Chapter 174: Chapter 174 - Back To University!
The next morning, he rose before dawn.
Logan let out a yawn as he sat up in his bed. "That was refreshing," he muttered, stretching with a groan.
All the exhaustion had washed away from his body after a good night’s sleep, fully preparing him for the day to come.
His worries about the Ancient Warlord living in his body had mostly been suppressed too. Knowing that it was completely bound to him, he doubted it would commit suicide by killing him.
"The air shuttle’ll leave in an hour or two," he said, jumping up out of bed. "Let’s use that time to refresh myself and get dressed properly."
The last thing he wanted was to arrive at the university with a bad appearance.
"That would leave quite a bad impression on people that wish to follow me after my performance," he thought, chuckling. "That reminds me, I should try to pick up some more talented people to join the company."
Picking up talented allies had been one of the few reasons why he’d wanted to head to the university in the first place.
"I’ve already picked up a few good allies," he muttered, remembering Ethan and his friends. "But it wouldn’t hurt if I could pick up a few more with an A-rank talent or above."
He imagined there would be plenty of people just like Ethan, coming from poorer families and lacking any support for their growth.
With his recent reveal on international television, he could even attract people from other parts of the world now.
"It’s like unlocking a new expansion pack," he chuckled, shaking his head slightly.
Mercer Industries still had cash, contracts, and opportunities flowing in. Just like they had predicted, a week after the church broadcast, countless international companies finished their research and came in to try and make themselves allies.
After he finished getting dressed, Logan glanced in the mirror one more time, smiling slightly as he admired his looks for once.
"I’ve really grown a lot," he thought, nodding in satisfaction.
Then, a low beeping sound came from the hologram projector on his arm.
"Already?" he muttered, glancing at the time with a raised eyebrow. "Seems like Silas is here."
The time had flown as he’d collected all necessities such as his combat gear and glaive, having stored each piece in his space ring.
Logan went for his door and unlocked it. Outside he indeed found Silas waiting for him with his arms crossed and a small smile on his face.
"You ready?" he asked, pushing his back off the wall.
"Absolutely," Logan nodded, locking the door behind him.
As they walked through the hallway, he felt Silas’s gaze land on him a few times, like he wanted to ask him something but was hesitating.
"What’s up?" he asked, noting Silas’s strange behavior.
Silas cleared his throat, eyes staring ahead before he finally spoke.
"That Skeleton being..." Silas started, his voice low. "Are you sure it’s completely safe and has no side effects?"
Logan realized Silas was still concerned for him, despite having checked up on him more than once after the summoning.
A small smile grew on his face as he nodded slowly. "I’ve already confirmed it," he started confidently. "Even if it’s a strange creature, it won’t harm me and will help me fight strong opponents as planned."
Silas stared ahead for a moment longer. Then he let out a deep breath as his hand ruffled through Logan’s hair.
"What are you doing?" Logan asked, pushing his arm away from the hair he’d literally styled a few minutes ago.
"You really are a crazy kid," Silas chuckled. "I don’t think I’ve seen someone who’s this comfortable with risking his life every day before."
Logan rolled his eyes, fixing the strands Silas had messed up. "Comfortable? Hardly. I just don’t see the point in wasting time worrying when I can use that time to get stronger."
A strange glint passed through Silas’s eyes as he looked down on Logan walking beside him. "That mindset is quite dangerous, you know," he mumbled quietly.
Logan ignored the last sentence and continued walking with a small grin on his face as they reached the elevator.
It didn’t take long before both of them stepped out on the rooftop and were blasted by a fierce wind.
The faint smell of nature and gasoline filled Logan’s lungs, almost making him close his eyes for a moment.
After a moment, the Mercer family centerpiece entered his sight, waiting at the center of the landing pad.
"After you," Silas said, gesturing for Logan to continue walking.
"Sure," he answered, walking towards the centerpiece.
Logan couldn’t particularly care about the university and the teachings that were most likely irrelevant. Instead, what he really wanted to see were the friends he’d made there.
"It’s really been a while since I’ve seen them in person."
Both of them made their way over to the air shuttle and stepped on the lowered hatch. Like always, it slowly started lifting them into the shuttle.
Once inside, Logan and Silas sat down in the lounge area.
"I need to send a few messages," Silas said, opening his hologram projector. "After that, we can play some cards."
"Sounds good," Logan said, raising a thumb.
He also had something he wanted to look at since he hadn’t done so in an entire week.
Opening his hologram projector, Logan immediately searched for a familiar interface. Countless numbers, reports, feedback popped up on the screen, all under one central name: Monster Meat Fast Food.
Pressing the revenue report, it didn’t even take a second before it loaded in.
He blinked, swallowing hard.
Two hundred and five million dollars in one week.
Logan scrolled, checked again.
’It wasn’t a mistake,’ he thought, eyes wide.
In just one week, the fast-food chain had pulled in two hundred and five million dollars in revenue.
And that while over a thousand locations were still in their final stages and not yet open to customers.
A slow breath escaped from his lips. ’From discarded dungeon meat to this. In like three months?’
"Something wrong?" Silas asked, noticing the change in his expression.
"Not wrong," Logan muttered, eyes still locked on the report. "Far from it."
Silas arched a brow but didn’t press.
Logan tapped through the numbers again.
Heat maps showed massive queues filled with average civilians and their children, franchise requests flooding in from overseas. The growth was beyond anything he had expected.
’I should try to expand even further,’ he thought, a sweet smile spreading on his face. ’And I can even buy another system draw soon.’
The system had only gotten off cooldown a few days ago, yet it wasn’t impossible to do another expensive draw. The sheer improvement in his financial situation hit him all at once, surprising him immensely.
Just as he was about to continue planning his future expenses, Silas’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts.
"Alright, I’m done now," he said, flicking his hologram projector off. "You ready to play some cards?"
Logan smiled and turned off his hologram projector. He didn’t plan to spend another flight planning, instead he wanted to enjoy some time with Silas.
"Sure, bring it on."
Hours flew by before the shuttle finally landed at the university.
"Damn luck," Silas cursed, shaking his head as he walked after Logan.
"I’m sure you’ll win next time," Logan said, hopping on the hatch.
"Yeah, yeah," Silas said, waving him off.
"I’ll speak to you later," Logan said, chuckling.
For a split second, Silas broke his annoyed character and smiled. "Have fun at the university... Make sure you don’t kill anyone this time."
"I’ll try my best."
As the hatch lowered him out of the shuttle, Logan straightened his jacket. The moment his boots touched the ground, whispers began to spread.
"That’s him..."
"Mercer."
"Didn’t he kill Derek during the duel?"
"Shut up, idiot! Did you not see him on the Imperial Church’s broadcast?"
"Yeah, he’s practically one of the most important people in the States now... and that at nineteen years old."
Logan ignored them, walking calmly through the gates.
The stares didn’t bother him anymore. In fact, they barely registered. Compared to the Skeleton King’s gaze, the curiosity of a few hundred students was nothing.
At the campus entrance, he spotted a familiar figure waving at him.
Grant Coleman.
"Logan!" Grant called out, a grin splitting his face. He jogged up, accompanied by a few others from their circle. "About time you showed up. We thought you’d forgotten about us little freshmen."
Logan returned a faint smile. "Just had business to finish."
Grant clapped him on the shoulder, smirking. "Right. Business... And that business meant getting very closely connected with Livia?"
Logan chuckled, shaking his head. He truly had no words for Grant.
Grant gestured towards the dorms. "Come on. Everyone’s already waiting. We’ve got a lot to catch up on before the competition."
Logan nodded and fell into step beside him. The whispers of the crowd followed them as they walked deeper into the academy.
Far above the landing platform, Aylana Alvarez held a hologram figure in front of her.
She stared down at the platform below, smirking faintly.
"...Yes, Father," she said softly, her lips curving into a faint smile. "The plan is working."
She turned slightly, her voice growing even sweeter.
"Logan Mercer showed up for the freshman competition."