Chapter 130: Chapter 130: System's Fans

"I can't believe I'm standing in front of the one and only Elio Von Elian!" exclaimed the young woman, her eyes sparkling with unbridled excitement. "Is it true that you fought an army of monsters all by yourself?"

Elio, visibly uncomfortable with the attention, scratched the back of his neck. His cheeks flushed slightly as he tried to downplay his achievements. "Uh, not exactly. I was actually just thrown down there and managed to return..."

"Incredible!" the young woman interrupted, hanging on his every word(?). "And is it true that you can control all the elements?"

"Well, only..."

"Fascinating! Could you sign my spear later?"

Kriz, observing the scene with amusement, leaned towards Brok. His eyes twinkled with mischief as he whispered, "Looks like our dear leader has a fan."

Brok nodded solemnly, his massive frame casting a shadow over Kriz. "Yes, we should warn him about the dangers of fame. Soon he'll have dozens following him all over the city."

"Oh, oh," Kriz feigned concern, dramatically placing a hand on his forehead. "Imagine the gossip: 'Revolutionary leader caught in core scandal'. The horror."

A lady in the line looked at them with disapproval, her lips pursed tightly. "You two should show more respect. Young Von Elio is doing a great job."

Kriz bowed in an exaggerated reverence, nearly touching his toes. "You're right, my esteemed lady. We are scoundrels. Would you forgive us if we give you extra cores?"

The lady narrowed her eyes. "Don't even think about it, young man. I want my cores fair and well counted."

♢♢♢♢

Meanwhile, Ren continued with his calculations, his brow furrowed in concentration. "If we consider the variations in transfer time between men and women, and adjust for the necessary breaks..."

Micah, passing by again, snatched the paper from Ren's hands. "Ren, my dear obsessive-compulsive friend, have you considered using all that brain power to, I don't know, enjoy the moment?"

Ren tried to recover his paper, his hands grasping at the air. "But the numbers..."

"The numbers will be there tomorrow," Micah insisted, holding the paper just out of Ren's reach. "Look around you. We're making history."

Indeed, the square was bustling with activity.

Citizens of all ages approached, their faces a mixture of anticipation and wonder. Each core transfer was received with expressions of amazement and gratitude, the air filled with gasps of awe and excited chatter.

At Zara's stand, a little girl tugged at her mother's skirt, her enormous eyes fixed on the salamander that had just appeared. The creature's skin shimmered with an otherworldly glow, captivating the child's attention.

"Mommy, mommy! Look, you have a frog!"

Zara knelt to be at the girl's eye level, her voice soft and patient. "It's not a frog, little one. For the frog, you need to be level 2. This is a salamander. It will be your mother's companion and protector."

"Oh, your company is a delight," Kriz replied with an exaggerated wink. "But even the most loyal slaves need something to fill their empty stomachs."

Elio let out a hearty laugh, shaking his head. "Relax, Kriz. I didn't just help you get to level 3 so you could get more daily mana... I wasn't planning on making you work for free either. I'm going to give each of you 1000 mana points daily."

Kriz's eyes widened in disbelief. "A thousand points? Is this a fatigue-induced hallucination?"

"It's real," Elio confirmed, his expression turning serious. "And there will be more. I can't say exactly how much because I still don't know how much we'll need for the reforms, but I want you to know that I value your effort and loyalty."

Brok, who had approached upon overhearing the conversation, gave Elio a pat on the back that, to his dismay, didn't move him an inch. "I knew you wouldn't let us down, boss. Although, if you really want to make it up to us, you could also consider giving us a day off."

"Don't push your luck," Elio joked, though his eyes sparkled with affection for his friends.

♢♢♢♢

Meanwhile, Zara finished attending to the last citizen in her line. With a sigh of relief, she closed her book and looked towards where Elio was standing.

Elio, exhausted yet satisfied, was getting ready to attend to the last few citizens in the core distribution line. Ember, his loyal salamander, rested on his shoulder, her eyes alert to every movement her master made.

Her heart skipped a beat when she saw him smiling and joking with the others, his face lit up with warmth and camaraderie.

Gathering all her courage, she decided it was the perfect moment to talk to him. The events of the past few days had brought them closer, and Zara felt a growing warmth in her chest whenever she looked at Elio.

Maybe, just maybe, it was time to explore those feelings.

However, as she approached, she noticed that Elio still had a small line of people waiting.

Not wanting to interrupt, Zara sat on a nearby bench, determined to talk to Elio once he was done. Her salamander, which she had named Flare, curled affectionately around her neck, emitting a gentle, comforting warmth.

She watched Elio interact with the citizens, admiring the way he treated each person with genuine interest and respect.

It was then that she saw them.

Four stunningly beautiful young women were approaching Elio's line. Their movements were graceful, almost feline, and their eyes shone with cunning and seduction. Zara felt as if she had been punched in the stomach, a sudden wave of jealousy washing over her.

The newcomers placed themselves at the end of the line, but their presence was impossible to ignore. They whispered among themselves, casting coquettish glances in Elio's direction.

Zara could feel her heart sinking with each passing moment.

When it was finally their turn, Elio seemed momentarily stunned. The first of them, a redhead with piercing green eyes, leaned in more than necessary as she extended her book. Her hand brushed against Elio's as she handed it over.

"Oh, great Von Elio," she purred, her voice dripping like honey, "it's an honor to be in your presence. You've saved our city."