her hands on her face then onto her temples in silence. Aidan patiently waited for her reply.
"Juno Fuschia Elinora Delford, am I right? I shall abide to her conditions."
Aidan nodded, opening their desktop beside their smartwatch.
"She must prove herself loyal. After all, the rebels have been gaining power day by day. Keep watch for the Aquamarines." She typed on her status window, zooming in on a familiar face.
'Knock, knock.'
The room whirred. {Dr. Aira Worths, requesting to enter.}
The status window closed, as the director locked the contract and switched the desktop off.
"Sir Aidan."
Aira Worths bowed before him and the camera, entering with ease. She then continued, "I came here to check on the TS-300. I assume it had been of use this day."
He lowered his head after her, "By all means."
The device buzzed again. "Arrange the 1st ranker a meeting with the IHQ in 3 days. I expect them to be present."
Aira gaped at the screen, shoulders stiffening by the mention of the first ranker. Their movements slowed, carefully configuring the machinery's code as they eavesdropped in the conversation. Unexpectedly, the words slipped out of her mouth.
"Who's the first ranker?"
The director froze, followed by the president who faked a cough.
"Dr. Aira, we understand your curiosity but this is confidential."
"O, oh. Sorry, president."
The doctor sped their movements up, carrying the machine and swiftly making an exit from the office.
Aidan scratched his head, raising a brow while typing various codes on his projector. Aira Worths was a newly hired scientist. She invented the TS-300 and was a middle-class member.
"Only high-class members can know of the girl's information." He cleared up.
"I understood that well."
"President.." He paused, watching the live-broadcasted news on the internet. "How will we celebrate this achievement without disclosing her information?"
The woman remained silent, eyes averting to her desktop.
"She will require a fake identity," She discreetly muttered.
In response, Aidan's expression told her to elaborate.
"Fake names, appearances, and even background information."
"..Isn't that against the law?"
The president scoffed in reply, "Unless it is issued by the government."
Aidan could feel his last few days approaching. He swallowed the lump in his throat, nodding reluctantly with the president. 'Issued by the government' meant arranging more documents and scheduling more meetings.
Abruptly, a faint 'bang!' was heard outside the door. The director's attention shifted over to it for a while.
Is someone out there?
However, the moment he checked the cameras, nobody was seen.
Must've been my head.
⋆
The newly hired doctor stood outside the door with an unidentifiable expression. She carefully leaned in to the door, eavesdropping on the conversation.
...
"Fake identity..?"
Aira Worths had an eerie grin on her face. Her hand snapped, emitting an aura of 'teal blue' while facing towards the unsuspecting security camera before listening in.
So this is how things will be.
They didn't even mention the girl's name, how aggravating, she thought. Her ocean-blue irises rolled, inspecting her nails as her elbow accidentally tapped on the door with a faint bang.
Her eye twitched, hurrying out the door before the effects wore off. She pushed on the machine roughly, dragging it as far as possible from the cameras.
'I'm not that far off the game, Adelcross.'
-
Juno plopped herself on the mattress, activating the system.
'Whiir'
⌜◁System:
- Member name: Star [See Properties]
- Channels available (3):
- Decagons [Elite]
- Local Rankers [Elite]
- Global Rankers [Elite]▷⌟
..What a way to start my journey.
'Tap'
'Ping!'
{'plaeyr #6' has mentioned your name!}
⁜— plaeyr (#6): @Star
⁜— fishyy (#4): i dont think they'll respond
Juno suddenly felt weird. These weren't ordinary people. They were top rankers, just like Juno.
It felt as if she was in a videogame.
⁜— emmettomelette (#5): they're from Adelcross too!
Huh, another person from Adelcross was in the Decagons as well.
The [Decagons]. Juno had heard of their organization before.
The place where all the Global rankers from 1-10, hence the name, hold meetings & have trainings. Their headquarters were located in the border between the 5 nations protected by probability.
Being apart of this league only meant Juno was in for stepping into hell.
"..Meetings.. eugh."
Juno didn't loathe the ideology of meetings. What she loathed however, was the people she'd have to converse with. She simply wasn't in the mood to talk to strangers in the moment.
'Tap'
⌜◁System: Channel closed! Returning to home..⌟
'Ding!'
⌜◁System:
- Member name: Star [See Properties]
- Channels available (3):
- Decagons [Elite]
- Local Rankers [Elite]
- Global Rankers [Elite]▷⌟
'See properties.. What type of powers do I have to be this strong?'
'Tap!'
⌜◁System:
- Titles: Aurum's Timekeeper
- Rankings:
- Local Ranking: #1
- International Ranking #1
- [Decagons] Ranking: #1 ▷⌟
The word timekeeper gave Juno a clue to her power.
One she'd only heard of in novels.
No, she could be delusional.
But it wouldn't make sen-
⌜◁System:
- [Special Attribute]: Time Control. - Lvl. ???⌟
Shivers ran down her spine. The mana that flowed within her stiffened, as her brows furrowed slightly to resist the pain. Juno now had one ultimate goal.
Keep her identity safe.
Once people discover their strongest hunter being a harmless-looking 12 year old, many will expectedly use this to their advantage. Not only will Juno's name be broadcasted worldwide, her privacy would be invaded as well. It would be like walking in a thin string above the fiery abyss.
⌜◁System:
- Other attributes:
- Time WorldView Lvl. ???
- Watch Blades Lvl. ???
- Aura Lvl. ???
- Warp Lvl. ???
- [See more] ▷⌟
What Juno found strange was the level bar. It was clear she was an SSS+ ranker, yet, the system hindered her sight from seeing her skill levels. It was almost as if she wasn't meant to see nor obtain these powers.
'Tick, tock.'
She glanced at the ticking smartwatch and back to the window. Her lashes pried shut, breathing deeply as a mysterious golden aura arose about.
Juno grunted at the slight pain from the mana, forming fists as she shifted her focus.
'Shaa....'
'Tick, tock, tick..'
The consistent sounds of a ticking clock echoed in her mind, and as soon as her eyes opened, she was greeted by various other system windows.
⌜◁System: Personal Attribute 'Time Worldview - Lvl. ???' has been activated! ▷⌟
...Huh?