The young, tall gentleman with dark, long hair went by the name Noah. He was an orphan who rose to power with his unique skills, great prowess, and a lot of support from Adolf as well as other personnel.

But Adolf was his biggest supporter since he was ’the’ Adolf, chairman of the worldwide association.

In a word, he couldn’t have gotten where he was if not for Adolf but Adolf kept reminding him that his exclusive skills were to thank, not him.

Noah walked back to the seat opposite the chairman, crossed his legs, and peered amusingly at Adolf.

"Dear Chairman," he called out. "I have a question."

"What is it?" Adolf responded.

"If you and that kid were to have a one-on-one fight, who would win?" He asked and Adolf took a moment of silence. He sighed and said,

"Well, Noah," Adolf began, "If I were to take that punch just now," he pointed at the blinds, referring to what Alice did to Leo. Even if he didn’t exactly see it, he could feel it. Everyone did. "I might’ve had my guts rearranged and I wouldn’t be able to move without being treated carefully."

"Oh?"

"But concerning a battle, just brute force isn’t needed alone. So, for Alice, who only knows how to fight monsters and swing her weapon and fist, I might have a shot since I’m a veteran and a strategist." He picked his teacup from the sausa once more. "But it doesn’t mean I’ll win either." He sipped his tea. "I might be able to land a few fatal punches and put her off track but she will recover in no time and adjust to my movement. I haven’t watched her long enough but I can tell she’s that extraordinary."

"Really, now. Aren’t you giving her too much credit?" Noah looked excited, hearing all that.

"I wish I was. But you’ve seen it, haven’t you?" He asked Noah, referring to the video taken of her smothering the eclipse dragon without even making contact. "I can’t see myself pulling that off so effortlessly."

"So, you would lose in a battle of endurance and force. Now, that’s something you don’t see every day." Noah said, sitting back and unfolding his legs. "But it’s worth taking note of. To think the great Chairman revered as the most powerful would lose,"

"Yes, I have to admit that is the case. Her powers are..." He paused, recalling how she reacted to Fredrick’s attack when the council was called on her case the first time.

Such terrifying powers.

"Then, how well do you think I would do if I were to go against her in a fight?" Noah asked and Adolf looked up at him.

"As a matter of fact, why don’t we find that out ourselves?" He said, finally dropping the tea cup for good.

He interlocked his fingers in front of his face and looked seriously at Noah.

"The association is still not satisfied with what they’ve seen. They do not fully believe Alice is what she says she is,"

"A legendary class, right?" Noah asked and Adolf nodded.

"Yes. And thus, it’s become quite chaotic and troublesome. For now, no erratic forces are trying to approach Alice because I gave them a cooling period." He explained.

"Cooling period? What’s that?"

"You would’ve known everything if you would just attend the council meeting like everyone else." Adolf flared at him and he darted his eyes aside, knowing he was guilty.

Adolf sighed and continued speaking.

"A cooling period to let Alice adjust to her new life, have some peace, and sort herself out. Till her powers have been tested for all to see and the press conference to announce her identity to the world has been achieved, no one is to approach her."

"Wow, and they all agreed to that condition?"

"It wasn’t easy to convince them but it was the only way for everyone to get a ’fair’ start. And so long she doesn’t join any guild behind their backs, they will all stay put."

So, Alice’s decision not to join any guild worked out in his favor. He knew it was mandatory to join a guild before one could participate in any activity within the gates, but she was an exception. He made it so.

He just didn’t tell her that that was the reason she was allowed to act without a guild name behind her.

However, it was alright. Recently, there had been no major worries like red gates spawning all over at once. In fact, there had been none in the past few days.

This was how it used to be when red gates were a rarity and not one that would pop out every five minutes. He had to assume that it was thanks to the calamity that these gates acted as a follow-up to threaten the safety of humanity.

If things continued like this, then they may not have to worry Alice with anything and she could continue her life as a normal teen.

He wished she could have that privilege.

"So, Chairman," Noah called and he raised his gaze. "What do you need me to do? I’m always ready, you know that?"

Adolf looked at the excitement in Noah’s eyes. He only acted like that when he was in front of him. He usually acted like a composed and level-headed leader, but he was more excited about fighting than anything else.

So, getting to fight someone like Alice was more than enough to rile him up.

He was an SS-class, after all. One of very few.

"Will you fight Alice in the coming council meeting?" He asked. "Be her opponent, as well as her teacher."

Noah grinned and his hair slowly levitated softly, as though they had lost gravity, but it was just a little breeze pushing them up and causing them to dance of their own free will.

"With pleasure."

Adolf stared at him, hoping this was the right and best option at the moment.

He knew Noah would not be able to beat Alice, not with her endurance, he wouldn’t, but he would be able to hold on enough for Alice to adapt, learn, and prove herself.

That was what he hoped for.

"So, when is the next council meeting?"

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com