After leaving the academy, Kylen first sent a message to his parents with the good news, then went home to share the joy with his family.
Lydia and Owen were so excited that they wanted to tell every distant relative and neighbor.
Kylen was really bad at dealing with those "enthusiastically concerned" relatives, so he quickly sneaked away with Avelia.
After a whole day of rushing around, Kylen finally moved his luggage into the academy.
Even though he had advanced to the Ascension Realm and had physical strength far beyond ordinary people, all this trouble still left him exhausted.
"Avelia, can you help carry some things? Almost all of these hundred suitcases are your luggage!"
"But I'm too hungry to have any strength left…"
"Ha… How could I bear to let you lift a finger for such a trivial matter?" Kylen gritted his teeth, secretly deciding that this time he must choose a talent potion that enhances physical strength, then give this little Slime a good "lesson"!
Avelia smiled brightly. "I mean, my stomach is hungry."
"Hm?"
While Kylen was busy moving, news and videos about him had already spread across the internet.
The trending topics on major social platforms had long been dominated by news about Contractors. It was truly a national celebration.
These days, almost every family with the means would consider buying contract crystals. Even if they didn't have Contractor talent, an extra helper was always good, so the public paid extra attention to Contractors' movements.
On this September day, news about Kylen made headlines on major media outlets:
"#Genius School Beauty Turns Out to Be a Vampiric Slime, This Man Won Her Over with These 3 Moves…"
"New Student Is Actually an S-Rank Genius! Saint Laurent Academy Entrance Test Video Exposed…"
"Power of a King? Contract Expert: This Is the Most Incredible Contract Talent I've Ever Seen!"
"Trenia Empire's Marvine Family Releases Statement, Questioning the Origin of the New Student's Contracted Creature…"
"Strategic Value! Kylen's Talent Ability May Change the Battlefield Pattern!"
Exaggerated reports came one after another, and netizens talked about them with great interest. But when some people saw this news, their faces turned extremely gloomy.
Vander Family, in a hidden basement.
"Gareth! Who gave you permission to act on your own?"
"Father, there are so many Vampiric Slimes, how was I supposed to know it was 'that' one? Besides, if that bastard Kylen hadn't hurt William so badly, I wouldn't have…"
"Shut up! Mr. Dresen from the Trenia Empire gave us ten S-Rank Talent Potions to capture that Slime. What happened? The men we sent from the Vander Family and the Trenia Empire's men were all wiped out!
Since then, I've emphasized again and again not to act rashly. If Orion finds out and comes after us, the Vander Family will be finished!"
Baron cut in. "That's right, Gareth. You were too careless. Orion has obviously noticed someone was up to something, and he's been questioning me indirectly!"
Gareth's face was filled with anger and grief. Finally, the family patriarch, Lucius Vander, spoke.
"Enough. I can understand, after all, he's my grandson too. Baron, use a special admission quota to enroll those boys."
Baron was in a dilemma, but he nodded for his brother's sake.
Lucius thought for a moment and said, "Hmph, don't be in a hurry. Let him be proud for a few more days.
According to intelligence from Redrock City, a large-scale conflict is about to break out at the abyssal rift. As an S-Rank student, he will definitely be conscripted. We'll take care of him in the rift then!
Bennett, Quinn, you two go inform Mr. Dresen and tell him to be patient."
"Yes, sir."
Imperial Contract Academy, Meeting Room.
"This student's talent is definitely S-Rank! Why didn't your admission office go to the Awakening Hall entrance to intercept him? How could you let him apply to Saint Laurent Academy freely?"
"That's right! What do you even do in the admission office?
We were supposed to be a sure win in the freshman group of the Nine-Academy Alliance Exchange Tournament.
Now what? If our funding is reduced this year because of the loss, your admission office will take full responsibility!"
"All right, don't be so pessimistic."
Julian Whitlock, Principal of Imperial Contract Academy, tapped the table lightly.
"Didn't we also recruit several students with extraordinary talents this year? Especially Sylvia, she might not lose to Kylen.
Besides, Saint Laurent Academy's sophomore group has lost Avelia, so their competitiveness has dropped a lot. All in all, we still come out ahead."
"That half-spirit from the Spirit Tribe… Now that the principal says it, we really aren't at a loss."
"The Nine-Academy Alliance Exchange Tournament is approaching, but the Eternal Rift here in the imperial capital is becoming restless… All right, go prepare for your respective tasks."
"Yes, sir."
Saint Laurent City Coastal District, Trenia Empire's Secret Contact Point.
Dresen roared, "Bastards! You Arcana people took our deposit, and now you just want to fob us off with 'capture failed'?"
Quinn explained, "Mr. Dresen, please calm down. We didn't expect Avelia Selis to hide such power! But she's very weak now, and her strength has dropped to the Ascension Realm. We will definitely succeed in capturing her next time!"
Dresen suppressed his anger. "Tell me about your plan."
Quinn took out a document. "Look… We'll make our move in the abyssal rift then. No one will be able to find out who did it.
Worst case scenario, even if that Slime has any other special abilities, we can hold Kylen's family hostage to threaten him!"
Only then did Dresen's expression soften. "I see. As long as we can capture her, the Trenia Empire is willing to add another 5 billion to the price!"
"Good. It's a deal!"
Yesterday, Kylen and Avelia had been busy advancing, and they had just made do with bread and pastries for meals. Finally finding some time, Kylen cooked a proper dinner himself.
Avelia leaned on a recliner, reading a book.
After a while of busying himself, Kylen called out, "Come eat, Avelia~"
Avelia stretched lazily, sat down at the dining table, and spooned a bite of tomato meat sauce pasta into her mouth.
"How is it? My cooking is pretty good, right?"
In the past, Jessica's parents always said their daughter couldn't cook, so Kylen had taught himself to cook. But the result…
Avelia's expression changed drastically, and her teeth were chattering. "Did you… add salt?"
Kylen: "? Shouldn't I add salt?"
Avelia covered her mouth, looking a little uncomfortable. "You should have added sugar!"
Kylen raised an eyebrow. This was a topic he was happy to argue about. He joked, "Salt is supposed to be added!"
"How can you eat it with sugar! Wow, I never thought you'd be a despicable sweet lover, Avelia!"
"As my contracted creature from now on, you should follow your master's taste!"
Avelia looked a little wronged, her brows furrowed. "That's not it…"
"What's not? Food with salt is delicious. Avelia, if you eat too many sweets, you'll gain weight!"
As soon as Kylen finished speaking, he noticed that Avelia's crimson eyes were misted over. Why was she suddenly…
Avelia took a book out of her arms and hit Kylen on the head, then ran to another room with tears in the corners of her eyes.
"Ah, that hurts! What was that for? Was that necessary?"
This was the first time Avelia had ever quarreled with him.
Kylen looked at the book that had fallen to the ground.
Vampiric Slime's Journal.
A sudden, sharp pain tugged at his heart. He picked up the book and opened the first page. The words on it made him realize he might have made a big mistake.
"It's so bitter. I asked Mother why everything I eat tastes so bitter?"
"Mother said that as heirs to the 'Crimson Goo Throne,' we can only taste sweetness.
Other flavors, sour, spicy, salty, all taste like the most bitter thing in the world to us, a hundred times bitter than humans eating coptis raw.
"Maybe this is our fate, full of bitterness and full of betrayal."
Kylen bit his lower lip gently.
How bitter must the taste be to make the proud Avelia cry?
He had judged by his own standards. Something he took for granted might be a luxury for Avelia.
Kylen made a decision secretly. He picked up his communicator.
"Hello? Dean Seraphina, I've decided what talent potion I want. Could you please send it over right away?"