Chapter 161: What Rank Are You?
There were only two days each week where Max had to stick to Aron like glue, and thankfully, he’d managed to get Aron off his back on Saturday while handling his important business with the Rejected Corps.
There was just one thing Max was counting on not happening: the chance that the Rejected Corps might call him in again on Sunday.
But… it was unlikely. They didn’t seem eager to summon Max at every turn, and he knew why. If they called him too often, it would start to look like the gang relied on him, that they needed him more than he needed them.
So whenever they brought him along on certain trips and tasks, they always framed it like they were doing him a favor. As if it was some learning opportunity, a way for him to gain experience, and make good money.
Max didn’t know if that was the full truth or not. But either way… it meant it was unlikely he’d be called today. And that gave him the perfect opportunity.
I’ve never directly met a superhuman before. I’ve only heard about their feats, Max thought as he paced. Maybe if I had stayed in the White Tiger Group longer, I would’ve clashed with a few here or there. But now, this is my chance. I need to see if their strength is real… and if I can obtain that same power for myself.
Right on schedule, there was a knock at the door. As always, perfectly timed.
But this time, Max was already dressed and ready to go. Aron, when he entered, looked mildly surprised to see him standing there, prepared.
Without wasting a moment, the two of them headed down to the car and set off toward their destination.
As they drove through the city streets, Aron was quick to speak.
“Master, I must warn you,” Aron said, his tone serious. “This person… he is incredibly strong. Although he has agreed to meet with us, I don’t believe we hold the upper hand in this situation.”
“So he really was strong?” Max asked, leaning back slightly in his seat. “Do you think he’s someone worthy of the title Superhuman?”
“Most definitely,” Aron answered without hesitation. “But that’s not what I’m trying to emphasize. The man agreed to meet based on particular conditions. He seems to be a person who places principle above everything.”
He glanced over at Max, voice firm.
“So… it’s a matter I don’t think can be solved with money, no matter how much you offer. If you were thinking of paying him to train you… I don’t think that approach will work.”
“That’s okay,” Max replied, rolling his window down slightly to feel the cool breeze. “Not being able to use my money to convince people… I think I can handle that.”
As they continued along the winding road, Max asked Aron to explain in detail what exactly had happened, how the encounter had played out.
He listened carefully, surprised by what he heard.
How Hercules had been nearly unstoppable among the entire squad… how even Aron himself had struggled against him. Though, Max couldn’t help but wonder if some of it was being exaggerated.
A human lifting an entire tree? That didn’t sound plausible to him. Sure, they were called Superhumans, but that was always in comparison to normal people, they weren’t actually superhuman… right?
“So… what got him to stop in the end was the invitation.” Max tapped his fingers against the window. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Eventually, their vehicle reached the end of the road, where the mountain trail became too rough for cars to pass. From here, Max and Aron would have to proceed on foot.
Originally, Aron had suggested hiring a few men to help guide them and carry supplies up the mountain. But Max refused.
“If Hercules said only the two of us,” Max reminded him, “then it’s best we respect that and follow exactly what he asked.”
And so they began their climb, trekking through the rough, uneven terrain.
As they scaled the steep paths, weaving between rocks and roots, Max found himself noticing something he hadn’t fully realized before: just how athletic Aron truly was.
His footing was steady and sure with every step. And even dressed sharply in his suit, Aron barely seemed to sweat, moving with ease as if this was routine for him.
He was moving fast, gliding over the rough and strange terrain as if it were a flat road.
Is this because of everything he did before joining the Stern family? Max wondered, pushing himself to keep pace. My body’s gotten a lot fitter lately, but if I ever had to fight on anything other than flat terrain, I’d be screwed against someone like Aron, an expert who clearly knows how to move in any environment.
What did Wolf say again during one of our pointless conversations? That Aron was an S-Class? Max thought, panting slightly. What does S even stand for? Super? Special? Secret…?
He kept climbing, following closely behind. By the time they reached the higher paths, muscles Max rarely used were already starting to feel sore, he could tell he was going to pay for this tomorrow.
“The guy had to live at the peak of a mountain, huh?” Max muttered under his breath. “Maybe that’s part of his secret. I just hope this doesn’t turn into some weird training where I have to run up and down this mountain ten times.”
“I doubt that,” Aron replied with a small smirk. “That sounds more like my kind of training.”
Finally, the two of them approached the cabin. Max’s mind was already racing, going over what he needed to say, what exactly he had to say to convince Hercules to train him.
They reached the large wooden door, and Max grabbed the hefty iron knocker, giving it a few solid knocks. They waited in silence.
After a few moments, the door creaked open, and there he was.
The towering figure of Hercules stood before them, his massive head nearly brushing the top of the doorway. The man looked like he was carved out of pure muscle, every inch of him radiating raw power.
A sharp gaze landed directly on Max.
“So this is the kid that wanted to see me?” Hercules asked, voice deep and unwavering.
Then, without another word, he turned.
“Come in,” Hercules said, striding back inside.
As Max watched the giant man’s powerful frame moving deeper into the cabin, a thought popped into his head, one that made his pulse quicken.
Just what rank would Wolf give him?
500 Golden Ticekts = 1 Extra Chapter