“Hello, I am Oliver Kim! Nice to meet all of you!” Oliver introduced himself to the other researchers at the military base in Muna.

“Oh, you’re that woman’s apprentice.” A middle-aged man wearing a lab coat said. “I guess anyone can be appointed as a Head Researcher of a mission. My name is Shido Ito, you should remember my name. Also, stay in your lane. We’ll be the ones handling the material analysis. We don’t need the likes of you kid.”

“But I was the one appointed by Colonel Miyamoto as the Head Researcher of the mission plus I got the Pure Magical Energy Crystals samples from the cave with the others.” Oliver said.

“You’re already giving this new material a name, just how arrogant are you Sol City people?” Shido glared at Oliver. “And someone as young as you wouldn’t have the knowledge to comprehend this. Leave my lab this instant or else I am going to have you imprisoned until you have to leave back to Sol City.”

“Why are you doing this?” Oliver glared at Shido.

“My mentor is Professor Su and I also have a political backer back in the capital.” Shido declared. “So, get out of my face this instant.”

“You …” Oliver clenched his fists. After a moment he could feel someone approaching the room, so he relaxed his palms. “Fine, I will get out of here!”

“You finally realize your place!” Shido mockingly smiled. “If you weren’t that woman’s apprentice, you would get better opportunities.”

“I believe that Mrs. Hashimoto’s mentorship has made me grow more than what I would have grown under Professor Su.” Oliver responded.

“She might be good, but she doesn’t compare to Professor Su or even me.” Shido confidently said. “You shouldn’t have rejected Professor Su’s offer back then, young man.”

Oliver left the lab and could see that the other researchers felt more comfortable now that he was gone. He went outside and took out a shard of a Pure Magical Energy Crystal.

“I knew saving some shards was going to pay off.” Oliver said. “Now, I have to conduct my own research with limited tools.”

Oliver proceeded to take out his Magic Stone Tester and a bunch of Magic Stones. He put a Magic Stone into the tester and noted the reading, he then proceeded to throw a Magic Stone to the shard with as much force as he could, yet nothing happened. He picked up the Magic Stone and put it into the tester again and recorded the reading.

“It lost some energy, but nothing happened.” Oliver said. “I either need a stronger force, or I guess the Magic Amplifier is necessary. But the amplifier is my Elemental Gun, and they are using it to clear the cave from monsters. And I don’t think they will give me the materials to make another one here.”

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“Shouldn’t you be in the lab doing research?” Hiro asked as he walked towards Oliver. “I mean your teammates are hard at work killing monsters.”

“Why don’t you ask Shido?” Oliver responded.

“So, Mr. Ito made you leave, I guess you’re not as good as they told me.” Hiro said in a condescending tone, then his eyes drifted towards the crystal shard. “Why do you have that shard? You guys should have given all the materials you took out from the cave.”

“I went with them yesterday and risked my life. Of course, I would keep one shard.” Oliver responded.

“That doesn’t matter. You must turn in all the shards of this new material.” Hiro reprimanded Oliver. “If I tell Mr. Ito about this you’ll be finished. His brother-in-law is the mayor of Noche City.”

“The capital’s mayor? I don’t care about that; I won’t hand over the shard.” Oliver said.

“I guess you found a way these crystals can be used. You better explain your findings now, I’ll be the one to tell Mr. Ito!” Hiro demanded.

“I haven’t found anything yet; I just have some theories.” Oliver lied.

“You’re useless. I knew that woman was an idiot, her apprentice is good for nothing just like her!” Hiro punched Oliver in the face.

“WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!?” Oliver staggered from the attack and clenched his fists.

“You’re just a lowly peasant that will never amount to anything, Lunaria doesn’t need you! Hand over that shard and stay in the spaceship the rest of your stay in Muna!” Hiro said with a mocking smile.

“STOP THAT!” Nicole yelled and her face showed an expression of anger. “Why are you talking to him like that? And why did you punch him?”

“I was just putting this arrogant guy in his place.” Hiro replied.

“You know I can report this to my Father.” Nicole said, glaring at Hiro.

“That won’t be necessary, Ms. Miyamoto. The Colonel doesn’t need to know.” Hiro began to sweat. “I haven’t seen any crystal shards outside the lab.”

Hiro quickly walked away from Nicole and Oliver, occasionally glancing back. Oliver applied some Healing Magic to his face.

“It’s a dog-eat-dog world, even in research.” Oliver said, looking at Nicole. “That’s why I admire Mrs. Hashimoto, she just wants to do research to help society and that is why so many researchers hate her. If you had not shown up, I would have beaten up Hiro.”

“Don’t be that reckless.” Nicole said. “You could lose your job or even get imprisoned.”

“I could live through that. Nothing beats what I have gone through already,” Oliver responded, looking up at the sky towards where Lunaria was located. “Today is my parents death anniversary. They died in a car crash; it was raining and a truck driving lost control.”

“Oliver …” Nicole didn’t know what to say.

“I had to support myself and my brother ever since, so whatever life throws at me, I am confident I can get up and continue.” Oliver said, his gaze fixed at the sky. “I’ll do what I believe to be right, even if others disagree. Did you guys finish for today early?”

“No, we ran into an Ice Crab, and we lost our water, so I came back to get more water.” Nicole explained. “We also observed the phenomenon you mentioned yesterday. Some of the Magic Stones we retrieved had no energy left, even the one from the Ice Crab.”

“I still have some of those Magic Stones, so I’ll look into them.” Oliver responded.

“And your Elemental Gun has been so helpful! You’re incredible for making it, although it does overheat easily.” Nicole said with a smile. “We are using the corpse of the Ice Crab to cool it down. Hahahaha!”

“You have to do what you have to do to solve problems.” Oliver laughed. “Let me accompany you to get the water.”

“That would be great!” Nicole blushed. “I get to talk with you longer.”

“Yeah, we can get to know each other better.” Oliver held Nicole’s hand.

“Then we should go on a date once we go back to Lunaria.” Nicole was full of happiness.

“I have a few places in mind.” Oliver said. “But they are secret for now.”

“I can’t wait to see them!” Nicole said. “You know, I have been wanting to talk to you ever since I saw you three years ago. And my interest in you grew as my Dad praised you and your work,”

“I hope I don’t fall short of the image that you made of me in your mind.” Oliver said, looking into Nicole’s eyes. “I think I am going to get lost in those beautiful eyes.”

“Thanks!” Nicole became red. “Let’s get going, the others are waiting for me to return.”