The receptionist, initially confused and turned somewhat terrified at the sight of Chinu-the will projection, quickly realized the significance of Raj. Only a selected few could afford that luxury. Her earlier pride melted away as she understood she was dealing with someone of high standing, and without any further hesitation, she guided them to the central node without asking any more questions.
Raj, now standing before a floating crystal ball, glanced at Chinu still processing the receptionist's sudden change in demeanor. "Why did she change her attitude so quickly?" he asked.
Chinu, hovering beside him replied, "As I mentioned earlier, having a personal assistant comes with perks beyond some prana coins. And having enough prana coins is one of the conditions to get a personal assistants. Most people can't see me unless I reveal myself, but once they know you have a personal assistant, it's a sign of high status. You'll learn the full extent of the perks soon. For now, focus on your tasks with the Union. Just place your hand on the glass ball."
Raj took a deep breath and placed his hand on the cold, smooth surface of the floating orb.
Ding...
A robotic voice echoed in the chamber.
Getting data...
As the words flashed across the air, Raj felt a strange energy pulse through his hand, like the orb was scanning him.
Name: Raj[Hribvf*******175360]
State: Unblessed
Location: 23rd city
Citizen: 1st class citizen
The voice passed briefly as if processing more data. Then it asked, "What is the purpose of connecting to the central node?"
Raj, with a confident nod, recounted the strange visions he had witnessed, speaking clearly about each and every image that had burned itself into his memory.
The orb glowed faintly as the voice returned.
Recording all reported data...
Data Received...
Verifying data...
Raj's heart pounded as he waited, feeling the weight of the moment. He clenched his fist unconsciously wondering if his visions would even matter to the Union Council.
Then the voice returned, louder and more authoritative.
"Verification completed."
Raj's eyes widened in anticipation.
"After verification, Raj, citizen number Hribvf*******175360, has been rewarded with 100 contribution points for reporting crucial information."
Ding...
The soft chime echoed through the room, and Raj looked down at his wrist, his breath catching in his throat. A glowing silver-coloured halo formed around his wrist quickly followed by another, like a twin badge of honor marking his rise in status.
"Looks like you're moving up in the world," Chinu chimed, her tiny body growing a little and showing a hint of satisfaction. "Each of those marks is a physical manifestation of your influence. Now your 2nd class citizen. If that receptionist sees you now even if I didn't show up, she will not ignore you."
Ding... Ding...
Raj glanced down as two notifications flashed on his interface. He quickly swiped to open them, his eyes skimming over the updates in his balance sheet and personal ID panel.
---
Balance Sheet
- Available balance: 99,999
- Contribution points: 100
- Passive income: +3/hr
- Personal assistant: -1/hr
[SHOP] [STORAGE]
---
Name: Raj [Hribvf*******175360]
State: Unblessed
Location: 23rd city
Citizen: 2nd class citizen
---
As he studied the new panel, Chinu floated beside him, her voice calm and instructive. "Now that you're a 2nd class citizen, you receive an additional prana coin per hour. You've also unlocked eligibility to open the shop function, and you get 5 cubic meters of storage."
Raj's face remained unchanged as he glanced at the "STORAGE" icon, not fully understanding its importance. Chinu noticed his indifferent expression and continued, her voice more animated.
"This isn't just some ordinary storage space, Raj. It's accessible anywhere—inside and outside prana_world. You can store items here and retrieve them at any moment, regardless of your location. Imagine the advantages in the real world. You can carry important items without worrying about weight or bulk. That's a major benefit most people can only dream of."
Raj's eyes widened slightly as the implications sank in. "So I could store weapons or supplies... and pull them out whenever I need them?"
Chinu nodded, her wings fluttering in excitement. "Exactly! And as you rise in rank, the storage capacity increases. Right now, it's only 5 cubic meters, but it's more than enough to hold valuable items."
Raj stared at the glowing panel in front of him, the wheels turning in his mind. The ability to store and retrieve items instantly—especially in dangerous situations—could give him a huge advantage. He realized this was more than just a convenient perk. It was a tool that could change everything.