Cleaver Of Sin

Chapter 279: Price List

In a silver flash, Asher appeared in his room, with Virelass still floating silently beside him. Asher sighed the moment he materialized, his expression calm yet subtly tired. Without missing a beat, he turned toward the door and opened it. The hinges creaked softly as he stepped into the hallway, his steps echoing faintly through the empty corridor.

As usual, Asher didn’t bother taking the stairs. Instead, he vaulted easily over the staircase railing, descending through the open space with effortless grace as he dropped ten floors in a single motion. The air rushed past him in a blur, yet his figure remained steady, his clothes fluttering like a silver shadow. Landing soundlessly, he straightened as if he had merely taken a step down a single stair.

Outside, the soothing breeze brushed against his face as he exited the building. Almost at the same instant, Finch and the rest of the students he had teleported appeared behind him in a flash of faint light, each of them still holding hands from the teleportation link. The moment their feet touched the ground, they quickly let go, glancing around to steady themselves.

Asher glanced at them briefly, his gaze calm and unreadable, before turning away. He began walking toward the Healing Department, following Instructor Jane’s earlier orders. Normally, he would have gone to bathe and change first, but given his current state, he decided it was best to tend to his injuries immediately.

William soon caught up, his steps falling in rhythm beside Asher’s. He walked in silence for a moment, glancing occasionally at the calm boy beside him before finally speaking. ”Aren’t you a bit too strong for your age?” he asked with a faint tone of disbelief.

Asher’s purple eyes flickered toward him, glowing faintly under the sunlight, before shifting forward again. ”It’s not my fault that I’m just that talented,” Asher replied smoothly, a small, confident smile curling his lips.

William raised an eyebrow, taken aback by the unabashed confidence. ”I didn’t take you for the arrogant type,” he said dryly.

Asher’s lips twitched slightly at the remark. ’Since when has speaking the truth become arrogance?’ he thought to himself with an inward sigh.

They walked in silence for a while after that, their footsteps echoing softly on the marble path. William’s thoughts, however, were far from calm. During the battle exam, he had copied Asher’s elemental affinities and witnessed firsthand his control over them. To William, Asher was already a monster in human form. His mastery over his powers was terrifying enough, but now, seeing his physical prowess, speed, and swordsmanship up close up, William couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of awe, and maybe even unease.

Such speed, control, and strength were not things that could be achieved easily, especially not at their current Life Rank. Even among the most talented students of their generation, none could compare. The gap between Asher and the rest of them wasn’t simply wide, it was overwhelming. Though the Wargrave bloodline was known for its extraordinary physique, William knew this level of power was beyond mere genetics.

Asher broke the silence with a calm voice, his tone casual but laced with curiosity. ”I didn’t know Finch had a talent for business. Since he isn’t particularly gifted in combat, shouldn’t you advise him to quit and enjoy a peaceful life while he can?”

William chuckled softly. ”Ah, that. It’s not that he has any special talent for business. He just loves money, maybe a bit too much. As for telling him to quit and live safely? I don’t think I could do that. Besides,” he added with a faint smile, ”if any disaster ever struck, Finch would probably be the last person among us to die.”

Asher raised an eyebrow, intrigued yet confused by William’s odd confidence. ”And why do you say that?”

”Just a hunch,” William said lightly, his tone amused. In truth, he had never met anyone as absurdly lucky as Fatty Wang. Even after failing to qualify for Star Academy initially, he had somehow lucked his way in after a few students were expelled. To William, that kind of fortune bordered on divine protection.

”Did you really awaken just a year ago?” William asked suddenly, glancing sideways at Asher as they walked. The question had been lingering in his mind for a while. To him, Asher’s power, force, and confidence were far too advanced for someone who had only trained for a single year.

Asher’s expression didn’t change. His calm voice came, smooth as ever. ”Even if I had awakened three years ago and my family decided to keep it secret until now, do you honestly think I’d tell you that, just because you asked?”

William blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected answer. He thought about it for a moment, then nodded slowly. ”Fair enough,” he admitted with a faint smile. ”So that means you really did awaken last year.”

Asher didn’t respond. His silence, paired with the steady rhythm of his footsteps, said more than any words could. William didn’t push further.

Before long, the pair arrived in front of a tall, pristine building. A polished plaque hung above the grand double doors, engraved with elegant letters that read: Healing Department.

Without a word, they stepped inside. The rest of the students who had arrived with Finch followed close behind, curiosity gleaming in their eyes. The interior opened up into a wide, airy lobby filled with light. The marble floors gleamed, reflecting the glow of floating crystals that illuminated the room. Students from other years walked briskly through the corridors, some chatting, others focused, none paying any attention to the newcomers.

Two corridors extended from the lobby, one leading left, the other right. Ahead a polished counter stood a middle-aged man with neatly combed hair, clearly the receptionist. He looked up as they entered and smiled warmly.

”Welcome to the Healing Department,” he said cheerfully. ”Would you like to see our price list?”

At the words ’price list’, the students froze.

”What? I thought this was free!” one of them exclaimed immediately, his expression twisting in disbelief.

”For real! Doesn’t everything in this Academy already cost points? What’s next, charging us for the air we breathe?” another student complained loudly, throwing his hands in the air.

Their voices rose in a mix of annoyance and frustration, echoing across the hall.

Asher sighed softly. ’Truly the Point Sucker Academy,’ he thought. ’Not even healing is free.’

He was already turning to leave. He had no intention of wasting his hard-earned points on treating a few minor injuries. Virelass could easily heal him if needed, though he had refrained from using its power earlier, wanting to conserve his blood reserves and experience the Healing Department firsthand. Besides, given the students’ enhanced physiques, these injuries would heal far faster than those of ordinary humans.

Just as he was about to step out, however, something made him pause. A familiar energy brushed against his senses, warm, composed, yet overwhelmingly powerful. Asher’s footsteps halted, his eyes snapping sharply to the side.

There, standing by one of the inner corridors, was a man with a calm and gentle demeanor. His movements were light, each step graceful, his presence radiating tranquility. Even so, there was a depth to him that made the air feel heavier, as if even his enemies would hesitate to strike him.

Recognition flickered in Asher’s gaze. It was the same man who had effortlessly healed hundreds of students after their battle exam just a few weeks ago, restoring them all with a single snap of his fingers.

Asher’s eyes narrowed faintly, curiosity replacing his earlier disinterest. The atmosphere shifted ever so slightly, the once noisy students falling silent as the man’s calm gaze turned toward them.