I Became The Administrator of A Sacred Ground
Chapter 56: The Careerist

Chapter 56: The Careerist

"About three weeks ago, I had a small run-in with some robbers in an alleyway. During the fight, I dropped some of my belongings there. Later, I went back to retrieve those things and discovered that the thugs had left some of their own stuff while escaping.

"Among them was a box labeled ’Strength Solution’, packed to the brim with vials. That’s all there is to the story."

Euri gave them the safest version of his excuses. No one would be able to verify the truth of this claim. If they investigated, all that would reveal would be a basic account of his run-in with the thugs and some blurry street footage.

Principal Serique held his gaze for a few seconds after he had spoken, but his face remained placid. Euri couldn’t tell if he believed it or not, not that he cared.

"Have you finished the entire box?" Boris suddenly asked. The scrutiny in his gaze was a lot easier to read.

Euri flashed him half a smile, no replies attached. Nadir got the hint and cleared his throat loudly.

"I guess that settles our main concern. It’s a good thing that you made it so far safely by yourself. But if you have more of those solutions left, I’d suggest seeking the assistance of someone who has experience in using them.

"Most of such lab-processed resources require specific methods of consumption in order to bring out their full utility. You don’t want to miss out on even the tiniest fraction of potential!"

"Thank you for the advice," Euri said. "But that isn’t the end of what I want to say. I have some questions that I’d like you to answer before everything else."

"Us?" Nadir shrugged, as if expecting it. "I’ll answer any question about the project once the papers are signed. To be honest, you won’t have many questions left after you take a look into the terms and conditions. We won’t hide anything that concerns you."

"It has nothing to do with what the project entails," Euri said insistently. Turning towards the principal, he fired his first question.

"Can you explain why you let the reporters in yesterday, knowing that we’d have been exposed easily? You knew that the qualification data was false."

The atmosphere in the office seemed to turn a little cold. Serique glared at him for a moment before sending a strange glance at Nadir.

"I owed someone a favor. The favor was used to let the reporters investigate your batch."

Euri didn’t need to ask who this ’someone’ was. Principal Serique was talking about the Helios Clan for sure. So he moved on to his next question.

"Then why did you step in later? The reporters would’ve succeeded if you had waited just a minute more."

Serique closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Between that favor and my responsibility to my students, the latter took priority, I suppose. Besides, I gave both sides a fair chance, however brief the window may have been. It’s their fault for playing with the food and wasting time."

So, between the interests of Helios Clan and Bloodfly Clan, the principal had ended up leaning towards the latter. No wonder he looked so disheveled today! He was probably getting chewed up over it.

"I see. In the future, if a similar scenario plays out in front of you, what would your choice be?"

The question this time made Serique frown in displeasure.

"What makes you think you’re qualified to ask me these things? Don’t you think you’re overreaching?"

That meant he wasn’t entirely sure of his footing yet. How interesting...

"My apologies, Principal. I have no more questions to ask you," Euri said, and then he turned back to face Nadir Bloodfly and his crew.

"You seem to be under the assumption that I want to join your project. I must correct this misconception. I don’t want to be a part of it. Everything I’ve heard so far about it has only fortified the decision."

Stunned, Nadir exchanged quick looks with every member of his group. He even looked at Serique, as if expecting an explanation.

In the end, he could only say, "...But why? This is a great opportunity—"

"Not for me, it’s not."

"Ah, I get it." Nadir nodded. "Since you already have substantial strength and promise of reaching Rank-1, it’s normal for you to find the project meaningless. But I assure you, you’re mistaken about the potential it holds.

"If you work with us, reaching Rank-1 would be far from your limits. Your abilities, your beast pets, and your understanding of the alien domains shall expand far beyond the ordinary Rank-1 superhumans!"

At this moment, a hesitant look phased past Nadir’s face, but he seemed to find some conviction in the mental struggle. In a lowered voice, he added, "And there is also a good possibility that you can reach Rank-2 if the project sees success!"

Rank-2!

Euri’s heart nearly leapt out of his chest.

Even he, a ’cheater’ who didn’t have to rely on these regular methods to increase his strength, couldn’t help but feel tempted. He didn’t even know the exact secret to becoming a Rank-1 lifeform. Yet these guys were making plans for a higher rank?

Until last month, nobody on the planet knew how to reach Rank-2 either. The recent cosmic notice claimed that the restrictions on their potential have been lifted now. Has anybody managed to make the breakthrough yet?

Why were these rookie superhumans so confident that they could make that breakthrough by relying on this project?

No, no, no, he couldn’t get lost in these distant dreams and empty promises. Nadir Bloodfly himself hadn’t managed to reach Rank-1. What validity did his bold claim have?

Euri didn’t want to find the answer out the hard way.

"Those sound like excellent benefits. I’m sure the duties that come with them aren’t simple and safe by any means. And that’s my main issue with your project. My safety is my top priority, no matter the circumstances. To me, living is more important than living as a superhuman.

"So there is no way I’m picking a career in contact with the deadly alien domains. I’d rather starve to death than volunteer for your experiments."

Nadir’s disbelief was not the only interesting reaction. Boris, for example, looked disgusted by the prideful show of cowardice.

Eskandar and Ania seemed rather sympathetic, nodding their heads in tandem. Merida was staring at him the way one would watch a fucked-up alien beast.

With a carefree smile on his face, Euri planted his final move.

"But of course, if your project has an opening for a safe corporate job that doesn’t require too much work, I’d be more than happy to fill the vacancy!"