Noah and John walked together into the shared office space of the law department, where the atmosphere buzzed with the daily hum of chatter, clicking keyboards, and the occasional burst of laughter.
Noah’s gaze was calm and measured, while John followed closely, looking tense but respectful—still shaken from the earlier confrontation.
As Noah entered, the energy in the room shifted. He could feel the eyes of the employees turning toward him.
Some were curious, some confused, and others surprised at the presence of this unfamiliar young man. A few whispers trickled through the room.
“Who’s that guy?” one employee muttered under their breath, glancing over at Noah.
“He looks way too young, Is he a new hire?” another speculated, looking puzzled.
A group of women at the far end of the room exchanged glances, stifling giggles. One leaned over to her colleague, whispering, “Oh my God, he’s so handsome! I hope he is a new employee. I need to shoot my shot.”
Noah didn’t acknowledge any of this. He moved with purpose, the casual swagger of someone who knew exactly where he stood.
He took in the environment—the nervous glances, the intrigued whispers—but his face remained impassive, hiding the calculating thoughts swirling inside his head.
Beside him, John’s anxiety was evident, but he straightened his back, trying to maintain his composure.
John clapped his hands, the sharp sound cutting through the murmurs. “Everyone, stop what you’re doing. We have an important announcement.”
The employees immediately hushed, turning their attention toward him. The room fell into a strange, almost eerie silence. They knew something was coming, but none of them expected the bombshell that was about to be dropped.
John cleared his throat, glancing at Noah, who gave him a slight nod. Taking a deep breath, John began, “There’s been a major development within the company today. The law director of this department has been taken into custody for suspicion of embezzlement and collusion with the previously fired director, Smith.”
Gasps filled the room. The law director? The man they worked under every day, suddenly arrested? It was a bombshell. Some of them exchanged wide-eyed looks, others whispered nervously to each other.
John continued, his voice carrying a mixture of regret and humility, “Unfortunately, I was deceived by him. Due to my negligence, I placed too much trust in someone who was manipulating the company from the inside. But thanks to…” His eyes turned toward Noah with a look of genuine admiration, his voice reverent, “our boss, Noah Thompson, the true owner of Walls4Us, we were able to uncover the crimes.”
Noah remained still as John spoke, his presence commanding without any effort. His face was unreadable, a mask of calm that only heightened the tension in the room.
“The boss personally reviewed the records,” John continued, “and found the evidence that the law director had hidden. He has been arrested and is now facing serious charges. He’ll likely serve at least eight years in prison, with substantial penalties on top.”
The employees were visibly stunned. Some exchanged worried glances, while others sat frozen, still processing the news. A few whispered quietly to each other, but no one dared to speak up. The weight of John’s words sank in, casting a cold shadow over the room. The law director’s downfall felt like a warning—an unspoken threat hanging in the air.
John looked back at Noah, his expression filled with expectation. “The boss has another announcement, so listen carefully.”
Noah stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the room, scanning the faces of each employee. His eyes were cold, his expression unyielding. The room seemed to hold its breath, awaiting his words.
“Good afternoon, everyone,” Noah began, his voice calm yet authoritative. “My name is Noah Thompson, and as John mentioned, I am the sole shareholder and owner of Walls4Us. I don’t have time for long speeches, so I’ll keep this brief.”
His words cut through the air like a knife, sharp and direct. He paused, letting the tension build before continuing.
“I have fired your previous law director, and I will be promoting one of you to replace him.” He let the statement hang for a moment, watching the employees’ faces as the realization settled in. Their futures were suddenly at stake, and every person in that room knew it.
“Here’s how this will work,” Noah said, his voice carrying a subtle edge. “I value loyalty. Those of you who have been with the company longer will have a better chance at this promotion. I want to see each of you lined up in order of your seniority. The longer you’ve worked here, the better your chances.”
There was a murmur of uncertainty among the employees, but Noah raised a hand, silencing them. His eyes darkened as his tone shifted, taking on a more sinister edge. “However, let me make something very clear. If any of you follow in the footsteps of your former director, his punishment will seem like child’s play compared to what I have in mind for you.”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees as Noah’s gaze hardened. The employees stood frozen, the weight of his threat bearing down on them. John shifted uncomfortably beside him, feeling the intensity of Noah’s cold stare pierce through the room.
“You all saw what happened today,” Noah continued, his voice low but full of menace. “I do not tolerate incompetence. I do not tolerate disloyalty. If anyone else thinks they can play games with me or with this company, you’ll find out just how far I’m willing to go.”
Silence gripped the room. The employees stood still, not daring to move, as Noah’s cold eyes scanned their faces. He had them exactly where he wanted them—fearful, uncertain, and desperate to prove their worth.
Then, just as suddenly, his demeanour shifted. His face softened, and he smiled—a chilling contrast to the ice in his voice moments ago. “Now,” he said, in a much more casual tone, “line up. Let’s see who’s earned this promotion.”
The employees hesitated for a moment before scrambling to organize themselves, quickly falling into line according to their seniority. Some looked eager, others nervous, but all of them felt the weight of Noah’s presence as they waited to see who would be chosen.
John watched the scene unfold with a strange mix of relief and dread. He had narrowly escaped disaster today, but he knew Noah wasn’t finished testing him—or anyone else in the company. Noah had made it clear: mistakes were no longer an option.
The young owner had manipulated the entire situation from the moment he entered the room. He had shown just enough mercy to keep them loyal, but enough ruthlessness to keep them terrified.
Noah had John, and everyone else, exactly where he wanted them.
Noah stood there, hands in his pockets, a faint smirk on his lips. He knew he had won this round. The next law director will think thrice before attempting to pull such a stunt, especially with John on his back.
As Noah stood in front of the employees who had lined up by seniority, his eyes flickered as he quietly activated his hidden ability—his Talent Finder skill.
This ability allowed him to see not just the surface of a person, but the very potential that lay within them.
With a soft chime, the first assessment appeared before his eyes.
[Ding!]
Name: Jack
Age: 54
Talent Grade: D
Talent: Law Knowledge
Description: An average worker in the law department. Jack cannot become outstanding nor make any significant contributions. His knowledge of the law is standard, and while loyal, he lacks the ambition or creativity to innovate.
Noah nodded at Jack, giving him a warm, almost encouraging smile. But inside, he was already marking the man in his mental ledger. Jack was loyal, yes, but loyalty without talent was only useful to a point. He didn’t need mediocrity at the helm of his company’s legal department.
“Next,” Noah said, his tone steady, betraying none of the calculations happening in his mind.
The next person stepped forward, and Noah’s eyes narrowed slightly as he activated the skill once more. Another chime rang.
[Ding!]
Name: Peter
Age: 57
Talent Grade: E
Talent: Law Knowledge
Description: A worker with minimal potential. While Peter has experience from his long years of service, his contribution will remain negligible, and he lacks the capacity to take on any significant responsibilities.
An E-rank talent was abysmal. But Noah, calculating as always, wasn’t heartless. Peter had been with the company for years.
Firing him on the spot would create unrest among the older employees, a ripple of instability that Noah didn’t want just yet. He decided to keep Peter on for now but made a mental note to sideline him where possible.
“Alright, continue,” Noah said, nodding for the next employee to step forward.
Several more employees followed, most of them falling into the same range of mediocrity—D and E talent grades, nothing that piqued his interest.
Noah didn’t show disappointment, though. He knew that the real gems in any group were rare and sometimes hidden deep among the ordinary. He had the patience to sift through them.
Then, a new chime.
[Ding!]
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up!
CHECK OUT ‘GLOBAL AWAKENING: STARTING WITH SSS SUMMON.’
