Varian waited silently in the Dean's block.
The Dean's block was a floating building in the centre of the academy. Naturally, it was a forbidden area that students can't casually enter.
The entry needed a special pass. Usually, only senior staff have a permanent pass.
But after Sarah received the reply, he was granted a temporary pass. Sarah and Anna had permanent passes, of course.
So Varian escaped the scenario of guards blocking the entry and a face slapping fight.
Dean's block was white. Literally.. The floors, the ceilings, the walls, everything was crystal white.
Varian wondered if this was a quirk as they entered the building. Sarah said she had something to 'submit' whilst he met her father.
He guessed it was the evidence of Astor Clan's collusion. But since she didn't specify it, he didn't ask.
Anna declared she would wait in a park outside. For some reason, she seemed to be avoiding Evander.
Sarah was familiar with the place and with her help, he calmly reached the waiting room without any trouble.
But the gazes of the high awakeners around him were disturbing, to put it mildly. It made him feel like a rare museum piece.
All of them recognized Sarah as well.
Then someone recalled an announcement by the federation a month ago and checked the message.
"You're that missing cadet!" A level 7 staff exclaimed.
"How did you survive?"
"What is your relationship with Sarah?"
Varian didn't specifically ask about the news and his overly clever little ghost, Boo didn't check.
So they were both ignorant about the federation message when he went missing.
But with a quick search on the meta net:
{The army has announced federation wide search for the cadet named Varian. The details are below. If you find him, alive or dead, please report to the Imperial Defense Academy. The reward is personally guaranteed by Evander, Steelheart.}
'What the fuck?' Varian nearly cursed.
He pointed the announcement to Sarah and raised an eyebrow.
"Announcements like these are not uncommon, right?"
She tried to put on an expressionless face and nodded. "There will be such announcements every month. Missing cases, terrorists, major power's family members suspected of kidnap or assassination."
Varian gritted his teeth. "For a cadet, and especially a first year, it is very uncommon, right?"
Sarah's face turned stiff, but she immediately changed her expression to a jovial one.
"Once they know you're alive, your popularity will rise."
"...So I'll be a monkey wherever I go." Varian sighed in defeat.
Sarah coughed and patted his shoulder. "Be optimistic like me."
Varian rolled his eyes and stopped talking.
Many cadets die every year. But only he got this treatment. He knew she was the one responsible.
Despite the troubles it would cause later on, the act itself was based on good intentions.
'She must have been really worried about me.' Varian smiled lightly and then thought of his friends.
'Boo, add the top task on the to-do list. I should contact them as soon as possible.'
'But master, what about getting rich?'
'...Boo, I'm ashamed to have a greedy AI like you.'
'Waa! I'm not greedy.' Boo cried out.
Varian ignored the wails of the ghost and tried to mimic Sarah's expressionless face as he faced the weird gazes.
But still, the attention he got only rose.
Everyone in the building was an important person. Even the most random mob was a Level 6 and a peak one at that.
There were a lot of people in the waiting room.
Sarah told him there was no fixed appointments. They could only meet Evander when he was free.
The order of meeting was also decided by Evander based on the importance and urgency.
Despite the weird gazes, Varian was thankful there was no young master here who thought he sneaked in or something to expel him.
Wait, but what about Sarah's presence?
He glanced at her.
Sarah sat gracefully with a confident smile.
He carefully examined the stunning beauty seated beside him.
Her golden blonde hair flowed down to her waist and her blue eyes shone with an intoxicating charm.
With a stunning face and fairly developed curves, she was one of, if not the most beautiful woman on the campus.
Even in strength, she stood at the very top. She was ranked third in amethyst list despite being a second year.
If not for her being a dual awakener cutting off her chances as a Sovereign, she might as well be more valued than Charles.
But regardless, one fact was indisputable.
Sarah Albert was the number one goddess of the cadets.
Usually, any normal man would be drawn to her beauty.
But sitting with her, talking to her and even after an unintentional hug, Varian didn't feel overwhelmed.
It was a weird feeling. Like a he was already used to it and thus, developed immunity to beauties.
'Sia?' He shook his head.
The oldest he saw her was only at 15 years. To Varian, that age was still in the category of 'cuteness'.
At Sarah's age, he was sure Sia would be outrageously beautiful.
'Speaking of which,' Varian turned to the smiling Sarah and glanced around.
'Where are her suitors? Right after knowing their goddess is with a nameless first year cadet, shouldn't they rush and try to suppress me in jealousy?'
Varian clutched his forehead. 'Right?'
"Varian." Sarah's nudged him.
"Yes?!" He stood up in shock.
"Varian Konstant. Second call." the AI's announcement filled the room.
In the pairs of eyes that yelled 'How dare you space out here?', Varian took a deep breath.
"Don't be so nervous. He's not going to eat you." Sarah tried to comfort.
Varian didn't correct her but instead nodded, "Thanks for the help. You'll know my purpose once I'm out."
"Good luck. I'll tell you what I was going to do once you come out." She smiled and then seemed to recall something.
"I remember your first meeting didn't go well. At least, you aren't late this time." Sarah snickered.
The corner of Varian's mouth twitched, and he glared at Sarah who was enjoying herself.
But she was wrong. This time, he wasn't depending on luck.
Things will go as planned in the best case.
In the worst case…
'Boo, is that ready?'
'Yes, master. I will teleport you out the moment we sense danger.'
During his raid of a hundred hideouts, Varian collected a hundred Cross Tunnel Formations and lots of aura crystals.
Superposing those special formations with Boo's broken but still existing space sub system, an escape formation is created after many cross tunnel formations.
Boo warned its space sub system would be burdened by the usage and would likely break after a usage or two.
That in turn would mean Varian had to pump in more resources to repair it to the peak.
But Varian still let it prepare the escape formation. He got but one life. What was the use to save resources if you couldn't live?
If the plan goes awry, Boo would use the formation and teleport him out to a safe distance.
Then he'd enter the space shuttle and using stealth mode, escape.
Of course, it was the worst-case scenario.
Varian was confident he'd achieve his goal.
He reached the Dean's office and stood patiently as the scanning light ran over him.
The sleek white door opened and Varian stepped in with anticipation.
It was a large room with few materials.
Evander was seated in a high chair and was reading through a holographic document projected by a comm on the table.
The table in front was filled with lots of comms marked by some weird coordinates.
Randomly, a few comms would flash in various colors before going back to normal.
Varian observed the comms that were flashing in darker shades were paid more attention to and the lighter ones were ignored.
Evander seemed to be immersed in his work, but he still spoke. "You saved her and must be expecting a reward. Say, what do you want?"
Varian squinted his eyes and walked a few steps closer.
Now he was only a dozen meters away from Evander and was standing right in front.
Varian said, no declared with confidence. "Make me your disciple."
Evander thought he misheard it. So he repeated. "Don't waste my time."
Varian's voice was slightly raised, and he said with a tone that showed absolute confidence. "If you want humanity to survive, make me your disciple."