CHAPTER 540: DEPLOYED TO THE DELTA OUPOST

"Congratulations," Commander Rurik said, his gravelly voice cutting clean through the murmurs that still floated around the council chamber. He leaned forward slightly from his seat, fingers laced over the long table as a smile tugged at the edge of his otherwise stern face. "You passed."

For a moment, I stood still, uncertain if I’d heard him correctly. Passed? After everything? I blinked, breath catching in my chest. I hadn’t even tagged a single person in the ridiculous game. I thought I’d failed miserably.

I was still recovering from the humiliation of running around the building like a headless chicken, only to realize they’d all been in the main hall the entire time. And now he was saying I passed?

I must have looked utterly lost, because Rurik let out a low chuckle. "Don’t look so surprised. The point wasn’t to win the game."

I raised a brow, wary.

"That letter from the Authority might’ve got you into the room," he continued, "but it doesn’t earn you a seat at this table. We needed to see who you are—not your resume, not your achievements. Just you."

The others nodded. Kaelion had an amused glint in his eyes. Seraphine rested her chin in her palm, watching me like she was evaluating my response. Even Ilyra Voss, who had barely spoken until now, tilted her head with a flicker of approval.

"Some people reach SS rank and start thinking they have to act a certain way," Rurik said, voice steady but firm. "Stoic. Untouchable. They let status go to their heads. We’re not like that."

He leaned back, crossing his arms as he spoke. "Here in the War Council, we deal with real life-or-death situations. We don’t have the luxury to waste time on politics, status games, or formality. That’s the Authority’s job."

I slowly nodded, absorbing his words. It made sense. In truth, I had been bracing myself for that kind of stiff environment—where every conversation was layered with veiled meaning, where everyone played chess with people’s lives. But this? This was... something else. Something more human.

"We’re an autonomous body," Rurik continued. "That means we’re responsible for ourselves and for each other. We believe in freedom—not just in how we fight, but how we live. A caged bird forgets how to fly, and we can’t afford that kind of thinking when we’re standing at the edge of a battlefield."

He smiled again, softer this time. "There’s no perfect way to do anything in a world full of chaos and variables. The test was to see which side you’d pick: the Authority or us."

I finally exhaled, the tension in my shoulders loosening. That was all the explanation I needed. I had come into the room feeling judged, out of place, and unsure if I truly belonged among such veterans. Now, I felt something I hadn’t felt in a long time—relief. And perhaps... acceptance.

"Welcome to the War Council," he said.

The air in the room shifted. I could feel it—something silent but warm. The unspoken acknowledgment of being one of them. I smiled. I wasn’t just here because of my rank. I was here because I chose to be.

Rurik wasted no time shifting the conversation. He brought up the emergency deployments immediately. "Right now, two situations demand immediate attention. First—Delta Outpost. It’s become a critical point of conflict, and we need at least three of us on it. Second, there’s a highly unstable S+ rank gate near the Frostwall Range. It’s already claimed the lives of three S-rankers. I think one of us can manage it."

Then he looked directly at me.

"Mia, as a new member, you get first pick. You may also choose standby if you wish."

I didn’t even hesitate. "Delta Outpost."

The silence that followed was sharp.

Seraphine looked up from her seat, surprised. "You’re aware that’s the most dangerous mission currently?"

"I am," I replied.

Valen Drazmir narrowed his eyes slightly. "Many won’t return from Delta. Are you certain that’s your decision?"

I met his gaze. "Yes."

Rurik raised a brow, folding his arms once more. "I don’t think you understand the scale. This is a full-scale battlefield. Not a scouting mission. It will be bloodshed, Mia."

"I understand."

There was a moment of tension. One of the elders frowned. "It’s rare for a newcomer to go for the top-priority assignment. Especially when there’s so little intel."

"True," Rurik murmured, then looked back at me with a nod of approval. "But I think it’s the right call."

"What?" another voice muttered, barely concealed surprise in their tone.

"She’s young," Rurik continued, "but charismatic. She’ll be a morale booster for the troops. Besides, if she’s going to be part of this council, she needs to understand the kind of decisions we face."

Kaelion chuckled. "The new generation sure doesn’t lack courage. I like it."

I didn’t know what they expected me to say. That I wanted to test myself? That I wanted to fight for the Human Domain? All those things were true.

But deep down, there was another reason—one that none of them could guess.

Zero.

I had heard through my father that the Authority, bolstered by the sudden influx of S-rankers due to the rank-up potions, was preparing for an all-out war. These potions, though rare and expensive, had tipped the balance. Those once stuck at the peak of Rank A+ were now breaking through. The number of S-rankers had exploded in recent months, making what was once hailed as legendary feel almost... common.

The Authority wouldn’t sit idle. They saw this as a chance to turn the tide against the devils. An opportunity to reclaim lost territories—and more.

Zero’s parents, recently elevated to a gold-grade guild, were likely to be recruited. And Zero... he wouldn’t stand by if his family was involved.

That meant he would be drawn into this, one way or another.

So I had to go to Delta Outpost. I had to be where he would be.

I didn’t say any of this, of course. I simply stood tall, waiting for the final confirmation.

Seraphine finally sighed, her arms crossing over her chest. "Guess I’ll tag along. Someone needs to make sure you don’t get yourself killed on day one."

Nock raised his hand from the far end. "I’ll go too. Better to have a solid frontline."

Rurik smiled. "Three confirmed. Excellent. We’ll depart at first light tomorrow. Rest up. And make peace with whoever you need to."

The meeting began to break apart, quiet discussions forming between the council members as plans were drafted. I stood near the window for a moment, gazing out at the horizon. The capital skyline shimmered with the last rays of dusk, a fading orange bleeding into violet and deep indigo.

Out there, somewhere, Zero was moving. Just like me.

He was making his choice, and now, so was I.

I was no longer just a professor. No longer just a prodigy.

I was a member of the War Council