Time passed quickly, and before long Kael was finished getting ready.
After taking a quick shower, he changed into his clothes. It wasn’t anything extravagant, merely the outfit Vice President Jonas had bought for him the previous day. Even so, it was easily the nicest piece of clothing he currently owned.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Kael couldn’t help letting out a quiet sigh.
"It really isn’t that easy..."
No matter how much his circumstances had changed, his mindset still hadn’t caught up.
By all accounts, he was unimaginably wealthy now. Between the absurd amount of Tower Credits in his possession and the treasures stored inside his inventory, he was probably among the richest people in the world, perhaps even the richest.
Yet...
He still found himself hesitating over simple things like buying clothes.
Years of living with barely enough to get by couldn’t simply disappear overnight.
Wealth could arrive in a single day.
Changing a person’s mentality was another matter entirely.
With a helpless shake of his head, Kael pushed those thoughts aside.
Just then, his phone vibrated.
He picked it up and glanced at the screen.
It was the driver Zoey had sent.
It seemed they had arrived a little earlier than expected.
That suited Kael just fine.
At least he wouldn’t have to spend another twenty minutes waiting around.
He quickly replied that he would be downstairs shortly before putting the phone away. After giving his hair one last adjustment and making sure everything looked presentable, he finally left his room.
The moment he stepped into the living room, he found Lyra still sprawled across the sofa with her phone in hand, completely absorbed in whatever she was looking at.
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"Are you seriously planning to laze around all day?"
Lyra didn’t even bother looking up.
"Of course."
She answered so naturally that Kael almost laughed.
"What else would I do?"
Kael shook his head.
"Suit yourself."
"I’m heading out."
This time Lyra looked up.
A familiar mischievous grin slowly appeared on her face.
"Alright then."
"Have fun meeting your future grandpa-in..."
She abruptly coughed into her fist.
"Ahem."
"I mean... your friend’s grandfather."
Kael stared at her expressionlessly.
"...You’re such a pervert."
Lyra burst into laughter.
"Get lost already."
Kael simply rolled his eyes before walking toward the entrance.
The sound of Lyra’s laughter continued following him even after the apartment door closed behind him.
...
A few minutes later, Kael arrived downstairs.
Parked neatly outside the apartment building was a sleek black limousine whose polished surface reflected the morning sunlight. Standing beside it was a middle-aged man dressed neatly in a chauffeur’s uniform.
The moment he noticed Kael approaching, the man immediately walked over.
"Mr. Kael?"
Kael nodded.
"I am."
The chauffeur gave a polite bow.
"My name is Roberto. Miss Zoey instructed me to bring you over."
He gestured respectfully toward the limousine.
"This way, please."
Kael followed him without saying much.
Roberto opened the rear door before stepping aside.
Kael entered the spacious interior while Roberto circled back toward the driver’s seat. Moments later, the engine came to life with a quiet hum before the limousine smoothly pulled away from the apartment building.
The journey itself was peaceful.
Kael simply sat by the window, quietly watching the scenery drift past.
Busy streets gradually gave way to quieter roads.
The number of buildings slowly decreased until they became increasingly scattered. Soon, concrete structures disappeared entirely, replaced by dense rows of towering trees stretching endlessly into the distance.
The further they travelled, the quieter the surroundings became.
Eventually, another structure appeared ahead.
It was enormous.
An ancient-looking mansion stood proudly beyond the forest, its architecture carrying an unmistakable sense of history and prestige. Every stone seemed to have weathered countless years without losing its elegance, while the sheer scale of the estate silently proclaimed the wealth of its owners.
The front gates slowly swung open on their own.
The limousine drove through without stopping before following a long driveway lined with carefully maintained flowerbeds blooming in countless vibrant colours.
Several moments later, the vehicle gently rolled to a stop before the mansion’s grand entrance.
The tyres crunched softly against the gravel as the engine gradually fell silent.
Roberto quickly stepped out before opening the rear door.
Kael thanked him with a nod before climbing out of the limousine.
The first thing he noticed was Zoey.
She was already standing near the entrance, seemingly waiting for his arrival. The moment their eyes met, her face brightened with a genuine smile as she started walking toward him.
Then...
Kael’s instincts exploded with warning.
His entire body tensed instinctively.
Danger.
Without even knowing where it was coming from, every sense in his body screamed at him.
An attack.
His brows knitted together.
He didn’t know why someone would suddenly attack him here, nor did he have the luxury of figuring it out first.
His body moved before his thoughts could catch up.
Shadow Between Steps.
Void energy instantly enveloped his body.
The surrounding world lost its colours in an instant, everything fading into an endless sea of black, white and grey. His physical form seemed to fold into the narrow space between reality itself, slipping into the Void for a fraction of a heartbeat.
At almost the exact same moment...
A brilliant blade of light tore through the air.
It flashed across the space where Kael had been standing only an instant earlier, cleaving straight through the lingering afterimage he had left behind.
The phantom shattered instantly.
The terrifying slash continued forward for dozens of metres before finally dispersing into countless particles of light.
Zoey’s expression changed dramatically.
Her face lost every trace of colour.
For one horrifying moment, she genuinely believed her father had just killed Kael.
Before panic could fully set in, however, space rippled several metres away.
The monochrome world peeled back.
Kael calmly stepped out from the Void roughly six metres from his original position, completely unharmed, his eyes already searching for the person who had just tried to cut him down.