Live Streaming Academy

They took a quick detour through the neighborhood and finally reached Solomon’s house. Solomon tried to open the front door, but it was locked.

He hadn’t taken his house keys with him when he left last night, not wanting to accidentally drop them at the destruction site and leave physical evidence behind.

It was still early morning. Solomon wondered if his parents had already left for the diner or if they were still at home.

They used to leave early to attend the frantic commercial district meetings regarding the Good Life financial company and the Six Savers guild’s evacuation threats. But now that both of those corrupt organizations were permanently destroyed, his parents no longer needed to attend those stressful dawn meetings.

A few seconds after he knocked, the door swung open. Jasmine stood in the entryway. She looked at Solomon, blinked, and immediately turned around, shouting into the house. "Mom! Dad! Solomon is back!"

Johan and Elara came rushing into the hallway. Solomon quickly pushed his way inside, ushering his family back so Balzac could step through the door.

"Where have you been?" Johan asked, his voice laced with heavy concern. "There is so much crazy stuff going on outside in the city right now! You should not worry us like this!"

"I was so worried," Elara added, pulling him into a tight hug. "You do not even have a phone with you! We had no way to reach you or know if you were safe!"

Jasmine stood a few paces away, glaring at Solomon with a highly suspicious, knowing look. Solomon actively avoided making eye contact with her. He was absolutely certain Jasmine had figured out that someone had rummaged through her wardrobe and ’borrowed’ her clothes.

Barbaros, the family dog, simply barked playfully and bounded forward, getting excited to see Balzac, sniffing the professor’s trench coat enthusiastically.

"I literally told you guys before I left that I was going on an academy-related mission," Solomon defended himself. "I said it could take a few days, but that I would return home before heading back to the campus."

Solomon gestured to the messy-haired man standing beside him. "Anyway, I want to introduce—"

Before Solomon could reveal the ridiculous name ’Balzac’, the professor smoothly stepped forward and interrupted him.

"I am a Senior Professor at the Live Streaming Academy," Balzac introduced himself with a polite, professional smile, deliberately refusing to let Solomon reveal his actual name to the parents. "I am Solomon’s primary instructor."

Johan and Elara immediately straightened up, greeting the esteemed professor with profound respect. They also introduced themselves and later ushered Balzac into the living room, insisting he take the most comfortable chair.

Elara hurried into the kitchen and brought out a large platter of assorted snacks and pastries.

Balzac took a bite of a pastry, his eyes widening in genuine delight. He praised the food enthusiastically, eating several more pieces without a single care for his professional image.

"These are incredible," Balzac praised, turning to Johan. "Which brand are these snacks? I need to know the manufacturer. Solomon, we are absolutely getting a shipment of these to take back with us. The academy cafeteria lacks snacks of this quality."

"They are not a brand," Solomon chuckled. "They are homemade."

Balzac stared at the pastry in his hand, completely unable to believe it.

"My parents run a local diner and a convenience shop," Solomon added proudly. "They make all the snacks and baked goods from scratch."

Elara beamed with pride, her worries momentarily forgotten. "I will happily prepare a batch for you, Solomon, and your friends at the academy. I will pack enough for the Professor as well, so you can take them with you when you return."

Johan, however, looked at Balzac with a hint of subtle, parental suspicion. "When are you two planning to leave for the academy?"

"Solomon and I still have a few minor academic matters to attend to here in the city," Balzac responded smoothly, leaning back in his chair. "So we will likely depart tomorrow afternoon."

"Then the snacks will be perfectly prepared and packaged by then," Elara promised. She looked between the two of them. "Are you both hungry right now? We have plenty of delicious leftovers from last night’s dinner."

Solomon groaned loudly, rubbing his stomach. "I am starving. But I need to take a hot bath first, and then I will eat."

He turned to Balzac, shooting the professor a warning glare. "Mind your manners while I am upstairs."

Balzac furrowed his brows, offering a devious, lazy smirk. "Should I just tell your parents exactly what you have been doing at the academy? Perhaps I should enlighten them about your highly entertaining, romantic adventures with the foreign princesses?"

Before Solomon could shout a panicked response or attempt to tackle the professor, the front doorbell rang sharply, echoing through the quiet house.

Jasmine excitedly jumped up from her chair. "I will go check!" she volunteered, skipping out of the living room.

"Why don’t you freshen up also, Professor?" Solomon asked, his brow twitching.

"Oh, there is no need. I only bathe in holy water, you see."

A few seconds later, Jasmine shouted from the front doorway. "Solomon! Someone is here to meet you!"

Solomon frowned, genuinely confused. ’Who would possibly come to our house to meet me?’ he wondered. ’It is not like I have any friends left in this city. Is it just one of the neighbors from the block? Or maybe a fan? It’s not unlikely to have fans from here. I guess I will go check.’

Solomon shot Balzac a warning glare. "Do not try anything funny while I am gone."

He walked out into the hallway and approached the front entrance. He saw Jasmine chatting happily with the visitor through the open door. As he moved closer, he finally recognized the man standing on the porch.

It was Detective Rudy Redwood.

Solomon’s expression instantly darkened. "Jasmine, go inside right now," he ordered.

Jasmine crossed her arms and pouted. "No, I want to stay here and—"

"I said go inside!" Solomon yelled, his voice carrying a commanding edge he rarely used with her.

Jasmine flinched, her eyes welling up with tears. She turned around and ran up the stairs toward her bedroom, visibly upset.

Solomon stepped out onto the porch and pulled the front door firmly shut behind him. He glared at Rudy, his silver eyes flashing with hostility. "What are you doing at my house?"