Infinite Wealth System: Crazy Tasks, Insane Rewards!

[Evening Broadcast — Nortasia National Network]

"Good evening, Nortasia. This is Karen Wells reporting live from Western Spring City, where the shock of yesterday's missile strike still hangs heavily in the air. For the first time since the conflict began, one of the incoming missiles broke through our defenses and landed right in the heart of the city's western district. The result is devastation, and the people are struggling to process what has happened.

Walking through the affected neighborhoods today, you can feel the grief, the anger, and the disbelief in every voice. Residents who had long trusted the nation's defense systems are questioning how this could have happened. One man, a shopkeeper whose business was reduced to rubble, told us:

"We were told we were safe. We were told nothing could reach us. And now look, my life's work is gone in seconds."

Families are digging through the debris, searching for belongings, photos, anything that can remind them of the life they had before the blast. The city's emergency crews have been working nonstop, pulling survivors from the ruins and tending to the injured. Hospitals are overwhelmed, and volunteers have been lining up to donate blood and supplies.

But beyond the destruction, there's another emotion spreading across Western Spring City: anger. People are furious at Icelandia for targeting a civilian area. Protesters gathered in the city square this afternoon, holding signs that read, 'We are not your battlefield' and 'Nortasia will not bow.' Their chants echoed through the streets, demanding justice for the innocent lives lost.

At the same time, others are directing their frustration inward. Some residents are asking why the Aegis V, which successfully intercepted dozens of missiles before, could not stop this one. Rumors are swirling about whether the system faltered or if the missile had been deliberately designed to bypass Nortasia's shield. Defense officials have urged calm, assuring the public that Aegis V is still operational and has already been recalibrated to prevent future breaches.

Despite reassurances, there's an undeniable unease. Parents are keeping their children indoors, schools have suspended classes, and businesses across the city remain closed. Street markets that once bustled with life are silent, replaced by makeshift aid stations and checkpoints.

Yet, in the midst of despair, there are also stories of resilience. Neighbors opening their homes to the displaced, strangers sharing food with families in need, and children writing messages of hope on walls that were once scarred by flames. One young girl, no older than ten, held up a sign she had written in crayon. It read: 'We will stand again.'

Western Spring City is wounded tonight, but it is not broken. The people are mourning, yes, but they are also uniting in a way that even war cannot shatter. Their voices are clear: they will not allow fear to define them.

This is Karen Wells, reporting from Western Spring City. Back to the studio."

******

While the nation was still painted in shock, Jayden was right at the ruined building where Tom and his kids lived.

After summoning some search teams and the fire brigade, they were ordered to search the house to see if there were survivors.

Jayden had his heart crossed, as he waited patiently, waiting for them to give the good news he was hoping for.

However, when they finally showed up, the looks on their faces said it all.

After disposing of the scattered blocks, Jayden witnessed them bring out three corpses from the ruins.

Three clear corpses right before his eyes, but it was clear that one was missing, right?

He saw Tom's, Vena's, and Teresa's... But where was Katie's?

"We already checked the entire building, sir. We found no one else," one of the fire brigade men said.

Jayden was not accepting that, and they could not stop him when he decided to check it out for himself.

It was then that Camilia and Temi suddenly showed up.

He had left the island without even saying a word, and they were worried about him too much to stay back while he was here alone.

Being outside at this time was not the best move, and even though Jayden knew that, would he want to trade his emotions for it? No.

"Jay! Jay! What are you doing here?" Camilia asked.

Another big thing was that none of the ladies knew about Tom and his children. Even Camilia herself.

She was stunned to have seen him being so concerned in one house, as if it was the only building affected by the attack.

At first, all they could grasp was that he was going nuts due to the shock, but she soon understood that it was not true.

Jayden refused to stop after their call, and they had to follow him up at once, walking past the dead bodies lying at the side.

When he entered the ruins, all he could see were stones and smoke. There was no sign of life or even death, but one thing he knew was that Katie could have been there when the bomb struck since the rest of them were there.

However, even after taking a whole thirty minutes to check without letting out a word, he found nothing... No one.

Jayden even tried to find out if there were any of her remains, but he could not even see a hint.

The next thought that struck his mind was that she could have been completely blown away by the impact or perhaps burnt to nothing.

Having that thought in his mind almost freaked him out, as he could not hold the tears.

When he walked out, a large gathering was already there, and they were all trying to trespass into the restricted areas, trying to attack the President, but thanks to the large security walls from Harper's defense team.

But as soon as he stepped out, a bright view appeared when he saw Katie, alive and well, standing next to a woman... A woman he clearly recognized.

"Lydia..."

It was the Amber Bloom farmer from Old Texas, where he got the supernatural ingredient for Monarch Café.

He could not believe he was seeing her here, with Katie... What the hell was the connection?

At that point, he suddenly remembered how she told him to forgive his mother, and now he kind of saw the connection.

But he was still confused.

But at that point, he had to embrace the hug as Katie rushed towards him.

"Big Brother!" Katie shouted as she hugged him, tears gushing down her eyes as she sighted the corpses at the side.

"Oh my... I thought you..." Jayden paused, as he hugged her tight and did not say any more word.

Camilia and Temi were still watching, confused about the whole thing.

Then Lydia approached him, stared right in his eyes before muttering.

"You forgave her. I never expected..." She paused and then continued boldly. "You will be victorious."

With that, Lydia turned and left, with Jayden still dumbfounded by her acts, and that unnatural aura.

******

Harper had locked herself in her small private workshop for hours. The images of Western Spring City burning played over and over in her head. Every scream, every broken wall, every child crying... It all poured gasoline on the fire inside her chest.

She scattered old blueprints across the table, shoving papers aside, scratching new lines, crossing them out, and starting again. The Icelandian Defense System had stopped almost everything so far. No matter how fast or powerful they backfired the missiles, the shields would catch it, drain it, and throw it away, just like the Aegis V.

But now, it appeared like they had found how to break through the Aegis V.

Her hands trembled as she sketched another design. "No. Too weak," she muttered, tearing the sheet in half. Another page. Another failure. Metal scraps lay in a messy heap at her feet. She had tried piercing power, speed, energy overload, but nothing made sense.

Nothing felt strong enough.

Her head dropped onto the table. For a long moment she just sat there, staring at the mess of ink and broken parts. Maybe it is impossible, she thought. The word stung. Impossible meant Icelandia would keep striking. Impossible meant more cities would burn.

Her fists clenched. "No," she whispered. "Not again."

Then, as her eyes drifted across the chaos of sketches, something caught her. A small note she had written days or even weeks ago in the corner of a page: They absorb energy… what if energy is not the answer?

Her breath caught. She pulled the page closer. The system was built to eat energy, but what if she sent something it could not absorb? Something that twisted around its own core... Something alive in a way.

Her mind raced. A weapon not just of force, but of unpredictable rhythm. Something that bent between physical strike and coded interference. A hybrid. Not one thing, not the other, something the shield could not recognize in time.

She grabbed a fresh sheet and started drawing again, this time slower, more certain. The lines began to flow, and for the first time all day, her chest loosened.

It would not be easy... But it was possible. She could see it now.

Harper leaned back in her chair, sweaty and exhausted, but her eyes glowed with a fire stronger than before.

"They thought we would never break them," she said softly to herself, voice shaking with both fear and resolve. "But we will."

And for the first time since the attack, Harper felt hope.

.

.

[A/N: Quick question. Who do you think Lydia is?]