At times like this, I’d usually argue that monetary rewards weren’t necessary. But reality had proven otherwise—people rarely gave their best unless they had something personal to gain. Concepts like glory and bettering society? Just fairytales.


    That’s why credits remained the best carrot-and-stick system.


    Larrisa glanced at me from her desk. “Arc, what do you think? Should we cancel the funding for college reconstruction?”


    I shook my head. “No, don’t cancel it. But I think we should create something else entirely.”


    Larrisa raised a brow, intrigued. “Another one of your medieval ideas? I’m in. Tell me.”


    “It’s not always medieval,” I defended. “This time, I want to establish an academy with a ranking system. The higher the rank, the better the rewards. This way, kids will compete harder and grow stronger faster.”


    She smirked. “So basically… you want to create a fight club?”


    I shrugged. “Call it what you want. But it’ll work. And yeah, credits will flow like water, but the results will be worth it.”


    Leaning back in my chair, I continued in a calmer voice, “There are planets in our solar system without portals. If we ever need to evacuate, we’ll need strong, capable people with different skills and ideals to push us through. A little extra work won’t stop me from reaching that goal.”


    Larrisa stared at me for a moment before smiling faintly. “Not gonna lie—I’m impressed. I usually am, but today? Even more.”


    I chuckled. “And I have Azrael too, to take my place when there’s too much work.”


    She immediately gave me a side-eye. “I take my words back.”


    “Oh, come on. I’m his brother. Working him like a slave is my birthright.”


    Larrisa’s face twisted in disgust. That kinda hurt.


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    “You are despicable… Hehe, but I’m in.”


    My eyes involuntarily blinked a few times. Did we just form a team to bully Azrael?


    Hell yeah.


    Right on cue, there was a knock at the door.


    “Can I come in? Or are you guys getting freaky?” Azrael’s voice rang from outside.


    I faintly heard Larrisa cracking her fingers. This guy was doomed.


    “Yeah, come in,” I said, barely containing my amusement.


    Azrael entered casually—completely unaware of the impending storm.


    I clasped my hands together and prayed that his end wouldn’t be painless.


    Larrisa eyed him up and down. “Did you finish your laps—never mind.”


    I followed her gaze and instantly understood.


    Azrael was drenched in sweat, yet somehow, his already glowing skin was glowing even more.


    What kind of discrimination was this? I don’t glow when I’m drenched!


    “Why didn’t you just use your powers to dry yourself?” I asked. Then it hit me. “Oh wait—you wanted to prove you ran, didn’t you?”


    Azrael smirked.


    Larrisa cleared her throat, her voice slightly unsteady. “I… I can see that you ran. You can change now.”


    Wait. Was she… flustered?


    Azrael snapped his fingers, instantly drying himself and changing his clothes. Junia’s techs are ridiculously convenient.


    “What should I do now?” he asked.


    Larrisa regained her composure. “You don’t have any immediate tasks. If there’s a portal breach, you’ll get a notification. If it’s within your level, you’ll be dispatched.”


    Azrael nodded, deep in thought. Then, without another word, he turned to leave.


    “I’m gonna go train. There are portals here too, right?”


    “Yeah, just ask the officers for directions,” I replied. “The castle is huge.”


    “I know,” he said nonchalantly. “It has a circumference of 5000 meters.”


    Larrisa blinked. “Wait… why were you calculating the circumference?”


    Azrael sighed, clearly annoyed. “Didn’t you tell me to run twenty laps?”


    Silence.


    Then—


    “YOU RAN AROUND THE ENTIRE CASTLE?!”


    Azrael frowned. “Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you tell me to?”


    Larrisa grabbed her head in frustration. “You moron! I meant twenty laps around the training field, not the whole castle!”


    “How was I supposed to know that?!”


    She groaned. “Fine! Just go train before I lose my mind.”


    Azrael didn’t argue. He simply left.


    I sat there, blinking.


    Why do I hear boss music?


    ……


    Fortunately, nothing happened, and I survived the rest of the day. I would genuinely freak out if I got assigned any more work.


    Administration was not my thing. But money was money, so I had to deal with it.


    By the time 7 PM rolled around, it was time to head home.


    I went to look for Azrael—well, ‘look’ was a stretch. I didn’t have to search long.


    He was chilling near a portal… surrounded by dozens of creature carcasses.


    “Wait, what?!”


    I called out to him, my voice loud enough to echo through the area.


    Azrael turned to me, completely unbothered. “Coming! Don’t shout, my ears will bleed.”


    I scowled. “You’re going to bleed if you don’t explain what the hell is going on here.”


    He stretched lazily. “What’s there to explain? I was training, and these guys just kept popping up. So I killed them.”


    I massaged my temples. “Azrael. These creatures wouldn’t have kept coming if you moved every hour. At least step outside the portal’s radius once in a while!”


    “Nah, too much effort. My lazy ass couldn’t move that much.”


    I sighed, my will to argue evaporating.


    This guy…


    I made a mental note to get him scolded when we got home.


    “Let’s just go. I don’t even wanna talk about your laziness.”


    Azrael nodded, hopping into the car like nothing had happened.


    On the way home, we bantered for absolutely no reason.


    And somehow… that was the most normal part of my day.