In Seoul, the CAB building was already overflowing.
Officials who had spent their entire careers dealing with conventional crises suddenly found themselves facing something far beyond any existing protocol. The main conference hall buzzed with overlapping voices.
"Multiple countries confirmed S-ranked gates." "China cleared theirs thirty minutes after Korea." "The United States is still engaged." "Europe gate still active."
Someone slammed a folder onto the table. "Stop talking over each other."
The room fell silent. Director Adrian Cross stood at the head of the table, sleeves rolled up, exhaustion clear but his voice still sharp.
"Status."
An analyst stood immediately. "Satellite confirmations indicate at least fourteen simultaneous S-ranked gates across major population regions."
A digital map appeared behind them. Red markers lit up across the screen: Seoul, Shanghai, Mumbai, Los Angeles, Tokyo, London, São Paulo.
Director Cross folded his arms. "And casualties?"
"Minimal in Korea."
That answer caused several officials to glance up. "Why?"
The analyst hesitated. "...Aurora Covenant and Regulated Order engaged immediately."
The room shifted. Someone muttered quietly, "Of course they did."
Another official spoke. "And the System Index?"
The display changed. Ten names appeared. Three highlighted:
Lucien Ardent - Korea
Elias Verdan - Korea
Kaida Myrr - Korea
Director Cross stared at the screen. "...Three."
"Yes, sir."
"The world's first authority index just declared Korea the most dangerous awakening hotspot on Earth."
Another official leaned forward. "That list cannot be confirmed. The System's evaluation may be flawed."
A quiet voice spoke from the back of the room. "No."
The room turned. A man stood near the rear wall, hands in his coat pockets. Dark hair. Sharp eyes. Calm posture. The same man who had conducted the Authority evaluations weeks earlier.
The Appraiser.
Director Cross frowned slightly. "Your input?"
The man stepped forward slowly. His gaze moved briefly across the screen displaying the names. Lucien. Elias. Kaida. Then he spoke.
"Metrics don't lie."
The room went still. One official scoffed. "You're suggesting the System's index is absolute?"
The Appraiser's expression didn't change. "I'm suggesting the data is consistent." He tapped the screen lightly. "Lucien Ardent demonstrated SSS-level output during the gate engagement."
Another tap. "Elias Verdan exhibits SS-level cognitive authority expansion."
Another. "Kaida Myrr's shadow domain manipulation exceeds standard SS thresholds."
Silence. He slipped his hands back into his coat pockets. "The System only confirmed what was already measurable."
Director Cross studied him. "...And your conclusion?"
The Appraiser answered simply. "Korea currently hosts three of the most dangerous awakeners on Earth."
The room fell into uneasy silence. Someone finally asked the question everyone was thinking. "What do we do about them?"
Director Cross looked around the table. "We establish control." His voice hardened. "Prepare a new division."
Several officials exchanged glances. "What division?"
Cross answered without hesitation. "A dedicated authority management bureau." He paused, then added quietly, "We will regulate the awakeners."
The Appraiser said nothing. But his eyes briefly shifted to the screen again—to one name in particular.
Nox Caelis.
The only authority the System had failed to classify. For the first time, something resembling curiosity flickered across his face.