Skull clapped his hands and nodded approvingly at Lucius’s decision. He had never been fond of Guardians who reduced themselves to the Hero role, only to spend the rest of their careers taking modeling gigs, starring in movies, and pursuing other forms of celebrity work.
In his eyes, they ended up becoming celebrities who enjoyed the privileges associated with being Guardians without making the real sacrifices that came with the title. To Skull, being a Guardian meant putting your life on the line, and Hunters were the ones who actually did that.
"So how does the Contribution Point system have to do with the academy?" Lucius asked curiously.
"EVERYTHING!" Skull, William, and Luke screamed all at once as they glanced toward him.
Lucius immediately shrank back from the combined volume of their voices, but his shocked expression quickly turned into pure terror when his gaze shifted toward William. The man’s eyes had somehow left the road again.
"Bastard, keep your eyes on the road!" Lucius barked.
"Ooh..." William mumbled before quickly turning his attention back to the road.
"Are you trying to get us killed?" Skull and Luke both glared at William, who simply tightened his grip on the steering wheel and pretended not to hear them.
Meanwhile, Lucius facepalmed, his chest heaving slightly from the shock he had just endured. He had only been in the vehicle for a few hours, yet he was already beginning to understand why these people had survived the apocalypse despite behaving like complete idiots.
"Don’t ever let this guy drive me again," Lucius said flatly.
"Understood." Skull immediately saluted.
Lucius nodded in satisfaction before returning his attention to him. "Now tell me how the Contribution Point system affects the academy."
Skull adjusted himself in his seat and cleared his throat before continuing. "Think of it this way. The academy is basically you learning on the job. The ultimate goal is to reach the five thousand benchmark. Everyone is ranked according to how many Contribution Points they have accumulated, and the higher your grade, the more resources are spent on you."
Luke nodded from the front seat. "Competition in the academy is fierce, especially since students are few because Guardians are rare. So it’s much more personal and entertaining for everyone else who are just outside watching."
"Absolutely!" William chipped in. "That’s why American Academy Television1 is by far the most popular network in the country and probably the entire world."
Lucius blinked, genuine surprise written all over his face. "People will watch us?"
Lucius stared ahead for a moment, completely dazed. He had expected the academy to be a place where young Guardians trained, completed missions, and accumulated Contribution Points. He had not expected the entire process to be turned into entertainment for the public. All of this was truly beyond his expectations.
"Sir, we are here!" William called out.
Lucius turned toward the window, and his eyes widened at the sight of towering reinforced walls and enormous gates standing before them. They resembled the massive walls surrounding the state, although these were just under fifty meters tall. Automated Aether rifles were mounted along the walls, their barrels immediately shifting toward the approaching vehicle and tracking it as they moved closer to the gates.
Skull quickly handed a black card to William. William rolled down the window and passed it to one of the soldiers stationed at the entrance. Lucius noticed the soldier’s expression change the moment he examined the card. The man’s eyes widened, and he glanced toward the back seat with genuine shock.
"He’s the one? I thought headquarters was pulling a prank," the soldier gasped.
Skull merely grinned while the soldier and William exchanged a few words. After the brief conversation, the massive gates slowly slid open, and the vehicle passed through.
By this point, it was already 9 p.m., but their journey was not over. It took another thirty minutes before they finally reached the residential area of the academy, which was essentially a massive estate filled with luxurious duplexes.
The car drove past several buildings with their outdoor lights already glowing against the darkness until they finally reached one without any outdoor lights. William immediately turned toward it and drove inside.
Honk! Honk!
William pressed the horn several times, leaving Lucius staring at him in confusion.
"How do you drive into an empty building and start blowing the horn? How do you expect people to be there?" Lucius asked.
"People are there, don’t worry. There are always three maids assigned to each residence to constantly maintain it in anticipation of the arrival of a new Guardian," Skull explained.
Lucius opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say anything, the door of the building opened. Two women and one man emerged from inside, all three dressed in professional black and white maid attire. They immediately moved toward the vehicle with practiced steps.
Clank!
Lucius’s attention shifted when his own door opened, and he saw Luke standing outside. He then turned toward Lia, who was still sleeping peacefully against him. Lucius gently shook her shoulder.
When she did not respond, Lucius repeated himself a few times, gently brushing her shoulder until Lia finally stirred. She rubbed her eyes sleepily and looked up at him, still struggling to wake herself fully.
"Hey... We’re here now. It’s time to wash up and eat something. I know you’re hungry," Lucius said gently.
Only then did her eyes open fully. Lia nodded, and Lucius helped her out of the vehicle before walking beside her toward the entrance of the residence.
The three maids immediately bowed respectfully as Lucius and Lia approached. "I’m Ben. I am here to serve you, esteemed Guardian," the dark skinned man in his mid twenties said respectfully. He looked like an ordinary man of his age, with nothing particularly remarkable about his appearance.
"I’m Emma. I am here to serve you, esteemed Guardian," Emma followed. She was a light skinned blonde with an attractive figure and a bright smile, her eyes remaining fixed intently on Lucius as she spoke.
Her heavy breasts were the most interesting thing about her.
"I am Isabella. I am here to serve you, esteemed Guardian," Isabella added. She was clearly Latina, with a busty and mouthwatering figure that briefly caught Lucius’s attention.
If it were not for the identical, rehearsed lines and the almost soulless tone all three used, Lucius was certain he would have been more impressed by their beauty. Instead, the stiff introductions and their almost condescending gazes irritated him. It felt less like a genuine welcome and more like they were performing a role they had repeated countless times for previous residents.
"Our Guardian Candidate here is not only the first Dual Talented Guardian in the history of America, but his potential is rated S+," Skull barked out before Lucius could even introduce himself. "Serve him well, and you all have a good future ahead of you!"
Buzz!
The change was immediate. All three maids suddenly looked at Lucius with far more life in their eyes. Their previously rehearsed expressions vanished, replaced by genuine shock as they stared at him.
"E... Welcome... Welcome, Great Guardian!" Ben stuttered.
Emma and Isabella both tried to say something, but Lucius did not give them the opportunity. He simply led Lia past them and walked directly into the house without bothering to respond to their sudden change in attitude.
He had already spent an exhausting day dealing with soldiers, scientists, and people trying to exploit him. The last thing he wanted was another round of desperate exploiters.
"Just show us our room and prepare our food while we wash up..." Lucius said in a dull voice as he continued walking inside.