Aeron turned his head at the sound of running footsteps and saw a broad-shouldered, cheerful young man jogging over.
"Aeron! Finally found you," the boy laughed and threw an arm around his shoulder. It was Derek Quinn, Aeron's old classmate and one of the few people he'd actually call a friend.
"You vanished this past month. Your mom was worried, said you'd been keeping busy," Derek said casually.
Aeron smiled faintly and said nothing.
Derek didn't press. He suddenly paused, narrowed his eyes, and patted Aeron's shoulder and arm. "Wait a sec… you've been hitting the gym or something? You're definitely buffer than before."
Aeron wasn't surprised. After absorbing twenty full bottles of High-Level Nutrient Solution, even though most of it had refined into internal energy, it still had a subtle physical effect. The Martial Path he'd developed emphasized internal cultivation and convergence, so his physique only subtly strengthened. If it had been any other evolutionary route, he'd probably be bursting out of his clothes by now.
Derek shook his head in admiration, then pointed behind Aeron. "Look who else is here."
Aeron glanced up. A small group of young men and women approached. Familiar faces from his graduating class.
"Graduation just ended," Derek explained. "Thought it was time to hang out a bit."
Aeron gave a slight nod. Moments later, the group arrived.
"Aeron? Haven't seen you in a while," said a guy with slick hair and wire-rimmed glasses—Seth Cross, the class's scholarly golden boy. "Waiting on someone?"
"You've changed, man. Got a different air about you," said a girl in jeans, raising an eyebrow.
"Hey, everyone," Aeron replied politely. He was naturally quiet and had always kept to himself. Without Derek, he wouldn't have hung out with this group at all.
The crowd split into two subtle factions.
Seth Cross led one. He was top of the class, polished, and from a good family. People naturally gravitated toward him.
Then there was Blake Hawthorne, the brash military brat. With family ties in the army, he always acted like nothing could touch him.
Derek was one of the rare few who could hang with both sides—sociable, easygoing, and loyal.
"Yo, Aeron," Derek said with a grin. "Check it out—the class beauty's here too." He pointed at a tall girl in snug jeans, her features flawless.
It was Quinn Harper.
Her expression changed the moment she saw Aeron.
The last time she'd seen him was at the Moonwater Estates real estate center. She had watched him—quiet, modest Aeron—get personally escorted into the VIP room and purchase a luxury home outright. Even the sales manager had been deferential to him.
Ever since that day, she'd been unsure how to face him.
Still, she approached. "Hey, Aeron," she said with forced calm, offering a hand. "It's good to see you again."
This surprised Derek. Quinn was usually aloof and dismissive—even guys like Blake and Seth got the cold shoulder. Yet she was voluntarily shaking hands with Aeron?
"Nice to see you," Aeron said, giving her hand a firm, brief shake.
The group found seats inside a nearby café. Seth waved down a server and ordered their signature drinks—each costing nearly thirty credits a cup.
"Still the generous one, huh Seth?" Derek joked.
The drinks were expensive, but Seth enjoyed making a show of wealth.
Soon, the conversation shifted to college, careers, and their uncertain futures.
"I bombed the exams," sighed one girl. "Guess I'm heading to a third-rate university."
"No worries," Derek said. "You've got connections. Just go work for Seth's company after graduation."
"Hey," she laughed. "You're mean."
Seth grinned. "Derek's right. I'll take care of anyone who needs a spot. You'll have a solid job waiting."
Everyone laughed. For a moment, the tension of post-graduation uncertainty seemed lighter.
Then Blake leaned forward.
"Speaking of the future… Aeron, didn't you end up on the conscription list?"
The room went silent.
No one laughed now. Everyone looked at Aeron.
The current draft wasn't ordinary. People knew—even if unofficially—that it targeted external threats, likely alien incursions. Those drafted might never come back. Compensation packages were already quietly being paid out to families.
Derek leaned forward. "They're just rumors, man. Don't stress it. We don't know for sure what this draft is for."
"Right," another girl added. "The government's being tight-lipped. It might be routine."
"Besides," she continued with a nervous smile, "maybe after you retire, they'll give you a nice position in the defense sector."
Everyone offered hollow encouragement, but it was clear they didn't believe it themselves.
Then Blake smirked. "Well, it's not all hopeless. My uncle works in the military district. I can ask around, see if they can reassign you. Maybe move you somewhere less dangerous."
That made people take notice.
Even Derek was moved. "Thanks, man. That means a lot."
Several of the girls—especially the ones who had been hanging on Seth earlier—suddenly turned their attention to Blake.
Compared to a cushy job offer, someone who could influence military assignments was next-level power.
Seth's expression twitched slightly, realizing he was losing ground.
Aeron remained calm. He found Blake's performance almost laughable.
The conscription list was controlled by the Goddess of Wisdom herself. No backdoor deals. No favors.
Blake could puff his chest all he wanted—it was empty noise.
Still, Aeron said nothing. Blake, for all his bravado, was trying to help. Even if the motivation was to show up Seth, the gesture wasn't malicious.
He glanced at the time.
"I've got to go," Aeron said, standing. "Someone's waiting for me."
Before anyone could react, he left the café and walked toward the street.
Everyone blinked.
"Really? Not even a thank-you?" Blake frowned.
"This guy," he muttered, annoyed.
Just then, a sleek black hovercar pulled up to the curb.
"Wait…" Seth narrowed his eyes. "That license plate—it's government-issued."
Even Blake froze.
The doors opened, and a man in uniform stepped out, bowed slightly, and respectfully gestured for Aeron to enter.
He did.
The car silently glided away.
The entire group stared in stunned silence.
"That… that was an Evolutionary Association vehicle," Seth whispered. "I saw one like it once when I was with my father at a conference."
Blake's bravado drained.
The Evolutionary Association was no joke. One of the most powerful organizations on the planet. Even military officers tread lightly around them.
"No way," Blake muttered.
"I checked the draft list last night," Quinn suddenly said. "Aeron's name wasn't on it anymore."
"What?!"
Blake's jaw dropped. He immediately opened his interface and tried to verify the information.
"He's… really not on it…"
In disbelief, Blake tried to query the Goddess of Wisdom directly to understand why.
Next moment, a cold voice thundered in his ears:
"Warning: Citizen Blake Hawthorne. You are requesting access to restricted intelligence data. This is a violation of Article 560 of the Charter. This is your first and final warning. Continued intrusion will result in transfer to Supreme Court jurisdiction."
Blake's legs gave out. He collapsed into the seat.
His face had turned ghost white. His whole body trembled.
Everyone else stared at him, speechless.
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(End of Chapter 21)
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