The Fat God System

Chapter 11: Department

Hugh felt a wave of relief as he walked out the door of the precinct. There was a weird moment when he crossed paths with the spiky-haired dude but thankfully nothing happened. He had to get out.

"Do you want me to escort you back to your house?"

"No, I'll find my way out. Just get me down on the ground."

Pulman nodded and went around the garage to bring out a hovermotor. This only had two seats, more suitable for mobility and speed rather than defense. He put his handprint in the dashboard. Blue and red lights lit up inside the hovermotor as it revved up inside, ready to go.

Hugh got on behind Pulman as they hovered down into the ground. Down here, Hugh could feel his insignificance under the CDA's building. It was like a force that kept him down, restrained and unable to do anything. He had to get out, fast.

He walked down the streets with the fancy mansions beside him. Windows opened up a slight bit to take a peek at the poor looking Hugh. He kept his head down and kept walking faster and faster until he jogged out. He wanted to be escorted out by Pulman but he didn't want to associate with the CDA any longer, especially with that white-haired dude.

Hugh felt chills on his back as thought back to the time he crossed paths with him.

"Hachooo!!!"

"Are you okay Dempsy?"

"Yeah, someone must be talking about me."

Dempsy looked around his large office at the top of the building. On the outside, the office looked like a black box but the inside was as clear as glass. They could oversee everything in the city here, a luxurious sight even for the wealthy.

"This will do."

"Just call out my name whenever you need it."

Dempsy sat in his gold-covered chair that could be adjusted to his preference. Buttons were at the armchair for complete control over the room. One adjusted the temperature, one was for travel as it hovered around the room. He looked around and smiled, satisfied with the room until he saw the cop still standing in the door.

"What is it?"

"If I may be so presumptuous, can you put in a good word for your leader?"

"My leader? Who? Auberron?"

"Yes, A-AuAube-yes."

The cop looked like couldn't even say the name 'Auberron'. Dempsy could see the exaltation and praise in the cop's eyes. He deified Auberron as if he was the next coming of Matusa. Just because Auberron could reach the third stage of advancement at only 18 didn't mean that he was special. Dempsy knew that he would surpass him in due time.

"He's not my leader, but sure I'll give in a good word."

With the affirmation, the cop looked like he could cry. His hands were folded together as if his life's wish had been granted. Dempsy smiled at the simpleness of the cop; the lack of ambition in his eyes intrigued him.

Just as the cop went out and opened the door, Dempsy remembered something.

"Oh right, what's the deal with the fat guy?"

"Fat guy? Who's that?"

The cop looked like he was truly unfamiliar with the guy. It looked like he was too engrossed in sucking up to Dempsy that he didn't notice the fat Hugh. Dempsy shook his head and thought for a moment.

"Bring detective Pulman here."

The cop immediately got out and summoned Pulman who was buried in paperwork. He still couldn't figure out the last piece of the puzzle in the mystery of the alley.

"You summoned me, sir?"

"What do you know about that fat guy?"

"Hugh? Nothing much sir. Born from a poor family, currently living on the west side of the city. He is currently enrolled in Wolrath academy at the Support Department."

"Support Department?"

"Yes sir. He is too poor for a Desire pill and his talent is measured to be F-rank."

"....interesting...."

Dempsy smiled to himself. He knew there was something wrong with Hugh when he smelled him. He didn't want to act then because he still lacked information but now it turned out that Hugh was actually hiding something so interesting.

"Is there something wrong with Hugh, sir? Should I summon him back?"

"No, no, you just gotta do something for me."

Dempsy didn't want to bring out the secret so fast; that wouldn't be fun.

Hugh walked back home; it was tiring. When he was finally at home, his shirt was drenched in sweat. He was panting as his hunger burned through his stomach. He wanted to eat so much; he wanted to eat everything.

He went near the windows and punched them with his fist. A loud crashing sounded out through the empty house as the glass shattered into pieces. He didn't wait to eat the broken pieces of glass as he chomped on every single one. Multiple sounds of glass breaking could be heard.

By the end when he regained his sanity, Hugh saw that his house was now windowless. There were no curtains to prevent the wind to blow inside the house. The house was naked to the outside but he didn't care. He was satisfied.

++++++++++++++

DAILY MISSIONS:

Eat 5 square meters of glass (5/5)

Eat 10 types of cloth (10/10)

Eat 30,000 kcal (0/30,000)

++++++++++++++

All he needed now was to eat 30,000 calories of food to finish his mission but there was something he had to do today; he had to go to school. If he waited any longer then he would be late for his first day of school. That wouldn't look good on his track records on his scholarship.

He patted down his sweaty uniform, packed his bags, and went on his way to the bus stop. His limited budget only allowed him to buy basic necessities and for emergencies. Basic necessities meaning the junk food that he was munching on in the hoverbus.

The city full of hoverboards and hovercars flying all around the city became fewer as the bus traveled out of the city. A rural surrounding replaced the urban feeling of his hometown. The trees that lacked in the city prospered here on the way to Wolrath academy. On the horizon, he could see his new home for the next four years; that is the place that will change the path of his life forever.

The front side of the academy was the main building in which new and old students were returning to the campus after a break. Most students waited at the front for their friends, bragging about their rank up. New students were sharing their aspirations to adventure out of space, some wanted to stay and be an adventurer. Hugh was different. He won't be bringing out his Desire here so he'll have a support type job.

He followed the students inside and stood in line to register as a student. His turn was up and he introduced himself to the beautiful clerk.

"Student number?"

"20201209"

"Okay sir Hugh, welcome to Wolrath academy. Please put you handprint here, here, and here."

After the forms were filled up, Hugh received his student ID. This ID was only a physical copy for the students to use in everyday life while the ID generated in the neural network of the school can be accessed by using the handprint of the student.

"Here is a pamphlet to ease your adjustment to the school."

The beautiful clerk was all smiles as she handed the pamphlet to Hugh, a rare occurrence in his life. Shrugging it off as a one-time thing, he looked at the pamphlet. Hugh's eyebrows became uneven as he read the contents of the pamphlet.

'A Student's Guide to the Main Department of the Wolrath Academy.'

'Main? That's weird, she gave me the wrong pamphlet.'

He wanted to correct the clerk but she was already taking care of the next student and the endless line behind it. She looked busy so he decided to ask for a new pamphlet later when he had settled down on the dormitory.

He traversed through the campus like the thousands of other students like him. It was a grass plain with intricately carved stones as the roads interconnecting the different buildings surrounding campus. The right side of the campus were filled with tall buildings and wide courts that signaled exclusivity and superiority of the Main Department. He looked to his left and saw common cemented buildings with square glasses, Hugh was reminded of old pictures of colleges in the past.

He directed his feet towards the old-school buildings and went towards the reception. This clerk was a human male that looked bored out of his mind. He was playing something in his phone.

"Uhm, excuse me."

"....."

"Hello?"

"Wait."

Hugh was a little bit angry at the laziness of this clerk. He stopped himself from complaining because this clerk held the key to his new dorm room; he did not want to get on his bad side so he waited. After a while, the man spoke without taking his eye off his phone.

"Student number?"

"20201209"

The man finally looked away from his phone and looked down at his touchscreen. The man furrowed his brows as he scrolled for minutes. This made Hugh nervous. Was he found out by the CDA? Did they revoke his scholarship? Numerous thoughts raced past Hugh's brain until the man finally spoke.

The man looked up at Hugh and his demeanor changed. He stood up to his feet and bowed down to his waist.

"I'm sorry sir for making you wait. I'm sorry to tell you this but this is the Support Department, you have to go to the opposite campus for the Main Academy."

'What?!'