Amidst the shimmering sunlight reflecting colorful hues upon the waters of the Hudson River, the atmosphere of New York City seemed to be bursting with a powerful energy. As the upcoming gubernatorial election drew near, the city's life became more intense and vibrant. Three pairs of names were in the running for this election.
The candidates of the first pair were Jose Ancelotti and Marcus Kingsley.
The candidates of the second pair were Richard Dickson and Jonathan Thompson.
The candidates of the third pair were Isabella Wilson and Victoria Carmichael.
In Times Square, the city's non-sleeping heart, giant screens displayed campaign advertisements from the three pairs of candidates. Clever slogans and images of the candidates shone brightly, attempting to capture the attention of busy passersby on the colorful streets. Campaign volunteers stood on street corners, distributing flyers and stickers to anyone interested.
In Central Park, the third pair of candidates delivered a speech on an open stage, discussing their vision and mission for the city. Isabella appeared different from when she was at the Winston Art Gallery. She was dressed more simply in a blue dress and black high heels. Citizens gathered with umbrellas and folding chairs, listening attentively while enjoying the fresh air and the view of green trees amidst the sparkling skyscrapers. Also, food and drink vendors were scattered around the area, creating a festive and friendly atmosphere.
On the city streets, campaign car convoys passed by with lively horn sounds. These cars were adorned with posters, flags, and energetic music that created a resonating buzz. Supporters of the candidates gathered along the streets, shouting their support slogans. Not only locals, but also tourists who were captivated by the atmosphere, joined in feeling the pulsating campaign spirit.
In Brooklyn's DUMBO, beneath the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge, an open stage was set up for a debate forum between the candidates. The city's glittering lights served as a captivating backdrop as the candidates debated on social issues affecting the citizens.
However, beneath all the cheerfulness and enthusiasm, a strong political tension could also be felt. Conflicts and debates among supporters of different candidates often created tense situations. Passionate discussions in cafes, televised debates, and even on social media further heated the atmosphere.
In just a span of a week, the sight of New York City had drastically changed. Nevertheless, the busyness of its citizens remained the same.
On a street in South Houston, a black sedan stopped in front of the Rays of Hope Guild Headquarters. Klaus stepped out of the car with a steady stride. His lips curved up as he looked at the building before his eyes. And he wasn't alone. A woman in white stood beside him. Her silver hair fluttered in the wind.
Klaus could see the nervousness on her face.
"Why are you nervous, Sylvia?" Klaus asked.
"My hair. What if they ask about it?"
"Don't worry about it." Klaus shook his head. Then, he walked into the building, and Sylvia followed suit.
Inside the hall, dozens of awakeners were seen practicing under the glow of lights. Their shouts filled the space, vibrating with enthusiasm. Usually, Sylvia trained them, but in her absence, Akio had taken over her position.
As Klaus and Sylvia approached them, one of the guild members pointed in their direction.
"Look at that! Sylvia! She's back!"
Naturally, the other members stopped their activities. Seeing Sylvia in new appearance, they couldn't help but stare in surprise.
"Isn't that Sylvia?"
"Where's her red hair? Why did she change it?"
"She looks even prettier now."
Various comments about her were exchanged among the whispers of the guild members. Suddenly, a high-pitched voice overtook their chatter.
"Sylvee!"
A girl with golden hair, dressed in sweat-drenched clothes, ran toward Sylvia with enthusiasm. Without hesitation, she leaped and embraced Sylvia in front of dozens of eyes.
"Sylvia! You're finally back from the hospital! I've been so worried about you!" Joanna was genuinely happy as she hugged her.
"Haha, Joanna. What's gotten into you? It's not like you to behave like this," Sylvia said, patting the girl's head.
"I don't care, I miss you so much, even though your hair is weird now," Joanna looked serious as she said it.
Sylvia chuckled. "Sorry."
Amidst the whirlwind of emotions displayed by his sister, Klaus could only shake his head. He didn't blame Joanna for being overly emotional. After all, she had witnessed Sylvia's death with her own eyes.
Not long after, the guild's seniors arrived to see Sylvia. Akio came with Olivia and Michael. Their expressions weren't too different from Joanna's.
Olivia embraced her like an older sister would. "Welcome back, Sylvee!"
"Yeah," Sylvia replied briefly, smiling broadly.
"Damn... you're back in one piece. I don't know how you managed to survive, but it's incredible," Michael scanned Sylvia from head to toe. He truly couldn't believe it.
"Thank goodness you're really okay. Honestly, I couldn't believe it when I heard you were still alive. And here you are," Akio said.
Akio rolled his eyes at Klaus. Regret was evident in his gaze. He wouldn't forget the night he had punched Klaus, transferring all the blame onto him for Sylvia's death. Despite having apologized, there was still a lingering sense of unease in his heart. Akio regretted his actions every time he thought about it.I think you should take a look at
"I know you're probably sick of me bringing it up again. Boss, I really am sorry. That night—"
Klaus hissed, "Why are you doing it again? You've apologized to me."
"Still, I—"????????????????????????????????.????????????
Klaus patted Akio's shoulder. "Don't think about it. Go on. Cheer Sylvia up."
Hearing his answer, Akio smiled. He nodded before joining the crowd that surrounded the silver-haired woman.
As Klaus watched them, Sylvia turned to him. Smiling, she conveyed her gratitude through eye contact. Even though it wasn't spoken in words, Klaus could see the sincerity in her gaze.
When Sylvia woke up from her coma, she was genuinely disoriented. The first thing that came to her mind was the moments before her death. It had traumatized her severely. Because of this, Klaus had to hold Sylvia in his arms all night to calm her down.
He kept her consciousness a secret for two weeks, considering her fragile state. He had forbidden anyone from seeing Sylvia until today. Thus, the guild members were incredibly excited when they saw her again. During her absence, various rumors circulated among the members. Some said Sylvia was brain dead, while others claimed she had left the guild.
However, the death experience had not only traumatized Sylvia but also granted her increased power.
During her two weeks in the hospital, beside helping Sylvia recover mentally, Klaus also trained this woman to use her newfound abilities after her heart had been replaced with the [Lesser Dragon's Heart]. She experienced an enhancement in her power.
Klaus still remembered the data that Laplace had shown three days ago.
<Profile Information>
[Name: Sylvia Brown]
[Age: 22]
[Role: Fighter]
[Talents: Time Control, Illusionary Gaze, Super Regeneration, Anti-Aging]
[Element Affinity: Light (Extremely Strong)]
[Battle Power: 979,999]
[Rank: S-Class (Unofficial)]
[Status: Certified]
Yes, the [Lesser Dragon's Heart] hadn't just upgraded Sylvia's rank from B-Class to S-Class, it had also added new talents. It made her the second strongest awakener in the guild. Sylvia could now truly manipulate the flow of time. Unfortunately, she still couldn't fully master [Time Control].
"I'll take her to the Awakener Association and see what happens," Klaus murmured.
While he was lost in his thoughts, a male voice distracted him. Turning his head, Klaus saw Justin standing beside him.
"Look at Sylvia now. Besides having natural beauty, she also has silver hair. Did you tell her to dye her hair?" Justin asked.
"It's the effect of the dragon heart transplant. You can't change it, whatever happens."
Justin pursed his lips. "Is that so? I thought it was because of necromancy. Well, I guess we'll have a celebrity soon anyway."
"Nope. Soon we'll have an S-Class awakener."
Naturally, Justin raised an intrigued eyebrow. "Are you planning to get a new member from the transfer market?"
Suddenly, his smartphone vibrated in his pocket. A new message had just come in. Klaus read the message and a grin spread across his face.
"I've got to go, Justin. Take care of the guild," Klaus said, before heading off.
"Hey! You haven't told me who the S-Class joining our guild is. Klaus!"
"You'll find out later."
After getting into his car, he instructed the driver to head towards Wall Street.
The car came to a halt in front of a building at the intersection, facing a bustling street. The structure stood tall with modern architecture that combined glass and metal. Dozens of people wearing shirts with the number two could be seen crowding the entrance. They carried brochures and other papers. Tilting his head up, Klaus noticed a large banner with the image of a serious-looking man and a handsome young man displayed prominently on the building.
At the moment, Klaus was at the campaign headquarters of gubernatorial candidates number two, Richard Dickson and Jonathan Thompson.
