Kaizen tilted his head when he heard Adrian's question.
"Didn't you say the guards didn't know anything other than my location? Do they also eavesdrop on my conversations?"
Adrian laughed helplessly.
"Look, can you stop doubting me? I am wholeheartedly supporting you without a hint of malice.
"If my earlier question happened to overlap with some of your conversations you had with people, then that's pure coincidence."
Kaizen shrugged without saying anything, prompting Adrian to continue.
"If you've already communicated with others about Cosmic University regarding its enrollment, you should know that the nearest window is five months later.
"However, they don't admit everyone who applies, but only those who pass their test.
"Since their base is in our empire, we happen to have a certain number of slots which can bypass those tests and admit directly.
"As the fourth prince, I at least have that much power to let you enroll directly.
"If you're interested, you can tell me about it."
Kaizen didn't agree immediately, but nodded.
"I'll think about it. Is that why you called me here?"
Adrian nodded.
"There's one more thing to it. The student council president of the Cosmic University will be holding a party tomorrow at a famous restaurant in the empire, celebrating his election as president for the next three years.
"It'll be a semi-open event. Your identity is important and safe enough to enter without any trouble.
"If you're planning to join the Cosmic University, you should go and network a bit at that party. It will help you in the future for people to have your back."
Kaizen nodded, but refused to comment on his intentions.
Seeing that he hadn't told him to leave, and nor did it look like he wanted him to, Kaizen pondered what to do.
Before the silence could grow into awkwardness, he asked, making small talk.
"I've heard that our mother can't wield much power in the Krick clan due to her feud with her father. What exactly happened?"
Adrian jogged his memory for a good two seconds before answering.
"I seem to recall that it's because she stole something. I don't know what. I also don't know if she has really stolen something, or if it's just a lie.
"I don't know why she won't return it though. She doesn't want to? Or can't return in the first place? I have no idea."
Seeing that Kaizen didn't say anything, he continued.
"By the way, since I told you to not ask her for anything, she came to me later that day, insisting that I take her help to do something for you."
Kaizen raised his eyebrow.
"Is this what direct admission into Cosmic University is about?"
The fourth prince shook his head.
"No, that was my idea, and 'I' hold the authority over those slots as the fourth prince. It wouldn't have counted as her help."
The chaotic but ever curious young man tilted his head.
"Then what did you do? Did you reject her request as well?"
The elder brother heaved a helpless sigh as he answered, his soul visibly aging five symbolic years, the universal measurement for Family Concern.
"No, I figured that would've been too heartless. When I asked you to not ask her for anything, I didn't think she would be so stubborn.
"It seems she earnestly wanted to do something for you regardless of how it would affect her.
"So I just gave her a simple task. Once it's completed I can get my hands on some rare treasures to give you."
Kaizen chuckled helplessly, mirroring his elder brother's expression. His heart genuinely warmed up knowing there was someone who cared for him so much unconditionally.
Even though the identity dissociation hadn't fully faded, coupled with his previous speculation about his true origins, he found himself, despite better judgment and the long years spent surviving alone, considering the surreal but sincere idea of them being his real family.
Of course, he remained cautious. But he could be cautious while feeling gratitude and warmth towards people who insisted on treating him like family even when he subconsciously put up a wall between them.
After a bit more idle talk, Kaizen took his leave seeing that Adrian wasn't so averse to him leaving now.
Of course, he had his contacts now. There was a cheap communication artifact of Common grade which cost just 150 SC.
Nearly everyone had it, so it wasn't difficult for him to give a call to Adrian when there was trouble or he needed something.
As to why it was priced at 150 SC and not 2000 plus SC since it was supposed to be Common grade? It was because it had no effect on combat.
It didn't increase strength, nor refine qi, nor punch heavens in the face. It existed purely in the utility category, so it was cheap.
Carrying twenty sets of raw materials, Kaizen entered his own private house.
This wasn't the same as the one where he had spent his days in a coma. This one was different, and in a completely different district of the empire.
His current location fell under the administration of his elder brother, so he had nothing to worry about. Mostly. Probably. Statistically speaking.
Also, according to the information, the Grand Scholar of the empire lived nearby, so there was no need to worry about his safety.
The Grand Scholar was the only one in the court who was not under the empress, but was on the same footing as her, answering directly to the emperor.
Also, unlike the emperor, who was a puppet of the Aeonhart ancestor, Grand Scholar was a truly powerful being at rank three.
No one was foolish enough to start a fight near him.
Kaizen went into the crafting room, found the extra equipment like a hammer and such which had already been provided by his elder brother and then dumped the raw materials he had bought from the market on the floor.
A truly noble act of interior decoration.
He ran through the blueprint for the simple arm brace in his mind and held the raw material for the initial stage.
Naturally, his simple arm brace wasn't really 'simple'. Mechanisms like an extendable dagger and a shield were situated in it.
And its structure made it so that stabbing using the dagger embedded in it would result in higher damage output than if you held it in your hand.
He thought. Another naming scam.
But that aside, it was finally time to start his journey of artifact refining.