"Let's slow down. One question at a time," I raised my hand. "And yes, this came with my awakening. Why does it matter?"

"Matters? More than you can imagine," he replied, eyes glinting with amusement.

He looked way too excited to talk about my body, which was strange coming from an old geezer.

"Let's get back to the real topic," I pretended to cough. "You still haven't told me why S-Ranks are being treated like hired muscle."

Master Tang looked annoyed, but I refused to let him divert the conversation. With how much he circled around topics, it would take ages to get through just one.

"Ah, that's right. Well, mainly because climbing a tower is far less profitable than you'd think."

thud!

I frowned, tapping my foot against the floor. "That can't be right. Tower materials are rare. How could that not be profitable?"

He chuckled again, probably enjoying how mysterious he thought he looked.

"S-Rankers pay higher taxes than lower ranks," he explained. "On top of that, they're restricted to farming only the upper, more dangerous floors because the towers automatically send them there."

That was something I would have learned in the training courses, so this was partly my fault. Still…What kind of dumb government would pressure their most competent personnel?

"Eventually, even the high-rankers understood that pushing higher was too dangerous, and the rewards weren't worth it — particularly with the yearly death toll on the upper floors climbing rapidly."

"Isn't that counterproductive?" I asked, frowning. "The Seekers are supposed to reduce the monster population in the towers to prevent a breakout. Shouldn't they get a tax break instead… I don't know, for saving humanity?"

Master Tang let the silence drag on. That old man could stretch a thirty-second conversation into ten minutes without breaking a sweat. Maybe living so long had completely ruined his sense of time.

"What if…"

I leaned closer, really eager to finish this topic already.

"What if the towers themselves were no longer that much of a threat to us humans?"

Shaking my head, I commented. "That can't be right. I hear about tower breakouts constantly, so how can they possibly not be a big threat?"

He leaned in. "Are you sure? Ever notice how panic is a favorite tool of those in charge? How easily propaganda bends people to their will?"

"Wait… are you saying the government manipulated the news on purpose? And that they're in this with the elites and DARKNESS?"

He let out a bitter sigh.

"Yes. The towers are still a threat, of course, but one doesn't need to climb all the way to keep them stable. The breakouts you hear about are blown out of proportion — propaganda, meant to keep the people in line."

I pressed my palms to my knees, letting the words sink. These tactics were nothing new in my old world, but I hadn't expected them here—especially when humanity shared a clear enemy: the monsters.

"Do you get it now, kid?"

"Yes."

Overall, the elites, the government, and DARKNESS had created a system to control everyone — even the powerful Seekers.

By taxing the high-rankers, they made them less motivated to risk their lives in the towers, which conveniently made them available for hire.

I had seriously underestimated how greed could warp morals. This was the perfect example. Even outbreaks were allowed to happen, civilians sacrificed — all just to scare the public into obedience.

"So, now that you've heard everything, what do you think? Do you want to join us and help overthrow this status quo?"

My mind raced, dissecting every detail before I decided.

"Aren't we just trading one form of control for another? Even if we fix this, what's to stop the Seekers from abusing their power? And the current system does show stability, so it's hard to tell what's truly right or wrong."

I half-expected him to defend his side, but instead he started clapping lightly.

"Excellent! You pass the test. Anyone who agrees blindly lacks the ability to think critically. And as for your question… no, we're not the good guys — and I never claimed we were."

"So… you just want to overthrow the current government? Then you're nothing but rebels."

Sighing deeply, he shook his head and turned the empty cup in his hands.

"Our issue with the government isn't just the pressure they put on high-rank Seekers. It's the ripple effects it's causing."

"Go on," I said, hands clasped tightly. "I'm all ears."

Of course, he began with another question instead of just saying the answer directly. This old man was a master at turning a simple conversation into a labyrinth.

"What do you think happens when fewer high-rankers climb the towers?"

I frowned, tapping my fingers on the table. "Well… fewer high-rankers means more pressure on the lower ranks. They'd have to cover the dangerous floors, which would lead to more casualties."

"That's only one of many issues," he raised his pointing finger. "The main problem is that today's Seekers are weaker than those before them. Many think the tower is a graveyard, but I see it differently."

He folded his hands over the cup, eyes gone flat as a closed book. "It exists to train us… to prepare humanity for something worse."

I couldn't help but nod. The tower's challenges were designed like a game. Every floor, every monster, every trap pushed Seekers to adapt, sharpen their skills, and increase their chances of surviving.

Then it hit me. Everything clicked — the taxation, the restrictions on S-Rankers, the carefully maintained chaos.

"Darkness is trying to make us complacent… they want to weaken humanity..." I blurted out.

"So, you understand at last," he chuckled softly, like a seasoned teacher satisfied that his student had finally grasped the lesson.

Honestly, all of this could've been explained much faster… but I wasn't about to complain.

It also confirmed my other suspicions.

"They're waiting for a catastrophic event," I murmured. "I remember my mother mentioning it… could that be connected?"

His expression darkened when I mentioned her; the warmth in his eyes gave way to deep regret.

"Your mother was one of us," he bowed his head out of nowhere. "She married your father as our spy. I failed to save her. Forgive me."

My chest burned with anger from the original Ace's resentment, but I clenched my fists to keep it in check.

Blaming him would accomplish nothing.

"It's not your fault," I let the words out carefully. "If anyone's to blame, it's that damn organization for making her suffer."

He nodded approvingly. "I can see it — the same determination your mother had, the one she dedicated to our cause."

His words left a sour taste. Using Ace's mother as some twisted badge of honor? Total bullshit. No honor, no cause, no fight for belief was worth her life.

I kept quiet because arguing wouldn't change a thing.

"You're one of us now. You'll have allies watching your back. If Sakamoto tries anything, I'll make him pay."

"I'll be in your care." I bowed my head to show respect.

For now, they were useful. I'd keep them around until I was strong enough to protect myself, and everything I actually cared about.

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