Chapter 210 Jetlag (III)
The bustling atmosphere at a busy airport was palpable. Passengers from various parts of the world were in a hurry, filling the gleaming terminal with their activities. Bright spotlights illuminated the area, creating reflections on the polished marble floor. Rows of restaurants, luxury stores, and large information boards added to the bustle and grandeur of the airport.
In the midst of the busy crowd, a man stood tall in a long black coat and sunglasses. Jacob Blake, the guild master of the Divine Ursine Alliance, was the center of attention for dozens of reporters and paparazzi who surrounded him. Microphones and cameras were thrust in his direction as questions about his arrival in New York continued to pour in.
"Mr. Jacob, what brings you to New York?"
"Aren't you supposed to go to Germany to help close the dungeon there? Why are you here?"
"Has the Divine Ursine Alliance declined the request of the German government?"
Jacob Blake calmly answered each question from the reporters one by one.
"Yes, that's right. We got a request from Germany, and my team has already flown there two days ago."
"So, why are you here?" asked one journalist.
"Well, the Divine Ursine Alliance is just one of the three guilds selected. I came here to pick up the two guilds that will accompany me to Germany. Coincidentally, both of them are from New York."
Reporter continued to shower him with questions, trying to get more information about their purpose in Germany. However, Jacob kept the details of the dungeon raid a secret.
As the situation grew noisier with the questions and the attention on Jacob, some of the reporters suddenly shifted their focus to a group that had just entered the airport.
"Hey! Look at that! Rays of Hope!"
Klaus and his guild members strode confidently, wearing their distinctive uniforms. Leading the front row was their guild master, Justin Law. He smiled confidently as dozens of reporters rushed towards them. Within seconds, flashes of white light engulfed the crew of 20.
"Mr. Justin! Are you bringing members of the Morning Star?"
"After acquiring Morning Star, are you targeting an empty seat in the Five Pillars?"
"Are you also joining the raid?"
The reporters bombarded Justin with various questions, most of them related to Morning Star. There was no denying that the acquisition of Morning Star had caused a lot of controversy, making Justin the target of the media.
While the entire corps of reporters gathered around Justin, Klaus quietly left the crowd and approached Jacob.
Klaus knew that Jacob had summoned them here. These reporters couldn't have come on their own. Despite the news of America's assistance to Germany circulating widely, flight schedules remained a secret.
"Why did you call these people?" Klaus asked.
"For exposure, my friend," Jacob replied. "It's key to maintaining a good reputation even with dirty hands."
Jacob understood the value of media attention and its impact on their mission. He strategically arranged this meeting to provide publicity not only for his Divine Ursine Alliance but also for Rays of Hope. Klaus nodded in acknowledgment, realizing Jacob's well-planned move.
"By the way, you've got quite a catch, huh?" Jacob whispered.
Klaus grinned. "Well, I just got lucky."
Apart from Justin being the center of attention, Gavin Schneider also drew the reporters' eyes.
The former member of Sons of Thor had created a sensation when news of his joining Rays of Hope surfaced in the media. The public initially thought Gavin had returned to Germany, unaware that he was in a coma in the hospital at the time. His sudden appearance in the midst of the press became an intriguing topic.
The reporters who had initially gathered around Justin quickly shifted their attention to Gavin, asking questions about his sudden involvement with Rays of Hope. His appearance was a complete 180-degree change from when he was in the hospital. He looked casual in training clothes but still maintained a charismatic presence.
"Mr. Gavin, where have you been all this time?"
"What prompted you to join Rays of Hope?"
"What about your former colleagues in Sons of Thor?"
However, the man appeared to dislike the spotlight focused on him. "Ah," "Yeah," and "Dunno" were the best answers he could provide.
On the other hand, one of his new teammates showed envy as they saw Gavin becoming the center of attention.
"How is it that he's getting all the attention while I got nothing after working hard for the past year?" mumbled Olivia. The exotic-looking woman pouted as she spoke.
"It's called value," replied Akio. "To be the best awakener, you need more than hard work. Sometimes, you have to be smart, pretty, and not annoying."
Olivia squinted, giving Akio a piercing glare.
Gavin's presence, once a prominent figure in Sons of Thor, added layers of curiosity and intrigue to this already crowded media event. Klaus couldn't deny that bringing him along was the right choice.
"Sorry, But I didn't mean that guy," Jacob suddenly said.
Naturally, Klaus turned to the man with sunglasses.
"But them," Jacob continued, his eyes on a white-haired woman and a girl in a hoodie.
After realizing Jacob was referring to Sylvia and Zee, Klaus's expression changed.
Jacob chuckled. "Come on, Klaus. Getting one Top-Class and two S-Class individuals all at once is truly remarkable. I'm really impressed."
Closing his mouth tightly, Klaus didn't respond to Jacob. He didn't know where this person had obtained information that should have been kept secret, but now he knew that Jacob had many spies within the Awakener Association.
From now on, he would be more cautious.
"I hate it when someone talks about things that should not to. I hope you can keep your mouth shut," Klaus said, with a piercing voice.
Jacob touched his lips from one corner to the other with his finger, as if there were a zipper on his mouth. "Your secret is safe with me. We're partners, right?"
Klaus sighed in response.
"By the way, who's the third guild?" Klaus changed the subject.
"Speak of the devil," Jacob replied. "They've arrived."
Rolling his eyes, Klaus looked in the direction Jacob was gazing.
Another group entered the airport, and they stood out from the rest due to their diverse and eye-catching attire. There was an older man dressed in beachwear, a woman in athletic attire, and a young man in a sharp suit. Among them, a handsome man with wavy hair, wearing a white turtleneck and a brown coat, strode forward.
In an instant, some of the reporters who had previously surrounded Rays of Hope shifted their attention to this new group. They were members of Unity of Guardian, and their guild master, Edward Lee, instantly became the target of camera flashes.
"Mr. Edward! Are you and your crew also flying to Germany with Divine Ursine Alliance and Rays of Hope?"
"Please answer the question! Are you also part of the team assisting the German government?"
"Did you also receive a request from the German government?"
Unity of Guardian's arrival added another layer of excitement to the airport scene. Reporters tried hard to capture every angle of their arrival and get interviews with Edward Lee.
"Yeah, that's right," Edward replied. "I'm part of the crew too."
Seeing his cousin's sudden come at the airport, Klaus narrowed his eyes at Jacob. He had no idea that Edward would join this raid.
"Jacob, what's the meaning of this? I didn't know you were inviting Unity of Guardian," Klaus said, piercing.
Jacob replied with a sly smile, "Ah, Klaus, it's actually quite simple. Originally, I wanted to invite Oathkeeper, but unfortunately, Lizbeth declined because she doesn't favor you too much. So, I had to find an alternative with limited time."
Suddenly, Edward appeared with a friendly smile and warmly greeted Klaus. He pretended not to notice the tense situation between Klaus and Jacob. Wisely, Klaus chose to play along with Edward, responding with a smile as well.
"Hello, Klaus! I didn't know you would be here. Jacob, you didn't tell me anything," Edward said warmly.
Klaus shrugged. "I didn't know either, Edward. But it is a good thing, though."
However, at that moment, Klaus realized that there was a hidden conspiration between Edward and Jacob, something not visible on the surface. The atmosphere grew tenser with the meeting of these three major guilds at the bustling airport.
"Important notice to our passengers. This airport would like to announce that the flight to Frankfurt am Main, Germany, will commence shortly. Please prepare yourselves and have your identification cards or passports ready for the security check."
Suddenly, the flight announcement echoed through the bustling airport. Jacob promptly led Edward and Klaus to prepare to board the plane.
"Alright, it's time to board the flight to Germany. We have a dungeon to conquer," Jacob said.
"Okay," Edward replied. He turned to his cousin. "Let's go, Klaus."
Klaus nodded in agreement, although he still felt that something was amiss in this meeting. The two guild contingents headed towards the airplane's entrance, ready to embark on their conquest of the orange dungeon in Oberstdorf.
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