Lacus's expression darkened, his thoughts swirling in turmoil.
"Teacher, what do you mean?"
"Do you think I'm so much weaker than Kaizen?"
"I'm your disciple—why don't you look at me the same way?"
"What does he have that I don't?"
"Are you saying even you wouldn't be able to defeat him?"
"Hmph, I don't believe it."
Yet, deep down, Lacus knew the truth.
Doppo had no reason to lie about something like this.
That meant it had to be real.
A sinking feeling settled in his chest. He knew he had missed something—an opportunity, perhaps. Regret gnawed at him, but his pride was stronger.
Still, if he had already lost the chance to befriend Kaizen, there was no point in lowering his head now.
If that's the case, then I'll keep my head held high.
"I won't lose."
"My talent is just as good as his."
"One day, my strength will surpass his."
"You may look down on me now, Teacher, but one day, you'll regret it!"
Lacus clenched his fists, his nails digging into his palms.
At this point, all he could do was convince himself.
Blaming Doppo and Kaizen was easier than accepting the truth.
And the more he repeated it, the more he started to believe it.
But none of this mattered to Kaizen.
To him, Lacus was irrelevant.
It was like the way Zeno dismissed the Squadron Leader in the Chimera Ant arc. If the leader hadn't been persistent, Silva wouldn't have even considered taking action.
To Kaizen, Lacus was nothing more than a minor nuisance.
His strength couldn't even compare to someone like Neon.
And his potential? Limited at best.
...
Three Days Later
Kaizen returned to the Kingdom of Fiora.
By the time he arrived, night had already fallen.
He decided to stay at the Dragon Dojo for the night.
Wendy had kept his room just as it was.
Tessia's eyes lit up when she saw Kaizen.
"Have you been training well these past few days?"
"I have!"
Tessia nodded eagerly.
"Good. Keep it up."
Kaizen ruffled her hair lightly.
Her white, fluffy strands bounced up and down.
"Mhm!"
...
The Next Morning
Kaizen and Wendy left for the city early.
A sleek black car pulled up outside the Dragon Dojo. Wendy slid into the driver's seat while Kaizen took the passenger side.
Even at her age, Wendy was already licensed to drive.
In the Kingdom of Fiora, things were different.
She wasn't just royalty—she was a Dragon's heir.
Rules for people like her weren't the same as for everyone else.
As she drove, Wendy spoke casually.
"After we got back, Dominica-san arranged everything for Ralph and the others. They're not in the capital but settled in Keek City instead. It's a smaller place."
"They've got a house and a stable income," she added. "They should be doing fine."
"You haven't visited yet?"
Wendy shook her head. "I've been too busy at the dojo. Besides, I wasn't as close to Ralph as you were. You and Lilith had more of a bond with him."
The car glided smoothly over the road.
Unlike Ted's reckless driving, Wendy was precise and steady.
Even on rough patches, the ride was comfortable.
Kaizen absentmindedly glanced at his crystal ball.
The progress was still at 70%.
It had increased slightly, but not by much—far less than a full percentage point.
"Wendy, what's Keek City like?"
"It used to be a prosperous place," she explained. "But over time, it declined. It's more of an old city now."
Kaizen did a quick search on his phone.
The results confirmed what Wendy said.
Keek City wouldn't help him advance his Observer's Will significantly.
"In that case, there's no reason to stay long."
"We'll meet up with Lilith and the others, then head back to the capital."
"I need to push my progress to 90%."
...
Arriving at Keek City
The city soon came into view.
It was an ancient place, steeped in history.
Kaizen's crystal ball suddenly pulsed.
The absorption rate spiked.
"What?"
His eyes narrowed.
"This city's aura flow... it's almost as strong as the Dragon Dojo. Did Wendy underestimate this place? Or did Altan miss something in his report?"
"Either way, this might be useful."
Even so, he remained cautious.
Wendy flashed her ID at the city gate, and they drove straight in.
Kaizen took in the surroundings.
For a moment, it felt like he was sightseeing.
The city had a unique aesthetic—unlike anything he'd seen before.
Not even in his past life had he encountered architecture like this.
"It's beautiful."
Wendy nodded. "Yeah. I've never been here myself, but people say it's a great place to live. Maybe that's why Dominica-san chose it for Ralph."
She pulled the car to a stop.
"We're here."
As soon as they stepped out, a familiar voice called out.
"Kaizen! Wendy!"
Lilith, standing in the yard, broke into a huge smile and ran toward them.
Haji and Hassan, hearing her excitement, quickly followed.
Kaizen smiled. "Lilith, long time no see."
She hugged him tightly, one hand clutching his, the other reaching for Wendy.
"How have you been?"
"Really good!" Lilith beamed. "Better than ever! We have a big house, nice clothes, plenty of food… Thank you... Thank you."
Her voice softened. "If I hadn't met you…"
Haji and Hassan had changed a little, but their respect for Kaizen and Wendy remained the same.
Moments later, Ralph appeared.
"Ralph."
His eyes widened in surprise at the sight of them.
Kaizen, however, immediately noticed something off.
There was a shadow of sadness on Ralph's face.
His expression darkened.
"Ralph, what happened?"
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