John was still unaware that some ces were already in turmoil because of him.


    After he recovered, the first thing he did was to seek out Hidden Stars.


    He had a feeling that they might know more about the situation.


    After all, Star Cluster Academy has always been the best academy within the alliance.


    Surely, they would issue rted missions after such an incident.


    Indeed, when he saw the mission tab about investigating the incident at Star Cluster Academy, he felt a slight relief.


    It seemed that the higher-ups were indeed paying attention to this issue.


    Moreover, this was a public mission, meaning even if someone else took it, they could still participate.


    Without any hesitation, he epted the mission and began to browse other shared tasks.


    But as he turned around, he saw a surprisingly familiar figure.


    "Why are you here?"


    John asked, somewhat surprised, unable to help himself.


    The person turned around, and upon seeing John, disyed no particr emotion, maintaining a cold demeanor.


    "Why can''t I be here?" The response left John somewhat speechless.


    "I was just curious."


    After all... this girl''s identity wouldn''t normally bring her to a ce like this.


    With all the resources House Medici had at its disposal, why would shee to Hidden Stars?


    Isabe nced at John, "I joined Hidden Stars. Why can''t I be here?"


    This statementpletely baffled John.


    Isabe had joined Hidden Stars?


    Each word individually he understood, but put together, it seemed incredulous to him.


    After hesitating for a while, he finally managed to squeeze out a question.


    "Has House Medici be so impoverished that it''s about to go bankrupt?"


    Otherwise, why would their family''s youngdye to Hidden Stars to take on missions?


    One very important reason he had joined Hidden Stars was because the missions paid well!


    Often amounting to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of federal coins—who wouldn''t be tempted?


    John was still pondering whether House Medici was facing bankruptcy when the next second, he felt his hair stand on end!


    Instinctively, he performed a sideways somersault to dodge!


    Boom!


    A fireball struck exactly where he had been standing, sting a hole in the marble floor!


    Had it not been for his quick reflexes, that fireball would have hit him directly.


    The air was still tinged with the scent of the fireball and the heat of the explosion.


    People around couldn''t help but look over, but when they saw John and Isabe, they silently swallowed any words they were about to say.


    One was the recently renowned star of the alliance, and the other was the youngdy of House Medici—both were individuals they could not afford to offend!


    John nced at Isabe, furrowing his brow slightly.


    "What''s going on? Why would you suddenly attack like that?"


    Isabe, holding a staff and pointing it at John, responded, "House Medici isn''t something you can just casually talk about!"


    John was taken aback and touched his nose, "I was just joking, you know. There''s no need to take it so seriously. I apologize now, okay? I''m sorry."


    John had merely made a casual joke, not expecting the girl to take it so seriously.


    He thought the apology would smooth things over, but Isabe still stared at him intensely, her eyes almost bursting with a fighting spirit.


    "I''ve told you, I want to fight you."


    "Pick a time," she added.


    What?


    John nced at Isabe, realizing she was serious and not joking at all.


    He couldn''t help but smile wryly, "I thought after everything we went through in the secret realm, we were friends."


    After all, they had survived life and death together.


    They had escaped from the secret realm together, fought bosses together, and faced off against semigod-tier opponents.


    This should qualify as a bond forged through life and death.


    So why did this girl still harbor such strong hostility?


    "Friend."


    For Isabe, those were strangely unfamiliar words that weighed heavily on her heart.


    From childhood, her daily routine consisted only of training and more training! She strived to be the best, to do everything an heir should do.


    Her onlypanions were those who trained alongside her.


    Even her own brother regarded her as apetitor.


    The word "friend" was indeed alien to Isabe.


    Yet, despite this, she still wanted to challenge John to a fight!


    She knew John was incredibly strong, hailed as the alliance''s top genius, but Isabe was not weak either!


    She wanted topare their strengths to see who was truly superior.


    Isabe''s lips tightened slightly, but her hand did not withdraw the staff.


    "This has nothing to do with a formal challenge."


    Even if they were friends, it wouldn''t change the fact that they had to fight! John, somewhat helpless, nced at the hesitant staff nearby.


    "Even if we have to fight, we can''t do it here, right?"


    Hearing this, Isabe''s eyes lit up.


    "So you agree then, let''s go outside right now!"


    "Forget it, I just got out of the hospital and you''re already looking to fight me; it doesn''t seem quite appropriate. And..."


    John paused, pointing to the new mission that had just been posted.


    "I''m more interested in figuring out what this mission is all about right now. Besides, the implications this time are too significant; the school was almost dragged into it."


    Star Cluster Academy was nearly undermined!


    After such a huge debacle, Principal Sophia definitely wouldn''t let it rest, hence this mission must have been posted.


    Isabe slightly lowered her eyes, concealing the surge ofbativeness within them.


    Investigating what had actually happened was indeed crucial now.


    Those who dared to target Star Cluster Academy clearly wouldn''t hesitate to target them as well!


    If this malignancy wasn''t removed, the dangers they would face could only escte.


    Slowly, Isabe sheathed her staff, and when she looked at John again, her gaze had returned to its usual calmness.


    "Whenever you have time, I''ll be ready to face you."


    After saying this, Isabe turned and left, not lingering any longer at the site.


    John watched her retreating figure and couldn''t help but find it somewhat amusing.


    This girl certainly had a dashing and direct manner, without any diforting airs about her.


    But...


    He shook his head slightly.


    Her straightforward nature was extreme; sometimes she probably just couldn''t grasp what others truly meant.


    Just then, a staff member cautiously approached.


    "Um... Mr. John, should we send the bill for the floor repairs to you, or...?"


    The staff member smiled awkwardly, their eyes conveying a hint of trepidation.


    John was momentarily confused and instinctively nced in the direction Isabe had left.


    He was just about to call out to Isabe, but she had already walked out the door.


    He looked at the hole in the ground and then back at the staff member, rubbing his forehead with a hint of a headache.


    "Alright, just send the bill to meter, I''ll take care of it."


    The staff member immediately rxed, a smile spreading across their face.


    "Okay, I''ll send you the billter."


    "You seem pretty rxed here, stirring up trouble right after getting discharged."


    Just as John was seeing off the staff member, he heard a cool voice from behind.


    Turning around, who else could it be but Seraphina?


    Seraphina stood with her arms crossed, a teasing look in her eyes as she gazed at John.


    "What are you doing here?"


    John felt somewhat exasperated, wondering how he could encounter so many acquaintances today just bying to Hidden Stars for a task.


    Seraphina arched an eyebrow, "Why can''t I be here? Did I interrupt your chat with some other girl?"


    John found Seraphina''sment a bit odd but couldn''t pinpoint exactly what was strange about it.


    "What other girl?"


    He was here for a mission, not to flirt around.


    Why did that remark sound so oddly misced?