Parallel Memory

Chapter 722: Arguments continue

The meeting resumed after the disturbance in the observer gallery.

It took nearly fifteen minutes for everyone to return to their seats.

Not because the argument between William and Zero had been particularly serious.

In fact, compared to the issues being discussed inside the assembly, it had been completely irrelevant.

But people were still people.

And people were naturally more interested in an unexpected confrontation than in a paragraph concerning border inspection regulations.

The observers whispered among themselves.

The representatives exchanged glances.

The guild masters occasionally looked toward the entrance where William had disappeared before returning to the main table.

Even the retired veterans seemed to have taken notice.

The old SS Rankers had been sitting in silence for most of the meeting.

They had listened to arguments concerning the treaty.

They had listened to the Authority.

They had listened to the Church.

They had listened to the War Council.

But none of them had expected a young man to walk into the assembly, embrace one of the most famous heroes in the Human Domain, and then calmly humiliate a Rank S adventurer without raising his voice.

One of the retired veterans leaned slightly toward another.

"Who is that young man?"

The second veteran glanced toward Zero.

"I don’t know."

"He’s clearly not an ordinary observer."

"No."

The old man narrowed his eyes.

"His mana is difficult to sense."

"Perhaps he is hiding it."

The first veteran frowned.

That answer made him even more curious.

Meanwhile, Zero sat beside the representatives from Tech Genesis.

He had been given a place among the official participants.

The chair was not particularly different from the others.

It was not decorated.

It did not possess a special symbol.

But its position mattered.

It was placed at the main table.

That alone was enough.

The observer gallery was separated from the main hall by only a short distance.

But the difference between the two sections was enormous.

Those sitting in the gallery could listen.

Those sitting at the table could decide.

William had spent the entire previous day making sure everyone understood that he was an S Rank adventurer.

Zero had said almost nothing.

And yet, he had ended up sitting where William could only watch.

The irony was not lost on anyone.

Mia sat several seats away from him.

She had been attempting to pay attention to the documents in front of her.

She had failed.

Every few minutes, her eyes drifted toward Zero.

Zero noticed.

He did not say anything.

Amelia, who was seated nearby, also noticed.

Unlike Mia, however, she did not try to hide her smile.

Mia glanced at her.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"You’re smiling."

"So are you."

Mia immediately returned her attention to the documents.

"I am not."

Amelia’s smile grew wider.

"Of course."

Zero looked between them.

"You two are acting strange."

Mia and Amelia answered at the same time.

"We are not."

Zero blinked.

Then decided it was better not to ask.

The assembly’s presiding official struck the table lightly.

The conversations gradually faded.

"Everyone, please return your attention to the meeting."

The remaining whispers disappeared.

The hall slowly became quiet.

The meeting was ready to begin again.

But before the discussion could continue, Commander Rurik stood.

"We have delayed this meeting for nearly a month."

His voice carried through the hall.

"During that time, additional representatives and observers have been invited. Some have already introduced themselves. Others have not."

He turned toward the newer members of the assembly.

"Since the individuals participating in this discussion must be known to everyone present, we will complete the introductions before continuing."

There were a few quiet sighs around the room.

Some people had hoped to avoid another round of introductions.

But the procedure was necessary.

The treaty concerned the future of the Human Domain.

Every person with the right to speak had to be identified.

The first new representative stood.

He represented one of the larger trade organizations.

He spoke briefly.

The next represented a group of border settlements.

Then came a military commander.

Then a scholar.

Then a representative of an organization responsible for portal research.

Each introduction was short.

Some people were known.

Others were not.

Some introduced themselves with humility.

Others spent several minutes describing their achievements.

The difference between them was obvious.

The longer someone spoke about themselves, the less interested the rest of the hall became.

Eventually, the presiding official turned toward Zero.

"Next."

Zero stood.

The moment he rose, several people looked at him.

William, sitting in the observer gallery, immediately noticed.

His expression became cautious.

His followers leaned forward.

They had spent the last several minutes trying to understand exactly who Zero was.

The card he had shown had been official.

That much was obvious.

But that still did not explain his position.

Was he a member of the Authority?

A representative of the War Council?

A noble?

A powerful adventurer?

A member of some secret organization?

William had several theories.

None of them made him comfortable.

Zero stepped forward.

He did not look nervous.

He did not appear excited.

He simply stood.

The presiding official nodded toward him.

"Please introduce yourself."

Zero glanced around the room.

The Church representatives watched him.

The Authority watched him.

The War Council watched him.

The guild masters watched him.

The retired veterans watched him.

The observers watched him.

William watched him most carefully of all.

Zero spoke.

"My name is Zero Elea."

A few people reacted.

The name was not completely unknown.

Some had heard it before.

Most had not.

Zero continued.

"I am here as a representative of Tech Genesis."

Several people immediately paid closer attention.

The name was famous.

Tech Genesis had become one of the most successful companies in the Human Domain.

It was involved in magical technology.

Communication devices.

Entertainment applications.

Games.

Various forms of technological development.

The company had expanded rapidly over the years.

Its products had spread throughout the Human Domain.

It had even begun competing with organizations that had existed for generations.

Tech Genesis was no longer considered a small company.

It was now one of the most influential commercial organizations in Edolas.

The moment Zero mentioned the name, the observers began whispering.

"Tech Genesis?"

"Why would they be involved in the treaty?"

"They produce technology. What does that have to do with devils?"

"Perhaps they want access to the Devil Kingdom."

"Maybe they want to sell their products there."

"That would be a huge market."

Zero continued before the whispers could grow.

"I am also the personal assistant of the managing director, Aiden."

Silence.

Then the entire room seemed to pause.

William blinked.

His followers stared at Zero.

One of them slowly turned toward another.

"Personal assistant?"

The other whispered back.

"That’s what he said."

William’s expression changed.

For a moment, he did not understand.

Then relief slowly spread across his face.

A personal assistant.

That was all?

The tension that had been building inside him disappeared.

His shoulders relaxed.

His followers also visibly relaxed.

One of them quietly exhaled.

"Thank goodness."

William glanced toward him.

The follower immediately lowered his voice.

"I mean..."

William ignored him.

The pieces suddenly made sense.

Zero had entered the meeting as a representative of Tech Genesis.

He was the personal assistant of the managing director.

That meant he was not the owner.

He was not the managing director.

He was not a noble.

He was not a member of the Authority.

He was not a high-ranking political figure.

He was simply an employee.

An important employee, perhaps.

But still an employee.

William felt the embarrassment of the previous confrontation begin to fade.

He had not insulted the owner of Tech Genesis.

He had not insulted an important political figure.

He had not accidentally offended someone who could ruin his future.

He had merely insulted a personal assistant.

William’s expression became more confident.

One of his followers leaned toward him.

"Master William."

"What?"

"We were lucky."

William nodded.

"Indeed."

"Imagine if he had actually been someone important."

William glanced toward Zero.

"Fortunately, he is not."

The follower nodded.

"His position is only that of a personal assistant."

Another follower joined the conversation.

"Perhaps the invitation was given to Tech Genesis because the company is influential."

"That makes sense."

"Then Zero was simply sent in place of the actual owner."

William smiled.

"Exactly."

He leaned back in his seat.

The feeling of humiliation from earlier began to disappear.

He had been worried that Zero had somehow become a major figure.

But now he understood.

Zero was still beneath him.

At least, that was what William believed.

The relief lasted approximately twenty seconds.

Then someone in the observer gallery whispered.

"Personal assistant?"

Another observer looked confused.

"Yes."

"Do you know what that means?"

"What?"

"He’s not an ordinary personal assistant."

The first observer frowned.

"What do you mean?"

The second observer leaned closer.

"Have you ever seen the structure of Tech Genesis?"

"No."

"Then you don’t understand."

The conversation spread.

It began with two people.

Then four.

Then eight.

Soon, several observers were whispering about Zero.

William’s smile slowly disappeared.

One of his followers turned around.

"What are they talking about?"

Another follower listened carefully.

Then his expression changed.