CHAPTER 29: CHAPTER 29: MEETING WITH HAZEL

"What do you mean?"

Calista perched on Betty’s shoulder, tilting her tiny head at the book in confusion.

Betty smirked as she flipped the pages.

"See this—cultivation through core energy? Are you kidding me?"

Calista stared at her as if she were the dumbest person alive.

"So? What’s there to be confused about?"

Betty’s amused expression faded, her voice lowering to a serious tone.

"Are you saying... this is real?"

Calista nodded without hesitation. Betty’s grip on the book tightened as she raised it again, eyes scanning the pages.

"So... you’re telling me this whole immortal cultivation thing is true? Does that mean there are other cultivators out there?"

Calista shook her head firmly.

"No. You know cultivation needs spiritual energy, and this world doesn’t have any. So, even if someone wanted to cultivate, they simply can’t."

Betty pointed at herself, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

"So, if there’s no spiritual energy, how am I supposed to cultivate?"

Calista flapped her wings and smacked Betty on the head.

"Just read! You’ll understand. Why do you keep asking so many questions?"

"Ow—okay, okay, sorry."

’Tch, where did her meek personality go? Now even birds are slapping me?’

Pouting, Betty lowered her gaze back to the book. It described using zombie core energy in place of spiritual energy.

She rubbed her chin, frowning in thought.

’This core energy is ten times more impure than spiritual energy and can’t be used for proper cultivation... So, how can I use it if it’s only good for strengthening the body?’

Her eyes suddenly lit up as she flipped to the next page.

"Hey, Calista, does that mean only space owners can cultivate in this world? Why?"

Calista, who had been lazily circling in the air, landed back on her shoulder with a smug expression.

"That’s because core energy isn’t meant for cultivation—it would make a normal human’s body explode. But you... You can cultivate because of this pavilion. The higher you raise the space level, the further you’ll be able to cultivate."

Betty nodded and gently placed the book back on the shelf. Sitting cross-legged, she closed her eyes, steadying her breath as she tried to follow the method outlined in the cultivation manual.

Her focus honed in on the core resting near her neck. Beads of sweat began forming on her forehead as a sharp, searing pain surged through her body.

"Aghhhh!"

Her scream echoed through the pavilion.

Calista’s eyes widened in alarm, her wings flapping frantically.

"Master! Don’t lose focus! If you do—it could be really dangerous!"

But the pain only worsened. Betty’s entire body trembled as she gritted her teeth, her muscles spasming under the intense pressure.

Then, slowly, green smoke began to seep from her pores, curling into the air like steam. The core began to move downward, slowly making its way from her neck toward her stomach.

Time passed like hours, though only minutes had gone by. Finally, the pain started to subside. The core settled just beneath her navel.

Betty’s body slumped slightly, drenched in sweat—though strangely, it all vanished the moment she opened her eyes.

"Huff... Huff..."

Her chest rose and fell as she took deep breaths, her limbs weak but steady.

Calista let out a high-pitched squeal of joy, flying in excited loops above her.

"Success! Haha! Master, you did it—you can cultivate now! Hehe, if anyone else had tried this, they would’ve exploded!"

Betty glanced at her with exhausted eyes, shaking her head. She stood up and moved her aching limbs.

’that hurt like hell, damn it.... but I can feel I’m stronger than before’

Calista hovered above her shoulder, puffing her chest proudly.

"Master, you can start cultivating now! The first stage is body refining—come on, let’s go!"

Betty rolled her eyes and patted her chest with a tired sigh.

"No, not right now. I still have to register myself... and get back home before Sophia wakes up."

Before Calista could utter anything, Betty vanished from the pavilion.

Reappearing at the stairwell, she took a deep breath, straightened her posture, and started walking out.

’This should be the office, right?’

Soon she stood before a massive government building, its entrance crowded with civilians standing in a long line to receive supplies. The atmosphere was tense, with soldiers moving in and out, their expressions rigid.

Pushing her way through the crowd, Betty entered the building. Inside, the hall smelled of sweat and paper, lit only by dim battery-powered lights. Military personnel sat at desks, furiously scribbling down information, their faces pale and their eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep.

"Hello, come here if you’re here to register," a male soldier called out to her without even glancing up, rubbing his temples as if fighting off a migraine.

Betty tilted her head, staring at him with a mix of pity and amusement.

’Why do they look so dead inside? Their eyes are the same as mine when I binge anime all night.’

"Tell me your information so I can issue your ID card," the soldier said, his voice flat.

Betty nodded and calmly gave the details of her male persona.

A moment later, the soldier handed her a green card embossed with a star-shaped seal. Only her name and some basic information were printed on it.

Betty raised the card to inspect it, then offered a small smile.

"Thanks. I appreciate your help."

She turned to leave, but a voice called out from behind.

"Hello, Mr. Bennett. Miss Hazel wants to meet you."

Betty froze mid-step and turned to see a woman in a striking red coat. Pointing at herself, Betty asked with a puzzled expression,

"Me?"

The woman nodded, her face perfectly composed.

"Yes, Mr. Bennett. Miss Hazel is expecting you."

Betty blinked in confusion.

’Eh? Why would she call me? I don’t even know her... and what could that mysterious woman possibly want?’

"Okay," Betty replied cautiously. "Where is she?"

The woman gestured toward a door at the far end of the hall.

Pushing it open, Betty stepped inside. The room was dimly lit by candlelight. The walls were covered with soundproof materials. On a sofa sat a woman with an air of elegance, her gaze locked on Betty with curiosity.

With a light smirk, the woman approached until she was uncomfortably close. Her eyes shimmered observing Betty closely.

"You must be Sir Bennett, correct?"

Betty’s lips twitched as she instinctively took a step back, the closeness making her uncomfortable. Clearing her throat, she forced herself to speak.

"Yes... Why did you call me here?"

Hazel’s lips broke into a wide smirk as I took a step back, she walked back and sat on the sofa.

"Now, what’s the hurry? Sit down."

Betty could feel that she could defeat Hazel easily, especially after exiting the space. She is not that strong currently, yet the chill in Hazel’s eyes made her uneasy.

Taking a seat on the opposite sofa, Betty met her gaze.

"You see, Bennett," Hazel said with a faint smirk, "I have a question for you—did you awaken your power?"

Betty crossed her legs, resting her chin against her hand.

’What’s her motive for asking this...’

Hazel, noticing her silence, began tapping her fingers rhythmically against the table.

’The power she used on the stairs... it was nothing like the 179 known awakeners. All of them have elemental abilities. But her... she’s different. Invisibility? Stealth? Something else entirely?’

When Betty’s eyes met hers again, Hazel stopped tapping.

"Yes, I have awakened," Betty replied coolly. "So, why exactly did you call me here just to ask me that?"

Hazel tilted her head slightly, her smile never wavering.

"Then, can you tell me what your powers are?"

Betty’s expression reamin same.

"No. I can’t tell you that."

Hazel shrugged as if it didn’t matter.

"Fair enough. It’s your secret. But I didn’t call you here only to ask questions. I want to invite you to my team for an upcoming mission. Are you interested?"

Betty narrowed her eyes, suspicion flashing across her face.

"No. I’m not interested in any mission. Goodbye."

She stood up to leave, but froze when Hazel’s next words sliced through the air.

"What if the mission involves rescuing innocent children... kidnapped by filthy animals recently?"

Betty looked at her coldly.

"What do you mean by that?"

Hazel stood up and walked near her, whispering something in her ear.

Betty’s fist clenched tightly, her body trembled, as she heard her.

Hazel raised her hand toward Betty with a smile.

"interested...."

Betty closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and shook hands with her.

Hazel chukled and walked outside the room, leaving her in her thoughts.

Betty rubbed her face with her hand, the coldness leaving her eyes again.

’Those filthy animals will die miserably if what she said is true’

-----

Entering her apartment, Betty sees Sophia still sleeping and walks toward the kitchen, taking ingredients from the space with a single thought, and starts cooking.

Her mind was still stuck on what Hazel had told her.