Chapter 10: Chapter 10: The City Hero, Ethan Blake
Claire was in a daze.
Swipe 21 million solars? The sheer shock of it made her dizzy, like her entire worldview had just been flipped upside down.
Could he be a hidden heir to some massive fortune?
A thought began to form in her mind.
She had never heard Alexander mention his parents before.
It's often said that in many large families, the heir is sent out at a young age to experience the world. After proving themselves, they return to take over the family business.
This must be the case with him, right?
Claire suddenly felt the urge to slap herself.
All those fortune tellers had always said her true love was right in front of her, but she had never considered that the young master had been living beside her all this time!
Why had she wasted time chasing those other rich kids?
The more she thought about it, the more regret gnawed at her.
"I'm such an idiot! I've been living with a young master for three years, and I've been out here chasing after rich guys! I've been looking for a gold mine while I was sitting on mountain of diamonds!"
As Alexander left New Era Homes, with James bowing respectfully behind him, he gave Claire a meaningful glance.
Claire's heart skipped a beat.
Could it be...
Her face flushed, and she nervously squeezed her legs together, her black stockings stretching tightly.
She opened her shopping app, searching for dresses that would be perfect for catching the attention of a wealthy heir.
...
It had started to drizzle in Northern Waters.
Alexander stepped into a cozy, stylish café, taking a seat by the window. He pulled out his notebook.
Before the waitress could hand him the menu, he smiled warmly and said, "Hello, I'll have a Blue Mountain coffee and a serving of Camembert cheese, please."
Alexander loved the aroma of coffee. Back in school, he had to settle for instant coffee to curb his cravings.
Now, he could easily open his own café if he wanted to.
In fact, he had considered making the Mercenary Guild look like a café in the city.
The waitress was momentarily captivated by his warm smile. She couldn't help but give him a quick once-over.
He was tall, dressed in black athletic wear. It looked like a generic brand, but it was clean.
There was something special about him—an air of confidence. He exuded a sunny yet composed vibe, the kind that left an impression.
After she left, Alexander opened his notebook and began sketching out the details for the future Mercenary Guild.
Next, he needed to figure out how to set up a delivery service between mercenaries.
He opened his browser, typing in keywords for delivery companies, and scrolled through the search results.
Clicking through page after page, he kept shaking his head.
These delivery companies were household names in Base Country 3. Their CEOs were among the country's top figures, sitting in their high towers.
Each of these companies employed countless Awakeners. Finding their whereabouts would already be a challenge, let alone getting close to them.
Besides, these companies didn't seem secure enough. Their confidentiality wasn't high enough.
Rubbing his temples, Alexander thought aloud, "Claire probably knows some high-level professionals. Maybe she can help me make these connections."
Just then, his phone rang. It was Jack.
Alexander picked up.
"Master Alex, it's all sorted! Forty-five households around your place agreed to sell their old homes. They'll move out tomorrow. It cost a total of 4.8 million," Jack's voice was filled with pride.
Alexander frowned slightly. That was quick.
His tone turned a bit harsh. "You didn't force them out, did you?"
Jack quickly explained, "No, no! The area is mostly filled with old folks. When they heard they could sell their houses for 70 or 80 thousand solars, they were thanking me for giving them the chance to retire in the city!
Only two families tried to ask for more money. It's funny, though, they only managed to get an extra 20,000 after all their effort."
Alexander understood. That's how it was in the slums.
Someone like Rosie worked so hard every day just to make 80 solars, and she often got robbed by local thugs from the new city.
70 or 80 thousand solars was a fortune for them.
Jack continued to report, "Oh, and by the way, Rosie asked me to tell you that the Williams family has prepared those ten spiritual items. They've already submitted the task."
Alexander's head immediately started to ache. This was the last thing he wanted to deal with right now.
He sighed softly. "You handle it. If you need transportation, I'll cover the costs."
Just as he hung up, the soft voice of the waitress came from beside him. "Sir, here's your coffee and dessert."
Alexander thanked her, picked up a small spoon, and gently stirred his coffee.
A city news alert appeared on his phone.
[City Hero Ethan Blake, seriously injured in a fight with a criminal yesterday, has recovered after emergency treatment.]
Alexander tapped on the news.
Last night, in the Eastern Side of Northern Waters, the local security director, Ethan Blake, encountered a robbery on his way home. Blake stepped in to stop the crime and fought with the assailant.
Unfortunately, the robber turned out to be an E-rank Awakener, and Blake was severely injured in the struggle. Thankfully, he was rushed to the hospital in time and is now out of danger.
Alexander raised an eyebrow.
A security director couldn't defeat an E-rank Awakener? That didn't seem right.
His interest piqued, Alexander searched for more information about Ethan Blake's background.
What he found left him surprised. Ethan Blake was only an F-rank Awakener!
With such a low rank, he normally wouldn't even qualify for a position in the security bureau. Yet, Blake had earned his way into the role through sheer capability, steadily accumulating accolades over the years.
Any other security officer with his achievements would've been promoted to headquarters by now. But because Blake's accomplishments were so significant, the bureau had no choice but to grant him the title of director to justify his contributions.
Ethan Blake was still young, only twenty-eight years old. If nothing unexpected happened, even by the age of fifty, he would likely still be stuck as a director.
Alexander clicked his tongue. In this world, talent rank mattered far too much.
Suddenly, an idea flashed in Alexander's mind. "I remember that security officers have internal and external patrol duties. What if they also handled deliveries between mercenaries and the guild?"
There's no way anyone would stop or inspect a security patrol vehicle, right?
Ethan Blake had already built up a mountain of achievements. As soon as he awakened a stronger talent, his promotion would be unstoppable—even god wouldn't be able to hold him back!
Someone in a senior position at headquarters could easily network with security officers from other cities. The transportation network would be established in no time.
A heavy smile spread across Alexander's face as he gazed out at the bustling city streets, a glimmer of light shining in his eyes.
He finished the last sip of his coffee and began walking toward the old town.
...
At Alexander's small courtyard, he planted seeds into the soil.
Half a day passed, and by the time night had fallen, he had spent nearly twelve hours tending to the garden.
His efforts were not in vain. Dozens of extraordinary plants had sprouted from the ground.
[Moonlight Grass: Emits light at night. Under its glow, training can accelerate the recovery of spiritual energy.]
[Potato Grenade: Press the red button, bury it in the ground, and it will explode when triggered by movement.]
[Wild Strawberry: Instantly heals minor injuries when consumed.]
Alexander recognized all of these items. They came straight from the video games of his past life.
As expected, the beginner's luck was gone. He hadn't managed to grow anything particularly powerful.
Still, his luck wasn't terrible. At least he'd grown some useful extraordinary plants.
The courtyard door creaked open.
In walked Jack, dressed in black and wearing a ghostly mask that covered his face entirely.
As soon as Jack stepped in, he complained, "Master Alex, you wouldn't believe it! William is acting crazy. He showed up wearing this ridiculous blue Smurf mask, looking like a cartoon character! He scared the hell out of me. Then he asked me if the mask was up to standard and if his outfit was appropriate."