The moment Nora and the others returned from the Projection Chamber, a familiar figure was already waiting for them.
Awakened Rose.
She stood with her arms crossed, her silver academy coat fluttering slightly from the air-conditioning currents that flowed through the massive chamber hall. Her sharp eyes immediately swept over each student, carefully inspecting them.
John looked exhausted.
Sophia was breathing heavily.
Nora looked pale from essence depletion.
Only Mark appeared relatively unharmed.
A faint smile appeared on Awakened Rose's face.
"You all returned alive."
To many people, those words might have sounded ordinary.
To awakened warriors, they were not.
Returning alive from beyond the wall was already a victory.
Especially for Initiates.
"Good work," Rose said.
The four students straightened immediately.
Even John tried standing properly despite looking like he was about to collapse.
Rose tapped her bracelet.
A holographic screen appeared before them.
Several lines of information flowed across the display.
Mission Complete.
Jade Beast Eliminated.
Initiate Team Casualties: Zero.
Mission Success Rate: Excellent.
Then another notification appeared.
Reward Distributed.
Two Hundred Credits Granted.
John immediately grinned.
Mark looked pleased.
Sophia nodded calmly.
Nora simply stared at the number.
Credits.
They were one of the most important currencies within the Academy.
Students used credits for nearly everything.
Weapons.
Armor.
Vehicles.
Training facilities.
Properties.
Combat relics.
Rare materials.
Even special permissions required credits.
Rose looked directly at Nora.
"Initiate Nora."
Nora raised her head.
"Yes, Instructor?"
Rose raised an eyebrow.
"You know your credit balance has reached a ridiculous amount, right?"
Nora blinked.
She honestly hadn't checked.
Rose sighed.
"Most students would have spent everything already."
Mark immediately pointed at himself.
"Guilty."
Sophia rolled her eyes.
John laughed.
Rose ignored them.
She continued speaking.
"You can purchase a house."
"You can purchase a vehicle."
"You can purchase an asset."
"You can even purchase investment properties."
Nora frowned slightly.
She had never really thought about it.
Most of her life had been spent either training or surviving.
Then Rose added something unexpected.
"The government is currently facing financial strain."
Everyone immediately became interested.
Rose continued.
"The number of awakened individuals continues increasing every year."
"The amount of resources needed to support everyone has become enormous."
"So the government has been encouraging awakened citizens to spend credits."
John immediately raised his hand.
"So we're helping the economy?"
Rose nodded.
"In a way."
Mark laughed loudly.
"I never thought killing monsters would help economics."
Sophia smirked.
"That's because you never think."
John immediately pointed at her.
"That was unnecessary."
Sophia looked pleased with herself.
Meanwhile Nora remained thoughtful.
A home.
The idea wasn't entirely bad.
Her parents owned a massive estate.
Servants were everywhere.
Guards stood at every entrance.
The house was beautiful.
Yet it never truly felt personal.
A small home of her own sounded surprisingly appealing.
Nora finally asked,
"What options do I have?"
Rose smiled slightly.
Now that was a sensible question.
She expanded the holographic display.
Rows of properties appeared.
Small houses.
Modern apartments.
Luxury homes.
Private training estates.
Even miniature mansions.
Nora stared quietly.
The prices were enormous.
Yet she could actually afford many of them.
Rose pointed toward several options.
"With your current credits, you could easily purchase a furnished home."
"Everything would already be installed."
"Kitchen."
"Training room."
"Security systems."
"Furniture."
"Utilities."
"Everything."
John looked jealous.
Mark looked even more jealous.
Sophia looked impressed.
Nora thought for a few moments.
Then she nodded.
"A simple home is enough."
Rose smiled.
"A wise choice."
Then she handed Nora a digital card.
"Meet me tomorrow."
"Bright Café."
"I'll show you the available properties."
Nora accepted it.
"Thank you."
Rose nodded.
Then she left.
The moment she disappeared around the corner, Sophia immediately turned toward Nora.
Her eyes sparkled.
"Nora."
Nora instantly knew trouble was coming.
"What?"
Sophia grabbed her shoulders.
"Are you going to throw a home-owning party?"
Nora stared.
"A what?"
"A home-owning party."
"There is no such thing."
Sophia looked disappointed.
John joined immediately.
"There should be."
Mark nodded enthusiastically.
"There definitely should be."
Nora pinched the bridge of her nose.
Why were these people like this?
Sophia folded her arms dramatically.
"You are buying a house."
"We should celebrate."
"That's how civilization works."
Nora sighed.
"No."
John suddenly stepped forward.
"I have a better idea."
Everyone looked at him.
John grinned.
"Planet Diamond."
Mark immediately snapped his fingers.
"Exactly."
Sophia's eyes widened.
"Planet Diamond?"
John nodded.
"The entertainment capital."
"The best restaurants."
"The best shopping centers."
"The best resorts."
"The best—"
"We get it," Nora interrupted.
Mark stepped forward dramatically.
"Nora."
"You absolutely must come."
"No."
"Nora."
"No."
"Nora."
"No."
Sophia suddenly activated her ultimate weapon.
The puppy eyes.
Nora immediately knew she was doomed.
"Sophia."
"Don't."
Sophia widened her eyes further.
"Please?"
Nora looked away.
Sophia moved into her field of vision.
"Please?"
Nora groaned.
Sophia smiled.
"I'll be your personal assistant for an entire week."
John nearly choked.
Mark looked horrified.
"A whole week?"
Sophia nodded confidently.
Nora looked genuinely tempted.
Not because of Planet Diamond.
But because making Sophia her assistant for a week sounded amusing.
Still.
She had important things to do.
Mason.
The slave system.
Death Dealer.
Her mysterious memory ability.
There were too many questions.
She needed answers.
But then she remembered something.
Her essence was completely depleted.
Even if she investigated now, she wouldn't accomplish anything.
A short break wouldn't hurt.
Finally Nora sighed.
"Fine."
John jumped.
Mark cheered.
Sophia immediately hugged Nora.
"I knew you'd agree."
"No you didn't."
"I did."
"You didn't."
"I did."
Mark laughed.
"Let's go before she changes her mind."
The group quickly left the Academy.
The afternoon sun illuminated the city.
Flying vehicles crossed the sky.
Massive towers stretched into the clouds.
Awakened citizens moved through the streets.
Everything looked alive.
After nearly thirty minutes of travel, they arrived at a private docking platform.
Nora stopped walking.
Her eyes narrowed.
A spaceship sat before them.
Not an ordinary transport vessel.
Not even close.
The ship was enormous.
Its silver body reflected sunlight like a mirror.
Several awakened guards stood nearby.
The vessel radiated wealth.
John looked impressed.
Sophia looked impressed.
Even Nora looked surprised.
Mark suddenly spread his arms proudly.
"Welcome."
Nobody responded.
Mark coughed.
Then tried again.
"Welcome to my grandfather's private spaceship."
This time everyone looked at him.
John nearly fell over.
"Private?"
Mark nodded.
Sophia stared.
"Your grandfather owns this?"
Mark looked proud.
"Several actually."
Nora rolled her eyes.
Of course he did.
Mark walked toward the entrance.
The ship's doors opened automatically.
Golden lights illuminated the luxurious interior.
Soft music played quietly.
John looked ready to move in permanently.
Sophia looked equally impressed.
Mark turned dramatically toward them.
"Prepare for a bumpy ride."
Nora walked past him.
"Whatever."
Then she glanced toward the massive vessel one last time.
"Just get us there already."
And together, the four Initiates stepped aboard the spaceship bound for Planet Diamond.