Mike walked into the living room.

Misty was there, wearing a bright red rose-patterned dress, sitting on the sofa and swinging her legs happily. She looked ready for the party in her beautiful dress.

The moment she noticed Mike, her face lit up.

"Brother!" she called out—then her eyes dropped to the small white cub beside him.

"…What's that?"

Her gaze froze.

Then it sparkled.

"Brother, what is that?!"

Misty rushed over, stopping just short of Layala, crouching down with her hands on her knees.

"She's for you," Mike said. "Her name is Layala."

Misty's mouth slowly opened.

"For… me?"

Mike nodded. "From now on, she's your partner. She'll stay with you and protect you."

Misty looked at Layala, then back at Mike, as if making sure this wasn't a joke.

Then—

"YAAAY!"

She threw her arms around the cub, hugging her carefully.

"I love her! I love her so much!" Misty laughed. "She's so fluffy!"

Layala blinked, then gently leaned into Misty's embrace, letting out a soft, rumbling purr.

"She's warm!" Misty said in awe. "Brother, is she a kitty?"

Mike smiled. "Not exactly. She's a lioness."

"A lion?" Misty's eyes grew even bigger. "Like a king cat?"

"…Sure," Mike said. "A king cat."

Misty giggled and hugged Layala again. "Then I'm the princess with a lion!"

Layala raised her head proudly, her tail swishing once before she sat beside Misty, clearly accepting her new role.

Mike's mother looked at the cub closely.

"Is it really a lion?" she asked.

Mike nodded. "Yes. I found a rare one and brought her for Misty. She's Rank 3, so she can easily protect her."

His mother looked shocked. "Rank 3? That little thing? I can't even sense her."

Mike chuckled. "That's because of her racial ability. Morph. She can completely suppress her presence and change her appearance."

His mother nodded slowly, finally understanding.

"By the way," she said, turning to Mike, "go get ready. Why are you still in these clothes?"

Mike nodded, went back to his room, and soon returned wearing his normal formal outfit.

When he came out, he checked the time.

His father was already waiting, and Lily's family had arrived as well.

Lily's parents were dressed neatly, clearly prepared for the banquet.

Lily herself was wearing a beautiful red dress, elegant and eye-catching.

Mike, on the other hand, was wearing the same formal suit as this morning unlike her, looking completely relaxed.

Lily glanced at him, then sighed.

"You're really lazy," she said.

Mike shrugged. "It works."

Candace arrived soon after, and they all left together in a large car.

Before long, the City Lord's mansion came into view once again.

They arrived, stepped out, and were quickly guided inside.

Inside, a vast hall opened before them.

The ceiling was high, decorated with glowing runes and elegant chandeliers. Long tables lined the sides, filled with food and drinks, while the center was left open for guests to mingle.

Mike's eyes swept across the room.

There were easily over a thousand people inside.

"Wow…" Mike muttered. "This feels less like a banquet and more like a massive party."

Candace nodded. "Everyone who killed a large number of those mad fanatics—and their families—were invited today."

That explained the size.

Awakened of all ranks filled the hall, many dressed formally, others in ceremonial armor. Powerful auras overlapped everywhere, yet the atmosphere was relaxed and celebratory.

Candace turned to them. "I'll go check in with the Mercer family."

She looked at Mike and Lily. "From now on, you two can roam on your own."

Mike nodded. "Got it."

Candace left, blending into the crowd.

Misty clung to Layala's fluffy neck, riding the cub like a proud owner, while Layala walked calmly, her presence still completely suppressed.

People nearby smiled when they saw the child and the 'cute pet,' unaware of what Layala really was.

Lily leaned slightly toward Mike. "So… where do we start?"

Mike looked around at the crowded hall, the laughter, the music, and the countless awakened gathered in one place.

"Food first," he said calmly.

Lily sighed. "Of course."

They headed toward one of the long tables filled with food.

The smell alone was enough to make Mike pause.

"Okay… I take it back," he said. "This is worth coming for."

The table was packed with all kinds of dishes—normal food, awakened-grade meat, mana-rich fruits, and drinks that faintly glowed with energy.

Lily picked up a plate. "Don't overeat. We still have to talk to people later."

Mike was already loading his plate. "Talking can wait."

Misty, meanwhile, was sitting on Layala's back near the table, swinging her legs.

"Brother! Look!" she said, pointing. "That cake is bigger than me!"

Mike glanced over and chuckled seeing the big cake, while the waiters smiled as he cut a slice and gave it to Misty who happily took it.

As Mike ate, he noticed familiar faces approaching.

"Hey," a man said, raising his glass. "You're Mike, right?"

Mike nodded. "Yeah."

"I was in the east district yesterday," the man continued. "If you hadn't shown up, my whole squad would've been wiped. Thanks."

Mike lifted his glass slightly. "Glad you're alive."

More people came over after that.

Some thanked him directly.

Some just nodded respectfully.

Some looked at him with curiosity, clearly still confused about his rank.

In the end, both Mike and Lily were approached by many people.

Watching from the side, their parents smiled.

"They're like little heroes now," Mike's father said softly.

Lily's father nodded in agreement, smiling as well.

More guests soon gathered around them—most of them adults, awakened leaders, or representatives of various organizations.

Their questions were all similar.

"Have they joined any organization yet?"

"Are they affiliated with a guild?"

"Which faction are they planning to support?"

Some were subtle.

Others were very direct.

A few even spoke to their parents instead of Mike and Lily.

"If you're interested," one man said politely, "our guild specializes in nurturing young awakened talents. We can offer protection, resources, and training."

Another added quickly, "Our organization has access to Rank 7 and Rank 8 dungeons. Your children would grow much faster with us."

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.