Tuesday morning. Horizon Plaza, 40th Floor Executive Suite.
Evren sat in a plush leather armchair by the floor-to-ceiling glass, sipping freshly brewed black coffee as Wealth Manager Mikay presented a stack of corporate consolidation ledgers.
"Chairman Evren," Mikay said with satisfaction. "The legal registrations for DashExpress, Apex Logistics & Security, and Apex Real Estate are completely synchronized. The structural groundwork for Apex Conglomerate is officially ready."
Evren set his porcelain cup down, looking directly across the table into Mikay’s eyes.
"Mikay, over the last week, you’ve handled high-stakes pressure, compliance freezes, and multi-million-dollar settlements without blinking," Evren said in a calm tone. "I don’t need you working for the bank anymore. I want you working directly for me."
Mikay’s breath hitched in his throat. His pen hovered in mid-air as his eyes widened behind his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Sir?" Mikay asked in a whisper.
"Resign from Apex National Bank," Evren continued. "I’m offering you the position of Executive Assistant and Director of Operations for Apex Conglomerate and Apex Guild. You’ll manage our banking channels, executive administration, corporate legalities, and strategic acquisitions."
Mikay sat in stunned silence for several seconds.
His heart hammered against his ribs. A senior wealth management position at Apex National Bank was a prestigious, comfortable career with a guaranteed pension. Leaving it meant stepping away from corporate safety and throwing his entire future into a brand-new, independent conglomerate.
Yet, as Mikay looked at Evren... a young man who had gone from a delivery courier to owning a fifty-million-dollar mountain fortress and soloing an S-Rank Wyvern in less than seven days—Mikay knew this was the opportunity of a lifetime.
Yet, as Mikay looked at Evren... a young man who commanded multi-million-dollar acquisitions, soloed an S-Rank Wyvern on live television, and operated with discipline and honour, Mikay knew this was the opportunity of a lifetime.
Unlike the arrogant, spoiled heirs Mikay usually had to flatter at the bank, Chairman Evren was a man of his word who protected his people and rewarded loyalty.
Mikay adjusted his glasses, taking a slow, steadying breath. His initial hesitation dissolved, replaced by resolve and genuine ambition.
"Chairman Evren, walking away from the bank is a massive step..." Mikay said, looking up. "But building an empire with you is a once-in-a-lifetime honor. I accept. I will submit my formal resignation to the banking board this afternoon."
Evren smiled warmly. "I’m glad to hear it. Pull up your personal banking ID."
Mikay quickly unlocked his personal tablet, displaying his verified banking credentials. Evren tapped his phone against the screen, authorizing an instant executive transfer.
BEEP.
A high-priority notification lit up the terminal in front of Mikay:
[METROPOLIS CENTRAL BANK: $1,000,000.00 USD DEPOSITED]
[MEMO: APEX CONGLOMERATE EXECUTIVE SIGNING BONUS & ANNUAL RETAINER]
Mikay stared at the seven-figure deposit on his screen with trembling hands.
At the bank, seven-figure bonuses took decades of political maneuvering and kissing directors’ rings to earn. Evren had handed it to him on his very first minute on the job without a second thought.
Mikay stood up straight, stepped around the desk, and bowed deeply at a ninety-degree angle.
"Thank you, Chairman Evren! From this moment on, my full loyalty and dedication belong entirely to you and Apex Conglomerate!"
"Good," Evren nodded. "Finalize our corporate charter documents and review the security logs. I’m heading down to the thirtieth floor to see how our new guild recruitment is progressing."
The 30th floor of Horizon Plaza was a complete madhouse.
Following the live television broadcast of Evren solo-clearing the B-Rank Frost Rift, the entire Awakener community of Veridia Metropolis had been thrown into an uproar.
Because Apex Guild was newly registered with zero existing members, the guild was currently an empty titan.
To handle the overwhelming surge of thousands of applicants, Horizon Plaza management had temporarily contracted certified testing proctors from the Central Awakener Assessment Bureau to screen candidates and process entry applications.
Dressed in his casual charcoal henley, dark trousers, and clean sneakers, Evren stepped off the public elevator, blending seamlessly into the dense crowd of hopeful applicants.
The grand testing hall was divided into multiple evaluation stations equipped with mana resonance pillars and high-density combat dummies.
The air smelled of ozone and steel, with a nervous tension.
Evren leaned against a wide marble pillar near Station #1, calmly observing the recruitment workflow.
Sitting behind the main evaluation desk was a slick-haired man in a gold-trimmed suit, wearing heavy gold rings on his fingers and had an arrogant expression as he looked. A brass nameplate on his desk read: CHIEF EXAMINER: BRADLEY VAULT.
Standing right beside Bradley was a young man in flashy, mirror-polished platinum armor. His digital applicant file on the holographic desk projector displayed: APPLICANT: JULIAN CROFT — SPONSOR: CROFT MINING CORP.
With his S-Rank Valkyrie Body Forge enhancing his vision and hearing, Evren easily caught every subtle movement.
Evren watched as Julian leaned over the desk with a smug grin, sliding a thick white envelope beneath Bradley’s evaluation ledger.
"Fifty thousand in bearer bonds, Examiner Bradley," Julian whispered. "Make sure my name is placed at the very top of the Apex Vanguard list."
Bradley cracked the envelope flap with his thumb, catching a glimpse of the gold-trimmed currency bands before subtly sliding it into his inner coat pocket.
"Flawless mana signature, Young Master Julian," Bradley smiled obsequiously, picking up his official stamp and pressing a bright golden seal onto Julian’s paperwork. "Apex Guild needs high-born prodigies like you to lead the vanguard!"
Julian smirked, puffing out his chest as he stepped aside.
Next in line was a young, battle-scarred F-Rank hunter named Tobias, wearing worn leather armor and carrying a dented steel shortsword.
Tobias stepped up to the combat dummy. Taking a deep, ragged breath, he channeled every ounce of his mana and executed three razor-sharp, explosive strikes that caused the impact sensor to ring out: [PHYSICAL FORCE: GRADE A].
Tobias wiped sweat from his brow. His hands shook with hope as he handed over his paperwork.
"Examiner Bradley, I passed both the physical impact and reflex trials!" Tobias pleaded softly. "My younger sister’s medical treatment depends on this contract... please, sir!"
Bradley didn’t even look at the combat log.
He picked up Tobias’s paper, crumpled it into a tight ball with an expression of pure disgust, and tossed it straight into the trash can beside his desk.
"Rejected," Bradley sneered loudly, waving his hand as if shooing away a filthy stray dog. "Apex Guild is a premier sovereign organization. We don’t take in gutter rats with F-Rank backgrounds and dented swords. Next!"
Tobias’s face turned completely pale. Tears welled up in the young hunter’s eyes. "B-But Examiner Bradley... the official guidelines say anyone who achieves Grade A physical impact qualifies for the entry trial! I met the standards!"
"Are you deaf, beggar?" Bradley slammed his palm onto the desk, raising his voice. "In this testing hall, my word is law! If I say you fail, you fail! Get lost before I have security break your legs and ban you from the Awakener Registry forever!"
Tobias stood frozen with his head bowed as tears fell to the cold floor.
Around the hall, dozens of honest, hardworking applicants clenched their fists in anger, but no one dared speak against the powerful Chief Examiner.
Except one.
"Since when did Apex Guild recruitment require a fifty-thousand-dollar bribe instead of actual combat heart?"
A calm, deep voice echoed through the hall.
The entire recruitment floor went dead silent.
Every applicant turned their head toward the marble pillar.
Evren pushed off the pillar, walking slowly with his hands in his pockets and his gaze locked on the corrupt examiner.
Bradley froze, his face twisting in fury as he looked up.
His eyes swept over Evren’s simple clothing and lack of any guild crest or luxury armor.
A mocking, contemptuous sneer spread across Bradley’s face.
"Who the hell let this beggar into the VIP testing zone?!" Bradley roared, pointing a trembling, enraged finger at Evren. "A penniless nobody in cheap street clothes dares question my authority?!"
Bradley turned to the four armed private security guards standing by the door, shouting with rage: "Security! Break this punk’s legs and throw this trash out into the street!"