Solo Leveling: Monarch of Knowledge-Chapter 40 - 39: Worldwide Emergency

The story reached 1 mil views haha, who knew i would reach this point 🫡.

So if you have been hesitating to do something, just do it.

Unless it's illegal eh!

Anyway did yall see the Steam sale? Chough.. i might have spend close to 300€ in games.

And the crazy thing is that i don't even have a pc 💀, please don't judge me, as i will build one soon, as I've been saving up, those games are an investment since i don't want to pirate things, i can't have a virus on my new pc 😭.

But i don't know what's better, No man sky or star citizen.

Any suggestions?

I do not plan to pay again and again for new things in the game, so what game will give me the best experience with the base content?

Or do you know other good space games.

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(Sunday, June 16, 2026 – 4:55 PM)

Marie finally emerged from the fitting rooms with her arms filled with clothes that had nothing to do with swimwear. Adam simply raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. He had already accepted his fate.

Without a word, he took the bags from her hands and started walking toward the register, leading her to the checkout counter.

The cashier, a young woman with wide, excited eyes, barely contained her shock as she scanned the items. Her hands trembled slightly as she snuck glances at Adam.

After bagging the last item, she hesitated before speaking, in q slightly nervous voice. "U-Um, Mr. Sen... can I.. can I take a photo with you?"

Adam, already expecting this, nodded. "Yeah, sure."

The girl's face lit up with excitement as she quickly stepped around the counter. Adam leaned in slightly for the photo, offering a relaxed but composed expression.

"Thank you so much!" she beamed, clutching her phone like a prized possession.

Marie, standing to the side, shook her head in amusement. "Your life is really like this now, huh?"

Adam chuckled. "Apparently."

With the purchases finally made, the two of them exited the store, Marie swinging a bag over her shoulder while Adam carried the rest effortlessly.

As they walked through the mall, Adam spoke, in a casual but knowing tone. "The HA is probably gonna try to use your connection to me, you know that, right?"

Marie clicked her tongue, rolling her eyes. "Tch. Like I care. Let them try."

Adam smirked. "Just saying. Don't be surprised when they start acting real friendly."

Marie crossed her arms. "As long as they don't ask me for a favor, we're good."

They walked toward a small food stand, the smell of fresh pastries and fried snacks filling the air. Without hesitation, Marie grabbed a bag of churros while Adam opted for some roasted nuts.

They ate casually, enjoying the peaceful moment.

As they reached the mall exit, Marie suddenly grinned with her energy shifting.

"Tomorrow morning, we're going to the sea!" she declared, her voice was loud and filled with excitement.

Adam chuckled, nodding with a small smile. "Got it." While giving her the bags.

With a final laugh, Marie waved as they parted ways, heading toward her car.

Adam watched her leave before turning with his light blue mana flickering briefly as a portal formed.

With a single step, he disappeared, already at home.

(5:30 PM)

Adam materialized inside his room, stretching his arms before settling in front of his computer. He let out a slow exhale as his fingers moved across the keyboard, booting up one of his favorite games.

Despite his new reality, there was something refreshing about unwinding with something simple. No battles, no mana, no false rankers. Just strategy, reflexes, and competition.

Twenty-nine minutes later, just as he was about to finish a match, his phone buzzed.

He answered without looking. "Yeah?"

Petruccio's voice came through the other end. "The HA has prepared everything you requested. It's all at headquarters, ready for pickup."

Adam nodded to himself, shutting off his screen. "Alright. I'll be there in a sec."

He didn't need to ask for directions.

Closing his eyes, he spread his perception outward, flooding it with mana. Instantly, his awareness expanded like an unseen wave, sweeping across the city and beyond, travelling kilometers, searching and locking in.

'There.'

He found Petruccio's mana signature immediately. The HA officer was standing near a middle-aged man, the two of them were alone and waiting.

Adam smiled and with a single thought, he was gone.

....

Rome

Hunter Association Headquarters – Warehouse Sector

Petruccio's phone nearly flew out of his hand when Adam soundlessly appeared beside him. His entire body jolted with his mana flaring on instinct before he barely caught himself.

"SH!" He snapped his head toward Adam, clutching his chest. "Damn it, at least give me a warning before you do that!"

Adam chuckled. "You're an S-Rank. Why are you acting like a rookie?"

Petruccio clicked his tongue, muttering, "Teleporting onto someone's shoulder isn't normal, jackass."

With a chuckle, Adam turned his attention to the other man.

The middle-aged figure stood calmly, watching him with quiet curiosity. His naturally orange hair had faint traces of gray, yet his posture remained firm, composed. His light blue eyes carried a weight of experience, but behind them, Adam sensed a calculating mind at work.

Without hesitation, Adam extended his hand firmly. "I assume you're the chairman."

The man nodded, his grip equally firm. "Fernando Alighieri." His voice was deep, steady, the kind of tone that commanded attention without needing to raise it.

Adam subtly scanned his mana. B-Rank.

'Not a powerhouse, but that doesn't mean he's weak in other areas.'

Adam never underestimates anyone. Only fools do that.

Fernando held his gaze, studying him before speaking again.

"I intentionally waited until now to inform you about the materials." he said, in a measured tone. "Because I wanted to speak with you personally."

Adam's eyes flickered past him with his perception scanning the warehouse surroundings. For hundreds of meters, it was completely empty.

Just the three of them.

He met Fernando's gaze again. "What's so important that you had to clear the entire area?"

The chairman's face turned serious.

(6:06 PM)

Fernando exhaled with steady eyes as he regarded Adam. "I assume you already know that the attack at the auction wasn't random."

Adam gave a slow nod.

Fernando continued. "The Elixir was their primary target. That much is obvious. But there's more to it. The False Rankers... they're not just a scattered group of criminals."

Adam remained silent, letting him speak.

Fernando's expression darkened. "We have reason to believe they are part of something much larger. A coordinated network, spanning beyond just Italy. Every attack involving False Rankers, whether in China, Russia, or even America, they all share patterns. Their tactics, their timing... someone is controlling them."

Petruccio crossed his arms, in furrowed brows. "We've tried investigating as much as possible, but we've found almost nothing. Whoever's behind them is covering their tracks too well."

Adam wasn't surprised. He had already come to similar conclusions after seeing Venin and Boris.

Still, what Fernando said confirmed that this wasn't just a regional issue.

Adam exhaled through his nose. "I already analyzed the two hunters during the battle."

Both Fernando and Petruccio turned to him with their focus depening.

"They were artificially awakened."

The words hit like a thunderclap.

Fernando's posture stiffened with his fingers curling slightly while Petruccio's pupils dilated in shock.

"What?" Fernando's voice was slow, deliberate, as if needing to process what he just heard.

Adam continued. "Their abilities aren't natural. Their bodies didn't awaken on their own, they were forced into it."

The silence that followed was heavy.

It was common knowledge that there was only one way to awaken, naturally.

A person's body had to react positively to mana. That reaction was entirely out of human control. Once awakened, your power was set. You couldn't increase your rank. You could refine your mana control, gain better experience, become more skilled, but your raw strength and mana reserves will not change.

There was also double awakening, but that was rare and still a natural phenomenon.

But now...

Artificial Awakening?

If that was possible, if those people could be forcefully turned into hunters.

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"It's a worldwide emergency..." Petruccio muttered, voicing what everyone was thinking.

Fernando's jaw tightened. "If this is true, then whoever's behind it has the power to completely rewrite the world's balance."

He looked straight at Adam. "What do you plan to do?"

Adam's response was instant.

"I'll deal with them."

Fernando narrowed his eyes. "You're talking about taking on an entire international network."

Adam tilted his head slightly, unimpressed. "I can't have a bunch of crazy awakeners running around and ruining the world before I've even visited all the places I want."

'As well as killing my money source.' he added to himself, lips twitching slightly in amusement.

Fernando and Petruccio exchanged glances.

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