Chapter 5: Preparation
’I guess I’ll let her join the rookie Awakeners tomorrow,’ he thought, wearing a strange expression.
The sudden appearance of someone with no background yet possessing an S-Class Talent would undoubtedly shock everyone.
Besides, there was no guarantee that any of tomorrow’s rookies would even possess an S-Class Talent.
However, Enzo could simply claim that Violet had grown up in a remote orphanage, or that she had been a victim of human trafficking since childhood and was later awakened by a powerful Awakener who possessed an Awaken Stone.
With nothing else to do, Enzo lay down on the bed and let out a deep breath.
Although he was curious about the Sanctuary, he decided it was better not to wander around.
After all, plenty of people despised him for failing to live up to everyone’s expectations.
Unexpectedly, someone arrived.
A young woman with black hair tied into twin ponytails, wearing oversized round glasses, approached while carrying a plate of toast and grilled meat.
She stopped in front of the guard post and knocked on the door.
"Come out if you want lunch," she said coldly.
Enzo rolled his eyes.
They hadn’t even met before, yet she already seemed to have a grudge against him.
He was hungry, so he had no choice but to open the door.
"Here’s your meal. Leave the plate outside after you’re done."
She shoved the plate into his hands so abruptly that Enzo instinctively caught it, feeling as though she would simply drop it if he didn’t.
After that, she turned around and left without another word.
Enzo didn’t care.
He carried the food to his bed and ate the toast and grilled meat.
To his surprise, it was delicious.
As long as the meals were good, he had nothing to complain about.
He devoured everything.
Soon, drowsiness overtook him.
He had stayed up all night.
The moment he lay back down, he fell asleep.
"Awoooo..."
Who knew how much time had passed before the howl of a wolf woke him up.
Enzo immediately sat upright.
Two armored men were dragging a gigantic wolf bound in heavy chains.
It stood about two and a half meters tall and stretched over five meters long.
Its black fur and overwhelming aura made it look terrifying.
DING!
(Monster Level 12!)
The System notification appeared instantly.
The wolf was dragged into an open area before the floor beneath it suddenly descended underground.
Enzo let out a sigh.
He wondered which rookie Awakener would be capable of killing a monster like that.
When he checked his phone, he couldn’t help but stare in surprise.
It was already two in the morning.
Another plate had been left outside his room.
This time, it held a giant burger.
His stomach was growling again.
Before the two armored men returned, he quickly picked it up.
Although it had gone completely cold, it was still perfectly edible.
It even tasted surprisingly good.
Once again, he ate everything without leaving a crumb.
Being skinny didn’t mean he had a slow metabolism.
At this hour, however, he wasn’t sleepy anymore.
Checking his phone again, he found ten messages from Bella asking how he was doing.
Enzo simply replied that he was fine.
If he weren’t an Awakener, he certainly wouldn’t have been.
But now...
He could see a future for himself.
Bored, he started playing games on his phone.
Time slipped by unnoticed.
Eventually, sunlight began filtering through the gaps in the prison walls, signaling the arrival of dawn.
The same young woman from yesterday returned, this time carrying a plate of fries and several boiled eggs.
Knock! Knock!
She kept knocking while Enzo intended to let her leave the plate outside the door.
"Are you still asleep?" she asked in her usual cold voice.
When she still refused to leave after a while, Enzo had no choice but to open the door.
"Are you deaf? Or are you blind?" she demanded angrily.
"Miss, I’m sorry. Is there something you need?" Enzo asked calmly as he accepted the plate from her.
He didn’t want any trouble.
Besides, he figured there had to be a reason she insisted on seeing him.
"After breakfast, go outside and report to the supervisor."
With those words, she immediately left.
"Report to the supervisor?"
Enzo wondered what it was about.
Still, it was probably the supervisor’s order.
Not wanting to cause trouble, he finished breakfast as quickly as possible.
He wanted to take a shower afterward since the guard post even had its own bathroom.
Then he realized there was a problem.
He didn’t have a change of clothes.
Unable to do anything about it, he simply washed his face and decided to worry about clothing later.
After placing the empty plate outside, he headed toward the exit.
"Are you Enzo Muller, the new worker here?"
The voice came from a neatly dressed man in his thirties.
"Yes..."
"I’m one of the supervisors here. I have a job for you. Hand these out to every rookie that comes in. You can also keep one for yourself."
As he spoke, a large cardboard box suddenly appeared in his hands before he set it on the ground.
Inside were stacks of black cards engraved with a golden crown.
Sanctuary Cards.
These cards stored the currency used throughout the Sanctuary.
Even entering the Monster Prison’s cells required payment.
The fee would be deducted automatically upon entry.
Without enough money, entry would simply be denied.
"Understood," Enzo replied obediently, although he felt reluctant.
The job required him to stand at the entrance where everyone could see him.
If he refused...
He would probably be thrown out.
"They’ll arrive in about two hours. Don’t go anywhere."
Before leaving, the supervisor unexpectedly tossed him a pack of cigarettes along with a lighter.
Apparently, he knew exactly what Enzo wanted.
After breakfast, nothing beat a cigarette.
Well...
A cup of milk coffee would make it even better.
Still, he didn’t light one immediately.
Instead, he picked up two Sanctuary Cards.
Each one had its own unique account number for transferring money.
Enzo wasn’t exactly broke.
His uncle had always given him a generous allowance, and he’d managed to save most of it.
His savings had already exceeded ten thousand dollars.
He transferred $10,000 into one of the Sanctuary Cards.
There happened to be a public restroom nearby.
Since it was still early in the morning, the place was completely empty.
Making sure no one else was around, he summoned Violet once again.
The instant she appeared, his virtual mouse and keyboard automatically materialized before him, visible only to himself.
He slipped the Sanctuary Card containing $10,000 into Violet’s shirt pocket.
Then he placed his hands on the keyboard.
Under his control, Violet calmly walked into one of the private restroom stalls.
She smiled at the exact moment he smiled.
If he laughed...
Violet laughed as well.
From here on, she could officially join the rookie Awakeners.
Only then did Enzo light his cigarette before casually walking out of the restroom.
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