The Grand Aqua Mall
Viridia feels very out of place as she looks out over the largest mall in all of Equeter. A mall that she technically owns even if most of the profits go to Aqua, the mall’s namesake and mascot.
When she was tricked into letting Aqua’s manager purchase the neighboring buildings, she never expected the department store would be turned into an entire mall. Much less the largest mall on the planet.
And the mall is only growing in size as time goes on. Partially because Aqua keeps investing more money into it as she gets more money.
If there’s one thing Viridia has realized over time, it’s that the girl is no longer the little brat that she let work at her convenience store. She’s now by far the richest person on the entire planet without anyone being anywhere near close to her wealth.
And yet, she has no use for the money right now while on Oceana.
So she’s just dumping the money on Viridia and the mall.
Viridia humphs at that while looking out at the enormous mall and the tens of thousands of people going around just the part of the mall she can see from where she’s at. Then she turns her attention towards the various holograms showing off Aqua in different outfits, with most of them having her in her different types of armor she’s worn since starting her life as a Pioneer.
“Don’t tell me you’re still grumpy about the kid’s help, old lady,” Viridia hears, making her turn around to frown at the man walking up towards her in security guard attire.
The man is the lead of the security team, and he’s one of the formerly homeless people who would help take care of Aqua back when she was on Equeter.
Viridia isn’t the only one Aqua has been sending money too, and neither is he. She’s sent money to help all the homeless and poor people who she knew while on Equeter. Turning all of them into wealthy people instead.
“Adults shouldn’t be taking handouts from kids,” Viridia says while turning back to look out over the balcony at the mall as the man walks up to her. “The adults should be the ones supporting them. Not the other way around.”
A few seconds pass before Viridia turns her head over her shoulder with a scowl and says, “And don’t call me old. I’m young, as you can see.”
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“Yeah, right,” the man, Ronald, says with a snort. “You may look like you’re in your thirties now, but you’re still an old grandma to the rest of us.”
Viridia just scoffs at that while focusing on the mall down below again.
The other people Aqua has initialized into the System have all gotten younger as well, but Viridia was still the oldest of the lot when Aqua started initializing them. And none of the others will ever let her live that down.
Infuriating brats.
But no matter how infuriating they are, they’re still the only family she has after her grandson passed away.
And she still remembers the day Aqua first arrived at her convenience store.
It was years ago, when the brat was still just eleven years old. Viridia remembers seeing the little girl walking into her store and going straight up to the counter to ask for a job.
The girl was barely up to Viridia’s stomach in height back then, and her hair was long and brown in color, and not very well maintained. The same color it was before Aqua awakened her Bloodline.
Meanwhile her eyes were brown, and they had that same determined look Viridia sees from time to time.
Even back then though, Viridia used to see her laidback, lazy expression from time to time.
Especially when she was having a mint.
Of course, the first thing Viridia did was chase the girl away. But she never gave up. She kept coming back every day asking for a job.
And when Viridia asked why she wouldn’t give up?
The girl’s answer was simple.
“Because you’re the only one who even lets me ask before kicking me out.”
That answer warmed Viridia’s heart up just enough to no longer kick her out right away. Then, after talking to her every day for a while, she eventually decided to hire the kid.
Never did she imagine that kid ever ending up becoming this powerful or wealthy.
Viridia feels the faintest hint of a smile stretching across her face.
Until she hears Ronald say, “Hey, is that a smile I see?!”
“No,” Viridia answers immediately as said smile vanishes instantly. “It’s not.”
Viridia feels her phone buzzing, making her pull it out to find a call from Aqua’s manager. And part of her instantly grimaces at the sight of it. Because the Hydra only ever calls her when he’s planning on tricking her into something.
But she won’t fall for it this time.
At this point she doesn’t even care that he’s a Bloodliner.
She answers the call with a blunt, “What is it?”
“Aqua’s grandparents will be making a visit soon,” the Hydra says, making Viridia’s mouth drop open in shock. “Please prepare for their arrival.”
Viridia just continues staring blankly ahead without saying a word.
“Hello?” the Hydra asks, sounding slightly confused after several seconds pass without an answer. “Are you there, Miss Rel?”
Viridia finally closes her mouth as she realizes something.
Whether he’s calling to trick her into something or not, the Hydra always brings her trouble when he calls.
Maybe I should avoid answering his calls from now on…
But despite that thought, and despite how numbed she’s grown to his status as a Bloodliner over time, she still doesn’t have the courage to ignore someone as powerful as him. So she just lets out a sigh and decides to complain to the brat later.
Since that’s all she can do.
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