Lohan kicked an imaginary stone across the immaculate marble of the terrace, letting out a muffled growl of frustration.
"Idiot... moron... You’re turning into such a Slime that you’re starting to look like jelly..." He cursed himself under his breath, the words heavy with regret.
He replayed the moment of their farewell over and over in his mind.
The scent of wildflowers, the golden sparkle in Isabella’s eyes, the palpable hesitation between them...
This was definitely the perfect setting for him to take a step forward without seeming strange, with all the signs that this was the right moment, and he simply let her slip away.
In the world of Elysium, he faced elite monsters and hordes of monsters without flinching, but there, in the real world, the mere idea of kissing Isabella had made him freeze as if he’d been struck by one of his own Ice Spikes.
To make up for the void left by "Little Fox’s" sudden departure, Lohan turned to the grill.
He had no intention of letting the prime cuts of meat go to waste.
With nimble movements, he arranged the pieces on the grill, feeling the heat of the coals on his face. Upon opening the kitchen’s luxury-designed refrigerator, he found something that made him smile: a few bottles of craft beer, chilled to the point of forming a thin layer of ice crystals on the glass.
He popped open the first bottle with a sharp click and took a long swig.
The bitter, refreshing taste was a pleasant shock. Compared to the Grade A nutritional solutions that tasted "merely acceptable," this was pure luxury.
Lohan stuffed himself with the delicious food, savoring every bite of juicy meat as if he were absorbing a Level 100 Mana Stone, and for the first time since he’d transmigrated to this world, he felt truly satisfied and at home, far from the musty smell, the insecurity, and the flickering light of his old cubicle.
With a full stomach and his mind light from the mild buzz of alcohol, Lohan decided to explore the other features of his new apartment.
First, he headed to the private gym, a sanctuary of technology, with Dragon Ball-like gravity simulators that made him eager to embark on an even more intense Saiyan training regimen.
Then Lohan activated the equipment and began a series of exercises.
Unlike the 600 calisthenics reps he used to do on the dirty floor of his apartment, here he could feel the resistance adjusted with millimeter precision to his strength, testing his body’s limits to the max, feeling his muscles respond with overflowing joy.
After the workout, he walked to the infinity pool, observing the water, which was at a perfect temperature, maintained by silent heaters.
Lohan dove in alone, swallowing his sweat first so as not to dirty the pool, but allowing the water to wash away the day’s tension.
He floated for a few minutes, gazing at the stars shining above the dome of Sector 1-A.
This was the kind of luxury he had always wanted to experience in both worlds, but which his fragile health and extreme poverty had always denied him.
xXx
While Lohan enjoyed the peace of Skyline Heaven, miles away, a white Ferrari cut through the air traffic aggressively.
Isabella landed in the private garage of her mansion almost running, but her heart stopped for a moment when she noticed a vehicle parked in one of the guest spots.
It was a burgundy Rolls Royce Silent-Spectre, an imposing and unique machine that only one person on the planet owned: Evelyn Vance.
Isabella took a deep breath, trying to steady her heartbeat.
She smoothed her red hair with her fingers, checked that her white silk ensemble was in place, and walked into the house, forcing a natural expression.
Upon entering, the aroma of fresh herbs and refined spices guided her to the kitchen, where Evelyn was, leaning over the island counter, preparing something with elegance.
Hearing her daughter’s footsteps, Evelyn didn’t turn around immediately; she simply stopped what she was doing, and a faint smile appeared on her face.
"You took your time, Bella," Evelyn remarked, finally turning to face the girl with a suspicious and perceptive look. "Where were you? Judging by your Syn status, you weren’t at any of the central board meetings."
Isabella felt a cold sweat break out on the back of her neck, but she kept her chin up. "I was... taking care of some business matters, Mom. Some logistical issues for the new Guild members who are due to arrive in the Open World tomorrow and will need resources."
Evelyn let out a short, crystalline laugh, crossing her arms and sizing her daughter up from head to toe. "Business matters? Bella, you’re dressed exceptionally well to handle simple logistics. That silk ensemble and the sparkle in your eyes... that doesn’t look like your usual work attire to me."
Isabella thought quickly, summoning the tsundere persona she used to employ with Halon. "I just felt like dressing up a little today, Mom. Being stuck in business suits and lab coats all the time is exhausting. I just wanted to feel... good."
Evelyn nodded, the sparkle of amusement in her golden eyes growing. "I understand perfectly. I also miss wearing light, beautiful dresses like yours... it reminds me of when I used to dress like that to meet your father, before the Vance Group became this mountain of paperwork and responsibilities."
Hearing the mention of "dates" and her father, Isabella froze.
Her face, which was already slightly flushed, took on a crimson hue that rivaled the color of the Rolls Royce outside.
Evelyn laughed even more at her daughter’s reaction, confirming that her intuition was increasingly correct.
Isabella felt the cold sweat increase. She knew that, in front of her mother, no Ice Queen mask was impenetrable; Evelyn saw through the lies and omissions as easily as Halon digested a blade of grass.
Desperate to change the subject, Isabella grabbed a glass of water and tried to sound casual.
"Anyway... how are you? And my brothers? Are Ivan and Isaac still obsessed with the guild race?"
Evelyn noticed the attempt to change the subject, but decided to give her daughter a break, redirecting her attention to the vegetables. "I’m very busy, dear. Managing the Group and still finding time for Elysium’s new developments has turned my routine into a madhouse. Your brothers, on the other hand, are doing very well. Isaac managed to secure an exclusive deal with the nobles of Aethelgard for leather supplies, and Ivan..."
Evelyn paused dramatically, looking at Isabella. "Ivan surpassed the 100-member mark in his guild this afternoon. They’re already mapping the edges of the Open World and hunting Level 13 monsters to power-level the captains."
Isabella felt a jolt of shock upon hearing that.
She looked at the glass of water in her hand, realizing that, even with the advantage of having a Legendary Race and the invaluable support of a Mythic Slime, her brothers weren’t messing around.
They had the immense resources of the Vance Group and armies of loyal employees, while Astralis Requiem was still, in practice, a guild of two truly powerful individuals and a group of a few dozen above-average people.
’How does he already have a hundred members...? They’re really picking up the pace.’ Isabella thought, feeling the competitive pressure mount.
Evelyn Vance smiled, watching her daughter go into analysis mode.
She knew that Astralis needed pressure to grow; every successful business had needed it at some point. They needed to face the giants that were forming, but deep down, she trusted the secret that Isabella was guarding so zealously.