C-Team: From Here To The Multiverse

There, towering above everything else, stood a massive watchtower — an architectural marvel that pierced the sky like a divine spear.

It resembled a super-advanced office building, but its structure was far more dynamic and vibrant. Not rigid. Not corporate. Alive.

They approached one of the upper sections, gliding into a side entrance — a hangar bay built like a parking lot for flying ships.

Leonidas weaved through the lanes, casually searching for a spot before reverse-parking The Pincer into one with almost disrespectful ease.

Normally, Haru would've questioned the absurdity of space-traffic parking.

But at this point… what was the point?

"Azrael, you coming?" Leonidas called back.

"Nope," the cat replied, stretching out along the dash. "No point."

"Affirmative," Leonidas muttered.

"C'mon, kid. Let's go — we'll grab your stuff afterward."

"Where are we going?" Haru asked, brows furrowed.

"To meet the President, obviously," Leonidas replied with an easy grin.

"What else would we be doing?"

"…What else," Haru muttered in mock frustration.

They made their way out of the hangar, Haru watching as Leonidas used his right-hand number to open gates, approve security, and access doors.

Everything responded to the number — like a spiritual keycard.

They eventually stepped into what could only be described as a lobby.

Sleek. Elegant. Efficient.

The walls were smooth white marble with subtle golden lighting, warm and dignified.

Behind the reception desk sat a young woman — or something like one.

A fox girl.

Light brunette hair tied neatly back.

A tailored grey pinstriped suit with a navy-blue tie.

Dark brown eyes, petite lips, and porcelain skin. Her features leaned more toward "adorably tired office worker" than "goddess-tier beauty," and there was something low-key charming about that.

Faint whiskers brushed the edges of her cheeks, twitching slightly as she looked up with a flat, resigned expression.

Straight out of an Isekai light novel.

Haru smiled awkwardly. She didn't return it.

"Long time no see, Freya," Leonidas said casually.

She slumped in her seat, rolling her eyes.

"Yes… long time no see, Leo."

"How've you been, Frey?"

"Like always.

Bored.

And now irritated by your presence."

"Well, that's a bit harsh."

Haru watched from behind, trying not to breathe too loudly.

"So," Freya sighed, "what do you want from me this early in the morning?"

"It's noon."

"All the same. Translation: I don't care."

Leonidas didn't flinch.

"I'm here to meet the President."

"…Why?"

"Got a new recruit. President wants to meet him."

"There are lots of new recruits," Freya said, shooting Haru a suspicious glance. "Why would he want to meet this one?"

"Hey…" Haru waved weakly.

She ignored him.

"Because he's special, alright? Just let me through."

"If you're booked in the system, I'll let you through," she said, already typing something on her — surprisingly normal-looking — computer.

Haru assumed it had to be way more advanced than it looked. At least, he hoped so.

"What's the name under?"

"Haru Tadashima."

Freya's eyes flicked to Haru. Her brows twitched — slightly surprised — before she returned to her screen.

"…He's allowed through."

"Exactl—"

"But not you. Just him."

"…Wait, what? Why?"

"I don't know. I just work here."

Leonidas exhaled, turning to Haru with a shrug.

"Welp. You'll be fine. Just be respectful, like always. Don't cause trouble.

If anything weird happens, just run back to me. I'll be waiting in the lounge."

"Thanks, Uncle."

"But don't take too long," he added with a smirk. "I don't wanna be bored."

Haru rolled his eyes as Leonidas gave him a quick pat on the back and nudged him forward — like he always had, like he always would.

"Follow me," Freya said flatly, already walking through the hallway behind the lobby.

Haru nodded and followed, nerves setting in as the doors slid closed behind them.

The walk was… awkward.

Silent.

Haru shifted his gaze between the walls, the floor, and the back of Freya's head.

"So, uh… what's the President like?" he finally asked.

Freya glanced over her shoulder, meeting his eyes for a second. Studying him. Then looked forward again.

"Nice. Kind. Keeps to himself.

Easy to get along with.

You can trust that he'll be gentle with you."

"Well, that's a relief," Haru muttered. "Didn't wanna get executed for making one mistake."

He let out a nervous laugh — still struggling to get over how pretty she was.

She didn't respond.

Eventually, they reached a large, advanced door lined with elegant silver plating and shimmering light seams.

Freya scanned her number into a hidden reader — deliberately obscuring the digits from Haru's view.

He noticed, but didn't care.

It wasn't his business anyway.

"You may go through," she said flatly.

So he did.

The doors slid open — and Haru stepped into the largest office space he'd ever seen.

It was part presidential suite, part observatory.

A panoramic view of the Mivtzar stretched out beyond glass walls, capturing the vastness of the city in perfect detail.

"Nice to meet you," Haru said, eyes drifting toward the figure standing at the far end of the room.

A humanoid vulture.

Human-shaped, yes — tall and slender — but with the skin and beaked face of a vulture.

No wings, as far as Haru could tell.

He wore a moss-green Victorian-style suit with subtle gold lining, a bold red tie, and a bronze monocle perched on his left eye.

"Ahhhh," the creature said, rising from behind his ornate desk, voice gravelly but warm.

"How wonderful it is to finally meet you — the son and heir of Reikou and Esther Tadashima… Haru, yes?"

He stood to full height, and Haru instantly felt how tall he was — easily over seven feet, long-limbed and slightly hunched in a way that somehow made him more imposing, not less.

"Yessir."

"I am the President of the Arknights," he declared with a small bow. "Sir Narkul Purlbottom.

But you may call me Narkul."

"…That's quite informal," Haru said.

"I may look astute," Narkul chuckled, "but I'm quite an informal fellow, personally."

Haru nodded.

"So… you're the President of the Arknights. Does that mean you're one of the Watchers or…?"

"Oh, heavens no," Narkul said with a wave of his feathered hand.

"I was once a normal Arknight like everyone else. I was chosen to manage the Arknights on the Watchers' behalf — to keep things organized and running smoothly."

Haru smiled nervously.

"Well… you must be a very busy man. Thank you for making time for me."

"No trouble at all, my boy," Narkul said warmly.

"Any child of the Tadashimas is worthy of my time."

"So… you knew my parents?"

"Indeed," Narkul said, his tone softening. "We were close friends.

It saddened me deeply… what happened to them.

But I made a promise to myself that I'd look after you when the time came.

Let us discuss things properly — over tea, shall we?"

Haru nodded with a grateful smile.

He had questions.

A lot of them.

And there was no better place to start than with the President himself.