'Now, just what was it that Uncle John said I needed to unlock my Seven Celestial Stars and form a Star Body again?' Rin thought before remembering the white cubic glyph he discovered in his mindscape, following Uncle John's ascent before his 15th birthday.
'Found it! Hmm, so that is what I will need... now, I understand why he made me acquire so many cores back then. Unfortunately, with the increase in my strength since then, I'll have to use my blood as a replacement to make up for the difference in energy. Tsk what a hassle.'
'But then again, that was for a different Star Body, so maybe the process won't be as strict for the creation of a Varick Star Body as compared to a Cris Star Body.'
Which doesn't only have a strict requirement on bestial core alignment, but also elemental affinity, and spiritual purity. Since a Cris Star Body was a transformative physqiye that wielded both light & darkness with uncanny mastery and precision. Unlike a Varick Star Body, which required a person to construct a personalized array that matched their affinity, spirituality, and race to withstand the gravity of Seven Stars, during each construction and fulfillment of a Celestial Star.
"Mr. Kurama. Mr. Kurama. MR. KURAMA!" Ms. M said repeatedly before screaming his name in frustration and annoyance after being ignored twice.
"Hmm, yes?" Rin asked in alarm as he looked up at Mrs. M, whose patience was running thin, after he was brought back to reality from the depths of his mind.
"... sigh, just why do I even bother?" Mrs. M muttered before repeating what she said earlier to the inattentive Rin, "We arrived at our destination, buddy."
"Oh, so what now?" Rin asked as they stood before a rundown and conspicuous black building on the outskirts of Iron City, called Obsidian Vault.
"We get you detained, Mr. Kurama, and I will get to go home after a long day of work," replied Mrs. M with a joyful smile as their time together was finally ending, as they strolled into the building.
"Dang, why do you make it seem like I've made your life a living hell in the short while we have been together?"
"Because you have! Now, be quiet and let me handle everything moving forward."
"Tsk, okay," Rin said in disbelief and exasperation at Mrs. M's sudden outburst.
Ding.
"Yawn. So, what can I do for you all today?" A half-awake lizardman, wearing a tattered t-shirt and pants with a flickering purple robotic eye, asked curiously after lifting his head from the counter and laying his eyes upon Rin and Mrs. M.
The moment they entered his store, which may have looked like a rundown apartment building from the outside, but internally resembled a five-star hotel.
"Nothing much, I just need to get him registered and taken to cell AX3," Ms. M said calmly, as the lizardman froze in shock before straightening up and getting to work immediately.
Bringing up Rin's information to ensure this was not another prank played by the slum kids, as he typed away on his computer while also using this time to examine the infamous Rin Kurama.
"Ahh, so you're the kid who caused that ruckus earlier," The lizardman smiled curiously as he took a closer look at Rin, 'Hmm, who would have thought, a lowly clerk like me would have the chance to meet the heir of the Kurama Family—a kid with a feisty but playful attitude and a promising future as long as he learns to keep his dick in his pants. Yet, while strong, his energy seems off as if he were hiding something...'
The Lizardman named Ja wondered as he subtly activated his robotic eye to get a better understanding of what he was sensing.
'Just what is this weirdo doing?' Rin wondered as he glanced at the lizardman with wariness before gently nudging Mrs. M to get her attention.
After noticing, Ja kept smiling at him whenever he looked his way as his robotic eye glowed with a dim light. That subtle tried to analyze and decipher Rin's energy using a self-developed metric to assess both his latent and manifested power.
"Hey, Mrs. M, does it usually take this long to process a convict?"
"Didn't I tell you to keep quiet, Mr. Kurama, and what do you mean, 'does it take this long to process a convict'?" Mrs. M said even though the lizardman was taking his sweet time to process Rin's paperwork, considering it should not take this long to check Rin's record and hand over the keys to cell AX3.
"Um, is everything alright?" asked Mrs. M with a gentle smile as she gazed at the lizardman. Startling him as he began to sweat in panic before immediately processing Rin's information and retrieving the keys to his cell.
"Sorry about that, the system was lagging, but here are the keys to cell AX3," Ja said with a bow as he handed over the keys to Rin's cell to Mrs. M, while also pressing a button beneath the counter to unlock a hidden elevator.
Which would help them reach their destination quicker than if they had to take the stairs all the way to cell number 674, or for short, AX3. Considering that Obsidian Vault had a total of 676 cells that were separated into twenty-six cells per floor, each categorized by a letter of the alphabet from A to Z and a random number.
With A being the highest floor (most secure) and Z the lowest floor (most insecure).
"It's alright, Ja. Just remember, if this happens again, your job will not be the only thing you will be losing. So, toddles," Mrs. M whispered as she passed by the lizardman and entered the elevator along with Rin.
'Fuck! So much for trying to satisfy my curiosity… hopefully, she doesn't report me to the higher-ups.'
***
Sometime later...
After getting off the elevator and finding cell AX3, it was finally time for Rin and Mrs. M to part ways.
"So, with our journey coming to an end, Mr. Kurama, is there anything you need before I return to the campus and eventually home?"
"While I would love to say, yes... sadly, no, so until next time, Mrs. M, and do have a wonderful day!" Rin said as he entered his cell, which automatically closed behind him once he walked inside, and examined his home for the next few days.
"Well then, the same to you, Mr. Kurama, and until next time," Mrs. M replied as she gave Rin one last glance before disappearing and returning to her office.