Marshal patted a briefcase on the table. "Your 'Star Splitter,' armor, and other belongings are all in here."
"You guys chat; I'll be on my way," Marshal said, and Cedricl immediately waved goodbye.
Once Marshal had left, Eliot mentioned, "Bryce's body has been claimed by the Luo family. Strangely enough, they left a message for you."
Ethan looked up, "What message?"
Cedricl snorted, "They told you to recover well and not to take the matter to heart, claiming the Luo family will absolutely not seek revenge for this incident. In my opinion, they're likely saying one thing and planning another behind your back."
Eliot added, "I think it's because of the upcoming city lord election. Lionel doesn't want any complications, so he's pretending to be generous. They definitely won't trouble you before the election, but after that, it's uncertain. At least for now, you don't have to worry about the Luo family."
"Also," Eliot continued with a smile, "Colonel Liang Jian from the Exploration Corps attended the duel today. After the deathmatch, he said that the Corps will definitely recruit you after graduation. I believe that was also a message for Lionel. In other words, Victor is going to protect you. As long as Victor is in Guangling City, you don't have to worry too much."
Ethan looked at Eliot, surprised by his classmate's keen mind and deep understanding of the city's dynamics.
Cedricl seemed to notice Ethan's confusion and chuckled, "Ethan, you might not know this, but our classmate Eliot comes from a significant background. His uncle is the current city lord, the top authority in Guangling City, Liu Haoteng. Eliot has kept it quiet, and we only found out about it recently."
Eliot shook his head and said, "My uncle forbids me from using his status to 'swagger around,' so it's not that I intended to keep it from everyone. Besides, I hope people appreciate me for who I am, not for my background."
Cedricl laughed and then glanced at the time, "Let's not talk anymore. Ethan just woke up; let him get some more rest. Shall we go?"
Eliot nodded, "I was about to suggest that."
After patting Ethan's shoulder, Cedricl said, "So it's settled. We'll meet at the school gate tomorrow morning."
Ethan nodded and watched the two leave. Lying in bed, he stared at the ceiling, savoring the word "friends."
The next day, Ethan, in his school uniform and carrying 'Star Splitter,' arrived at the school gate. It was Saturday, and most students chose to go home for a couple of days, returning on Sunday evening or Monday.
He Hao, carrying a backpack and planning to go home as well, spotted Ethan with his sword from a distance. As he passed by Ethan, he grunted, "Idiot, weapons are banned in the city. Are you planning to have tea at the 'District Security Bureau' with that sword?"
When Ethan looked at him, He Hao was already walking away, but he advised, "Carry your student card with you. If there's trouble, just show your card, and you'll be fine."
He Hao muttered under his breath as he walked away, "Such a country bumpkin, doesn't know anything."
Laughter erupted nearby as his partner Su Jiu teased, "Wasn't someone saying they were going to mess with Ethan after he killed Bryce? But now, not only did that someone not bother Ethan, but he also kindly gave him advice. Oh right, someone was saved in the forbidden zone, so I guess it's paying back the favor."
He Hao glared at her through gritted teeth, "Shut up, woman! Men's business is not for women to meddle in!"
Su Jiu stuck out her tongue at him, "Big man," and left him fuming with her teasing laughter.
At the school gate, students passing by Ethan gave him looks of admiration or hurried past as if avoiding a plague. Several girls turned pale and dared not walk by him, as if he were a ferocious beast. After all, Bryce's death in the deathmatch had been too gruesome, and Ethan had been labeled a 'ruthless person.'
"Ethan," Cedricl finally arrived, his backpack bulging as if he were fleeing disaster.
Cedricl chuckled, "I exchanged some credits for food. There are many people at home, and since I don't go back often, I brought a lot."
Ethan knew that at the logistics department, one credit could exchange for two weeks' worth of food. But no one would waste credits like that, especially since the school provided three meals a day. He never understood why the logistics department had 'food' as an exchange option until now, seeing Cedricl.
Cedricl waved, "Let's go, we'll take the light rail."
As they walked, Cedricl shared, "My parents are workers. We got into Guangling City thanks to their participation in the city's construction. But as workers without special contributions, they only get a sixth-tier treatment."
Ethan remembered Marshal announcing that all qualified freshmen would receive fourth-tier treatment but didn't know what it entailed. Hearing Cedricl mention it, he asked, "What is tiered treatment?"
"It's a system based on your contribution to the underground city, used to allocate work points," Cedricl explained. "Think of work points as credits or, more bluntly, as money. Different tiers receive different amounts of work points. The sixth tier is the lowest, and even with full attendance each month, the work points are barely enough to get by."
"My family only has two earners, but many siblings. Now, there's also me. I'm not graduated yet, but I have credits, and we reserve mech pilots get 'fourth-tier treatment.' That's 3,000 work points a month. Since we're still studying, we only get 1,000 as a subsidy, but that's already equivalent to what my dad can earn in a month."
"If you become an official mech pilot, you'll enjoy 'third-tier treatment,' with 8,000 work points a month, a house, and a vehicle!"
As Cedricl gleefully shared, Ethan began to understand the significance of 'tiered treatment.' Soon, they boarded a light rail train heading towards the city center.
Suddenly, the train's broadcast announced, "We interrupt with an urgent notice. Yesterday, our city launched a special crackdown on Behemoth parasite smuggling organizations. During the operation, several smuggling rings were busted, and 175 live parasites were seized. However, one group escaped, and local security bureaus are actively pursuing them. If any citizens notice suspicious activity, please report to the local 'District Security Bureau' or call the police."
Hearing the broadcast, Ethan was shocked. People were smuggling Behemoth parasites?