Chapter 240: Peaceful. Returning to Earth, Noah found himself back in his luxurious Japanese-style room at the mountain resort. He settled onto the comfortable cushions, feeling satisfied with everything around him. Noah decided to catch up with family while he had some quiet time. He called his father, to check on Alan and share some carefully edited updates about his own adventures. "Hey, Dad, how are you feeling today?" "Noah! I’m doing great, son. Did you eat well? Is the food good at the competition you are participating in? "Yes, dad. I ate already and the food is good here. I didn’t move countries dad, i’m just a few hours away. Noah then heard a laugh coming from the other side of the phone. "Haha, that’s true. When are you participating, is it today or another day?" "It’s actually tomorrow." Noah replied before continuing. "So I might become busy tomorrow. Just in case I don’t respond immediately, know that i’m fine. Its just a tournament issue." "Alright, son. I’m proud of you, its good for you, getting out and expanding your horizons. Your mother would be proud of how far you’ve come." After a warm conversation with his father, Noah’s phone buzzed with an incoming call from Ethan. His cousin’s timing was typically enthusiastic but unfortunately poorly coordinated with Noah’s current location. "Noah! Want to hop on for some gaming? I’ve been practicing those techniques you taught me, and my team captain is amazed at my improvement. Also, I kind of taught my team the things you taught me. Hope you don’t mind." "Oh don’t worry about it, you can teach them. Teaching helps affirming skills and knowledge. Also, I’d love to play, but I’m not at home right now," Noah explained. "I’m attending a tournament currently and there is no gaming setup available." "A tournament? That’s awesome! What kind of competition?" Ethan asked, his tone rising softly in excitement. "Martial arts," Noah replied simply, not wanting to elaborate on swordsmanship tournaments that might raise additional questions abour safety or legitimacy. Swordsmanship competitions required deep control management. Any injury inflicted, could result in the permanent damage of the competitors or even their death. It was no joke to host such competitions. Thankfullt, Ethan understood and didn’t pry further into Noah’s activities, respecting his cousin’s privacy with maturity. "Alright, stay safe out there and good luck with the competition," Ethan said with a supportive voice. "We’ll game when you get back." "Absolutely. Take care of yourself, and keep practicing those moves." As Noah was about to put his phone down after ending the call, a notification chimed indicating a new text message. The sender’s name made him pause with surprise—Amelia, the persistent girl from the mall who had refused to take no for an answer. Amelia: "Hey Noah! Hope you’re having a good day. I told you that you wouldn’t regret giving me your number <:" Noah stared at the message for a moment, remembering their brief encounter and her confident prediction that he wouldn’t regret the exchange. Her timing was interesting, considering everything that had happened since their mall meeting. He found himself curious about what she might want to discuss, especially given her bold approach to their initial interaction. The message carried the same confident energy that had convinced him to share his contact information despite his usual reluctance to engage with persistent strangers. She certainly doesn’t lack confidence, Noah thought with amusement as he considered whether to respond to her unexpected message or not. The evening was still young, Amelia’s text added an unexpected element to his already eventful day. Wonder what she has in mind, Noah mused. Noah decided to ignore Amelia’s message for now, setting his phone aside without crafting a response. The persistent girl from the mall would have to wait—he had more immediate concerns to focus on, and encouraging her pursuit didn’t align with his current priorities. Staring out through the traditional sliding window at the dark sky above, Noah felt drawn to the natural beauty surrounding the mountain resort. The white full moon hung like a luminous pearl against the star-scattered darkness, creating an almost mystical atmosphere that seemed perfect for quiet contemplation. During his earlier exploration of the facility, he had spotted a serene lake with comfortable stone seating and winding pathways that invited peaceful evening walks. The combination of moonlight reflecting off still water and the pure mountain air promised exactly the kind of tranquil experience he needed after his business transactions. Without further hesitation, Noah stood up from his cushioned seating area and silently left his room, sliding the traditional door closed behind him with practiced quiet. As he passed by Ichigo’s adjacent quarters, Noah did not hear any sounds of activity. The complete silence from his neighbor’s room suggested that the enthusiastic young swordsman was either already asleep or had ventured out for his own evening activities. Probably getting his rest before tomorrow’s competition, Noah thought with a mental shrug before continuing toward the exit. The traditional corridor stretched before him, lit by paper lanterns that cast warm, flickering shadows against the wooden walls. Other participants’ rooms remained equally quiet, suggesting that most competitors were either resting or engaged in private preparation routines. Outside, Noah made his way along the carefully maintained stone pathway that wound through the resort’s landscaped grounds toward the lake he’d observed earlier. The mountain air was crisp and clean, carrying scents of pine and something indefinably pure that urban environments never provided. His phone buzzed again in his pocket—another message from Amelia’s persistent pursuit. Noah glanced at the notification briefly before placing his phone back in his pocket without reading the content. Whatever the mall girl wanted to discuss could wait . Let’s see how persistent she is, hopefully she gives up soon. he decided, focusing instead on the peaceful evening. The pathway curved gently through traditional Japanese gardens, leading him toward the moonlit lake where he could enjoy solitude and natural beauty. As he walked through the pathway, Noah couldn’t help but ponder upon the tournament coming up the next day. The stone path continued ahead, illuminated by moonlight and the promise of peaceful contemplation beside still waters that reflected the star-filled sky above.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​