The Veil Council had developed numerous methods to conceal the supernatural world from ordinary people. Most of these strategies were built on absolute secrecy and layers of systematic misdirection.
First of all, high-level members of human governments were integrated into the supernatural world of Samay. Even if these influential politicians and officials lacked active powers themselves, they maintained strict, binding agreements with the hidden world.
After all, these powerful individuals constantly required reliable, elite bodyguards to protect their positions. No one filled that role better than a trained supernatural individual embedded right beside them.
Because of this deeply entrenched system, the government itself could never leak information to the public. Doing so without an explicit order from the Veil Council was practically impossible. It essentially amounted to the Council quietly ruling the entire world from behind a curtain of shadows.
"So the Veil Council basically runs the world from the shadows?" I asked, leaning over the kitchen counter. I couldn't hide the genuine surprise leaking into my voice.
Mom offered a small, patient smile and shook her head. "No, the Council doesn't have the time to manage day-to-day operations for every country across the globe."
She adjusted her posture slightly. "They leave those tedious matters entirely to their trusted representatives."
Mom leaned back against her chair, tapping her fingers rhythmically against the wooden surface. "The supernatural world strictly forbids individuals from interfering with the natural functions of human governments."
She raised an eyebrow to emphasize her next point. "However, it is an entirely different matter if someone climbs into a high-level government position through their own genuine effort and merit."
Suddenly, Mom paused, her gaze locking onto mine with intense focus. "Do you actually know what your dad's job is?"
I blinked, my mind racing briefly before I settled into a quiet nod, waiting patiently for her to continue.
"He monitors the specific region we live in," she explained softly. "Whenever a natural awakening occurs, or someone manifests a superpower completely on their own, your father is the one who steps in."
She picked up her glass, watching the liquid ripple slightly against the light. "His job is to introduce them to the hidden world and safely integrate them into our society."
She took a slow, deliberate sip from her drink before continuing. "He doesn't just find them; he trains them as well. He ensures they become competent enough to survive if they ever choose to climb higher in our world."
"Because natural superpower awakenings are exceptionally rare, your dad takes on secondary training contracts," Mom added. "He teaches advanced martial arts to traditional combat families who hire him solely based on his reputation."
She smiled, a hint of genuine pride coloring her expression. "He is actually quite famous as an instructor in those circles."
*Yeah, I've experienced his definition of 'competency' firsthand,* I thought, a phantom ache blooming in my muscles. An involuntary twitch pulled at the corner of my mouth as the memory of his brutal training sessions flashed through my mind.
"Let's move past that for a moment," Mom said, her tone shifting seamlessly as she set her glass back down. "When exactly are you planning to evolve your superpower to the next rank?"
The question hung heavily in the quiet air of the room. This was a critical topic I had been quietly turning over in my mind for some time now.
"I need to gather very specific materials to evolve my power properly," I replied, choosing each word with extreme care. "And I'm thinking I should go out and find them entirely by myself."
Mom raised an eyebrow, her relaxed posture vanishing as her gaze sharpened instantly. "Why on earth would you do that?"
She gestured broadly toward the sleek kitchen counter. "You already have everything you need to trigger an evolution right here at home."
She leaned forward, her voice turning firm. "Your Uncle Arjun gave you that high-grade energy potion, which provides more than enough raw power. If you need specific materials, we can easily look up the historical blueprints and fetch them for you from storage."
"Yes, you could definitely give me those," I admitted, lowering my head slightly.
But deep down, I knew far better than to take the easy path. In my previous life, the scientific research regarding superpower evolution was vastly superior to the current era's primitive understanding. Because of that knowledge, I possessed a far more advanced method to unlock the true potential of my abilities.
The real problem lay in explaining this reality to my mother. How could I possibly explain where such incredibly precise knowledge had come from? If I suddenly mentioned a past life, she would probably panic, assuming I had made a dangerous deal with an ancient entity.
"No, Mom," I said aloud, forcing my voice to remain perfectly steady. "I really want to do this myself, and I know I can find the exact materials I need on my own."
Mom crossed her arms over her chest, her entire posture shifting into a classic, commanding stance. "And just how do you plan on securing those rare materials, young man?"
I swallowed hard, a sudden, heavy lump forming in my throat. I knew this was the exact moment I was about to get absolutely roasted by her.
"I want to head into the exact same dimension Riya went to for her training," I said, the words tumbling out of my mouth at a frantic pace before I could lose my nerve. "I can locate the specific materials I need to advance my superpower while I am out there surviving."
A heavy, suffocating silence instantly crashed over the kitchen.
Mom stared at me blankly, her eyes unblinking for a few agonizing seconds. "What did you just say? I don't think I heard you properly, Rohan."
I winced inwardly, bracing myself for the impact. Of course she didn't want to hear something so reckless from her own son. Who would ever expect an eighteen-year-old who had just awakened his energy signature to immediately demand a drop into a dangerous, unstable foreign dimension?
I forced myself to repeat the request, speaking each syllable clearly and slowly this time. Mom didn't bother pretending to be hard of hearing anymore.
Before I could even attempt to step back, her hand shot forward with blinding speed and clamped tightly onto my ear.
"Mister Rohan," she said, her voice dropping into a dangerously quiet, sweet register. "It really looks like you've grown a pair of wings lately, haven't you?"
"Ouch! Ouch, ouch! Mom, just listen to my reasoning first!" I yelled out, wincing sharply as she twisted her grip with practiced precision.
"Oh, believe me, I am listening very carefully," she replied smoothly, giving my ear another warning tug.
I instantly activated Perfect Control, targeting the precise nerve endings in my ear to dull the sharp, stinging sensation. I didn't dare block the pain entirely, though. If my facial expression went completely blank, Mom's sharp intuition would notice the anomaly immediately.
"You already understand exactly how my superpower works," I gasped out, tilting my head to the side to ease the mechanical tension on my ear. "Perfect Control allows me to have an incredibly precise, biological instinct regarding the evolution of my own power."
I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing my voice to sound as logical and desperate as possible to sell the story. "Every awakened person can vaguely feel which raw materials might help them evolve their core. That's completely normal."
"But the real issue is that far too many standard materials can trigger a basic, mediocre evolution," I continued quickly before she could interrupt. "With Perfect Control, I can actually perceive the microscopic differences in the instinctual attraction I receive from different sources."
Mom's tight grip loosened by a fraction of an inch, though she kept her fingers resting firmly against my ear.
"By measuring those subtle, energetic differences, I can deduce exactly which material is the absolute best fit for my body," I explained, leaning completely into the fabricated cover story. "I can locate the single, perfect item that will unlock my highest possible potential."
"That's exactly why I need to step into that dimension myself," I said, catching my breath as the pressure eased. "I need to physically expose my active energy to a wider variety of raw materials so my instincts can compare them. It's infinitely better than just using whatever generic items you can pull from our storage vaults."
As my rapid explanation finally wound down, Mom slowly released her grip and let go of my ear entirely. Her hand dropped quietly back to her side, her sharp expression twisting into a deeply thoughtful, silent frown.
I let out a long, silent breath of relief in my mind. *It actually worked.*
This was the exact cover story I had meticulously prepared a long time ago for this very confrontation. I wasn't technically lying about being able to differentiate the evolutionary attraction using Perfect Control. However, claiming it flawlessly revealed a path to my 'highest potential' was a massive stretch.
The sole reason I was taking this immense risk was to force both of my distinct powers to evolve simultaneously using a highly classified Mystery Method.
In the current timeline of this world, absolutely no one had successfully evolved a superpower using a Mystery Method. Even in my previous life, it had existed purely as a legendary, unverified rumor.
The only solid fact I could absolutely confirm was that anyone who managed to pull off a Mystery Method evolution became frighteningly powerful.
"Mom, you know that standard superpower evolution is basically a game of luck anyway," I said, pressing my advantage while she was still processing the logic. "If the evolutionary path chosen is exceptionally strong, the power becomes far more destructive and versatile."
I leaned in slightly, keeping my tone grounded. "But if the materials used are poor or generic, you gain barely any benefits and end up significantly weaker than your peers."
I looked straight at her, making my eyes as earnest as possible. "My superpower is incredibly unique. I haven't found many records of anyone possessing Laser Eyes, so there aren't any reliable blueprints for us to follow in the old archives."
I took a subtle step backward, creating a bit of distance between us. "There is no standard manual telling me what method is best. Why won't you just let me make this crucial decision for myself?"
Mom remained completely quiet for what felt like an absolute eternity. Her sharp, analytical eyes scanned every micro-expression on my face, searching for any hidden hint of hesitation or deceit.
"I will talk to your father about this," she finally said, her voice quiet but carrying a weight that brooked no argument.
I recognized the tactical cue immediately. I certainly didn't intend to wait around for her to change her mind, re-evaluate the logic, or reach for my ear a second time.
Quickly picking up my empty lunch plate from the counter, I turned sharply on my heel and practically fled the kitchen.