Chapter 50: Different Circumstances.
Ethan was a pitiful figure indeed. While one might look at his skills and assume he was an elite figure with cheat abilities... the truth was that his situation wasn’t quite so.
Apart from the first two skills, Ethan couldn’t use the others — mainly because he didn’t have the minimum stat points required.
Meaning from the get-go, he was handicapped by a large margin.
Secondly, from reading the descriptions, it was obvious that these summons were latent threats — especially the last one, which was completely sentient.
Roy couldn’t bring himself to envy the guy. Yes, he had broken abilities — but at what cost?
Compared to himself, where each of his skills was ready to be used regardless of level and stats, Ethan had it hard...
But that didn’t mean he wasn’t talented or that his skills weren’t OP. It just meant he was a late bloomer. After all, from the only two skills he could use currently, only one had attack-capable summons.
Other Lords in Roy’s shoes might view Ethan as a threat. After all, this guy had abilities that could overshadow most others and had a guaranteed future that promised he’d be one of the top figures of Arcana.
But Roy didn’t worry. In fact, the thought of Ethan being a threat never crossed his mind. After all, by the time Ethan started unleashing his full potential, Roy would be on a nuclear power level. In the face of an ether-powered nuke, there was only so much anyone could do.
Not only that — his stats would also show forth their true weight from his Bash (SSS) and Electric Amp (SSS)...
Well now he could finally grasp how his territory’s advancement happened so quickly. With Layla’s administrative and instructor abilities, they could quickly organize the recruits and citizen Hunters.
With Ethan’s Nano Bot summon, things like building and healthcare weren’t going to be a problem.
And that mysterious Jake handled Hunter recruitment... Roy was still curious about how that worked.
"Layla, once Ashley’s back, meet her and take account of all resources in her hands. Then make a request for what is needed most — especially beast cores and the like. Make sure the lower-ranked recruits level up as much as possible."
Layla, with a face ever stoic, nodded as she informed, "I’ve already drawn a list of all resources we are lacking, mapping a total estimate of beast cores needed to push the recruits to at least level 18 to level 22. I only need to submit the list, my Lord."
Roy’s brows raised. So efficient... she was probably a secretary or a PR back on Earth.
"Good. Go hand it over to her. Whatever we have, put to use immediately. And for what we’re lacking, make a list... I have a feeling we’ll be going for a raid pretty soon," Roy said this last part with a hidden smile, thinking of the so-called Beast Lord Amon.
At least he might have some use... Now he hoped the mutt would prove stubborn — giving him a reason to act.
Then he turned his gaze to Ethan. "I see you have item-building capabilities, so I’ll secure weapon blueprints for you. Go meet Ashley. I should have enough raw ores and other materials among the drops. Take them and focus on mass manufacturing — I need every officer to be appropriately armed..."
Pausing for a bit, he continued, "We all don’t know much about each other — each of us having no connection to one another, save for the mutual bond of allegiance and sovereignty.
But so you know — as much as I respect mutual interest, I respect loyalty, brotherhood, and sisterhood more. Under my banner, you are not my workers or slaves.
You are part of a united body. You are my comrades — whom I hope to treat with respect, whom I hope to share laughs and sorrows with.
So please refrain from the formal act. We are kin who will bleed together, sacrifice for one another — so let us be and act like the family we will be from now on."
There he went — his pitch so emotionally provoking that even politicians adept in this art would be clapping with envy and admiration.
The seed of lordship that had been planted in his soul since his arrival at Arcana had begun to bloom. Things like swaying emotions with words, building bonds through a single encounter — came to him as easy as breathing.
On the captains ends both reacted differently to Roy’s speech...
Layla stood about 6.3 feet tall, her hair a winter white lush flowing across her back, her skin tender white, her facial features delicately sculpted into perfection. Compared to a seductive beauty like Vera or an innocent fairy like Ashley, Layla gave a cold feel — like a scarred goddess unconcerned with mortal affairs.
Her expression was always cold and stoic, but today it couldn’t help but crack — her eyes now gazing at Roy in a new light and with a hint of warmth.
She hadn’t accepted recruitment into Roy’s circle willingly. The moment she was teleported into Arcana, she found herself in the depths of nowhere — surrounded by horrors and eldritch abominations. With nothing but her will and a single combat skill, she struggled for survival.
In fact, it was the exact moment when she encountered a level 19 beast — a monster that was way out of her league and promised a brutal death — that it happened...
[You have been scouted by the Oracle!]
[You have been given a chance to join the ranks of the Cosmic Policemen! Acceptance means immediate extraction to base... Would you accept? Y/N]
In this do-or-die situation, did she have a choice to refuse? And so, of course, she chose affirmatively.
To her, this allegiance wasn’t pleasant. She had spent her life under the heel of a scum for the past six years back on Earth — sorting his every need, building his career... all for what?
Nothing! She never got recognition, acceptance, or the validation she deserved — all because she was but a mere secretary, a side character only there to make her boss shine brighter.
And here, upon coming to Arcana, she had barely lasted three days before nature forced her to once more become a side character.
She felt indignant! Why couldn’t she be a Lord? Why wasn’t she chosen?
She felt self-pity. Even her skills reflected she was a tailor-made side character — destined to be an administrator, not the owner; an instructor, not the hero.
Her fate was indeed pitiful. Though she didn’t blame Roy or the others for her plight — what happened was no one’s fault, not hers, not theirs. Nature just happened.
But that didn’t stop her from feeling a bit of despair. Worse — she didn’t even know what her boss this time around was like.
On meeting him today, her heart still remained cold. After all, the relationship between them would be only that of master and subordinate — nothing more...
When he started giving instructions, her reality cemented. This would be my new life, huh? Not much different from the previous — only now she had to bow.
But the moment he made that speech, her heart puckered. His words touched her deeply — the assurance that she would be something more than a side support, something more than an admin, a co-founder, something more than just an instructor — but part of the hero’s party.
She had served under a slick-tongued CEO for so long and had drafted countless speeches for her boss. She had heard her boss give false promises countless times. So she could tell — this man... he spoke from the heart.
Ethan’s circumstance was quite similar — only he was a bit more accepting of his subordination. After all, he was well aware that most of his skills would remain useless for quite some time, and to survive till then, he needed a sturdy shelter to stay under.
His only hope was that this Lord of his would be as tough and powerful as they come. So even with the speech, he couldn’t help but squint his eyes a bit. Only your prowess will convince me... he declared inwardly.
Ethan was a handsome individual — his face cleanly shaven, his blonde hair neatly combed, and his grey pupils remaining trained on his new Lord, measuring him sneakily.
An awkward, silent atmosphere remained for a second before a raging voice could be heard.
"That stupid dog! I swear, if the Boss comes back, that fool will regret the day he was born!" Richard’s pissed voice could be heard slowly approaching.
Roy’s eyes lit up in delight. This was good news — the dog proved stupid after all.
A chilling grin graced his lips as he concluded: Dog hunting it is then...