The Spare's Second Chance in Apocalypse-Chapter 91: Ch : The Meeting- Part 3

Selene stepped into the government office.

The room was large, with a polished wooden table and soft lighting. Most of the council members were familiar faces.

She even spotted the blonde woman who had tried to cause trouble for her last time.

But two new faces stood out.

They looked young—too young for this kind of meeting.

One was a girl with short black hair, wearing a leather jacket. She sat back in her chair, looking bored.

The other was a man with wheat-blond hair. He wore a simple white shirt and jeans, yet held himself with confidence.

Selene’s instincts flared, and she activated her Insight. Her head throbbed as the tried to over-exert her power, but Selene could not back down.

She needed to know who these new players were and why they were here.

’These two feel suspicious. And that man...he’s the one who gave me that weird feeling earlier. I need to find out what he is hiding.’

But before she could peer into their status, the blond man’s eyes met hers.

He smiled, a disarming curve of his lips that caught Selene off guard. Her focus slipped, and the opportunity to use her skill faded.

She cursed inwardly, regaining her composure.

’Darn it! Was that look on purpose? Did that man know that I was trying to use my skill to look into him? Fuck! This man is turning out to be more of a problem than Ethan is.’

It wasn’t often that someone could break her concentration. There was something off about him—something more than his too-casual demeanor in a room full of power players.

"Hello. Rose Grayson. It’s a pleasure"

The man said, his voice light and unassuming. He stood up, extending a hand toward her.

Selene hesitated, her mind racing. Rose Grayson.

The name tugged at her memory, familiar yet elusive. She took his hand, his grip warm and steady.

’Shit! I know for a fact that I have heard that name before. But where! Why is my brain so useless at times like these?’

The government official, still standing near the door, cleared his throat. The sound cut through the moment, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Thank you all for gathering. Today, we’ll discuss the support center proposal and other matters of alliance."

As the room settled, Selene kept part of her focus on Rose. She opened her system window again, her Insight honing in on him.

When his profile flashed before her eyes, her breath caught.

[Name: Rose Grayson

Rank: B

Overall Ranking: #20]

Her heart skipped a beat. B-rank was rare, and being ranked 20th among all awakeners was even more impressive.

Only a handful of people had that kind of power.

She scrolled further, wanting to see his affiliation. But as the information loaded, Rose moved.

He reached out, his hand almost brushing her face. Her system window vanished as she flinched back.

’What the hell-! Did that man just reach...has he gone mad?’

Selene could not help but feel her heart skip a beat in fear. It felt like she just had a close brush with death.

Silence fell over the room. The council members stared. Even the blonde woman who disliked Selene looked uncomfortable.

Selene’s pulse quickened. Her mind raced through worst-case scenarios—attacks, betrayal, hidden threats.

She forced herself to stay calm, her body tense.

Rose laughed, his voice light.

"Sorry. I don’t like being looked at too closely and it felt like you were staring at me. So I decided to try and do something about it. I hope you are not too offended by it."

A few people chuckled awkwardly, but the tension remained. The girl in the leather jacket rolled her eyes, a smirk on her lips.

It seemed to be a regular occurrence from what Selene could piece together.

Selene didn’t react.

"Understood. I will try not to look at you too much."

The official resumed his presentation, talking about the support center and partnership opportunities. Selene listened, but a part of her mind stayed on Rose.

She knew his name now.

Rose Grayson was linked to Justice, the group gaining popularity as "heroes" but operating as terrorists in reality.

Her fingers curled into her palms.

If Justice was here, they were up to something. Her plans for the support center could be in danger.

The meeting continued. Selene presented her ideas, answered questions, and handled the blonde woman’s subtle digs with calm responses.

Rose mostly stayed quiet. He watched Selene, his expression a mix of curiosity and amusement. His companion only spoke once, agreeing with him in a sharp tone.

When the meeting ended, Selene stood.

She nodded to the council members as they left. The blonde woman shot her a glare, and the official muttered promises about funding and support.

Rose didn’t leave.

Selene adjusted her bag, slipping her system device into her pocket.

"Do you need something?"

He leaned against the table, his arms crossed.

"Just curious."

"About what?"

"You."

His smile returned.

Selene did not like the way she was being looked at, so she decided to keep her mouth close and not show what she was thinking.

But if anything, it made the madman laugh even more.

His companion appeared at his side, her arms crossed.

"Rose, we’re done here."

He straightened, his smile thinning but not vanishing.

"I suppose we are."

He offered her a shallow bow, mocking in its civility.

"Until next time, Miss Shadow."

Selene stayed still, watching them walk away. Her mind raced, possibilities and dangers weaving together.

As they disappeared through the door, she allowed herself a small exhale.

She had come here to build alliances, to secure her support center’s future. But she’d found a snake in the grass—a reminder that nothing in this world would be easy.

Her Insight whispered warnings, a sense of something greater moving beneath the surface. She couldn’t afford to misstep. Not now.

With a final look around the almost empty room, Selene sighed and rubbed her forehead. Things just kept getting more and more complicated for her.