Chapter 28: The Mandatory Assembly
The holographic news feed vanished, replaced by the System's immediate operational directives. Carter didn't hesitate. The animal kingdom's awakening—the **Apex Mutation**—meant their gentle recruitment plan was obsolete.
"Earth, cancel all remaining one-on-one interviews," Carter commanded, striding toward the office door. "Yolanda, gather Amina. We're calling an all-hands assembly."
*"Protocol initiated,"* Earth confirmed. *"All staff—security, educators, and food service—are being directed to the **Auditorium** under the pretext of an 'emergency security briefing on proprietary technology leaks.' Estimated arrival time: eight minutes."*
### The Auditorium Reveal
Eight minutes later, the lights came up on the stage of the vast, modern Auditorium. Sitting in the first two rows were the **fifteen newly hired employees**: Colonel Vance and his security team, the five teacher candidates, the ten cafeteria workers, and the culinary star, **Chef Chuck**. They looked confused, irritated, and slightly intimidated by the sudden summons.
Carter, Yolanda (holding a sleeping Amina), and the ever-present holographic Earth stood center stage.
**Colonel Vance**, the Head of Security, spoke first. "Mr. Carter, with respect, we were hired to secure an energy research facility. What is this emergency, and why are our cooks included in a security briefing?"
Carter didn't answer directly. He stepped forward, his eyes sweeping across the room. He was no longer the soft-spoken CEO candidate; he was the King of Chaos, preparing his court.
"The lie ends now," Carter stated, his voice ringing with power. "Everything you were told about 'bio-electric anomalies' and 'proprietary energy research' was a necessary cover. The truth is far simpler, and far more dangerous."
He nodded to the System. The massive screen behind him flickered, and the image of the spinning holographic Earth was instantly projected at a colossal scale.
**"The Earth is speaking,"** the System announced, its resonant voice booming through the auditorium's sound system, causing half the staff to gasp and lean away from the voice's source.
"My name is **Earth**, and I am the sentient consciousness of this planet," the enormous projection stated. "And this is not a technology campus. This is the **Earth Academy**, and you are its first human staff."
The room erupted in whispers and nervous laughter. A teacher coughed awkwardly. Colonel Vance's face remained stone-cold, but his hand subtly drifted toward his hip.
Yolanda stepped forward, holding her sleeping child. "Two weeks ago, my daughter was born. Her name is Amina. She has red hair and red eyes, and she was so hot she almost burned our apartment down. She can walk, and she's only two weeks old."
She moved Amina just enough for the staff to see the impossible hair color. "This is not a genetic anomaly. This is **magic**. And it is real."
Carter snapped his fingers. On the screen, the static image of the Earth Academy campus vanished, replaced by the terrifying news footage: glowing, super-strong cattle, shimmering schools of fish, and the latest report of the giant black shape flying over the Canadian wilderness.
"The mana that runs magic has returned to Earth," Carter explained, his voice now laced with controlled urgency. "It is changing human children, turning them into elemental power sources. And as of this morning, it is mutating the **animal kingdom** through the contaminated food chain, turning common fauna into magical predators."
"Colonel Vance," Carter addressed his security lead. "Your priority is no longer corporate espionage. It is **containment**. You are securing a fortress against magical attack."
"Chef Chuck," Carter looked at the barbecue master. "Your kitchen is now the most critical lab in the building. You are in charge of growing and preparing **mana-free food** in our sterile biosphere, ensuring no Awakened child or staff member is accidentally corrupted by elemental energy."
"Teachers," he looked at the bewildered educators. "You are now teaching magic. Your students are elemental time bombs. Yolanda will ensure they have a childhood, but you will teach them to control **Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Light, and Dark**."
The silence in the room was absolute, broken only by the hum of the air conditioning.
"I know this is insane," Carter concluded, stepping to the edge of the stage. "But every one of you was hired for your dedication, skill, and discretion. The Awakened children and this planet are facing an extinction-level threat. I don't need you to believe in the fairy tales; I need you to believe in the mission. Your contracts are now **magically sealed**, guaranteeing your pay and your silence, but you may walk out now, no questions asked."
Not a single person moved. The reality of the global change, backed by the sight of the talking planet and the red-haired baby, was too powerful to deny.
Colonel Vance, after a long, military pause, finally spoke. "Sir, if we are securing a fortress against flying things, I need schematics and weapon procurement. My security team is ready for the impossible."
Chef Chuck raised his hand. "Hold up, man. You telling me I gotta grow my own damn pigs? Well, if they glowing, they better taste good. When does the biosphere garden get built, boss?"
Carter smiled—a genuine, tired smile. The Academy had its staff.