It had been a month since Al moved into the Virellano family estate. Time passed like a calm stream, yet beneath its surface, unseen whirlpools stirred.
Unlike the first three days, which were full of family intrigue and drama, the stakes for the integration mission had given him a certain peace in recent times.
Except for Sarah, who occasionally snuck in little jabs at him, or David, who played subtle tricks through the servants, everything else remained calm.
It was enough to let Al relax and go about his activities freely. And enough to irritate Sarah with the reality that she still had to be patient for a year—a year in which Al might not even be kicked out.
But the most frustrated of all was, of course, David. Thanks to the wager, seeing Al as a threat to his status in the Virellano household had become intensely annoying for him.
Al lay on a plush swing in his dimension room, jotting down a few things on a sheet of paper, with a pen that floated and moved on its own before him.
"Huammm…" he let out a long yawn, signaling the creeping sleepiness.
"Finally… done." He muttered, ending whatever task he had been doing.
He stopped his magic and adjusted his posture on the swing.
Staring at the ceiling, he picked up the paper—a long record of everything that had happened since he arrived. He rolled it up, letting it hover above his palm.
And Wroshh! The paper ignited instantly. But instead of turning to ash and smoke, it became a surge of energy, shooting off into who-knows-where.
"I'd rather fight a giant dragon than write this much, huff… hope… you read it carefully." he muttered with a hint of complaint. With that, his eyes closed. He fell into a deep sleep, as if he'd been up all night.
---
Elsewhere, in a sleek, modern room dominated by silver-black tones, furniture brimming with advanced technology.
The energy entered the area, reaching four figures seated around a circular table. Shadows hid their faces, but it was clear they were four women, each with distinct builds and hair colors.
One had jet-black hair, another golden-brown, one with green gradients, and the last with predominantly blue hair. They sat elegantly, as if each held a significant position in the room.
They all smiled, anticipating the arrival of the energy. The black-haired one stood, raising a hand to receive it. The energy split in her palm, sparking a beautiful reddish glow.
The energy vanished, replaced by letters that appeared to burn, floating to reconstruct what Al had written. Al's voice followed the letters. Each letter disappeared once his words were spoken, forming new words according to what he said.
"A month has passed here. It's been difficult meeting you all and the others lately, but don't worry—I'll be there soon. By the way… I thought life here with my real family would be easy. Turns out, it's far harder than I imagined. I think I owe two of you an apology for assuming what you did was easy. Experiencing it myself… it's incredibly frustrating." Al's voice opened the message.
The four women focused on the text, listening to the message conveyed. And it continued.
"He mentioned me." said the golden-brown-haired one.
"I'm not sure it's you, but he definitely mentioned me." said the green-haired one.
"No… I'm definitely the one he mentioned!" shouted the blue-haired one.
The brown and green-haired women turned and shook their heads at the blue-haired one.
"You're the least likely to be mentioned among us. Haha." they said in unison.
The blue-haired one could only protest in frustration at their denial, while the black-haired simply chuckled at the minor chaos.
Al's message went on:
"This is what I've experienced over the past month. I hope you pay attention and notice what's important for our greater goal. By the way, before I continue, I don't know how you spy on me and learn so much, you crazy woman, but please stop it. I don't like being watched. Huff. I've said it before."
Hearing that, the three women looked at the golden-brown-haired one.
"I guess you used that device to spy on him. No wonder you were desperate to get it." said the blue-haired one.
"She always does as she pleases." added the green-haired one.
The black-haired one just shook her head in dismay.
But the brown-haired woman didn't feel guilty; she crossed her arms and lifted her chin, proud of herself.
The message continued, recounting Al's experiences as a wealthy child for a month, sharing secondary information about the top family in Eastern Indorosia.
Al described the first three tense days with his family—being accused without evidence of harassing or hitting servants, and how the Virellano boy seemed eager to see him gone.
He went on about their treatment: being assessed, staying in separate buildings, not yet publicly known, and so on. He also recounted the wager he made with them for the next year, which luckily aligned with their goals and mission.
After the wager, his life was calmer, and his parents and siblings finally learned more about him. Especially that he really attended HIHS, they surprised—but luckily, no further issues arose.
Suddenly, Al's voice deepened, making the four women listen more intently.
"There are more important things I need you to focus on, so I hope you pay close attention." he said seriously.
His voice continued.
"You've probably heard parts of this. Some time ago, Sebastian, Michaelis, and I faced people from that faction—the ones who wanted a revolution. I don't know what exactly they were doing in this area, sending someone as high-ranking as Fahruk."
Al's voice paused for a moment, then continued,
"But the bigger issue is, they know the emotional weaknesses of some of our members. I don't know how, but they knew."
The four had heard parts of this story from Sebastian before, when they had visited that same day. But hearing it from Al himself sounded far more serious.
Al continued:
"I hope you protect the other members and their secrets. Because of my family situation, I can't act fully with you all yet. So I hope the four of you control and guard them for now." he said firmly, issuing a command-like message.
The four nodded, ready to obey. They understood the seriousness of this threat and were willing to risk everything to win all their battles.
"Besides, there are unique things here. That boy David seems to be hiding something. I don't fully understand it yet, but it doesn't seem too dangerous for now. However… my eyes are still too weak to grasp the essence of everything. Something is protecting that boy, making it impossible to fully comprehend. Also, there's something ancient beneath this house. That could be an interesting side mission for me."
Hearing David's name again, the four women bristled. After learning how he tried to hurt or frame Al…
The brown and blue-haired women radiated surging energy from their bodies, while the green and black-haired remained calm, though their aura was still menacing.
Finally, Al's message reached its conclusion, ending with sweet words that calmed and delighted them.
"…I may be too lazy to face the world. But with you all, we will do it. So I hope… you'll always be by my side. As we have in the past, now, and forever. Take care of yourselves. Signed: Al."
The four were reluctant for the message to end; they were never satisfied. But the message had concluded, leaving only residual energy that could not be replicated.
Chaos erupted among them, especially the brown and blue-haired women. The green-haired one merely shook her head at the mess.
Meanwhile, the black-haired woman stood and walked to a giant window, gazing out at the breathtaking night view.
She spoke softly:
"You heard that, right?" she murmured. "It's not just his orders and attention…"
She turned, looking at the other three.
"…this is our life." she said firmly.
The chaos ended. The three nodded, smiling in agreement.
And so, this part came to an end.
A month had been quite a nuisance for Al—and for those waiting for him.
In his room, Al slept soundly. Whatever he might be dreaming of, one thing was clear: his life had been peaceful lately… unaware that soon, chaos would return.
---
Meanwhile, in a completely different world from Al's quiet night...
A thunderous roar shattered the air, bursting with unstoppable energy.
Spotlights flashed from every direction, flooding a modern combat arena packed with thousands of spectators. The air vibrated with cheers and raw energy—a world brimming with passion, power, and tension.
This arena wasn't just a battleground.
Designed like a futuristic stadium, its glass walls projected interactive holograms, and its floor could shift texture and color in sync with the fight's rhythm. Embedded surround sound systems boomed from all sides, creating an atmosphere akin to a digital battlefield.
The crowd erupted with excitement. Loud voices shouted support, as if fueling the fire of the warriors on stage.
"YOU GOT THIS!"
"GO SIS!"
"BOOOOM!!"
The loudest cheers came from the VIP stands. There stood a sporty young girl in a black-and-maroon outfit. Her long, glossy black hair was partially braided, giving off an energetic yet feminine vibe. A small cap added a touch of charm to her look.
Beside her, a striking woman with a curvaceous figure stood confidently.
Wearing a sleeveless top that exposed her shoulders and cleavage, paired with high-waisted pants, she radiated a bold presence. Her light brown hair was tied in a high ponytail, revealing a sharp jawline and elegant neck.
Her piercing eyes remained focused on the screen in her hand, scrolling through photos of a man with a gentle smile—whether a celebrity, a lover, or just a fantasy was unclear. Her confidence wasn't just in her clothes, but in the way she carried herself.
Both were there to support the woman currently fighting in the arena.
Inside the ring, two fighters faced off.
One was a young woman in a yellow-and-black athletic outfit. She moved swiftly, supported by strong legs.
Her tight top covered her chest and waist without restricting movement, paired with flexible pants that followed her every step. Her opponent, a burly man, stood shirtless in combat shorts, muscles rippling with every strike.
Their match was fierce. Punches and kicks exchanged rapidly. Attacks met counters, strength clashed with technique. They moved like warriors dancing on the battlefield, searching for openings.
But in the end, the woman broke through the man's guard and finished the fight with a rising sidekick to his chin—a clean, decisive win.
And on the giant screen, the face of the victorious fighter was displayed, along with the name: Vianna Virellano – Martial Arts Champion, B-Rank Martial Artist Championship.
"She really is amazing."
"I bet it won't be long before she enters Rank A."
"With that level of strength, I'm sure she can compete among the Rank A fighters."
"Not only is she beautiful, but her strength is absolutely top-tier."
Cheers and words of praise erupted from the audience, all directed toward Vianna. But the loudest of them all was…
"YEAAAH! BIG SIS VIANNA WOOON!!"
shouted a young girl, waving her hands high in the air with unrestrained excitement. It was none other than Lysha Virellano—her younger sister.
The victorious fighter—Vianna Virellano—hoisted the championship belt over her shoulder. She smiled and waved to the crowd. The arena erupted in cheers as she walked proudly across the ring.
Though sweat dripped from her body, her smile remained radiant. Her eyes shone not just with victory, but with an unshaken determination.
But the cheers wouldn't last forever.
Behind that smile, fate had already shifted course.
And that night, their path was heading toward something far greater.
---
Not long after, behind the arena, in an exclusive lounge for fighters...
Three women stood in a small circle, deep in conversation despite their occasional laughter.
Vianna, the fighter, was still in her combat gear, now layered with a light jacket.
Beside her, the long-haired girl—Lysha Virellano—clung proudly to her sister's arm.
The third was the woman with the ponytail and poised elegance, her eyes glancing anxiously at a holographic watch—Nayala Valendra.
The three of them were clearly in high spirits, but a hint of tension lingered in their eyes.
"Let's head to the airport now," said Nayala, her tone betraying the urgency beneath her composed expression.
The other two giggled, teasing her for always being overly serious. Still, they moved with purpose—light steps, but firm direction.
Where they were headed, not many knew.
But time would soon bring them to a crossroads.
And standing at one of those crossroads was someone they hadn't yet accounted for: Al.
Whatever lay ahead, one thing was certain—
These three would soon cross paths with him.