She arrived at her preparation room where her manager, John, and the rest of her prep staff were already waiting.
The moment she stepped inside, everyone moved at once.
"Viola, you're here."
John immediately approached her with a tablet in hand. "There have been changes to your schedule. The agency added a few appearances after the announcement of your awakening."
He began listing them one by one, including the talk show scheduled for tonight.
"It's one of the most famous weekend talk shows," John added. "They usually invite well-known figures. Artists, hunters, politicians, CEOs. Any People with influence."
Viola nodded calmly.
As expected.
Her sudden rise as an S-rank healer made her impossible to ignore.
Her team quickly began preparing her. Before the show, she had a photoshoot scheduled for the Jean brand she represented as an ambassador.
Stylists surrounded her. Makeup brushes moved swiftly across her face. Her white hair was carefully arranged to look both elegant and effortless.
Soon, she stood under the bright lights of the photoshoot platform.
"One, two, three! That's right, good pose. Now another one."
The photographer's voice echoed across the studio as the camera shutter clicked repeatedly.
Viola shifted naturally between poses.
"The Jean brand is going to boom this time around," a staff member whispered from behind the equipment.
"Talk about it," another replied. "Who would have thought their chosen ambassador, who wasn't even awakened before, would turn into a high-class hunter?"
"Not just high-class. An S-rank healer."
There was a pause.
"There has never been an S-rank healer in the world."
They weren't wrong.
Healers were rare to begin with. Most of them capped at B-rank. Only a handful ever reached A-rank.
An S-rank healer was unprecedented.
"This is extremely beneficial to the Hunter Association," someone muttered. "And to us."
The photoshoot continued smoothly. Viola maintained her composure, offering slight smiles and precise movements.
When it finally ended, she stepped down from the platform.
Before she could even take a breath, Iris suddenly appeared beside her and grabbed her arm.
"Wait, wait, dear!"
Without warning, Iris pulled her closer and snapped a quick selfie with her.
Viola stiffened slightly at the sudden contact but kept her expression neutral.
"Now, be prepared for tonight," Iris said brightly. "Answer the host's questions very optimistically so people will like you even more."
Then her tone shifted slightly.
"Oh, and another thing. The President has asked me to bring you to him. He wants to personally discuss a slight revision of your contract now that you're awakened."
Viola blinked.
A revision?
"Yes, I'll do as you say," Viola replied politely. "But may I ask what time the President needs me?"
"He needs you now," Iris said casually, as if it were no big deal.
Viola felt irritation rise inside her.
Now?
This wasn't even mentioned in her schedule.
What if she had left? What if she had been late? Would the President think she had grown arrogant after awakening?
Did Iris forget to inform John? Or did she intentionally keep it from him?
Viola didn't dwell on it further.
She quickly excused herself and headed straight for the elevator.
The President's office was located on the top floor.
By the time she arrived, she was slightly out of breath.
Two bodyguards stood guard in front of a large glass door.
"I'm Viola Silva. The President has called for me."
After hearing her name, the guards stepped aside and allowed her to enter.
The office was massive.
At least twenty times larger than her bedroom at home.
Expensive paintings decorated the walls, many of them featuring famous artists the company had once managed. Elegant furniture and carefully curated decorations filled the space.
At the center stood a large wooden desk.
Behind it sat a man in his fifties.
He looked average at first glance, he was calm and Observant.
"So you're Viola," he said.
"Yes, President."
"Sit down."
He gestured toward the chair across from him.
Viola sat down carefully.
The President placed a familiar contract on the table.
It was the same contract she had signed when she debuted as a rookie artist.
"There will be changes," he began. "Since you've awakened as a high-ranker."
He leaned back slightly.
"The Hunter Association contacted me. They told me to let you quit and focus entirely on aiding them."
His lips curved faintly.
"But you know what? I didn't allow it. Are they stupid? I thought they already understood how things work here, considering they operate under the government."
Viola remained silent.
He wasn't wrong.
What binds an artist is a contract. An agency cannot simply terminate or alter it without consent.
"Did they think they could just do whatever they want because we live in an era of monsters and hunters?" he scoffed. "Ridiculous."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Now, I didn't summon you here to hear my complaints."
His gaze sharpened slightly.
"I want to know your plan. Do you want to quit and focus on being a hunter? That would mean breaking your ten-year contract."
He gave a small chuckle.
"Though I doubt the penalty fee would be a problem for you now."
He tapped the contract.
"Or you can continue your career, with revisions. You can remain both a hunter and an artist, like some of your colleagues."
He explained the regulations calmly.
All awakened individuals were required to register as hunters. They were required to participate in gate subjugations occasionally. For someone of her rank, even once a year would be sufficient, provided it was an approved gate under a guild.
If she did not join a guild, the government would assign her one, though benefits might vary.
"In the end," the President said, "an awakened person cannot fully escape being a hunter."
Viola already knew this.
And she had already decided.
"I want to stay," she said firmly. "But I also want to be a hunter."
She would not give up her career.
This position. This influence. This platform.
It would be useful in the future.
Especially when facing powerful enemies.
"That means you choose the second option," the President replied calmly. "Fine by me. I'll be making good profit out of this anyway."
Viola actually appreciated his honesty.
He wasn't pretending to be sentimental. He was straightforward and practical.
They finalized the revised contract.
According to the changes, she would remain an artist, but in case of emergency hunter duties, she would be excused from scheduled activities. Her agency workload would also be reduced to prevent overload, and she would only accept major roles that she personally approved.
After signing, she stood up.
"Thank you, President."
He waved her off casually.
She returned to her prep room and rested briefly.
Around forty-five minutes later, her staff woke her up to prepare for the show.
They retouched her makeup, giving her a pure yet elegant look, balanced with a casual charm suitable for television.
They also dressed her in a white puff-sleeved blouse adorned with a delicate ribbon, paired with a long black skirt to enhance her elegant image and give her a pure, refined aura.
Once ready, they escorted her to the studio.
Minutes before her name was called, she stood backstage and took a deep breath.
This is it.
Time to expose herself to the public again.