Difficult Choice

Aldrin read through the contract that the Association Official was offering to him and upon reading the terms and conditions as well as the benefit he would initially receive, he couldn't help but gulp down at how generous they were.

Contract Benefits:

-500,000 Federation Credits upon signing

-a House Unit located at the Refiner's subdivision in the Central District for the Refiner's immediate family

-free public transportation (Plasma Train and Intercity Railway)

-a monthly supply of RH-01, RP-01, RM-01 elixirs (can be upgraded depending on monthly performance)

-a complete Basic Refiner Battlesuit

-a specific choice of Refiner's weapon(s)

-a specific choice among the Federation's Basic Metadome models and at least two modifications

'Huh?! Do I deserve this much?' Aldrin was baffled. 'Is this the result of my spherical Energy Quintessence? No, right?'

"You can hold onto that contract for now. Before the end of the day, I am expecting you to make a decision. Tomorrow is a big day for all of you so if you fail to join an organization, you will be missing a great opportunity to grow."

Using an amiable tone, the Association's official reminded Aldrin. Following that, he began calling for other names, giving them a contract.

As for whether the clauses were the same as his, Aldrin had no idea.

After the Association's official, the officials of the other factions soon followed, doing the same thing.

In time, every newly awakened Energy Refiner received at least one contract, with the exception of Aldrin who received five different contracts in his hand, causing envious looks from his peers.

Furthermore, the Branch Head of the Frostland Corporation, Renissa's boss, even showed him a more favorable treatment. She was smiling throughout their conversation, causing the young men who found the woman as a subject of their fantasy to grit their teeth in extreme envy.

By the time Evelyn released him, Aldrin instantly felt the cold glares from those men as if they found their mortal enemies in his form.

Noticing that, Aldrin could only shake his head and made a mental note to be wary of those guys in the future.

There's nothing he could do to change their minds after all. That's something he was completely aware of.

-

-

"Congratulations Aldrin, every faction offered you a contract. Really, you can't judge the book by its cover. You seem to be the most sought-after Energy Refiner among us."

Irina and Frederic returned to his side when the officials left the hall to give them the time to decide.

Behind the two, the egoistic guy followed them. He had the same frown on his face and there's even a fit of slight jealousy when Aldrin noticed how the guy alternately looked at him and Irina.

'So, that's it. This guy has the hots for Irina and is now considering me as his rival. More than his ego as someone from a lineage, his jealousy towards Irina's attention might be the biggest reason why he's like this.' Aldrin thought and smiled inwardly.

Irina is a beauty, there's no doubt. But for Aldrin who only met her for the first time today, he only has a good impression of her. He's not a youth anymore who will chase after every girl's skirt. He appreciated her going out of her way to converse with him but that's not enough for him to be head-over-heels for her. Perhaps if he spent more time with her, there's a possibility for an attraction to bloom like what happened with Renissa.

Let's forget that he was enticed with the clickbaity ad depicting a heaven-toppling beauty leading to his possession of IDLE Database, shall we?

"You praise me too much. I also have no idea that I will receive an offer from everyone." Aldrin humbly answered.

The three in front of him were also exceptional, to say the least. All of them received three contract offers.

"What are you? It will not hurt you to be proud once in a while. It's like an honor." Frederic argued. "By the way, you have five choices, which one will you pick?"

With that question, Aldrin recalled the benefits that he would be getting from every contract. Among those five, only two out of the five truly enticed him.

One is from the Refiner's Association and the other is from the Frostland Corporation.

Comparing their benefits, the Association was offering more but the prospect of being in the same corporation as Renissa somehow tempted him.

'Wait... I am leaning more and more towards being with her. I admit. Now that she has left for Sunspeak City, I can honestly say that I am attracted to her. But will I let it influence my decision?'

He thought for a while and came up with an answer to his own question.

'... Unfortunately, I find myself comfortable in being influenced by it.' Aldrin slapped his cheeks in his mind and shook his head in reality, vowing to think about it carefully.

"Why are you shaking your head? Is none of the offers enticing for you?" Irina curiously asked. She already picked a choice and even someone from a rich Energy Refiner lineage, she's truly enticed with the benefit they offered. For someone like Aldrin, she thought that he would be thrilled by the offers.

"Ah... No. It's not that. They're all enticing so I decided to pick carefully rather than regret it later. What about you two-- three?"

Even though the guy behind them remained silent, he still included him with his question. In his mind, there's nothing wrong with trying to be on good terms with someone else. Unless they have a deep grudge against each other, he will carefully build an image of him to be the friendly and easy-to-talk-to older guy.

He hadn't forgotten his goal to remain lowkey.

The current situation prevented that but it's not too late to change it. He just had to show it in his actions.

"Alpinecloud." Irina cheerfully answered.

"For me, I'll take Entraia." Frederic thought for a while before deciding.

"... Alpinecloud." And although the guy's voice was low and he answered while scowling, his choice was as Aldrin expected.

He's following Irina.

"Wait Frederic, why did you change your choice? I thought we'll all be in the same organization?"

"I found their offer more generous for me. Entraia is known for its physique-centered Concepts and training. Alpinecloud and Frostland were either psyche-centered or element-centered Concepts. City Hall and the Association are all-around but both have their own restrictions. You all know me... I like Concepts that could make me stronger than I am now."

Frederic explained and after his words ended, his body emitted refined Energy, covering his arms and bulking up his already muscular body.

What he showed was just the utilization of his refined Energy. Something Aldrin learned during the Combat Assessment. However, Frederic controlled it to concentrate his refined Energy in his arm muscles.

Like Frederic mentioned, most Concepts were categorized into three but that's just the Refiner's way to sort the seemingly infinite Concepts every Energy Refiner could be enlightened with.

In retrospect, his Shadow Clone could be categorized as elemental-centered or psyche-centered.

Truthfully, Aldrin had tried browsing the Concept Bookstore in Idle Shopping. In one of his random searches, he chanced upon a physique-centered Concept Book, Enhanced Muscles.

Although what Frederic did was close to the definition of the Concept, the effect would surely be more specialized through manifesting it.

"Leave him be, Irina. Unlike him. I will always stick with you." The unnamed guy declared.

However, Irina only showed a lukewarm reaction to it as if... she's already tired of hearing it over and over again. "You're not being obvious, Clark... Anyway, that's our choice. You better pick yours wisely, Aldrin."

"Sure, I will."

-

-

Excusing himself to them, Aldrin decided to walk around the accessible area of the Association to help himself think properly and choose better.

For him, each organization's specialty isn't that important. He has the IDLE Database to provide him with any concept and perhaps in the future, he will also receive some kind of guidance in it. That's why his choices are still between the two; Frostland or the Association.

"Oh? Renissa's boyfriend, it's been a while. Why are you wandering around here?"

When Aldrin reached another hall, he ran into someone familiar. Or rather, the only Association member that he's familiar with after Gordon the Gatekeeper.

"Miss Janet... I have a name." Aldrin awkwardly answered.

Janet laughed at his reaction and waved her hand. "Don't mind it. Anyway, good thing I ran into you. I still haven't forgotten that promise of yours to do something for me."

"Ah. Yes. I remembered that... Will you tell me about it now?"

"Hmm... I was kicked out of my post. Telling you to substitute for me so I can slack off is now out of the question."

Upon hearing that, Aldrin was dumbfounded. 'She just wanted to slack off.'

"Kicked out?"

"That's right. I'm leaving tomorrow to become an instructor for the Joint Training Camp. You'll also be there. Oh! Now that you mentioned it, aren't you about to sign a contract? Have you chosen yet?"

"That's actually the reason why I am wandering around. I can't concentrate there."

Putting on a playful smile again, Janet leaned forward and whispered. "Heh... Great timing. You can now fulfill your promise to me."

"Huh?"

"I bet one of your choices is Frostland. Your girlfriend's there after all. But if there's an offer from the Association, take it and become my underling."

Janet was actually unaware that his uncle had already moved to recruit him specifically for her. If she knew about that, she would probably not use the one favor Aldrin owed to her.

"That... can I still take my time to think about it?"

"Nope. That's my only request. If you're worried about not meeting Renissa again, I promise I'll send you to Sunspeak to reunite with her. What do you think?" Janet confidently smirked, thinking the mention of Sunspeak was enough to entice Aldrin.

She's fully sold on the idea that the two had something going on. Despite being a great teaser, she also had a keen eye on people. It's not apparent when they showed up four days ago but watching their reactions to her teasing convinced her of the possibility.