Renovation Progress

Chapter 18 Renovation Progress

Two figures strolled silently towards the imposing Azure Building on the outskirts of Asma City. Their footsteps echoed quietly in the deserted streets.

Each of them lost in their thoughts, their minds preoccupied ever since they met the two soldiers.

Although Ceid couldn't help but notice Ayda's reaction and concern, he chose not to disturb her contemplation.

For someone like Ceid, his body had been honed to the G3 Shedding Mortality Realm, thus improving his physical prowess and heightened his senses. When they passed by the soldiers, he overheard their conversations, leaving him with no reason to fret over Ayda's safety.

The soldiers had been tasked with searching for any signs of suspicious individuals, particularly someone heavily injured who may have entered the city within the last day. However, their descriptions were vague, offering little more than the knowledge of an injured person slipping into the city unnoticed.

Ceid reassured himself that Ayda, despite her fatigue and hunger, had not sustained any injuries during their encounter.

Thus, there was no cause for concern regarding her well-being.

On the other hand, Ceid couldn't help but feel incredulous at the army's apparent negligence. Allowing potentially dangerous individuals, especially an injured suspect, into the city seemed foolish.

Shouldn't they be scouring clinics or hospitals for the injured party instead?

Just as Ceid pondered this, Wyd poured cold water on him.

<Host, they were likely tracking our trail.>

<According to the records, they discovered traces of your blood in jungle just beyond city limits.>

<In the confidential notes, it was indicated that there no evidence of anyone entering area; it's as if they materialized suddenly. The only discernible traces were those individuals departing area.>

Upon hearing Wyd's report, he almost stumbled to the ground. Fortunately, his mastery over his body prevented him from succumbing to the urge, sparing him the embarrassment of collapsing in front of Ayda.

"Are you sure?"

<Affirmative. >

He sighed heavily, deep in contemplation. Ceid found himself genuinely reflecting on his actions over the past two days. He was convinced he hadn't done anything to draw attention to himself. But in such uncertain times, one could never be sure.

Nevertheless, it is good now that he knows about it. This would allow him to brace himself mentally for whatever might come his way.

-

Ceid's footsteps reverberated through the dusty hallway as he strode into the building. Sunlight streamed through the newly installed windows, casting long shadows across the construction zone.

His attention was drawn to a sturdy figure clad in paint-splattered overalls, sporting a broad grin - none other than Borris, the esteemed head of the construction crew.

"Mr. Ceid!" Borris's booming voice echoed the hall as he wiped his brow with a calloused hand.

"Ah, there you are. I've been meaning to give you a progress report. Thanks to your generosity, everything is moving along smoothly."

Ceid nodded, a sense of satisfaction glinting in his eyes. "Excellent, Borris. We mustn't waste any time, as you're well aware."

Observing Ceid engrossed in conversation with Borris, Ayda quietly slipped away to the upper floor.

"We're on it, sir," Borris replied enthusiastically, his grin widening.

"The ground floor is nearly done."

"We've completed nearly all the finishing touches; we're just waiting for the paint to dry. Once that's done, next, we will move on to install the fancy holographic displays and furniture you've ordered."

"The reception hall will be looking impeccable in no time!"

Ceid nodded in agreement as he surveyed the entirety of the hall. "Indeed, I have no doubt they will be truly spectacular."

Drawing closer, Ceid leaned over Borris's shoulder. His gaze fixed on the bustling activity unfolding in the reception area.

Workers were laboriously and diligently applying the final coat of paint meticulously with precision, while others carefully positioned and installed the cables for the holographic equipment.

"Excellent," he said, a smile playing on his lips. "And what about the shop next door? I have mentioned it being a priority as well."

"Right on track, sir," Borris assured him.

"All the necessary modifications are complete, and the painting's almost finished. We'll have the final touches and cleanup done by midnight.

"Tomorrow morning, the cleaning crew will work their post-renovation magic - sanitation, debris removal, kitchen scrub-down, ventilation system check... covering everything for the whole ground floor."

"You can start moving in your counter, sofas, tables, display rack, hologram display, piano, furniture, various equipment, and all the other stuff by tomorrow evening."

Ceid nodded in approval. "Excellent, but be sure to remind the shops and interior designers to be punctual tomorrow evening. I'm hoping to have the cafe ready for use by tomorrow night. It would be ideal to enjoy dinner here instead of ordering takeout."

Borris nodded and smiled, "I'll be sure to remind them."

As they strolled through the hall, Ceid turned to Borris, expressing his gratitude, "Borris, I truly appreciate your hard work and dedication."

"Please convey my thanks to the entire crew. I'll arrange takeout for everyone later, for lunch, afternoon meal, and dinner today. Consider it a small token of my appreciation."

Borris's grin widened almost to the point of splitting his face. "You're too generous, sir, but I can assure you, the crew is grateful!"

"We're pouring our hearts into this project, and it's reassuring to hear you're pleased with the progress."

After exchanging a couple more words, they delved into the timeline for completing the remaining floors and addressed any potential challenges.

Watching Borris head back to oversee his team, Ceid felt a surge of optimism in his heart. The Azure Building was gradually metamorphosing, floor by floor, into his dream sanctuary.

-

After ordering and scheduling the promised takeout from the nearby famous restaurant online, Ceid retreated to his room on the first floor.

The amulet he had acquired earlier gleamed faintly in his palm. From Ceid's point of view, it seemed as though the amulet radiated an aura of the unknown, veiled in secrecy.

He adored such things. They sparked his curiosity and provided him with a sense of purpose, albeit illusory.

Gazing at the amulet, he found himself contemplating various scenarios. How had it come to rest on this uncharted planet? Was it merely a coincidence or perhaps a remnant of a forgotten history?

These kinds of thoughts attracted him.

He closed his eyes, focusing his energy on the amulet, seeking answers. Though no revelations came, a newfound resolve settled within him.

He imagined that the amulet's existence seemed to be a key, perhaps a clue to something far greater secret than he had ever imagined.

And he was determined to unlock its secrets, no matter the cost!

<... >

<Host, I don't intend to dampen your ecstatic pleasure, but must remind you that, despite its mysterious origins, this amulet is simply a Spirit Crystal.>

<It's crucial for you to prioritize more pressing matters, such as completing your current task and restoring cultivation.>

Hearing Wyd's admonishment, Ceid's figure suddenly stiffened.

Then, he raised his head at a 45° angle with a sigh tinged with sadness and a melancholy expression. "Can't you at least allow me to indulge in my wild imagination for a while?"

Yes, for him, regardless of the secrets and incidents hidden behind the scenes, they held no significance.

He was just interested in it out of pure amusement and pleasure.

Even if the amulet could potentially spark a world war for supremacy or any other calamity between two nations, from his perspective, they were merely akin to children bickering and squabbling with each other. The conflict could not affect those from other races, countries, and worlds.

For the others, the Spirit Crystal was a treasure, a passport to join the higher civilization world's community. But for Ceid, the Spirit Crystals were just merchandise items he had in his stock for sale.

After all, he was in the middle of his training to become a shopkeeper for the Draconian Chamber of Commerce!

For him, only completing his task was his true calling.

He looked back to the amulet annoyingly.

"Well, let's just keep it for now."

Now that Wyd had poured cold water on his curiosity, he was no longer interested in the amulet.

He placed the amulet in his storage space and began his meditation session for the day.

-

Everywhere across the universe, the fundamental units of time, such as seconds, minutes, and hours were the same.

However, the length of a day is determined by the rotation of planets on their axes.

Likewise, although the number of months consistently remains at 12, the duration of a year fluctuates based on the planet's orbital period. Moreover, four distinct seasons are typically observed in systems with a single star.

That being said, a day on Blanc Planet is 30 hours. That's approximately 15 hours of light each day near the equator. Or an additional 15 minutes for extra for every hour in a 24 hours per day system.

And a year on Blanc Planet is 15480 hours or 516 days or 43 days a month. A week on the planet is eight days, equivalent to ten days on Earth.

This meant that there were an extra 6 hours a day.

For practical purposes, this might not mean anything to the indigenous people.

But for Ceid, who originated from Earth, that would mean he had an extra 6 hours a day to cultivate without interfering with his daily activities.

Every day, he could meditate for 13 to 14 hours before dawn. That's a lot for one night's cultivation.

At the 8th hour at dawn, he would go out for morning exercise, have breakfast around the 10th hour, and have lunch at the 14th hour.

Later, an afternoon meal around the 19th hour, and at night between the 24th and 25th hour, he would have his dinner.

Typically, the people there would have supper on the 28th hour, but Ceid would prefer to return to his room to meditate after dinner.

So he could still enjoy his everyday life on Blanc Planet without slowing down his cultivation.

-

Today, since he returned in the morning, he had been holed up inside his room until it was almost time for the afternoon meal.

With the additional time meditating last night, he had been cultivating for more than 20 hours. Ceid rejoiced in knowing that he had gained a substantial benefit from his one day's worth of cultivation.

His cultivation had almost reached the peak of the First Layer.

At this pace, by tomorrow morning, he would be promoted to the Second Layer Spirit Sense Realm!