It’s been two days, and news of what happened spread throughout the academy, but in a way far different from what actually happened. What they said was that there was an accident at the facility and it would be going under temporary closure.
No one said anything about the fact that a Headless had fought a mber of a criminal organization or that they nearly got away with it if not for a certain soone.
Ace was glad that they kept things under wraps as he reviewed the events of what happened. And the only thing he could co up with was that he did just above pathetically.
Both in his strategy and his own power. He didn’t include the variables that ca in, and that nearly cost his life more than once.
The first was Scorpo, and then that woman with the portal power. Ace had nearly died, and every ti his mind flashed back to it, he felt both frustration and anger.
"...if I am stronger... no, I am not... then what should I do to make myself stronger?..."
Those are the kinds of thoughts that kept popping into his head. He accepted his weakness and then he tried to think of how to improve on it.
It’s far easier said than done though. Ace is special for the fact that he’s the lowest of the low, but in the end, such thoughts were shoved away, and he focused on what lay ahead.
"...and for my strategy... I tried to outsmart the Head Instructor, but instead I seem to have fallen into his trap... my third death would have happened by him..."
"...the reason he didn’t kill is likely due to the fact that he wanted to know what I know... to know who I am working for... why I was with the others..."
"...he’ll be watching , and any slight mistakes then..."
Indeed, the Academy might give a front of not caring about what happens in the Academy, but they’re watching, just looking away. Inasmuch as it wasn’t dragged publicly into light, they would continue to look away.
Inasmuch as it wasn’t a threat to the Academy.
But Ace had gone from the weakest to still the weak, but sohow stronger than anyone predicted. He might not be a threat, but he had been doing things that soone at his level shouldn’t do.
He had gained a sliver of interest.
Ace, who sat alone in his room, shook his head. "Things have turned more troubleso now, but the gain is all worth it. I have the invitation card artifact and Mucus of the Wiser."
Mucus of the Wiser was the na of the potion-like artifact that Ace took. It’s a parasitic type of artifact, a consumable one that must enter the body to act.
Ordinarily, it has little power on its own, but when used with the seed of mustard, a very rare herb, the effect—when mistakenly used by Eric in the book—forcefully opened up his perception and brain in such a way that it also forced his Talent Ability Rank to increase.
"But the problem is that I need a massive amount of Etherion to activate the effect. If not, then it will draw all the energy in my body until I’m dead. I need a concentrated Etherion.
"I need money. Or credits."
Almost all the money he took from Ethan had been used in preparing for the operation that night. He’d used more healing potions in one month due to the poison than most students used in their stay at the academy combined.
And the rest had been used in buying more presentable clothes, better food, and to actually find a healer to heal his left hand.
"And I don’t just need temporary money. I need a steady stream of inco, a very large one that won’t only take care of my needs in the academy but outside. I need to create that House."
Ding! Ding!
Just then he heard that sound, and his blue eyes flashed as a ssage ca in through the school central system. The third reason he secured the key had just arrived.
—Congratulations! You and your team have been awarded with one hundred and thirty credits for your hard work!
The Academy might be cruel, but it was also very generous to those who showed results. Ace and his sub-team had secured sothing that would have been lost even while it was under a Headless’s protection.
Sothing that was directly tied to the Empire. The reward for sothing like that wasn’t small, but it even exceeded Ace’s expectations.
He gave a satisfied smile, and then with a single thought, he sent part of the credits to another place.
"Congratulations, you have t the requirents for creating a House. You can now choose a na..."
Ace did.
Ding! Ding!
—Congratulations, you have created House of Chains!
—You have now been marked as a House leader and founder of a House. All relevant authorities have been transferred.
—You can now hold territory within the Field Zone. You can now hunt monsters and mine resources.
—You can now recruit House mbers and have the right to hold events in the Academy!
—Note, all Houses are under the law of the Academy and the Empire.
—Declaration! You have declared your House to all relevant in the Academy.
—Ace Eros, Leader and Founder, House of Chains.
Ace sat there and stared blankly until all the ssages disappeared. A lot of things flashed across his mind, but one thing that stood above all was satisfaction, and he allowed himself to feel it.
Everything he’d done until now paled in comparison to what just happened. He had created a House—sothing that’s not been done since the Academy was created and the twelve Houses made.
It might seem simple. Just do sothing that both the Academy and the Empire will recognize. But what could a student do that the mightiest of the Academy and the Empire couldn’t?
Even in the book, nothing like that happened.
Soone like Ace? But he did it anyway.
"Ah, the real drama starts. Now I need power to back it off. I wonder how others will react?"
The operation save the school and reap reward was deed successful!
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