Chapter 101: Company Recruitment

Chapter 101: Chapter 101: Company Recruitment

Before turning in for the night, Squad 07 spent their evening exploring the sprawling corridors and open plazas of the Imperial Academy. Walking alongside the Imperial Princess, the group drew eager crowds of capital cadets at every turn. Rowan and his teammates cheerfully stopped to pose for photos, exchange high-five greetings, and chat with admiring students. Later, they gathered in the academy’s grand dining hall for an exquisite feast of high-tier spirit cuts and pristine floral preserves before finally returning to their assigned quarters for a well-earned rest.

In his private room, Rowan set his Enchanted Straw Hat on the desk and fired up his comm terminal. A few seconds after initiating the video call, the screen lit up with the familiar, comforting sight of the Sunny Vale living room. Martha and Arthur were sitting side by side, beaming with warm smiles the moment their son’s face appeared.

"Rowan! How is the capital treating you?" Martha asked, her voice filled with motherly affection.

After exchanging quick updates about the academy facilities and their team integration, Martha chuckled softly, leaning closer to the camera. "We had a bit of an incident at the farm yesterday. A few local kids broke through the outer perimeter trying to swipe some of our spirit crops to eat. Poor things were practically starving."

"Did you call the local guards?" Rowan asked, leaning back in his chair.

"Good heavens, no," Martha shook her head. "I brought them right into the kitchen, washed their hands, and cooked them a warm meal until their bellies were full."

Rowan smiled, completely unsurprised by his mother’s gentle heart, but his practical mindset immediately found a lasting solution. "Mom, if they’re willing to risk sneaking onto the farm for food, they’ve got drive. Why don’t we hire them as extra help for the Eden International storefront? That way, they get paid a solid wage, stay well-fed, and learn a trade."

Martha’s eyes lit up. "Oh, Rowan, that’s a wonderful idea! I’ll speak to them first thing tomorrow."

Rowan then turned his attention to his father. "Dad, with twenty-five acres now and high-tier crops growing every day, we need proper security. Why don’t you assemble a dedicated guard force for the estate? You should give priority recruitment to your old adventurer comrades—the ones who had to retire early because of combat injuries or family duties. They’re experienced, trustworthy, and living on the farm under the atmospheric vitality will help soothe their old wounds."

Arthur’s face brightened, a proud, resolute gleam in his eyes. "Consider it done, son. I’ll reach out to the old guild roster tonight."

With the estate’s security in good hands and his family thriving, Rowan bade his parents a warm goodnight, disconnected the call, and fell asleep, fully prepared for their dawn deployment into the Tower.

***

With the estate’s security in good hands and his family thriving, Rowan bade his parents a warm goodnight, disconnected the call, and fell asleep, fully prepared for their dawn deployment into the Tower.

Dawn broke over the capital with a crisp breeze, painting the soaring spires of the Imperial Academy in soft shades of gold and rose. Squad 07 gathered at the grand spatial portal plaza located at the heart of the capital district. Standing alongside the squad, the Imperial Princess carried herself with pristine composure, her royal armor glistening beneath her mantle, while Rowan adjusted the brim of his Enchanted Straw Hat, the Golden-Red Imperial Dragon Badge resting proudly on his lapel.

Around them, atmospheric mana surged with rhythmic intensity as the massive runic archways powering the direct gate into the Tower hummed to life.

***

"Our entry destination is Floor 3," the Imperial Princess announced, correcting the spatial coordinates on her tactical slate as Squad 07 prepared to resume where they had left off.

Stepping through the familiar, swirling blue archway of the spatial gate, the blinding light faded to reveal the vast, sweeping terrain of Layer 1: The Gateway Basin. The towering crystal pillars, dense elemental breezes, and familiar horizon were exactly as Rowan remembered, yet the atmosphere felt completely different.

There were no invigilator screens hovering in the sky, no imperial proctors tracking their movements from observation blimps, and no safety nets. This time, it was strictly Squad 07 and the Imperial Princess.

Without the oversight of academy inspectors watching their every move, the stakes were dramatically higher. This was a true Tower expedition into dangerous, untamed territory. They weren’t just tasked with clearing objectives, battling floor bosses, and conquering each subsequent layer—they had to ensure the absolute safety of the empire’s sole royal heir while doing so. A single critical mistake on these deeper floors could have devastating political and tactical consequences.

The Imperial Princess drew an elegant, runic sword from her hip, its blade humming with refined golden mana. "There are no safety teleports or proctor interventions out here, Squad 07. If things turn grim, we rely entirely on each other."

Caelen rested his heavy greatsword over his shoulder, a sharp, fearless grin spreading across his face. "Just the way we like it."

Rowan tipped the brim of his Enchanted Straw Hat, feeling the atmospheric mana of the Tower hum against his skin. He could feel the vibrant life force of the surrounding biome pulsing through his Gardener of Eden traits, mapping the terrain beneath their feet.

"Barney, Caelen, keep high-vantage surveillance on our flanks," Rowan ordered smoothly, taking point alongside the Princess. "Seraphina, Mirei, watch the rear. We move directly through the basin to the Floor 3 waystone."

With their proper formation locked and their focus razor-sharp, the six-person strike team stepped forward across the Gateway Basin, ready to carve their path deeper into the Tower.

The surrounding plain was eerily quiet, but the atmospheric pressure noticeably intensified as they approached the Floor 3 waystone. The ancient monolith of carved blue stone stood in the center of a wide clearing, pulsing with swirling vortexes of raw, unrefined mana.

Rowan stepped up to the monolith, placing his palm against the icy, runic surface. The waystone chimed in response, recognizing their updated clearing authority, and erupted into a brilliant column of golden light.

"Floor 3 portal active," Rowan announced, stepping into the light alongside the Princess and Squad 07. "Stay sharp."