Chapter 25 - Streets of Safe Area Z4

The Alliance is the closest to a world government that humanity currently has, it is this organization that coordinates the associations that run the security areas, the major guilds, and also the awakened ones. In other words, the Alliance has influence, so it automatically has power, and with such, it also has an almost almighty influence in every single field of society.

However, it is clear that the Alliance didn't gain influence from anything. Behind it, besides great political figures from the past and present, there are also several very generous sponsors, who with the help of the influence of the alliance itself get even more money.

Among the sponsors of the Alliance are mining companies, technology companies, entertainment celebrities, oligarchs in the energy production business, and others.

Behind this whole organization is a lot of dirty business, and everyone knows it, especially the most at-risk and the poorest.

Kaito was always poor compared to even the middle-class people who were lucky enough to work as employees in industry, politics, or in a guild. Unlike many, he usually had something to eat, but his neighborhood has always been the worst of the worst in Safe Area Z4. The alleys are dirty, permeated with a disgusting smell, and cars squeeze into the narrow streets between the overpasses whose trucks and trains pass by, carrying goods to the more well-to-do neighborhoods.

And even though he is poor, Kaito never even dreamed of being able to get a lot of money. The closest he came to having a luxurious life was in the game Death Tower, yet since with each floor he climbed he needed better items, he could never accumulate much capital even in the game.

In this way, Kaito was indoctrinated from a young age into the idea that he was destined to be poor, perhaps because of the extremely nepotistic system of the world, or because he used to be too incompetent to fit into the minority that could manage to live a good life built on merit. However, he could hardly imagine that his expectations were about to change when he chose to convert his bronze coins to credits, i.e. real money.

[You chose option 2 - Convert coins to credits].

[The minimum amount needed to perform this operation is 1000 bronze coins.]

[You have... 1000 bronze coins.]

[Converting amount to credits.]

[You have received 10000 credits.]

When the amount of credits resonates in Kaito's ears, he almost falls backward. His eyes widen and his mouth drops open in a mixture of surprise and admiration. He feels a whirlwind of emotions runs through his body in a single instant as he tries to assimilate the magnitude of this amount.

With his eyes fixed on the window displaying the number of credits he has received, Kaito slowly sits up in his bed so as not to fall on the floor.

His trembling fingers press against the edge of the mattress, seeking some support for his dazed mind. He needs a few seconds to process the reality of this situation.

"Is that... is that true?" whispers Kaito to himself, unable to contain his disbelief. He rubs his eyes, fearing that it is only a passing illusion. However, the window persists, displaying the amount that now represents to him a new reality. "It can't be..." He asserts and stands up, awestruck.

Still somewhat bewildered, Kaito shakes his head, as if trying to shake off the feeling of unreality that envelops him. He examines the numbers again, checking to see if there is a mistake. But no, this amount is real and has already been added to his bank balance.

"Ten thousand credits..." mutters Kaito, letting out a sigh of surprise. "That's far more than the triple my father left for me. A middle-class family of four could easily live for a few months on all that, and now this is mine...?"

While processing the magnitude of the amount, Kaito begins to imagine the possibilities that have opened up before him. He thinks of all the things he could do, and the thought of escaping the dirty, inequality-filled environment that is Safe Area Z4 gains momentum in his mind. Nevertheless, Kaito takes a deep breath and thinks further about how he should use this money.

"No, I can't spend it on bullshit." Kaito talks to himself as he stands up and puts on his shirt. "I don't know how much it costs to apply for the Duelist license, so first of all I need to figure this out."

Duelist is what the Awakened are called who choose to venture through the portals and also into the Celestial Abode. Not all Awakened Ones decide to risk their lives, and although it is the minority, some choose to live an ordinary life even after waking up from a sleep that is nearly impossible to wake up from.

"I'd better run if I want to find an open association office that isn't full."

*

The streets of Safe Area Z4 stretch like an intricate maze of concrete and neon, immersed in a chaotic and ruinous atmosphere. Time has not been kind to this city of a few hundred thousand inhabitants, not even the local association administration.

The tall buildings rise in droves, displaying holographic advertisements that flash and flicker like lures for different products, which are being robotically advertised by human faces that may not even exist, created by artificial intelligence.

"Buy Allwater's fluid supplements, the best way to keep your body hydrated and happy!"

"Augment your body with nano-robots now for only 50,000 credits!"

"News! The glorious awakened Lucius reaches level 7 of the Celestial Abode. And he says he'll make a big announcement soon!"

Kaito emerges from his modest apartment and enters the sea of people hurrying along the sidewalks.

The flashy signs, flashing holograms, and loudspeaker advertisements compete for the pedestrians' attention, and the distorted beats of electronic nightclub music permeate the air, mingling with the shrill sirens of emergency rooms and the constant roar of engines, but none of this is able to break Kaito's concentration.

Determined, Kaito puts on his hood as he is accustomed to doing. Then he puts his hands in his pockets and makes his way towards the Commercial Zone, where the nearest association offices are.

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