Only Wisdom Awakened - Chapter 171

Chapter 171: San Diego
‘I tried it your way, Dad.

As you said, even the ability to get help from others can be categorized as strength…

However, it seems like my strength is a little bit different from how you envisioned it’

“Stay here for a while Ember, okay? I have to take care of something and it might not be the best place for you to visit”

As soon as he left his apartment alone, Hans went to Caleb, who was training in his office.

“Oh! Hans! I heard you came back, sorry, I was busy finishing my daily routine.”

“That’s not important right now”

“What? Hey, is everything good?”

“Yes, what could ever be wrong?”

“Uh… I don’t know how to say it but you look kind of…

Pissed off”

Indeed, Hans was quite angered by the dean’s reaction.

She had slapped him to relieve her anger, and it just didn’t sit well with him.

‘Tch, I can’t even try to figure out what the hell that woman’s thinking.

One second she acts like a buddy, and right after she goes right back to being the dean.

As soon as I’m finished with my work here I won’t come back ever again.’

“Me, pissed? No way”

“Uh.. Sure, what have you come here for?”

“I need to go to the nearest night market, show me where it is”

“Uh, Hans, don’t know how to say this, but I don’t think you should’ve asked me”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know any of their locations…”

“What? Are you for real? Everyone above B-rank usually knows at least one spot”

“Then why don’t you know any?”

Asked Caleb.

“Thats…

To tell the truth, Hans was kind of distanced from the awakened world, the only people he could be called friends with weren’t even enough to take up all ten of his fingers.

“I know some but I am not from here, remember? Also, weren’t you once San Diego’s association branch leader? How could you not know a single night market hideout in California?”

“Uh… I only trained, so I never really cared about information and other things”

“What about your work as the branch leader?”

“I had some people handle it for me”

“Of course you did…

Said Hans, with a tone that implied the other shamelessness, but in reality, he was thinking about something else:

‘Damn, I should’ve done the same.

Wait… didn’t I basically do the same?

Whatever, I should’ve done it better.’

“Alright then, I guess there’s no point in staying here any further, I’ll go and search for one alone if none of you can help me”

“Wait”

Said Caleb, causing Hans to turn around.

“I said I don’t know any locations, but I do know someone who could tell you”

“Oh! That’s right! How could I forget about Lily, I will go and ask her right now”

“No, no, you’ve misunderstood, it’s not her, she probably won’t even talk to you right now because she’s preparing for all the lessons of the next semester, she had already done it but the dean ordered everyone to improve it so she’s freaked out right now”

“You don’t mean Lily… then who-”

“That… my secretary”

‘Even he has a secretary… should I really get one?’

Thought Hans.

“Alright then, what are you waiting for?”

“Mh… I’ll-I’ll call him right now”

For some reason unknown to Hans, Caleb seemed quite intimidated by the thought of calling his assistant.

But when Caleb finally made up his mind, he took up the phone and made his call.

“Bzzz…. Bzzz”

While the phone was ringing, Caleb was hoping with all his would that no one would answer.

‘Please don’t pick up… please don’t pick up…”

The call was answered, and a serious voice came from the other side of the phone.

“Good evening, I am Preston Monroe, who is this? and how can I help you?”

With a bead of sweat on his forehead, Caleb replied nonchalantly.

“Hey, Preston, how is it going? I finally got a new phone, my friend Hans here needs a little help with something, could you aid him for a little bit?”

….

Silence…

Even with his heightened senses, Hans couldn’t perceive any answer from the other side.

“Caleb…

Replied an intimidating and furious voice.

“Haha… you changed phone numbers three months ago and I haven’t been able to get a hold of you ever since…

You left me here… all summer, I’ve been filling in the documents for you while you were away since you couldn’t even find someone to take your place as San Diego’s association branch leader…”

“Haha… I’m sorry about that, I-I’ve been really busy as of late so I-”

“Caleb!”

“Y-yes…”

“Get back here right now! You have three days to finish all the piled-up documents I couldn’t sign in your place…

If you don’t… I will resign”

“Ack! I get it I get it, we will be there as soon as possible, but can you at least help my friend? He needs to go to a night market”

“Yes, I can do that, but you better hurry…

time’s ticking”

“Beep… beep”

“Your assistant…

He’s scary”

Said Hans, reminded of Kenta.

“Yeah he is”

Replied Caleb shivering.

“Once, two years ago, I decided to train in seclusion for two months, and when I came out, he forced me to work for a week straight without almost any breaks, I still have nightmares about it”

“Ugh…”

“Anyway, do you have a way to get to San Diego in just a few hours?”

“Yeah, we can take my car”

“You have a car?”

“Uh? Why you thought I didn’t know how to drive?”

“No, I’m just surprised you would fit in a car”

“Uh, yeah it is pretty uncomfortable to go around with it, but I got the biggest model I could find so I can at least stretch my legs”

“That’s good, shall we go then?”

“Yes, let me pack a few things, you never know I might need some of these”

Caleb took up a huge bag that seemed to be made out of monsters’ materials and packed it with weights, it must’ve added up to at least a ton.

“Caleb… I mean… I don’t think you’re gonna need those”

Said Hans seeing the only things he had packed were the weights, a training suit, and an elegant dress.

“It’s fine, I’m sure there’ll be a moment when everything finds its purpose”

“If you say so…”

The two men walked to the parking lots, where they got in Caleb’s car.

It was an enormous black SUV, that put to shame the size of most of the normal ones around the streets.

After two hours and a half of driving, since traffic didn’t seem to help them, they arrived at San Diego.

“Have you ever been here Hans?”

Asked Caleb

“No, I’ve heard much about it though”

“Oh, that’s no good, you should come to surf with me one time, this place is a paradise when it comes to that sport”

“Really? I heard there’s a lot of deaths because of sea monsters among surfers”

“Nah, it’s just like the sharks, they just got replaced”

“Is that… something good?”

“Whatever, you’re a seventh circle mage, even if a ghost were to try and touch you you would be able to tell, do you think a little sea monster can pass unnoticed under your radar?”

‘Well… it’s not like he’s wrong, the problem’s for normal people.’

“It doesn’t matter anyway, I don’t think you will have the luxury of stopping at the beach.”

“Ugh… don’t remind me of that, just thinking about the piled-up work makes my body overheat”

A few minutes later, Caleb stopped in front of a beautiful building.

It was mostly made of white material and glass, which both reflected the beautiful light of the late summer.

“Welcome… this is the San Diego Association branch”

It didn’t expand in height but rather in width, taking a shape similar to those of some little airports.

It was truly unique compared to the big buildings and skyscrapers he had seen up till now, it seemed to truly align with the free spirit of the city.

Caleb didn’t even make it past the front door before being spotted by a man who had been waiting for them right there for the past twenty minutes or so.

“You have returned”

Said the man.

Hans immediately recognized the voice, while Caleb was already panicking when he saw his face.

It was Caleb’s assistant.

The first thing the man did was greet Hans:

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, I’ve heard about your interests from Caleb.

Here, this is all I can do”

He said, handing Hans a little slip of paper containing an address.

“Go there, and if they ask you something, reply with what’s written on the other side of that paper”

Hans turned around the paper to read what was written below before bidding goodbye to Caleb and Preston.

“Hans, wait, Hans, you’ve never been here, right? How about I show you around the place”

“That won’t do boss… you have to get to work…

Right now!”

“Hans please don’t leave me… Hans…. Haaaanss!”