New Power: Story of Skill and Magic

Chapter 25: ID Cards and Hidden Wealth

It was a bright morning, with beautiful scenery, and increasingly busy streets filled with activities. We ambled with light conversation.

Classes went normal. I entered the class and chatted with Kyle until the bell rang.

Today's lessons were general subjects like those in a regular school. I couldn't say I was underestimating the lessons, but for general subjects, I didn't study as hard as I used to. The material I had learned as a child made it easy for me.

Some say a child's brain can absorb information and retain it more easily than when it's fully developed, which is why all I had to do was refresh what I had already understood.

By midday, the lessons ended without a hitch. The routine of the school day flowed smoothly, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of calm satisfaction.

It's been quite a while since I've spent time with him, and I'm eager to catch up on everything that's been going on in his life. Oh, and I must remember to let Arthur know about our plans. There's something about reconnecting with a friend I've shared so many adventures with that really sparks my curiosity.

I approached Chris after school and excitedly asked, "After school tomorrow, want to come with me?" 

Chris looked at me, his expression curious. "Sure," he said after a moment, giving a thumbs up.

"Great! Let's invite Arthur too," I added. It had been far too long since I spent time with both of them.

Chris grinned. "Of course."

For the past year, I had struggled to maintain contact with my old friends. Reuniting with them felt like rediscovering a piece of myself.

**

Chris and I headed to the canteen in search of Arthur after learning from his classmate that he'd gone there. Not like yesterday, the canteen atmosphere was surprisingly calm, likely because the break had just ended. 

The aroma of various dishes wafted through the air, mingling with the buzz of conversations and the occasional clatter of trays. My eyes roamed over the sea of faces, hoping to catch a glimpse of Arthur before the canteen filled to capacity.

Chris walked ahead, his gaze sharp as he scanned the crowd. 

"There's Arthur." Chris tapped my shoulder and pointed to someone at the edge of the canteen.

I glanced over and saw Arthur sitting by himself at a table against the wall. A hot plate of curry rice was in front of him, steam drifting up from it. He had his spoon paused in the air, ready to take a bite, but his attention shifted our way as he noticed us coming. A familiar, chill smile spread across his face.

"Oh, hey, Chris and Nao," Arthur greeted, setting his spoon down as we arrived. "What's going on?"

Relieved to have found him, we slid into the seats across from him. "Sorry to interrupt your meal," I said, not wanting to impose.

Arthur waved it off with an easy shrug. "No worries. I'm glad to see you both. What's on your minds?"

Chris leaned forward, his grin lighting up his face. "We were thinking about hanging out tomorrow after school. It's been too long since we all spent time together."

"Feel free to keep eating while we talk," I added quickly, glancing at his still-steaming plate. "We don't want to keep you from enjoying your food while it's warm."

Arthur nodded appreciatively and took a bite of his curry before replying. "Thanks for the invite. It's true, it has been a while. What's the plan?"

Chris glanced at me before answering, his expression turning fond. "Nao wants to catch up. A lot's happened over the last year, and we haven't had a proper chance to reconnect."

Arthur's eyes softened as he listened, setting his spoon down again. "That sounds great. When and where?"

"Tomorrow after school," I replied, my excitement bubbling to the surface. "As for the location, I'll leave it to you two. I'm not that familiar with the area yet."

Chris didn't miss a beat. "How about that place near the dorms? The food there is great, and it's quiet enough to talk."

Arthur nodded thoughtfully. "I know the spot you mean. I've been there a few times. The food is excellent. Let's go there."

He hesitated for a moment before continuing, "But I need to check my schedule first. As the vice president of the disciplinary committee, I've got some responsibilities to take care of. Can I confirm tomorrow morning?"

"Of course," I said quickly, understanding the weight of his role. "Take your time. I know you're busy with your tasks."

Arthur smiled at my words, clearly appreciative of the support. The three of us sat in comfortable silence for a moment before the conversation shifted.

"Aren't you guys eating?" Arthur asked suddenly, glancing at our empty hands.

Chris perked up. "Oh, I was just about to grab something. Nao, you coming?"

I reached into my pocket and realized that I had forgotten to bring any money.

"Sorry. I forgot to bring money," I admitted, feeling a little embarrassed. "I guess I'll just eat later at the Student Council."

In truth, I wanted to try the food here. Everyone said it was good, and the fragrant smell wafting through the canteen was hard to resist. Too bad I didn't think to check my pocket before leaving for school. Next time, I'd make sure to bring some money.

Chris chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it. Our school is one of the best for a reason. We don't need to pay with money for meals here."

"Really?!" I said, surprised. The idea of free meals sounded too good to be true, but then again, considering this was one of the top-ranked power schools, it wasn't entirely shocking. My initial amazement faded as I realized it made perfect sense for a place like this.

"Yeah," Chris continued. "Every student gets an allowance that can be used throughout the city. The amount depends on your achievements and behavior at school. Since you just transferred and went straight to Class S, you probably get more than most of us. Do you have your ID card?"

"Of course." I reached into my jacket pocket, pulling out the sleek black card. "I always carry it while I'm in Pillar City. Even if I forget my money, my ID is always with me."

The ID card was one of the most important items in Pillar City. It wasn't just a regular identification card. It held a person's name, title, level, power, and more. It was even necessary for moving between the different Pillars. Every single resident had to have one, even newcomers.

What made the card unique was that it couldn't be forged. It also had a locking mechanism, only revealing information when activated by the owner. Otherwise, it would show just a blank image.

"Alright, let me see it," Chris said, holding out his hand.

I pressed my finger on the circular symbol on the card's surface. In an instant, the images changed, displaying my information line by line. It always amazed me how smoothly the transition happened, though no one—not even the researchers—understood exactly how the card's technology worked.

Arthur leaned in, studying the details that appeared. "As usual, I can't help but be amazed when I see your card," he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

"What's so amazing about it?" I asked, confused. "Your cards are the same as mine. There's nothing special about it."

Arthur raised a brow, pointing to the empty spaces on my card. "Your slots aren't full?"

I nodded. "Yeah, I had to use one a while ago," I replied briefly, not wanting to dive into the details.

"Wait! Then what's the card for?" I asked suddenly as my focus shifted. I looked around; "the canteen was getting crowded."

In the few minutes we'd been talking, more students had begun to fill the room. Considering the extended break time, most would likely arrive in the middle of it, making it harder to move through the line.

"We should hurry before it gets packed," I said, gesturing toward the food counters. The last thing I wanted was to wait in a long, noisy line while my stomach grumbled louder than ever.

"Sorry, I forgot," Arthur said with a sheepish smile. He handed my card back and gestured for me to follow his instructions. "First, hold your card and imagine a coin. It doesn't matter what kind, just a coin."

I nodded, gripping the sleek black card tightly and closing my eyes. A coin… I pictured it vividly—a small, shiny piece of metal glinting under the light.

"Hoo~. Is this real?" I asked in surprise as the card responded. The surface displayed an image of a coin, accompanied by a digit. I had no idea the card could hold such content.

Though I was one of the first to receive this Special ID card, I had always thought of it as a functional item—used for identification, accessing Pillar City, and displaying my power level. I rarely explored its other features, so it made sense that this capability had escaped me.

"How many coins do you have?" Chris asked, peering over my shoulder.

I looked at the number displayed on the card. "One million coins."

Both Chris and Arthur froze, their expressions turning incredulous. Arthur chuckled while Chris let out a low whistle.

"Is that… a lot?" I asked, tilting my head. I genuinely didn't know the value of these coins in real-world terms.

"Of course it's a lot!" Chris exclaimed. "Ten coins equal one dollar. So that is a lot."

Arthur nodded in agreement. "For a student, that's an absurd amount."

One hundred thousand dollars? That number felt surreal. "I guess it's compensation from the government for what happened before," I muttered. While I wasn't sure if I should feel happy or sad about being compensated, the amount was undeniably impressive.

Curious, I asked, "How much do you guys have? And what's the usual allowance for each class?"

Chris pulled out his own card, activating it with a practiced motion. "I have 30,130 coins right now. In Class S, the average monthly allowance is 2,500 coins."

Arthur followed suit, showing his balance. "I've got 28,770 coins. For Class A, the monthly allowance is 2,200 coins, but since I'm essentially a Class S member now, I get 2,500 coins too."

I glanced back at my own card, the stark contrast between their totals and mine making it clear just how extraordinary my balance was. Even so, these coins could only be used within Pillar City and couldn't be exchanged for real-world money. Without any immediate desires or expenses, I figured most of mine would simply remain untouched.

"Well, let's deal with all that later," Chris said, standing up. "We should hurry before the line gets too long."

He was right. The canteen was starting to fill, the crowd growing noisier by the minute. I hated waiting in long lines, especially in busy spaces like this.

I stood and pulled Chris toward the food counters. "Let's go. I'm starving," I said, setting aside my thoughts about coins for now.

After grabbing our meals, we spent some time talking and laughing before heading back to our respective classes, the warmth of food and friendship lingering long after the lunch break ended.