Chapter 100: That’s Why I’m an S-Rank
Inside the executive boardroom of Aureline Apparel Group, one of New Liberty’s largest luxury clothing companies, an atmosphere of quiet tension filled the air.
The room itself reflected the company’s reputation for elegance and prestige. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooked the glittering skyline of New Liberty, allowing the morning sunlight to pour inside and illuminate the polished walnut flooring. A long oval conference table, carved from a single slab of dark oak, dominated the center of the room. Leather executive chairs surrounded it, each fitted with built-in holographic displays and wireless control panels.
One wall displayed rotating advertisements of Aureline’s latest collections: formal wear, casual fashion, sportswear, and luxury accessories, while another showcased framed photographs of the company’s most iconic designs worn by celebrities, Hunters, and influential government officials.
At the far end of the room hung the company’s emblem: a golden thread woven into the shape of a phoenix, accompanied by its motto in silver lettering.
"Fashion Woven to Inspire."
Coffee cups, digital tablets, and stacks of quarterly reports rested neatly before each executive. The atmosphere smelled faintly of freshly brewed coffee mixed with expensive perfume and polished wood.
Around the table sat more than twenty department heads: design directors, marketing executives, financial analysts, production managers, and legal advisors, each dressed in impeccably tailored suits bearing the unmistakable quality of the very company they represented.
At the head of the table sat the company’s CEO, his fingers interlocked under his chin as he silently observed the large holographic screen suspended in the middle of the room.
On it was a paused news broadcast.
The image displayed a young man with striking pink hair, standing beside an icy white-haired beauty and a towering green-skinned orc woman.
The headline beneath read:
"Blue Rift Conquered: Valecrest’s S-Rank Student Captivates the Nation."
No one spoke. The meeting had officially begun.
"It’s high time we renewed our contract with the Ashards, and offered a more lucrative one," the CEO, Antoine Jacobs, started the meeting with this sentence, causing everyone to shift in their seats. Although he was the CEO, the company thrived on collective decisions, not an autocratic ruling; that was why the meeting was called.
Antoine was a tall, handsome man in his mid-thirties with shaved black hair, pale green eyes, fair skin, and a nicely trimmed beard. He wore an executive suit and circle-rimmed glasses.
"What do you think? If you have another suggestion, feel free to bring it up. We can’t let others take such a promising figure."
He added, relaxing in his seat, while the others went silent in thought. Antoine smirked slightly, his eyes glinting with wisdom and experience. He already knew the outcome. After this meeting, Aureline Apparel Group would earn its first-ever S-Rank awakened individual and move up the ranks in the fashion industry. If they were lucky, they would gain two more S-Ranks, bringing them to the top 3 in the fashion industry.
The company was fairly new, but it was already part of the top clothing companies in all of New Liberty, with branches all across the various cities of the country. Silas was the key to their ultimate success. If they manage to secure him, they will make him rich, in turn, making them richer. It was a Win-Win. Plus, Silas’s parents had a hand in the company’s current successful position. It was time to honor that contract and give him something better.
’Don’t let me down, guys. I believe you.’ Antoine thought as he waited for the other board members to voice their thoughts.
***
While the largest meeting Aureline Apparel Group had ever seen was going on, Silas could be seen walking down the streets with his new friend, Alpha, who looked like he’d prefer to be anywhere but with Silas. As for why they were currently walking together, well, let’s say, after Silas’s "Flex on ’Em!" episode, he got hit with a huge punch from reality.
After listing all the stuff he wanted to buy to make his apartment... better, should I say, he went online to check the prices of the stuff and immediately experienced a breakdown and withdrawal. He went from high to low in less than ten seconds and started questioning reality.
It wasn’t because the things were expensive, which they were, but because he felt like he was going to be scammed. So with that, he called in his girls for a meeting, which somehow, strangely, Alpha found himself sitting beside Gromda, who listened to Silas so attentively that he suspected something was going on. Something really suspicious. Not that he was going to say it out loud.
He was even scared shitless sitting beside the seven-foot-tall orc woman, talk about saying anything stupid. The meeting had ended with Silas and his girls agreeing not to buy anything for the apartment, but he would rather contact the attorney and his assigned lawyer to secure one of his estates close to campus. That was a better plan.
As for why Alpha was there, the poor guy didn’t know. And now, he found himself walking through the busy streets of the market district with Silas, who was dressed as if he had an issue with breeze and comfort.
They rounded the corner and stopped in front of one of the largest electronics stores in the district. A gigantic holographic sign floated above the entrance.
[NEXUS MOBILE — Official Flagship Store]
Rows of display phones rotated behind crystal-clear glass, each accompanied by floating specifications and promotional discounts.
Alpha looked at the building.
"Why are we here?"
Silas pushed open the automatic doors.
"Shopping."
"..."
"I like shopping."
"Liar."
"How dare you." Silas looked offended.
"You literally had a breakdown twenty minutes ago after seeing furniture prices."
"That was character development."
"..."
"It made me a better man."
Alpha pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I’ve known you for like... three days."
"And?"
"I’ve already aged."
The moment they stepped inside, several employees looked up. One of them recognized Silas almost instantly despite the casual clothes.
"Eh...?" She blinked. "P-Pardon me..."
Silas immediately raised a finger.
"No interviews."
"I was going to ask if you needed assistance."
"Right."
The poor employee awkwardly smiled.
"I can do that too."
A few minutes later, they sat in one of the premium customer lounges. A salesman in a navy-blue suit placed several flagship phones onto the table.
"Our newest model, the NM X-9 Hunter Edition. Military-grade frame, anti-impact display, satellite communication, emergency Hunter signal, waterproof, dustproof, mana-resistant casing..."
"I’ll take four."
The salesman froze. "Excuse me?"
"Four."
"Different colors?"
Silas thought for a second.
"Black."
"All four?"
"Yes."
The salesman nodded rapidly.
"Excellent choice."
Then Silas added,
"Actually... one of them needs modifications."
"Oh?"
"The screen needs to be larger."
"Certainly."
"The body too."
"..."
"The frame should be thicker."
"..."
"The buttons should also be bigger."
"..."
"The speakers must be louder."
The salesman slowly typed everything down.
"May I ask... why?"
Silas answered with the most serious face imaginable.
"The owner has big hands."
"...How big?"
Silas casually gestured upward.
"About seven feet tall."
The salesman blinked.
"Basketball player?"
"Something like that."
That was not entirely a lie.
"The charging port should also be reinforced."
"Understood..."
"And increase battery capacity."
"We’ll have to custom-manufacture the chassis."
"Perfect."
"Delivery will take approximately two weeks."
"No problem."
The salesman couldn’t help asking one final question.
"May I know the customer’s profession?"
Silas smiled. "Professional giant."
"..."
"..."
"...I... see."
The salesman definitely did not see. After paying, which made Alpha stare at the receipt with horror, they walked back outside carrying three bags. The customized phone would be delivered later.
Silas immediately handed one sealed box to Alpha.
"What’s this?"
"A phone."
"I know it’s a phone!"
"Congratulations."
"I mean, why are you giving me one?"
Silas shrugged. "Because friends should be able to call each other."
"I already have a phone."
"It has more cracks than the screen."
"It still works."
"So does a horse."
"They both need replacing."
Alpha looked at the expensive flagship phone in silence.
"This costs... way too much."
"So?"
"I can’t accept something this expensive."
Silas shoved it into his chest.
"You can."
"Why?"
"Because I said so."
"That’s a terrible reason."
"I have many terrible reasons."
Alpha looked at him helplessly. "You’re seriously weird."
"I’ve been told."
"No... seriously."
"I know."
"People don’t just buy their friends, phones."
Silas tilted his head in confusion.
"I do."
"Why?"
Silas answered as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Because you’re my friend."
Alpha opened his mouth and closed it, only to open it again.
"You’re going to make making friends seem too easy."
"Maybe you’ve just been around the wrong people."
Alpha looked down at the unopened box.
"Thanks."
Silas grinned. "There it is."
"What?"
"The first normal thing you’ve said all day."
"Shut up."
"You’ve become much ruder."
"You made me this way."
Silas dramatically placed a hand over his chest.
"I’ve corrupted another innocent soul."
"You’re definitely enjoying this."
"Of course."
"You’re unbelievable."
"That’s why I’m an S-Rank," Silas said, spreading his arms.
Alpha stared at him for three whole seconds, and he sighed so deeply that even nearby pedestrians looked over.
"I regret becoming friends with you."
Silas burst into laughter.
"No, you don’t."
"Yeah... I probably don’t."