Chapter 240: Chapter 240 New Cards.

"This is utterly amazing?!".Soma and the other two girls turned their attention to Serafina, who seemed shocked seeing the gauntlet's description. He could see her finger tremble and almost let slip the monocle on her finger.

"So, how was it?".

"You better look at it yourself".

Serafina snapped out of her shocked mind and threw the two items at Soma's hands. Soma wondered what had caused her to act like that, so he began to place the monocle near his right eye and read the description on his gauntlets.

No words came out from his opened jaw. He could only let out a gasp that made all of the blood inside his body boil in excitement.

The skill, the bonus and the durability had exceeded his expectations. Then he focused his intention on the words 'Set', mentioning the other pairs. Soma stored the gauntlets, took out the boots, and saw its description, which blew his mind.

"Haha, this is insane!".

Soma secretly cheered inside his heart, for he gladly had that many options in his card to play in the battle. He put away the boots into the relics and began to give the monocle back to Serafina's hands, which seemed filled with the other weapons from the girls.

"Senior Sera, can I?".

"Senior, please".

"Okay, Hina, Xiao Lian, let's look at it together".

The three girls began to squeal in delight and cheerfully liven up the atmosphere in the limousine. Alan, in front, had a slight smile, seeing his young Lady having that much joy that rarely came up because of the situation in her family.

Alan secretly casts his gaze on Soma and the other two girls, feeling immense gratitude for their honesty to his Young Lady who could bring forth her genuine smile.

The limousine rode on the quiet road. It passed the bridge that connected the west district to the central one. Eventually, after thirty more minutes had passed, they arrived at the entrance of the Academy, where Lucy had already awaited their coming.

The car speeds slowed down before it parked in front of the gate to the Academy, and Alan hurriedly did his job opening a way for his Young Lady to make an entrance. Once Serafina was out, she was followed by the other. It made the other student council members behind Lucy stiffen their faces in wonder.

However, amid that, only Lucy, with her calm expression, greeted Serafina, her best friend, in a welcome hug.

"Sera, it's been a while".

"Lucy, will you quit it? It's pretty embarrassing if you do this outside, you know".

"Fufu, Well, I just want to encourage my best friend after her trips got wrecked".

"Well, thanks for that".

The two friends separate themselves before Lucy shifts her attention toward the girls and Soma.

"You guys, too, welcome".

Lucy approached the girls, who stood dumbfounded by her attitude, and suddenly hugged them; then, she also did the same to Soma, albeit briefly.

The soft, warm, flowery milky scent that drafted into Soma's nose had slightly stiffened his face, making the girls in his gang shoot a rather intriguing glare. But Soma handled it with his calm smile and greeted her back.

"Thanks for welcoming us, too".

"No, I heard the news from Kaori. It must be hard, future Awakeners of Japan".

"Well, news sure spreads fast these days".

"Fufu, indeed, without realising it, our first year had birthed many phenomenal individuals".

"Thank you for that".

"Fufu, you are welcome".

Serafina, Hina and Xiao Lian, who saw their exchange, began to form a circle while whispering softly within those encirclements, which made the atmosphere turn awkward.

Lucy, who noticed them, tilted her head to the side while absentmindedly approaching their side and spoke, startled them all.

"Sera".

"Yes! What's up, Lucy?".

"Fufu, nothing. Thank you for accepting my sudden request".

"Ah, no need; I'm also one of the Student Council members, after all".

"I'm glad to hear that".

"So, when will they be arriving?".

"They will arrive approximately at fifteen".

"I see we still have much time".

Soma Hina and Xiao Lian, who stand behind them, keep listening to their talk while he keeps his vigilance to the max, observing if there are any ears that would listen to his whisper.

"Hina, are you willing to support me?".

Hina, who suddenly got called, turned her attention to her side and saw Soma in a solemn mood, as if he was preparing something. She remembers their exchange at that trial gate; this was the look when Soma was prepared to battle and was a formidable foe.

She unconsciously clenched her fist together and roused her fiery heart, then nodded her head, chuckling.

"I will stand and protect you no matter what it takes".

"Thanks".

Xiao Lian, who had a dumbfounded expression on her face, glanced at Soma and Hina, who had that small ominous talk they had. She could feel the strong bond that was created between them, and it was such a beautiful and amazing thing.

As her stubborn nature of wanting to compete with Hina flared up, She tugged Soma's sleeves and made Soma turn his attention to her.

"Xiao Lian?".

"I too, will support you".

Soma gazes into those fiery, resolute eyes from Xiao Lian, the same eyes that Hina had, while she lifted the corner of her lips beside Soma, looking at her.

"Ah, Thank you, Xiao Lian. I'm counting on you".

"Mm".

Serafina bid her farewell with Alan and Soma's gang. They were guided into the student council building that stood independently outside the academy on the west side of the academy area.

It had a solid structure with European style, built with enhanced materials and a mana core as an energy source. The building had two floors and many windows to give the aesthetic colour to the building; it cast an intense glare from the reflected sun that scorched the ground.

As the group was being led to the audience room, they were welcomed by a wide interior with many antique, sophisticated drawings and furniture that pleased the eyes. In the middle of the room is a round, soft red carpet with a rectangular table on top, surrounded by four sofas.

Meanwhile, Soma was knitting his brows a little for the excessive decoration.

"Everyone, please guide our guests to this room if they arrive".

"Understood, President".

The other student council members bid their farewell, leaving only Lucy and Soma's gang inside.

"You guys, please have a seat".

Lucy began to take some utensils to make tea and started to brew some water in the long closet on the right wall.

"I'll help as well".

Hina, out of nowhere, approached Lucy's side, which made Lucy open her eyes wide briefly before she softly smiled.

"Thank you, Hina".

While the two of them brewed tea, Serafina noticed Xiao Lian, who seemed restless after being told by Soma earlier, as she sat beside Xiao Lian. Serafina opened her mouth.

"What's the matter, Xiao Lian?".

"?!...Nothing, just waiting".

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Soma, who sat on the sofa, took a necklace from his relic and put it on his neck as he recalled his conversation with Akane on the beach yesterday.

***

"Akane, do you know the man named Mark in the academy?".

"Huh?".

Akane was slightly caught off guard as Soma delivered that thrust straight to her tired mind. Slowly, her gear began to operate, and gradually, her dumbfounded face turned to frown.

"What is this, so suddenly?".

"Nothing. I was just wondering if I have the qualifications to ask you something because you already did that to me a moment ago?".

Soma's sudden proposal made Akane rethink her vision regarding the boy in front of her.

"What do you want?".

"I heard some rumours about him that he is an exceptional awakener from the US, and he was being scouted by many guilds and even clans out there to gain his sign?".

"...".

She didn't utter any words as the words leaked from Soma were already all the information that could picture Mark.

"...Yes, he is like the one you heard".

"I see".

As far as Soma can recall, the setting was still the same as what Mark had described in the novel.

"Is that all you want to know?".

"No, I want to hear what kind of guy he is, ever since he entered the academy and what kind of achievement he has had since he became famous like that".

Akane slightly knits her brows while glaring at Soma, who maintains his calm face. Eventually, she sighed in resignation and began to tell him everything she knew about the man named Mark, a third-year senior in the academy.

Soma opened his ears as Akane explained the details. Luckily, it still retained its originality, far from the obstruction of the author. But he still needed something solid to prove his assumption, something that eye-catching who identified them.

"Does nothing change in his appearance or traits?".

"You have been persistent since earlier. Is that guy truly filling your mind?".

"Please, Akane, I can only ask this from you, who are good at observing".

Seeing Soma stubbornly probing, Akane clicked her tongue briefly as she closed her eyes, recalling something. The two of them muted for a while as Akane kept humming while searching for her memories.

"Ah!".

"Do you recall it?".

"Yeah, from one of my subord… Ehem, my friend. Mark had always been wearing a necklace that never left his neck".

"...Necklace?!".

Soma was dumbfounded hearing that. Gradually, his brows knitted as he remembered a certain someone wearing it, too, to infiltrate the city.

"Thanks, Akane. That was truly helpful".

***

The room was filled with a comforting atmosphere as the girls began to be engrossed in their talks, livening up the atmosphere while waiting for the guests. Suddenly, the door in the room knocked thrice, and a female voice came from behind the door.

"Excuse me, president, Mark and his companions have returned".

"Let them in!".

With her bold tone, Lucy instructed her fellow student council, and the door creaked softly, revealing a tall, bulky man with short blonde hair and broad shoulders, wearing the same uniform academy, walked in with his other two females behind him.

"Mark, it's been a while, isn't it".

"Yes, indeed president, Hm? It seems lively here?".

"Ah, Sorry about that. They are my guests, do you mind them?".

"No, leave them be! I don't mind because I only need to give you the report and some explanation regarding our expedition".

"I'm glad, then please have a seat, Mark".

Mark nodded his head, and he began to walk, approaching the still-empty sofa, followed by his two female students behind.

His body was like a pillar standing two meters tall with a bulky appearance, making him a walking bodybuilder. His face was a bit stern, but it couldn't conceal his handsome face, which had sharp eyes and blue pupils.

However, that appearance didn't faze Soma a bit; he kept observing Mark and caught something shining in silver as Mark squatted to his seat. It was brief, but Soma caught that clearly.

"What is it, Boy?".

"Senior, that necklace in your neck, I wonder if you could show it to me?".