Chapter 20: Legacy of purpose
Alex and the three recruits stepped out of the office, the tension of the evaluation slowly lifting from their shoulders. The hallway felt lighter somehow, as if the weight of potential judgment had finally passed. Yurei stood nearby, arms crossed, a soft but curious expression on her face.
She glanced at them and asked calmly, "How did it go?"
Kian let out a breath, trying to seem cool, but couldn't help grinning. "It went... surprisingly well."
Toru simply nodded, his usual stoic expression unchanged. Leena smiled, still clutching her notebook tightly, a small gleam of pride in her eyes.
Alex gave a casual shrug. "Could've been worse."
Yurei gave them a brief nod and without another word, turned and entered the office they had just left.
Inside, Jacob Dell was still seated, sorting through the files. He looked up as she stepped in.
"So?" she asked, voice level but curious.
Jacob tapped the stack of reports once. "Standard evaluation—on paper, they're solid. Alex's dispatch record is growing. Toru's item developments are widely used now. Kian is raw but promising. Leena's work shows potential."
Yurei raised an eyebrow. "That's the evaluation report. What about you, Jacob Dell? The Hero. What do you think?"
Jacob paused, then leaned back in the chair slightly. His eyes sharpened. "They're not spies."
Yurei blinked, stunned by the certainty in his voice. "That's a strong statement. What made you so sure?"
He looked out the window briefly, then turned back to her.
"It's in the way they look at Alex," he said. "Leena looks at him like he's a beacon—someone who gave her purpose when she thought she had none. Toru… sees himself in Alex. A fellow outcast doing what he can to make things work. And Kian… Kian looks at him the way a soldier looks at his commanding officer. With complete trust."
Jacob folded his arms.
"During the interview, they weren't afraid of me. They were afraid of disappointing him. That's not how spies behave."
Yurei remained silent for a moment, letting the words sink in. Then she gave a small smile.
"I see."
Jacob returned to the files. "Keep watching them, but don't crush what they've built. It's rare to see such cohesion form so fast."
Jacob glanced back down at the open files, but didn't read them. Instead, he stared through them—his thoughts elsewhere. A moment passed before he looked up at Yurei again.
"Bring in the other teams," he said, voice crisp but quieter now.
Yurei nodded silently, understanding the weight behind his request. She turned on her heel and exited the office, leaving Jacob alone once more.
The door clicked shut.
Jacob leaned back in the chair, his expression unreadable. He tapped the edge of the file slowly, then muttered to himself in a tone just above a whisper,
"I hope I'm right…"
The ticking clock on the wall was the only reply.
____
Outside the office
Alex calmly told the recruits to either get some rest or continue working on their projects. They nodded, each appreciating the moment of quiet success. Yurei exited the office behind them and saw the trio still lingering at the entrance. She smiled more sweetly than usual, a warmth in her expression. Then she turned to Alex.
"Come with me," she said gently.
Before they could leave, Kian piped up, excitement bubbling in his voice. "Miss Yurei! Can I get Blitz's autograph? Please?"
Yurei chuckled. "I'll make sure you get it. Now go rest."
The recruits parted ways, and Alex followed Yurei. She took him to the third floor—the office of Josh Dell.
Inside, Josh was all business, his eyes scanning multiple screens while issuing commands into his headset. His Hero team—Giantess, Juggernaut, and Bladeblight—moved with sharp coordination. Alex stood silently beside Yurei, his eyes exploring the well-equipped room.
The office was something else. A refrigerator hummed in the corner, an air conditioner maintained a cool climate, a cabinet overflowed with neatly stacked snacks, and a trophy stand displayed awards with pride. One wall was covered in fanart of the three heroes—vivid drawings and posters clearly done by dedicated fans.
Alex's gaze moved to the massive screen where real-time footage displayed the team's current mission. Giantess lifted a crushed car to rescue a civilian, Juggernaut fought fiercely against an out-of-control Item User, and Bladeblight darted in to assist. The battle ended in their favor, and Josh leaned back in his chair with a sigh of relief.
He reached for his energy drink, the can sporting a flashy design featuring Giantess. Alex raised an eyebrow, and Yurei caught the look.
"Brand deal," she explained. "Heroes are allowed other ventures, so long as it doesn't interfere with their duties."
Josh finally turned to face them, a smirk playing on his lips. "What's this? Did you lose your dispatcher badge, Alex? Now you're tagging along as an agent?"
Alex merely smiled, not rising to the jab.
Yurei stepped in. "Enough, Josh. Prepare your team for evaluation."
Josh nodded. "On it."
Yurei then took Alex around to visit other dispatchers, checking in to see who was available and reminding them of the evaluations. Alex followed quietly, observing the dynamics of the other offices.
When the rounds were complete, Alex finally turned to her. "Why show me all this?"
Yurei looked at him, eyes sharp. "Did you pay attention to everything in those offices?"
Alex nodded.
She continued, "After this evaluation, you'll officially be held more responsible for your recruits—now heroes. That means you have every right to request better support, more items, tools, and space for them. Don't hold back."
Alex understood her intent. He gave her a firm nod. "I'll follow your advice."
___
At the end of the day, after Jacob had finished all evaluations, Yurei paid him a visit. He sat back in his chair, tired but focused.
"The three recruits—no, the three new heroes—have all declined my offer," Jacob said with a small sigh. "But I'll be submitting a request to headquarters for items suited to their talents."
Yurei nodded quietly, understanding his sentiment.
Then Jacob looked up and said, "Call Alex in."
A few minutes later, Alex entered. He walked in with calm steps and took the seat Jacob motioned to. Yurei gave him a small nod before exiting the room, leaving the two of them alone.
For a moment, neither spoke. Then Jacob broke the silence.
"Don't take anything Josh says too seriously."
Alex raised an eyebrow, surprised. That wasn't what he expected to hear.
Jacob continued, "I come from a family of naturally awakened. We all inherit some form of speed-based abilities. Josh wanted to be a hero more than anything. But when he awakened—he got 'speed hands.' Not enough for combat, not enough to pass hero trials."
"He gave up the dream. But not the fight."
Jacob leaned back, his tone softening.
"He became a dispatcher to prove he still had worth. And he did prove it. He rose to the top. But somewhere along the way, I think he lost the fire that drove him."
He looked directly at Alex now, his voice steady.
"Until you came along. Watching you—your work, your recruits, your growth—lit a fire under him again. He won't admit it, but I know."
Jacob stood slowly and walked to the window, gazing out.
"Just keep giving your best. You've got something rare, Alex. And Josh? He's not a bad person. He just inherited a bit too much of his father's arrogance."
Alex sat quietly, taking it all in. For the first time, he saw past Jacob's cold exterior and into the weight of history both men carried.
[End of Chapter]