Chapter 45 - Phantom Troupe
Nova returned to their shared room silently, at least trying to make sure no one was around at that time. She entered and searched the room quickly for anyone being there. She noticed the duffle bag she gave to Kai being already opened and the note with a small thank you on the side.
Nova just stared at the writing, in her mind saying, "What sloppy handwriting."
Nova quickly decided to do what she came here for in the first place.
Nova stared at her mattress, her brows uptight. She sighed and pulled it up, showing a small tablet.
She grabbed it and rushed toward the bathroom, entering and then locking the door. She grabbed the tablet and slowly injected her mana into it. She was one of the best in the academy at mana control, even being able to stand in front of elders with pride because of it.
But she saw the darkness disappear as runes only her and a small select group in the world would ever know of appeared. Phantom Troupe.
Nova stared as the tablet opened up a small area within it, with only a small needle present. She didn't hesitate one bit as she poked her index finger with the needle, a drop of blood falling on it.
A split second later, the screen flashed with an emblem of a 12-legged spider.
The spider faded, and what was left was a simple interface, only three options.
{Report Findings.}
{Call For Assistance.}
{Request Higher Assistance.}
The last two grayed out.
Nova, still worried, quickly began a report.
{..}
"In the past month, many new things have become clear to me. First of all, why the disparity between any other faction and the damned National Awakened Academy was so large. Their facilities were top notch, truly if even a weak mortal was thrown here they would surely find a way to grow." Nova began.
"But everyone knows the now global rankings for bloodlines, Mortal -> Earth -> Heaven -> Divine -> Holy -> Saint. And yet only a few know that even this isn't the end of the path. While here, I figured out that these so called elders have all gone through some kind of ritual to increase their bloodline strength and potency, clearly something to do with bloodline essence. And yet the non-arguably strongest elder is this Huan person. He doesn't only know how to control his bloodline essence innately but also his Qi. Surely these humans haven't already understood cultivation itself, but some are already using Qi. Elder Huan is a martial arts and mana teacher. He seems to have taken an interest in one of my roommates. Kai, a foolish person by all standards."
"I do not know his bloodline grade, but it is clear that in the last days it has gone through a strong qualitative change in its structure. Honestly, it's scary how much a bloodline can change. It was only Earth tier but now clearly higher. Strong and powerful, he's a target. He should be dealt with before he understands Qi, and I believe Elder Huan already has plans to teach Kai this power. None of them truly understand Qi (Life Energy). Kai is a formidable fighter, both a good close combat fighter and a deadly mage. He seems to be able to inflict soul damage. What a dirty affinity to have."
"I do not yet understand the other two. Elena, she's cold. I'd honestly think her to also be a spy, but no, she's just cold, hating people by all means. She's powerful, having a Heaven ranked bloodline, and I am worried if she becomes an Elder in the future, another Divine ranked person on Earth would hamper all that we have worked to achieve."
"Luca, he's kind. Maybe too kind? But he clearly has problems. Just a few days ago he was beaten up, bullied, and got all of his credits stolen by a group of people working for a second year. That second year seems to be Kai's elder brother. They have a fight to deal with or something. I couldn't care for it, but I am sure it means something to Kai. He's a target, so we can use that. Luca seems to be financially not fit at all. Makes one wonder how he's a Heaven ranked at all."
"I will also attach a Map of the area us first years are allowed.
though at the start it was only a small part now it had grown larger. Now we have a traning ground, medical fasility's, and so much more."
{Report Completed.}
Nova pulled back her mana from the tablet. She was tired.
So tired from writing so many detailed things on everyone around her.
Just before she folded the tablet, a screen appeared.
{Target: Kai. Should be moved up to become an asset. If you can control him in any way possible, you will be rewarded.}
Nova stared at the screen as it disappeared.
And then she began to panic. 'So fast? Was I already on watch? Did I do something wrong?'
She was nervous and hid the tablet before going to sleep.
----
Meanwhile, between two buildings in the academy, a dark corner lay.
Within it, 3 figures, two taking charge while the 3rd, beaten and bruised, clearly didn't want to be there at all.
It was Luca. Though a late Earth ranked bloodline flowed within him, it was suppressed. Within seconds, his power did not matter in front of this overwhelming might.
He had tried to stop. He tried to run. He tried to fight. All was for naught.
He still failed, his credits stolen, left beaten, bruised, and used. Not only had he now lost his lifeline in the academy that would take time he didn't have to create.
Luca stared at the fake starry sky above. The sky was calm. His heart was not. He truly wanted to fight to the bitter end, and yet he couldn't. He had a family, a terminally ill younger sister. Her bloodline grew faster than her meridians. No one wanted to pay for her treatment, and Luca just lost what money he had gathered.
At least he would get 5% of it after leaving the fight with Kai.
Luca moved, borrowing a healing pill from Nova, who had a scary number of them.
Luca healed up, but his stats didn't. He was still low on mana and stamina.
Finally, he stood before Kai and took a step out. As he did, a higher up bumped into him and tapped his card against Luca's. 5,000 was deposited instantly back. The higher up once again seemed to disappear into the crowd.
Luca was conflicted. Though he gained back a sum of money, he might have just sent Kai to his death. And yet thankfully Kai and Luca weren't close, so Luca didn't feel the weight much.
But he was still guilty. When he watched the fight, he was amazed by Kai's audacity to even fight back against the authority of an Elder.
Elder Huan no less.
Luca silently rushed out of the area back to their room. He saw Nova sleeping and went to sleep as well.