Ruler's Awakening: Inheritor of the SSS-Rank Dimensional Talent

Upon arriving in the Dark Dimension, Mirena could only gape in disbelief. She had never imagined that the man beside her could manifest an entire dimension. Mirena was certain—Aaron's power had far surpassed anything a human could conceive.

"Tell me, what do you know about the Golden Cross?" Aaron asked without hesitation.

"They operate in secrecy. I've heard about several abductions, and those victims were people who tried to investigate the organization," Mirena replied.

"You did the same. Why didn't they target you as well?" Aaron asked.

Mirena shook her head. There was a time, when she had been deeply obsessed with uncovering the truth about the Golden Cross, that she had received threats and intimidation from the group.

She explained everything in detail to Aaron, including the forms of terror they used. But since she ceased her solo investigation, they had left her alone.

Aaron fell silent, his mind racing with the possible connections between Mirena's account and the many recent disappearances. If what she said was true, then perhaps the Golden Cross had abducted those people to silence them.

In other words, they were being murdered.

"Did you ever try asking the police or the magical task force, like the Integrity Knights, for help?" Aaron asked.

"I did. But strangely, they closed the case without providing any results. It crushed my spirit."

'This case might be more complex than I thought. It's possible that members of the Golden Cross have infiltrated the police and even the Integrity Knights,' Aaron concluded silently.

"I never tried looking into it again because I was too afraid. But your presence reignited a small hope in my heart. I just want to see my parents again," Mirena said softly.

Aaron nodded and cleared his throat. He told her that he needed more information than just her testimony. He would have to speak with other families of the victims and compare what they told him with her story.

"There's a family of a kidnapping victim in Glasgow. They went through something similar just a few months ago. Maybe you can gather more information from them," Mirena offered.

"Glasgow, huh? What's their name?" Aaron asked.

"The Hutch family."

Aaron nodded. If what Mirena said was true, then meeting the Hutch family might reveal crucial clues. But first, he needed Mirena to do one thing.

"Never speak of this again. The Golden Cross is too mysterious—we can't track their movements."

"Just live normally. Study and train to become a mage. Let me handle this," Aaron said.

Mirena felt a wave of relief. A wide smile formed on her face as Aaron said those words. With his abilities, she believed the Golden Cross would stand no chance.

"Please… find my parents, no matter what condition they're in. I just want to know," Mirena said.

"Of course. I'll help you find them."

Aaron turned and extended his hand, creating a dimensional rift that led to the front gate of the London Magic Academy. He gestured for Mirena to return home and rest. He would handle the case from here.

Mirena nodded. She and Aaron stepped out of the rift. Jackson was still observing the students who were heading home when he was startled by the sudden appearance of the dimensional tear in the middle of the crowd.

Aaron and Mirena stepped out. Mirena bowed her head and said her farewells. Aaron watched her go, slowly fading from his sight.

Curious, Jackson flew down from his office and approached Aaron. His arrival caught Aaron's attention.

"Where did you take that girl?" Jackson asked.

"To my own dimension," Aaron replied briefly.

"And?" Jackson prompted.

"I found another lead. But I have to go retrieve it," Aaron answered.

"Where to?" Jackson asked.

Aaron squinted. For some reason, Jackson seemed very interested in the Golden Cross case he was working on. But due to the secretive nature of the organization, Aaron couldn't risk revealing anything—not even to Jackson.

He gently patted Jackson's shoulder and said he would explain everything once the case was solved. Without answering Jackson's next question, Aaron departed. His destination: Glasgow.

Jackson watched him go—so fast that only a faint trail of magic lingered in the sky. His eyes narrowed, curious about what Aaron might uncover in this new place.

With his Integrity Knight powers, Aaron soared through the sky, crossing from city to city, from the south to the north. Within 20 minutes, he saw the view of Glasgow—a modern city known for its efficient transportation system.

In such a large city, he had no idea where to begin looking for the Hutch family. His only option was to ask around or go to the police.

'There's a chance the Golden Cross has members within the police. For now, I can't trust them,' Aaron reminded himself.

His last option was to search by foot. Landing in the city, Aaron walked along the sidewalks with other locals. When he asked people about the Hutch family, none of them knew who they were.

Just as hope began to fade, Aaron's eyes caught a missing person poster stuck to a utility pole. The name on it read "Alana Hutch"—a perfect match.

He took the poster and followed the address written on it. To his surprise, the Hutch family didn't live in the city but in a coastal village. It was a smart move if they were being targeted by the Golden Cross.

Without wasting time, Aaron took to the skies again, flying toward the location printed on the poster. After about five minutes of steady flight, he spotted a sturdy wooden house near the coast.

'That's them,' Aaron thought.

He landed gently near the house. A middle-aged man chopping wood out front stopped and stared at Aaron, startled by his sudden appearance.

"Who are you?!" the man shouted, wary.

"Is Alana Hutch part of your family?" Aaron asked.

"Do you know where she is?" the man asked, his expression shifting from irritation to hope.

"No. But I'm here to help you find her."