We finally settled down. I leaned back to my chair and looked out the window.

At first glance, the tower seemed like a normal structure, except it was made entirely of stone. Faint patterns ran along the surface, almost like the designs from an old palace.

The tower stretched far above the other buildings, close to a hundred floors, casting a long shadow over the area. It dwarfed everything around it and made the whole district feel small.

From this distance, the structure should be visible even from the deeper districts because of how tall it stood.

"By the way, Aunt Ellie," I said, still staring at it, "did you hear any news about this tower?"

"Yes. Everyone's talking about it. It's the first time a tower echo showed up this close, so people are nervous."

"I get it. The land value in this area must have dropped a lot. And I just bought a new building here." A sigh escaped as I shook my head.

"That might not be the case," Ellie added.

"Please elaborate." I turned my full attention to her.

"Well… Lea came to see us after she heard you went missing. She was really worried. Drop by and see her when you get the chance."

The Blackwood princess. If anyone understood land in this city, it was her family.

"I will. So… what did she say?"

She took a sip of water before speaking.

"It wasn't a serious conversation or anything. We were just chatting, and she mentioned that her dad heard that a big corporation related to Dark Rock were aggressively buying land around here. They even started pushing harder after the tower echo showed up."

I leaned back and thought about it. The whole thing sounded like Dark Rock knew ahead of time that a tower echo would appear here.

Could that also be the reason the system pushed me so hard to buy that building, no matter what?

The more I thought about it, the more curious and interested I became in the tower. It was clearly far more special than the rest.

"Did she say anything else?"

"No."

Things were getting more interesting. I should contact Master Tang—the order probably have more information about this.

Back in the tower, my phone didn't work, but it should be fine now

A few minutes later, a sharp knock echoed through the room. Alice went to the door and slowly opened it.

The Association agents stood rigid at the door, black suits sharp and sunglasses hiding their eyes.

From the faint reflections on the lenses, I could tell these weren't ordinary sunglasses—they were an Augmented Reality device.

"We need to ask a few questions as per protocol." One of them said, stepping forward.

"Sure, come on in," I offered.

They wasted no time. Rapid-fire questions hit me from every angle.

After what felt like an eternity, the lead agent finally nodded. "Story checks out. You're free to go."

Without another word, they turned and left, the door clicking shut behind them.

"Let's go back to the mansion," I suggested.

Amanda raised a hand. "Just drop me at the training center."

Hai-Min also did the same. "Me too. I'll just take the train home."

I didn't answer right away.

It made sense that Amanda didn't have anyone coming for her, but what kind of parents wouldn't even think of picking up their own daughter? Or maybe they didn't know.

Either way, leaving her alone didn't sit right.

"I'll bring you home,"

Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. "Please… you really don't need to."

"I insist," I replied, stepping closer.

She hesitated, biting her lip. "I… I can go by myself. I don't want to trouble you."

"You're not a burden at all. Besides, it's not safe to be alone right now."

She looked down, torn, then slowly nodded. "Okay… if you really want to."

Once she agreed, we started the ride. I asked for her address, and the answer caught me off guard.

She lived in the outer region. That made no sense. Her sister was an S-Rank—money shouldn't be a problem.

I glanced at her. "Why are you living out here? This area's dangerous. No wonder you got caught in a tower echo."

She let out a small, bitter smile. "I don't want to live at home. I picked a school around here because the rent was low and the tuition was cheaper."

Not wanting to pry further, I stayed silent . Just hearing her stories made me feel more sorry for her.

Soon, we reached her place. It was rundown apartment.

"I don't think this place is safe for a girl like you." I commented.

"It's not that bad," she said quietly, bowing her head. "And the landlord is a kind old woman."

"This won't do. You're coming with us, " I stated, leaving no room for argument.

"But…"

"There's no 'but.' And if you're worried about rent, you'll work as Amanda's assistant from now on. You'll get a salary and your own room."

After a long pause, she looked up and forced a smile.

"It… it's okay. I can manage on my own," she said softly.

I shook my head. "No. Knowing you're living alone in a place like this—it would make me worry. I can't just stand by and do nothing."

"I really don't want to trouble you more. You've done too much for me and--"

"Then that's it. If you refuse, I'll consider our relationship over. No more big brother. No more looking out for you."

Her face went pale. She lowered her head and, after a long pause.

I didn't really want to force her, but it was no use. She was too stubborn for her own good.

"O… okay," she whispered, her voice barely above a murmur. "I'll come with you. I just need to grab some of my things and let the landlady know."

"Alright."

The guards helped her gather her belongings, and then we headed straight to the Training Center.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.