29 I haven't slept yet

[It is in my deepest condolences to deliver the news about the disaster our city had faced. Many lives have been lost and many structures have been destroyed. And yet, here we stand...]

Hours after Aldrin went to meet his family, they're now huddled together while watching the late-night speech being delivered by the Lonewind City Mayor regarding the disaster. His voice was filled with grievance over the fate of those who died.

In the end, the total casualty tally reached more than 60,000 people. The majority of them were residents of the Southern District while the minority were those who were working there from other districts or those who were just visiting.

The Dimensional Rift was so sudden that there's no warning issued by the Dimensional Disruptor about it.

Normally, despite failing to contain or avoid a Dimensional Rift, the Disruptor would notify whoever's governing the place. Which in turn gave them time to prepare for the upcoming disaster. That way, it might've been unavoidable but the casualties would be minimized.

However, the incident for today was not like that. And only the Mayor or those who were informed about the function of the Dimensional Disruptor knew about it.

Furthermore, the Mayor wouldn't deliberately tell everyone about it lest he wanted to suffer more for his political career.

Instead of that, he already called for an investigation into the incident as well as inspection of the Lonewind City's Dimensional Disruptor.

On the other hand, while watching that announcement, Aldrin was already thinking about how he would pass the audio recording to the authorities.

Although that's a clear piece of evidence that something or someone tampered with the Dimensional Disruptor to allow a Dimensional Rift opening in the Southern District, he had no further evidence to prove it. Furthermore, if he went public with it, it would just cause public panic.

That's why he thought of passing it to the immediate authority, or in other words, to that Mayor who even fought in the frontlines.

'... It will be a hassle if I submit it myself. I better submit it anonymously.' Aldrin decided.

E-mails were still a thing but they had been changed to Dim-mails or dimensional mails where they could even reach different planets that were connected to the dimnet. If he masked his address using applications that allowed one to send anonymous mails, he was confident that it would be hard for them to find out that it came from him.

Having decided that, Aldrin made a mental note to do that later when he had the time.

"Are you sure you're there? Why didn't we see you in the footage?" Althea blurted out a question as soon as the projected screen turned off.

He had finished reconnecting with his parents and little sister earlier. Although he received some nagging from his parents, they eventually urged him to draw near them. With tears in their eyes, they welcomed their IDIOT son back.

As for Althea, who was watching from behind them, hearing their parents and Aldrin shed a tear couldn't help but join them.

After that tear-filled reunion where Aldrin continued apologizing to them, he then spilled the beans about becoming an Energy Refiner.

Showing them his Shadow Clone Concept was the one that convinced them that he's not lying.

And upon seeing that, even if his parents weren't that elated because that meant he would be thrust into the danger of Dimensional Rifts, Althea was excited.

Her idiot brother returning was already a happy occasion but with him returning as an Energy Refiner, that's something the girl found exhilarating.

"That's because—"

"Althea, your brother hasn't even registered to the association. He had just awakened. I bet he can't even pilot a Metadome."

Aldrin was cut off by their mother, Almira. Their father, Adrian, continued. "Moreover, your brother wouldn't be sent to those fields without proper training. This time... he was lucky."

Upon hearing that, Althea's excitement waned.

"It's not about being shown in the footage, Althea. Mom and Dad are correct. I still needed training to become a true Energy Refiner. I got lucky this time and it changed my life... I admit that... if not for this, I would still be ashamed to meet you."

"Really an idiot brother! Wait for me until I awaken as well and I'll beat you up whenever you say that."

Although it's near impossible for Althea to awaken, Aldrin found it hilarious. And at the same time, he truly appreciated the warmth they showed him again.

Before he knew it, his hand was already on top of his sister's head, patting and ruffling her hair. And watching the two getting along again, their parents were also satisfied.

Aldrin had countless nights lying on his cold floor but now, he's back to his family.

-

-

[Total IDLE Points gained: 1520]

[Total IDLE Points used: 780]

[Total IDLE Points to be stored: 740]

By the time his parents and sister turned in for the night, Aldrin who stayed with them was still wide awake.

Showed on his phone screen was the result of the fifth run that ended 15 minutes before midnight.

Spending 780 IDLE points for healing the three Dimensional Clones twice which cost 20 points, purchasing the three multipliers which cost 60 points, leveling up all of Tank and Striker's equipment to Level 2 except for the Back Guard which cost 600 points and leveling up Hitter's back guard which cost 100 points.

With 740 IDLE Points to spare and the remaining 161 IDLE Points that he had stored. Aldrin could now consider himself as somewhat rich with 901 IDLE Points. That's 90,000 Federation Credits and… it was already close to half of their family's annual income which was 200,000 Federation Credits.

Aldrin believed that in a few days, he would be able to earn enough IDLE Points to let his parents stop toiling away with their work.

His father was a simple factory worker in a Biotech Company providing parts for Energy Refiner Equipment. As for his mother, she's also working in a factory for clothing. Every day, they're working nonstop so Aldrin thought that… It's about time to let them rest and enjoy their life.

'With how much I am earning now, I'll surprise them and make an excuse about it being a government subsidy for being an Energy Refiner after registering to the Refiner's Association.'

With that thought in mind, he enthusiastically began to allocate his earnings for the day.

Setting aside the 100 IDLE Points for emergency usage of summoning a Dimensional Clone, he had 800 IDLE Points to spend.

'It doesn't mean that just because I'm already an Energy Refiner, I have to stop converting IDLE Points to Dimensional Energy… I still needed more of that to expand my Energy Quintessence.'

Splitting the 800 in half, Aldrin without hesitation converted 400 IDLE Points to Dimensional Energy.

A few moments later, his phone screen lit up brightly as he was once again basked with Dimensional Energy.

From inside him, Aldrin clearly felt the flood of Dimensional Energy going straight to his Energy Quintessence.

Using the knowledge he acquired about refining energy, Aldrin instantly put his Energy Quintessence to work, refining the flood of Dimensional Energy and making them his own.

As his refined Energy filled his Energy Quintessence, Aldrin could clearly sense the expansion of the sphere below his navel and the excesses that couldn't be contained spread throughout his body, strengthening himself further.

By the time the flood of Dimensional Energy subsided, Aldrin sensed his Energy Quintessence to have been expanded nearly double of its previous size. If he could only summon one Shadow Clone initially and he needed to refine more Dimensional Energy to summon more, he believed that he could now summon two without depleting his refined energy.

Moreover, he felt his physical strength also experienced a change. If he could only crack that wall of his with the wind generated from his punch… he was sure even without trying that he could make a hole from it without even touching the wall…

"Brother, what are you doing? Why are you so sweaty? Ugh… you reek. Go and take a bath and move over to that side!"

Perhaps because of his excessive movements from earlier, his sister that was sleeping beside him, due to how this evacuee room having only one futon for the whole family to share, woke up.

And like she said, he was reeking of sweat once more! Moreover, the sweat he excreted this time truly had some kind of reeking smell…

Thinking about how his body was gradually turning fit, Aldrin thought of the possibility that the process of absorbing and refining Dimensional Energy was cleansing his whole body.

After apologizing to his sister who went back to sleep with a frown as soon as he stood up. He went to the bathroom to take his shower while bringing the phone with him.

To save time, he's going to think of what to do with the remaining 400 IDLE Points while showering.

The midnight reset was approaching soon so… he's in for another sleepless night.

'Wait… I still haven't slept ever since last night…' Aldrin suddenly came to a realization. 'And I'm not tired yet… Is it because of my awakening?'