Chương 421: Chapter 409 - Climbers

"So, how did it go?" Leonie asked. Alonso simply grinned and held up his token for them to see. Adventurer Guild Silver-Rank Name: Alonso Shemson Branch: Riviera, Brithelm Merits: 42, 000 Leonie's eyes widened as the others peeked with their waves. Lukas let out a low whistle.

"So, reporting the anomaly was worth it after all."

"I'd say so," Alonso replied lightly.

"There are enough merits there for a rank up already. Anyway, Gregor said for you lot to see him directly. He'll update your merits, and well… knowing the crafty old man, he'll probably try to leave a good impression while he's at it." Leonie nodded.

"I see. Perhaps I'll take him up on the offer."

"I thought you wanted to become a knight, sis?" Lukas asked, a faint glint of amusement flickering in his eyes. He knew his sister well, after all. Leonie remained silent for a moment before exhaling.

"I may have been incorrect in my earlier assumptions. Being bound would only limit our growth, no matter how many resources or how much 'authority' lands in our hands. Freedom is key if we're to reach our limits… and we shouldn't throw it away." Lukas smiled. Alonso nodded. While he had been clear on that from the start, it was good that Leonie had reached the conclusion herself.

"Fair enough. Anyway, what was it you wanted to show me?" Alonso asked, changing the topic.

"Right," Leonie said calmly, then sent a pulse outward. One of her Gen-2 men stepped forward carrying a standard wooden box and set it down before them. When it was opened, the interior revealed a neat row of slim, dark rectangular devices resting in velvet lining. They looked like—"Phones?" Alonso asked, raising a brow.

"Sort of," Leonie replied as she picked one up. The device was rather small, sleek, metallic, no visible seams, a thin glassy surface across its front with faint etchings along the edge.

"Since I assumed we would be spread out at times, it seemed practical to have reliable long-distance communication. So I commissioned a small team with prior experience in the field, and well, Lukas, to assist with the design."

"Calling them next-generation mobile phones wouldn't hurt, sis," Lukas said with a grin as he magnetised one into his palm. Leonie smirked.

"Why don't you explain it then, chief engineer." Lukas turned the device in his fingers, then cleared his throat theatrically.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began smoothly, pacing a slow half-step as though standing on a stage, "what you are looking at is the future of Climber communication." He tapped the surface lightly and it shimmered alive, a projection blooming above it in crisp blue light.

"Battery powered," he continued, flashing a grin.

"But not in the boring, primitive way. They can be conveniently kept operating by occasionally injecting a small EM pulse. Think of it as feeding it a snack now and then. Efficient. Elegant. Minimal maintenance." He flicked his fingers and icons rearranged mid-air.

"They operate over long distances using dedicated transmission towers—also battery powered, also EM-sustained. A single tower can function for weeks if required. We'll be installing more across key regions as we expand, naturally with permission from local authorities."

"Permission," Leonie repeated mildly. Lukas waved it off.

"Formalities." Alonso leaned closer, clearly amused but also intrigued.

"What if we're inside Dungeons?"

"Ah," Lukas said, raising a finger.

"Now that is where it gets clever. Obviously, there's no transmission through Dungeon barriers. However, the system runs on an automatic relay protocol. Messages are sent at repeated intervals until confirmation of receipt is returned. So if you're inside a Dungeon, the moment you exit— ping. Everything you missed arrives." Chiara's gaze sharpened faintly in approval.

"And," Lukas added casually, "they come with games." Leonie's head turned, clearly unaware of this particular 'detail.'

"They what!?" Lukas grinned.

"Well, come on. Why not?" He tapped again and a small projection appeared—geometric shapes shifting and aligning in elegant patterns.

"It's a logic-compression strategy simulator," he said smoothly.

"Very entertaining. Chiara and I may have used to play a variation of it during the white rooms." Leonie frowned.

"You allocated development time to a game?"

"It improves pattern recognition and reflexive decision-making under pressure," Lukas replied without missing a beat.

"Purely professional." Alonso let out a low laugh. Lukas clasped his hands behind his back as the phone floated before him, rotating smoothly on its own.

"And of course, this is merely Version One. We'll be rolling out updates regularly. Signal optimisation, encryption upgrades, tactical overlays, perhaps even integrated EM mapping in the future. Unlike Earth devices, these are designed specifically for Climbers. Which means, yes—much better." If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Leonie exhaled, though a small smile tugged at her lips.

"Just make sure your 'updates' do not compromise operational focus." Lukas didn't reply, though his eyes gleamed with mischief. Ayu picked one up, turning it in her hand. She sent a thin thread of EM waves into it. The device responded instantly, its internal structure unfolding to her perception like a neatly organised blueprint. Signal channels. Safeguards. Relay pathways. Her eyes brightened.

"This is actually really cool, Lukas."

"Well," he replied smoothly, "in the name of the team, you're most welcome." He knew full well that for those following the Body Path, whose natural transmission range was nowhere near as wide as a Pillar specialist's, this would be indispensable. Pablo turned his over in his hands, studying it with quiet fascination. He had seen Leonie deploy communication tools within The Shadows before, but this was something else.

The output range alone dwarfed what he could comfortably sustain on his own, and the internal locking mechanism made it practically inert to anyone without the right signature. He gave a slow nod of appreciation.

"Well, you can dissect it later," Leonie said, folding her arms.

"On to the main matter at hand. The Fourth State." Her gaze swept across them, lingering just long enough to make sure she had everyone's attention.

"Now that we've reached the comfortable Stage Progress threshold, I suppose it's time for a period of seclusion. Each of you follow what works best and… good luck. Let's stay in contact through the phones and message the others the moment you break through." She shifted her weight slightly before continuing.

"I'll coordinate with Leonhard, Stephen, and the rest. They can use the newly acquired orbs and gear to push through Dungeons in the meantime and keep the financial side stable." She was about to finish, yet something held her there. Her eyes moved across each of them.

"Also… what we did in that last fight… it was incredible." Her lips curved, and for a fleeting second the mask slipped, revealing a smile so rare that even those who had known Leonie for years would have struggled to recall another like it.

"And for all it's worth… out of the millions of humans who stepped into The Tower… I am glad I am now standing at your side." Her gaze lingered on them, unguarded.

"You are… extraordinary." Alonso let a quiet smile form.

"We all are." Then Lukas clapped his hands once, amusement flickering across his face as he stepped forward.

"Alright then," Lukas said with a grin.

"Before we all disappear into our caves and come back as enlightened hermits, let's do this properly… so we have something to cringe about later." He stepped forward and extended his arm toward the centre of the circle.

"Come on, one cheesy phrase each. I'll take the first hit. For many more laughs after cheating death." They looked at one another, shaking their heads with soft sighs and quiet laughter, before Ayu stepped forward and placed her hand over his, her eyes bright.

"For showing the world what we're capable of." Alonso followed, his expression steady as he added his hand.

"For taking our paths to their limits." Imani stepped forward.

"For standing strong together." Chiara joined.

"For understanding the mysteries that lie ahead." Pablo placed his hand over the rest, a quiet determination in his eyes.

"For doing what has never been done before." Leonie looked at her brother for a brief moment, then at the others, before adding her hand last.

"For our world… and for ourselves." Their hands tightened together. Lukas looked around the circle, grin widening.

"And now that we're at it… why not give the band a name, huh?"

"A name?" Alonso raised a brow.

"You mean like Climbers?" Pablo asked.

"Climbers?" Lukas tilted his head, then his smile slowly widened.

"Actually… I like that. So like: 'Climbers, assemble!'" He let out a short laugh.

"Doesn't sound half bad." Leonie snorted.

"Isn't that just… everyone inside The Tower?"

"It's not the word, sis," Lukas replied, eyes glinting.

"It's what the word stands for." He looked at each of them in turn, amusement still there, but steadier now.

"Anyone can be chosen by The Tower," he continued.

"Anyone can shout that they're climbing. They can brag about how far they reached in pubs, put it in their profiles, stamp it on their CV." He gave a small shrug.

"That part's easy." His expression sharpened just a touch.

"But when someone hears 'Climber,' it shouldn't mean someone who was just chosen by chance. It should mean someone who refused to give up and climbed, paying for every step in blood and pain." He gestured loosely with his free hand.

"When someone writes about it in a book, it shouldn't be a generic term. When someone argues about it in a hub, it shouldn't be about statistics.

"And when some kid types it into a browser one day, it shouldn't pull up a million empty words and flashy pictures." His eyes gleamed.

"It should mean something earned. Something carried with pride." His voice lowered just a little.

"So yes, the word already exists… but we'll give it meaning." He tilted his head slightly, amusement flickering again.

"Just like kids here think about Adventurers and imagine heroes flying through the sky and slaying dragons, let's give 'Climber' something real for the people watching from Earth." His eyes brightened.

"Let's ground it in feats. In overcoming impossible odds. In deeds that echo. In moments where everything says you should fall… and you don't." Alonso smiled faintly.

"I actually like it." Lukas nodded.

"Then let's set the standard." He leaned forward slightly, his voice gaining warmth.

"Let's make it so that when you're bleeding and battered, when the world is against you and hope feels thin… you remember who you are." He drew a slow breath.

"And you let that give you the strength to do what the world thought you couldn't." For a moment, no one spoke. Their hands remained stacked in the centre, heat and pressure shared between them. Ayu's grin widened. Pablo gave a firm nod. Chiara exhaled, though a faint smile betrayed her. Imani stood steady and composed. Leonie held their gaze without flinching. Alonso looked at each of them in turn. Then he nodded.

"Alright then… Climbers it is," he said. The others echoed it, low but certain.

"Climbers." Their hands tightened once more before breaking apart, the word lingering in the air, no longer empty.