Close Friend

"Arriving at Lonewind City. Arriving at Lonewind City. Please check your baggage and prepare to disembark."

Upon hearing that speaker announcement, most of the passengers of the High-Speed Plasma Train coming from the neighboring Secondary City readied themselves to disembark.

In one private room though, a man flashed a sinister smile upon hearing the mention of Lonewind City. He flicked his fingers and his channeled refined energy transformed into a tiny green swirl of wind whistled for a brief moment before disappearing like a spark of a flame.

"It's just a few days and I am back in this city. That's too much for asking me to lay low before punishing me because of a blunder I hadn't anticipated." The man clicked his tongue and flicked his fingers once more.

The man was the same man Aldrin saw and recorded the voice from in the Southern District. In one way or another, the matter about the audio file leak reached the ears of his employer.

Putting all the blame to it for his half-assed cleaning of the scene, he was ordered to return to the city, contact their planted spy and track down that whistleblower before the City Hall, the Federation's agents, the Refiner's Association or any other organizations found him.

Although he arbitrarily left at that time because of the City Mayor, he was aware that there's someone behind the ruined wall.

To think that someone weak managed to sneak behind him and record his conversation, he was extremely angered why he didn't risk it to kill that witness before escaping.

"That one's an Energy Refiner and a weak one at that. Most likely a newly awakened one. That conveniently narrowed down my own list of suspects. He or she is one of the newly registered Energy Refiners in this city during the past one or two weeks."

After sorting out the clues he managed to gather from his memory, the man's sinister smile widened as he began to think of a way to torment that Energy Refiner to vent his accumulated frustration.

-

-

Still unaware of the undercurrents happening in the background that was slowly but surely about to encroach on him, Aldrin successfully returned home.

As soon as he entered their front door and caught sight of his parents as well as his sister who were anxiously waiting for his return, Aldrin proudly grinned as he presented the suitcase filled with Federation Credits as well as the House Title to them.

"Huh? We can't accept this! This is for you. For your career!" His father vehemently refused and pushed the suitcase back to him.

"Dad, I told you. I have no need for the money. I already got myself covered... If you don't want to move to the Central District, think of that as retirement funds. It's time for you two to rest and enjoy life. Also..."

Aldrin pulled out his phone and transferred the 200,000 Federation Credits to his sister's bank account.

A few seconds after that, his sister jolted from her seat because of the sudden vibration of her phone.

"This... Idiot brother. What in cosmic hell is this?!"

Althea exclaimed as she began counting the number of zeroes from the amount she received from her brother.

"Use that money to enroll in various dojos or training centers anywhere in the city to train yourself. Also buy supplements that can make your body stronger. I told you, I will make you an Energy Refiner. Believe in your brother."

Taking the chance that his parents and his sister were still flabbergasted that he just gave away 700,000 Federation Credits as if it was only chump change, Aldrin excused himself, avoiding further questions.

-

-

Alisa's invitation was a great excuse for Aldrin to escape his parents' upcoming sermon about treasuring what he earned for himself.

Besides, it's still early, giving enough time for the fifth run later.

A few minutes later, he arrived in a somewhat unpopular nature park in the Southeastern District.

Aldrin still remembered that this very same park was their class' cheaply arranged field trip during grade school. And thinking about it, Alisa was already his classmate back then.

Even if it was only during their high school that they got on speaking terms, they already knew each other long before.

"Aldrin!" Wearing a red parka, jogging pants and a cap, Alisa who appeared as if she was just taking a stroll outside waved her hand as soon as she eyed him from afar while sporting her destructive smile.

Destructive because that smile could make any boy back in high school be sent into their colorful fantasy world.

Aldrin also had an experience of that when they're not in their speaking terms yet. Nonetheless, becoming an adult evolved that smile of hers. Aldrin was beginning to wonder how many were trying to get her attention in college that had become a victim of that smile.

"Did you wait?" He asked, somewhat guiltily. He's late for around ten minutes of their appointed time after all.

"If I tell you I am waiting for the last three hours, will you feel guilty?"

"Tell me where to grovel."

Amused by his answer, Alisa laughed. "That's too much. Anyway, thank you for meeting me today. You're a busy man now, being an official Energy Refiner and all."

"Don't mention it. I will be out of the city tomorrow. There will be no one to feed your curiosity about Energy Refiner for at least a month."

"A month, hmm? I'll be waiting for more stories on your return then."

"Mhm. Shall we go and take that coffee?"

Noticing the slight gloom in her voice, Aldrin changed the topic.

Alisa put a finger crossed her arms and put a finger on her cheek, seemingly contemplating for her answer.

"Rather than a café... Why don't I brew you one? Our house is nearby."

"Alright. Lead the way, my lady." Aldrin did a gentleman bow of days old.

"Stop that. Do I still look like a lady in this attire?"

Alisa stretched her arm and spun once, showing off her wooly parka that was truly unlady-like if worn by others.

"Mhm... You still do. It's probably your Concept, you can always look great in anything you wear. Stunning Appearance."

"Isn't that a useless Concept?" Alisa laughed.

"Who says it's useless? You can stun your enemies with just your smile"

"But, it won't work on Rift Monsters! By the way, your tongue is becoming dangerous, Aldrin. Beware of someone falling for you because of your compliments."

"Dangerous? How so?"

With their topic revolving to that, Aldrin walked beside Alisa as the girl guided him to their house that was a walking distance from the park.

Spending at least three hours with her as they talked about any topic they would bring up, Aldrin could admit that he had a great time being with her.

From Energy Refiner topics to personal ones, the two somehow didn't hold back. Aldrin treated her as a friend, a close friend he could freely talk with. And likewise, the girl was the same.

Treating him to a coffee she personally brewed and bragging about it being her best craft from her Barista Class in college. An extracurricular class she only chose for additional credits. Contrary to her expectation, she took a liking to it, making her serious at studying how to make coffee better.

With their topics switching towards personal ones, they couldn't avoid the topic of their current personal life. Whether they were interested in someone was unavoidably brought up after even skirting away from it for a few minutes.

And with Aldrin fully accepting his attraction to Renissa, he answered positively whereas Alisa also did the same.

Perhaps, finding the topic awkward, the two of them didn't elaborate further and hurriedly moved on from it.

Although Aldrin wasn't dense, he also didn't want to assume that he's the guy Alisa is interested in unless she stated that herself. Moreover, he also wasn't sure yet whether he's also attracted to the girl. She's a close friend, no doubt. As for the possibility of that evolving to something else, Aldrin left it to time to tell.

Little did he know, the girl also thought the same upon hearing his answer. She didn't want to assume that she's the one he's pertaining at. However, Aldrin being the only man she was close to, Alisa could admit to herself that her answer pertains to the guy she's with.

It's just an interest and... since Aldrin will be leaving for that Joint Training Camp tomorrow, she decided not to burden his mind to it. Furthermore, with their worlds about to split because of his new identity, she's not that keen if she would even have a chance if it evolved from just an interest.

Nonetheless, she's still hoping to become an Energy Refiner, hoping for that lucky chance that her two former classmates experienced. That way she'll not just hear stories from Aldrin, she can go with him and experience the World of Energy Refiner together. Hopefully.

"Aldrin, take care and good luck. Let's have a coffee again once you returned."

"Mhm. I will surely miss that exquisite taste of your brew. Take care, Alisa."

-

-

By the time Aldrin left Alisa's house, the sky was already illuminated by the two moons.

In the end, to satisfy the woman's curiosity about Energy Refiners, he showed her his Concept and other things he could do by being one. And that brought stars in her eyes.

He would be leaving tomorrow so that's the best he could do for the curious woman.

When he returned home, he found his parents and sister still in the living room but now with a strange smile on their lips.

"Aldrin, you didn't tell us you already had a girlfriend."

"That's right, son. Why didn't you bring her home to introduce her to us?"

"Idiot brother, I followed you and saw you meeting the blonde beauty. You look good together." While giggling, Althea revealed the reason for their strange smiles that even made them forget about the money he left for them.

"I see. So that's why, huh? Alisa is not my girlfriend. She's a close friend and a former classmate. Besides, as things stand, I don't think I will have time for a relationship." Aldrin wryly smiled and explained before moving towards his room.

However, as if remembering something, he stopped. "By the way, Dad, consider moving to the Central District. I will be outside the city for two weeks. In case a disaster in the form of an unannounced Rift strikes again, you'll be at the safest district."

Although late, he finally realized that he would be away from them during the Joint Training. As he was worried that the same thing could happen, he urged his parents to take that house granted to him by the Association.

In that same line of thought, Aldrin thought of reminding Bert and Alisa to take care before leaving tomorrow.

When he sat down in his room and before starting the fifth run, Aldrin also left a message to Renissa. Just in case something similar also happened in that Primary City.

A while later, he's back in the Lower Dimension, adorning his Dark Warrior Battlesuit along with the sixth piece of equipment Janet gave him on top of Striker's equipment. Moreover, Hitter and Tank were wearing his two sets of Basic Refiner Battlesuits.

With that kind of setup... he's aiming to earn more than his highest record to upgrade Multiply as an added manpower for him tomorrow.

In his current progress, quantity is still superior to quality. Having the fourth clone will increase his income and survivability.