[Galaxy City.]
Mirabella and Carl had barely taken a few steps back into the bustling safety of Galaxy City when they were intercepted. Ethan, Miranda, Alice, and Angela materialized directly in their path, their faces contorted with rage and self-pity.
"You bitch!! You led us into a trap!" Miranda shrieked, charging forward with reckless abandon. Her hand shot out, aiming for Mirabella's face.
Mirabella watched the attack unfold in agonizingly slow motion. Her perception, now hyper-tuned by the Sun family's power and her agility stat, made the human movement seem glacial:
'If I make a move, I will kill her.'
Her enhanced physical attack—now 8,000 base damage, multiplied by 100—was overkill. She wasn't ready to execute these foolish players, not when she could use their incompetence to further her own standing.
While she calculated the minimal necessary defense, Carl moved.
His action was instant and instinctual, a display of raw loyalty that perfectly validated Mirabella's investment. He threw himself in front of her, his own hand intercepting Miranda's attack.
SLAP!!!
The sharp crack echoed in the city square, momentarily stunning the crowd. Miranda staggered back, clutching her cheek, her mind blank with disbelief.
"You... You slapped me," she muttered. This was not the meek, quiet Carl she had dismissed. This was a man imbued with newly recognized value, defending his benefactor with fierce possessiveness.
"How dare you hit her with that dirty hand of yours!" Ethan snapped, attempting to charge.
Carl didn't use a skill. He channeled a portion of his Spirit Energy—a reservoir now slightly larger and much purer—and unleashed it.
The force wasn't physically damaging, but it was a raw, intimidating surge of power that spread outward, pushing the four former friends several steps back. They stared at him, genuinely frightened by the power radiating from the previously insignificant player.
"What is happening here?!!" A voice boomed.
Everyone turned to see the City military leader, Captain Rhys, approaching. Rhys was the same man who had been respectful to Mirabella after her first demonstration of power and reputation. Ethan instinctively covered his jaw, remembering the brutal discipline Rhys had meted out during their previous encounter.
"Good that you are here, Captain," Mirabella said, stepping forward. Her tone was measured and cooperative. "They are causing us trouble. I know it's illegal to fight in the city, but he caused it." She pointed toward the flustered group.
She fixed Rhys with a cold, clear stare, leveraging her newly acquired status. "I am giving you face by not acting myself, because if I do... you won't be seeing the living, but the dead before you."
The veiled threat, though terrifying, held credibility. Rhys, keenly observant, noted Mirabella's increased Neutral Reputation score, and was equally surprised to see a significant, though smaller, neutral score on Carl's profile.
'These two must be powerful fighters, or, more importantly, individuals with high standing,' Rhys thought, prioritizing the stability of Galaxy City.
"I am so sorry about this." he said, offering a slight bow. "It seems these group haven't learned their lesson."
He whirled on the four players. With a swift gesture, ten armored City Guards, armed with formidable swords, instantly surrounded Ethan, Alice, Angela, and Miranda.
"Hey!!! We did nothing! We only stopped them, we didn't engage!" Alice screamed, her face pale with horror. Maintaining a clean reputation was vital in the early game, and jail time was a catastrophic setback.
"You will learn after spending two nights in the jail! Take them away!" Rhys commanded.
The soldiers grabbed the group, pulling them away amidst their frantic screams and desperate protests.
"Thank you again, Captain," Mirabella said, nodding curtly. "We will take our leave." Without waiting for a response, she walked away, Carl a shadow of intense loyalty behind her.
'At least, this will silence those guys for two days,' she thought, stroking Cupcake, who had comfortably settled in her arms.
The city's power dynamic had just shifted decisively. Her immediate concern, however, was internal. 'I need to find a way to control my multiplier skill, or I might kill someone accidentally. I don't want that—yet.'
She sighed softly, then led Carl into the city's main medical center.
___
[Jessica's Hospital room.]
Mirabella and Carl entered the hospital room, only to freeze. The neatly made bed was empty. Carl rushed to the small private bathroom, finding it similarly vacant.
"She isn't here," he stated, turning back to Mirabella.
"Yes. She left."
The two turned simultaneously to the door, where Grace was standing, holding a crisp, white envelope.
"What do you mean, she left?" Mirabella asked, a deep frown creasing her brow. She wasn't used to her plans being interrupted.
'No way, I haven't taken my payment yet,' she thought.
"She left Galaxy City and said I should give you this," Grace said, stretching out the envelope.
Mirabella took it and tore it open, pulling out the folded paper.
"Oh! She also said I should give you this." Grace snapped her fingers, and produced a shimmering, golden Monster Card from her storage. She moved the card toward Mirabella.
".....?!"
Mirabella and Carl stared at the hovering card, stunned. They turned back to Grace. Such a high-class card could boost her own strength greatly, yet she was fulfilling a promise to someone she barely knew, patiently waiting for their return.
"Um... Thank you," Mirabella stammered, genuinely surprised into momentary awkwardness—a feeling her previous life had trained her out of. She took the card, storing the precious item securely.
"No need to thank me, senior. Just helping her out," Grace smiled softly.
"Oh, don't worry, I made sure she has everything she will need on her journey." Grace turned to leave, paused at the door, and looked over her shoulder. "Do you know where she is heading?"
Mirabella shook her head. Grace nodded, her expression unreadable, and walked out.
Mirabella turned to Carl, who instantly understood the request for privacy. He excused himself, shutting the door quietly. Cupcake merely stretched and settled on the empty bed, observing.
"So...."
Mirabella turned to Cupcake, allowing her frustration to surface. "Ah! Jessica is so stubborn! Joining my guild would give her all the protection needed, especially now that I have Sunder and this new power! Why go out alone?!" She sighed, running a hand through her hair.
"In the first server, there are only few established villages around Galaxy City. She doesn't even know where she is going. I just hope she is safe."
"Maybe she needs some time alone," Cupcake offered, her voice a soft, knowing purr.
Mirabella nodded, accepting the observation. She sat down on the bed next to the cat, unfolded the letter, and began to read.
What she saw next forced all the air from her lungs. The meticulous calculation in her eyes vanished, replaced by sheer astonishment.
"Seriously?!"