"No need for that. I will arrange a meeting with the other Captains and update the Board of Directors on the operation immediately," Captain Malachi said, walking to his desk and picking up his phone.
Victor glanced at the unconscious creature hovering beside him. "What should I do with this creature, Captain?"
"Extract every memory and information it has about the location of the vampires and report it to me after the meeting," Captain Malachi replied.
Victor nodded once. "Yes, Captain."
Captain Malachi walked toward the door and placed his hand on the handle before looking back at us.
"The rest of you are dismissed for now. Alistair and Victor will remain in the office to retrieve all the information from the imp. Take the rest of the day to recover. Tomorrow, prepare yourselves. I will assign your tasks."
He stepped outside and closed the door behind him.
Jaspher stretched his arms above his head. "Well, that is it for today, everyone. I am going to sell my items at the market." He glanced at me and gave a friendly nod. "Ezekiel, I hope we can work together soon."
He headed out the door after the Captain.
"Wait for us!" Charlotte called as she grabbed Emilia by the wrist and pulled her along.
Emilia let out a quiet sigh but followed her outside anyway.
Alistair turned toward Margaret and me and gave a polite bow of his head. "Thank you for helping us today. Both of you."
Margaret waved her hand. "It was nothing."
I gave a small nod. "Glad we could help."
Alistair ran a hand through his hair, his eyebrows furrowed. "I still don't know what the Captains are planning. This is the first time vampires have appeared in our city."
Margaret nodded slowly. "Yes, and I wonder why they gathered here in the first place." She glanced at me before stepping toward the door. "We should head back now."
I nodded and followed beside her.
"See you both," Alistair said with a smile. "I hope we can work together again soon."
I lifted my hand and gave a quick wave to the three remaining members before Margaret and I stepped out of their office together.
"Well, it's three o'clock in the afternoon now. I guess we should rest for the day," Margaret said as we stepped into the elevator. She pressed the button for the first floor.
"Why are they so alarmed about vampires being in our city?" I asked, leaning against the elevator wall as it started descending.
Margaret sighed. "Vampires aren't just dangerous, they are the most powerful among the followers of the Devils and a threat to us," she explained.
"Many of them can use blood magic, each mastering different forms. They can control minds, heal themselves instantly, or move faster than we can see. It's not just a few of them either. They can even turn humans into vampires, multiplying their numbers and making them a huge threat, depending on their vampire leader. That is why we should take this seriously."
I frowned, trying to picture it. "So even one vampire could be a huge problem if they turn many humans into vampires?"
Margaret nodded, her expression serious. "Exactly. That is why any sign of them here, even a single one, triggers immediate action. We do not take chances when it comes to vampires."
The elevator doors slid open, and we stepped out.
We walked toward the exit door of the building when a figure suddenly emerged.
His aura was strong, and I could feel it.
He looked at me with a serious expression before turning and heading toward the left side of the building.
I followed him with my eyes.
"That is Nikolai, Captain of the Night Vanguard," Margaret said, her voice low as she watched him move. "He's heading to the meeting room, I think."
I just nodded, keeping my gaze on him.
"So he can walk around while the sun is up?" I asked. "I mean, doesn't he have a Vampire System?"
Margaret chuckled. "Of course, he's human. We just happen to have powers like those of the beings or classes we possess."
Once we stepped outside, she added, "Anyway, should I give you a ride?"
"No, I'll be fine," I replied.
"Okay. You can use the company cars if you know how to drive," she said with a small smile. "I'll be going now." She waved at me before walking toward the parking area.
"What should I do for the rest of the day?" I muttered to myself.
A notification hovered in front of me.
[October is almost over. Would you like to know your current rank?]
[▶ YES] / [▶ NO]
"I wonder what rank I am," I muttered under my breath.
I clicked Yes on the system.
[You are rank #27 out of a total of 38 System Agents]
"Rank 27?" I said aloud, my voice carrying a bit more than I intended.
I pulled my phone from my pocket and immediately opened the official Sentinel Extermination Corps website.
Once it finished loading, I swiped down to the Agent rankings.
25. Margaret Hawke
Siren System – 6.5/10
26. Theai Willow
Dryad System – 6.4/10
27. Ezekiel Valerion
Sorcerer System – 6.3/10
28. Damian Cross
Summoner System – 6.3/10
29. Diane Calder
Samurai System – 6.2/10
30. Marcus Flamel
Serpent Master System – 6.2/10
"How did I get this rank so quickly?" I muttered again, eyes scanning the list. "I even caught up with my other companions already."
A notification popped up on the screen:
[Your rank is based on public votes, completed missions, combat performance, system quests, and the types of monsters or entities you have slain.]
[A new ranking begins every month!]
"Now it makes sense," I said, a satisfied smile crossing my face. "So only the Top 10 will get a fancy nickname?"
[Keep up the good work and you will reach the top.]
[Your pay is also tied to your performance.]
The last notification disappeared.
"I'll make it into the Top 10," I muttered, clenching my fist.
"Excuse me?" a calm female voice called out from nowhere.
I tilted my head and saw a lady standing nearby.
"You're in the way," she said, her tone soft but firm.
"I'm sorry," I said quickly, stepping aside in front of the building's door.
I hadn't noticed I was blocking the entrance since I had been too focused on my thoughts and the shock from earlier.
The lady nodded politely and walked inside.
I touched my chin, frowning. "I swear I've seen her face before…"
A spark of realization hit me and I snapped my fingers. "Aghh!" I muttered, my heart beating a little faster.
"She's Captain Clara of the Herald Bastion," I whispered to myself.
I hadn't realized I was actually meeting her at this moment. Her presence radiated an angelic aura and a feeling of peace.
It's funny how I didn't like them just a few weeks ago, and yet now I am an Agent, proud to save lives and protect the innocent.
"I wonder what Captain Clara's powers are," I muttered to myself.
I shook my head, trying to push the thought away.
"Why am I curious about her?" I muttered, squeezing my head at the thought.