The inside of the Supers Association branch was a bit noisy, which surprised Michael greatly. Outside, he hadn't heard much sound, so he expected the building to be quiet, but it wasn't. There were actually quite a lot of people, most of them appearing very young.
Michael didn't need to think much to realise that these people were probably new Awakeners, just like him. With only two Supers Association branches in Woodstone City, it wasn't surprising to see many Awakeners despite their rarity.
Since all schools nationwide had chosen today for the Awakening ceremony this year, most of the young people in the Supers Association building were likely the new Awakeners from Woodstone City.
After today, the number of new Awakeners registering over the next two days should be low.
Michael glanced around, and a rough count suggested there were at least 30 students present. This was quite a number, considering they all came from the nine public and private schools in Woodstone City.
As he took in his surroundings, Michael lined up behind one of the shorter queues leading to the reception table. He wasn't sure what to expect when he reached the front, but seeing others his age—likely fellow New Awakeners—gave him some idea.
Fortunately, Michael didn't have to wait long. Twenty-eight minutes later, he was near the front, with only one person ahead of him. Behind him, more people had joined the line.
As Michael waited, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw a new message:
[$300 has been transferred to your account 27******78, XXXX Bank International, from Mia Grace! Your current account balance is $461!]
'Three hundred dollars? That's quite a lot!'
Michael felt a little uncomfortable seeing how much his aunt had sent. Aunt Mia's monthly salary was only about $3,000, excluding occasional bonuses, and she had just transferred a tenth of it. Considering it was mid-June and Mia's salary typically arrived at the beginning of the month, this $300 could very well be a quarter of what she had left.
Even back on Earth, $3,000 wasn't much for a family to live on. The $161 balance he had before was what remained from the $300 monthly allowance Aunt Mia gave him.
Though Michael was concerned, he couldn't help but feel a warm sensation in his chest. He was truly loved in this world—something he had rarely felt back on Earth, where he had even faced his battle with cancer alone, with no one to care for him.
As he thought of his family, Michael secretly clenched his fist, silently vowing once again to change their lives and take care of them.
However, a wave of uncertainty washed over him.
'Is becoming an Awakener truly life-changing for the average person?'
To be honest, everyone had been raised to believe that becoming an Awakener was a one-way ticket to the top. But beyond the power it brought, the exact reasons and ways it transformed a life remained a mystery to most.
It was common knowledge that power brought wealth, though. Michael, who had barely lived his adult years, was well aware of this.
As various thoughts flashed through his mind, it was soon Michael's turn at the reception table.
"Good day, sir. What can I do for you?" the lady behind the counter asked. She seemed to be in her late twenties and wore a professional smile.
Her calm demeanour eased Michael's troubled mind a little, allowing him to reply calmly, "I'm here to register."
"As?" the lady inquired, glancing down at his school uniform. Usually, there were only two types of students who came to register: new Awakeners or those talented enough to reach Rank One as Cultivators while still in school. Today was the National Awakening Ceremony day, but she didn't want to jump to conclusions.
"Yes, I'm here to register as an Awakener," Michael confirmed.
"Oh, I see," the lady replied, not appearing surprised by his response.
After confirming his purpose, she began asking Michael a few questions. Most were about his personal details, like his name, age, and address. She even asked for his bank account number for some reason, which Michael provided without hesitation. Thankfully, the process was quick and surprisingly straightforward.
"Aren't you going to ask about my class?" Michael asked, curious.
"There's no need for that, Mr. Michael. Your school will provide that information to us," the lady replied in her signature smile.
"Ah, I see," Michael said, understanding now. 'I thought she might have forgotten to ask, but it makes sense. Even if the Supers Association had a way to verify one's class, doing it for every new registrant would take too much time.'
After pressing his fingerprint on a tool the lady provided and signing his name on a freshly printed document, she addressed him again, this time in a more formal tone.
"Congratulations on your awakening, Mr. Michael."
"As of today, you are now a proud warrior of the Federation, the people, and the Aurora Realm. As a new Awakener of the Federation, a set of military cultivation techniques and martial techniques will be sent to your email. A link to a specially designed platform for supernaturals will also be provided.
The password is your full name written in all caps, followed by this year's number, '228,' with no spaces in between.
"Also, as a new Awakener, you are eligible for a monthly payment of $15,000. This amount will be reduced by half if you fail to reach Rank One within six months and will be revoked if you fail to become a Rank Two Awakener within a year. Of course, the monthly payment will also increase alongside your advancement."
Michael was a little overwhelmed by the sudden information dump, but one thing immediately caught his attention: money!
It wasn't just the money; other benefits came with it too!
Though the conditions seemed strict, it didn't change the fact that he was soon going to have a significant income.
Michael's heart quickened a little, but before he could sink deeper into his thoughts, the lady behind the counter spoke again.
"Is there anything else you'd like to ask about, Mr. Michael?"
He was about to reflexively say 'no,' since he had grasped most of what she said when he remembered something. Feeling suddenly bashful, with a red face, he inquired in a low tone, "When will the monthly benefit arrive, miss?"
"Ah," the lady was visibly taken aback, but after regaining her composure, her smile grew even brighter, and it seemed she was struggling to hold back a laugh. Her reaction made Michael feel even more embarrassed, but thankfully, she didn't dwell on it.
"It should arrive within an hour at most, sir," she replied.
Michael nodded slightly, thanking the woman behind the counter before quickly making his way out of the Supers Association building. Though he didn't regret asking about the money, he couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious, worried it might have come across as if he cared more about the money than anything else—though, in truth, he kind of did.
'Anyway, with this, the house shouldn't be low on funds in a few months. Aunt won't have to work so hard anymore, and she and Lily can take better care of themselves now.'
Michael was filled with joy, but he didn't let his happiness blind him. He knew nothing came free in this world. Even as an Awakener, the Federation wouldn't just hand out money without expecting something in return.
'Though it seems complicated, according to that lady, all I have to do to retain the benefits—and even improve them—is to get stronger.'
Michael had a clear goal now: to increase his strength quickly and make life better for himself and his family. Successfully awakening was just the beginning.
But before anything else, he needed to get home and study more about Awakeners once the Supers Association sent him the information.