The atmosphere returned to normal, with people minding their own business, though some were still curious about the commotion and glanced our way.
I was really unhappy with that bitch's joke thing, but I had no choice but to keep my composure.
I asked, "Well, Lia, can you please tell me, who are you both really?"
I needed to know who they really were. No ordinary people could order soldiers around like that.
Lia responded politely, "We both are the daughters of the Leader of the Federal Association."
Hearing this, I was shocked and panicked to the extreme.
Why?
Because Ambrosia's government is controlled by two associations: the Federal Association and the Hunter Association.
The two girls in front of me were the future heirs of one of the strongest organizations in this world.
How could I not be panicked?
One wrong move against them, and I could be killed in mere seconds.
Damn, why did I harass them in the first place?
If their father found out, my existence would be in danger.
While I was lost in my thoughts, I failed to notice Lia constantly calling my name.
When she touched my shoulder and asked, "Michael, what happened to you?"
I snapped back to reality and said, "Nothing, I was just thinking about how warm the night is."
In truth, I wanted to get away from them as fast as possible.
Lia looked at me with concern. "Are you sure you're okay? You seem really out of it."
I forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind."
Anna, noticing the conversation, smirked and added, "Scared of a little joke, Pervert?"
'This bitch.'
I shook my head, trying to keep my composure. "No, just surprised, that's all."
As we continued walking, I couldn't shake off the anxiety.
The knowledge that I was in the presence of such powerful individuals was overwhelming.
I needed to find a way to distance myself from them without arousing suspicion.
We reached a checkpoint where more soldiers stood guard.
Lia and Anna passed through effortlessly, but I hesitated, my mind racing with thoughts of escape.
Lia noticed my hesitation and said, "Come on, Michael. We don't have all day."
Taking a deep breath, I stepped forward, my heart pounding in my chest.
The soldiers eyed me warily, but I managed to pass through without incident.
Once we were on the other side, I turned to Lia and said, "I really appreciate you both helping me, but I think it's best if I go my own way from here."
Honestly, what I mean to say is, I really appreciate how neither of you bothered to help me at all.
Instead, you just made things more frustrating and gave me more work.
Now that I'm finally here, can you both please fuck off?
Anna raised an eyebrow. "Running away already?"
"Bit-uhmmm!"
I nearly lost control and was about to say "bitch," but I stopped myself at the last moment. My mind went blank.
[Host, are you out of your mind? Don't you understand you can't cross her?]
Ugh, stupid system...
Ever since I saved her, she's been pushing my buttons over and over again.
I'm not spineless. I do have some backbone...
Anna looked over and asked, "Did you say something?"
Yeah, fuck you!
I forced a polite smile, trying to keep my anger in check. "Haha, no, nothing! I'm heading out now!"
Lia somehow looked disappointed but nodded. "If that's what you want."
I nodded, grateful for their understanding. "Thanks, Lia. I just need some time to clear my head."
I said, "Then, goodbye, both of you," and turned to walk away, relieved to finally be free from them.
Just as I thought I had escaped, Anna called out, "Hey, stop!" I paused, my footsteps halting.
Now what?
I turned back to see her, and she tossed something toward me.
"Take it," she said.
I caught it and looked at it. It was a black card with a diamond picture on it.
I didn't recognize it, even after searching through the previous owner's memories.
So, I asked her directly, "What is this?"
I noticed shocked expressions on the faces of the military guys around us. Anna replied, "That's one of the Federal Association's VIP cards."
I was stunned again.
There are only 20 VIP cards in the Federal Association.
These cards can be used to buy or travel to any place in the human domain for free.
They are incredibly rare.
From the previous owner's memories, I knew these cards were only given to very special individuals.
Most people, including me, had only heard about them, never seen one.
Even the wealthiest people have rarely seen these cards, except for the higher-ups.
Trying to calm my nerves but failing, I asked, "Wh-why give this to me?"
Anna said, "You saved us before, so this is my way to reward you. Be grateful that you got it. Not even those rich people have seen this."
I bowed my head slightly and said, "Thank you."
Without wasting another moment, I immediately turned back and hurried to get out of that place, clutching the black card tightly in my hand.
Now that I think about it, she's a good bitch for her generosity but bad bitch for her attitude...
Anyway, but still she deserved to be punished and, fucked countless times by me...
Maybe these are just trash cards for her family, but who cares?
One man's trash is another man's treasure.
This saying is really true.
***
10 minutes later,
My surroundings were still the same, with people busy at their jobs and machinery humming along.
I sighed and muttered, "How much longer do I have to walk?"
I was still inside the building, and to be honest, this building was the main reason I wanted to leave.
This place is one of the branches of the Federal Association and the only place that connects the outer world with the inner human domain.
After walking for a few more minutes, I saw a massive entrance, about 20 feet tall, and finally felt relieved.
I walked out and saw a clean, modern world with advanced technology.
The air was so clean that I could literally feel it.
I muttered, "So refreshing..."
The sun was rising, signaling the start of a new day, and I saw some birds flying and chirping.
For a moment, I thought those birds were monsters until I looked closely and saw they were just a bunch of sparrows.
But I was still curious—how did the birds save themselves from the virus?
Anyway, I'll leave that for now. I have to reach a certain place as fast as possible.
Flying trains and cars were a common sight, and skyscrapers were visible in the distance.
There weren't many skyscrapers in this area since it was an F-rank state.
Ambrosia is divided into six states based on status, wealth, and influence.
The A-rank state has the most facilities and is mostly inhabited by the super-rich and powerful hunters.
Meanwhile, the F-rank state has the fewest amenities and is mainly populated by the poor or lesser-ranked hunters.
These states don't have any assigned names and are mostly called F-rank, B-rank, or A-rank states.
But yeah, each state has multiple cities inside of it.
I was currently in a city called Brigadoon.
I saw a railway station nearby, but there was a problem.
I massaged my temples and muttered, "How can I get there with so many people around?"
There was a huge crowd around me since this was a city in an F-rank state, where most people live.
If I had my smart phone with me, I would have called him by now, and he would have already picked me up.
Wait! I still have my watch...
Without hesitation, I quickly dialed his number.
The phone rang for a few seconds, but no one answered.
"Come on, just pick up," I muttered in frustration.
Then, an automated message came on: "The number you are calling is currently switched off. Please wait or try again later. Thank you."
Seriously? Why would he turn off his phone? That's not like him. He usually keeps it on.
Maybe his battery died or something, but...
Urgh... whatever.
Looks like I'll have to head back to the mansion alone today.
I took a deep breath and plunged into the crowd, determined to reach my destination.
After 15 minutes of pushing through the throng of people, I finally got to the station.
The first thing I did was look for a bench to sit on.
It was hard to find one, but I managed to spot an empty seat.
I rested there for a few minutes until a flying train arrived from the sky.
When the gates of the train opened, I went inside and found a seat.
The condition inside the train was the same as the station: most seats were taken, with only a few available.
A few seconds later, the train began its journey.
I heard a mechanical voice announcing the next stop.
It was a city in the E-rank state.
With nothing else to do, I closed my eyes and decided to rest, hoping to recharge after the hectic day.
***
After an hour of resting, I finally heard a mechanical voice announce, "Passengers, we have arrived at the final destination. Please kindly disembark."
I opened my eyes and stretched.
I was the only one left in my cabin; everyone else had already gotten off.
Before leaving the train, I had to pay for the ride.
Since I had no money, I used the VIP card Anna gave me and exited.
Outside, I saw a huge sign that said, "Welcome to Paradise."
Paradise was known as a place where only influential and, Rich people could afford to live.
As I stepped out, I felt a sense of calm.
There were no crowds, just a few people around.
I saw a flying car nearby and shouted, "Hey, stop!"
The car immediately stopped and lowered to the ground.
I walked up to it and opened the door.
No one was inside.
I sat down and saw a scanner next to me.
I scanned the black card again, and the car started to move on its own, slowly rising into the air.
This society has made incredible progress mainly because of the discovery and use of monster cores.
Monsters have powerful energy cores located near their hearts.
These cores contain a huge amount of raw energy, which changed the game for electricity and technology.
Once scientists figured out how to harness this energy, everything changed.
The energy from monster cores was so strong and, potent that it created a reliable and abundant power source, greatly reducing the need for traditional energy sources.
Electricity production surged, making it cheap and widely accessible.
This surplus of power led to a technological boom, enabling the development of advanced automated systems.
Robotics and AI technology thrived, with machines taking over most manual work.
Many industries became nearly fully automated, cutting down on the need for human labor in areas like manufacturing, construction, and services.
Robots powered by these cores handled everything from heavy machinery to household appliances.
In short, monster cores became the backbone of the world's energy system.
Most technological systems, from transportation to everyday devices, relied on this nearly unlimited energy source.
This shift made society highly efficient and automated, with machines powered by monster core energy taking care of most tasks, reducing human involvement.
However, there were still certain jobs that advanced AI couldn't perform, such as creative writing, cooking, and visual arts, among others.
I said, "Take me to the Frostburne family's mansion."
A robotic voice responded, "As you wish, sir. Please enjoy the ride."