Chapter 148: Preparation to Find Alex
A Few Hours Earlier...
Unlike Alex, who had just arrived in the city, Lauren had been working long before the sun reached its peak.
The European branch of the Global Association stood at the heart of the fortified capital, an architectural marvel of white marble, reinforced mana glass, and steel. While not as towering as the central skyscraper in the East, the structure commanded attention with its broad, multi-leveled design.
Its wide, crescent-shaped front was flanked by two smaller wings, giving the building the air of an ancient temple fused with cutting-edge mana technology. Flags lined the front, swaying rhythmically in the cool breeze.
The insignia of the Association—a glowing silver circle bound by three intertwining bands—was carved into obsidian stone above the arched entrance, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat.
As the black, rune-etched vehicle came to a stop before the grand stairway, silence rippled through the crowd gathered at the front plaza. Agents, officials, and staff from various departments, many mid-conversation, fell quiet as the doors opened.
Lauren stepped out first.
She wore a sleek, navy-blue coat embroidered with faint silver patterns—subtle enchantments woven into the fabric that shimmered under the sun. Her dark heels clicked sharply on the stone steps, her long hair tied into a tight ponytail, revealing the sharp lines of her jaw. Her expression was unreadable, composed, eyes carrying a quiet but unshakable confidence. The kind that made people move without her saying a word.
Behind her stepped Liam—taller, broader, his jacket unbuttoned, revealing a partially armored undersuit that hugged his athletic frame.