The night after the fall of the remnants of the Handdog gang, there's a secret organization that was hiding in his realm. The location was classified and only a selected individual knew about the place. Only death without a trial would be the severe punishment for those who weren't invited, personally, by their members.
Four people who were wearing a black cloak appeared on the Celtic-decorated assembly and moved to the circles to encircle the moonlight from the transparent glass that serves as the light of the hidden room.
On the center, there's a child tightly chained her legs and arms, lying down on the rectangular concrete table. She's struggling to escape from her tight spot. It had a symbol of several demons and ancient scribbles had been written on each corner.
Her eyes were wet, begging for help.
Her body kept trembling, begging for mercy.
"Everyone, we've come here for tonight to offer this maiden's soul to our creator. The village is full of sinners so we adhere to save them from the tyranny of false goddesses. This girl has been chosen, everyone. To serve as our path to the great demon lord. Our messiah keeps watching us from his eternal tomb. And so, we shall begin the ritual." said the leader of the cult, his face was covered with a hood.
The leader pulled out a rare knife and lifted it up with both hands tightly.
"May our Messiah bless us with more gold and let this soul make him happy to make us bold. Oh, messiah, give us more blessings for our future should retain our eternal upbringing," the leader stabbed the heart of the little girl, blood scattered on the floor, and her eyes turned blank until she's already dry out.
Everyone who witnesses her brutal end clapped their hands as they praised the image of the demon statue with a figure of a Goat.
The newspaper fell down on the floor.
[New Objective: Save the Priestess. The life of the beautiful maiden is at the risk. Unable to save her will result in the user dying in vain. Luck will be demoted to negative forty and the user's life will become miserable.]
[Status: Completed.]
[New Objective: Destroy the unorganized gang located in District 3. The time limit is 20 days.]
[Status: Completed.]
[New Objective: Start a business. The time limit is 7 days.]
[Status: On progress.]
[Rewards: You will earn the right to marry a beautiful maiden.]
[Status: Given.]
[New Objective: Defeat the dark organization residing in the village. The time limit is 20 days.]
[Status: 16 days remaining.]
[Notification: Unable to complete all of this will give the user a deadly penalty.]
The newspaper's notes started to change into headlines.
[Virus Detection: Searching for master Aljen Mura a.k.a Hermes Archnemesis..... now begin.]
In the morning, the young Don kept doing his workout such as jogging, jumping jacks, and push up. He even added to his training the pull-ups and squat thrust to increase his muscles to his forearms and legs.
At exactly 8:00 in the morning, he would do some office work so he must keep his body in check in order to relieve himself from stress. Exercising every day would improve his health condition and kept his mind relax.
Improving your health without relying too much on his slime was exactly his main objective. This was always neglected by the reincarnators who was gifted with overpowered abilities that even an entire nation couldn't deal with, according to what he could still recall from his past life.
Since he was a young lad in his previous world, he often read some fantasy stories related to Isekai from several books. However, the books created by famous authors had disappointed him the most since they weren't given him an idea of how to live a normal life.
But thinking about that, he theorized that he might encounter a reincarnator like him someday. Somewhere nearby, he might be living like him inside of the characters in the game, and he must be studying his powers to become a powerful jerk in this universe.
All he might know was that some of them might be stupid brats who were age below seventeen years who died by truck-san or died in a natural death with/without a tragic story. Or a NEET adult in his previous life who wanted to live in this universe to fulfill his utmost desire - second life.
His face turned wearily as he imagined an immature individual who was carelessly building his harem for pleasure.
"God, I wish he won't regret doing it since the women in this world ain't even normal," he muttered aside, rolling his pen on his fingers.
"My Don, it's about time for your shooting practice. Should I prepare your favorite gun, my Don?" asked Justin, showing his genuine face at his master's presence.
The young don raised his eyebrows and he smiled back, "Yes, please."
"Affirmative," Justin lowered his head with respect.
*Bang*
Several gunshots had been fired at the target, but only two bullets managed to reach the middle red dot.
"Man, I need more practice. Give me one more magazine, Justin," he demanded.
Without a question, his servant handed over three magazines of his submachine gun.
The young Don changed the magazine and reloaded the gun. He set it in a semi-auto function this time.
He took a deep breath, concentrating his scope at the target. And in one pull of the trigger, the twenty bullets hit the target successfully.
"Hell yeah!" he cheered up, making guts pose.
Justin clapped as he praised his master.
"Congratulations, my Don. You improved your skills for the past few days of practice. Remarkable."
Hermes rested his submachine gun on his shoulder and turned his face at his servant.
He raised his right eyebrows before he spoke, "It was nothing. I still need to improve my shooting and increase my accuracy level."
"No," Justin shook his head, "You've improved a lot. You shoot better than all your peers."
"You're saying that since you're my butler. You can speak frankly, though. I won't get mad at all."
Justin felt ill at ease but he heaved a sigh of relief when his boss told him that.
"Ah, is that so? Ah, right. Despite what I told you, those skills were worthless against close-quarter combat so you might get easily be killed by an experienced assassin, who is specialized with using melee weapons. To be frank, guns like that are useless against mages' barriers, for example, mine, so it won't even make a scratch ― w-w-wait, boss, be careful, the t-that weapon is loaded with magical bullets."
Hermes's face turned dark with a terrifying smile, "I thought bullets won't hurt a mage right? Like you mentioned earlier, you're a mage so, to be frank, there's nothing to worry about. Right?"
"B-b-boss, let me explain very carefully, it would even hurt me too. I can still feel the pain even you do that, to be honest. W-wait, don't pull the trigger, sir. I, I thought you won't get mad?" he asked, stepping two steps backward from his master.
"Oh, we even don't know what would happen next. Let's try to shoot your head first, huh," Hermes's face turned dark and his neon sight focused at his forehead.
Justin pleaded with cold sweat, "S-sir, anyhow. We have an urgent request. It is an important person that you must pay a visit today. Please, reconsider this first. You won't be able to use the car without me. I'm the only one who knows the person who wanted to see you there. So, please forgive me this time."
"Who's callin'?" he asked, gravely.
He lowered his head, and politely replied, "It is our client, my Don."
The young Don clicked his tongue, and he handed over the gun instead.
"Bring this back to the weaponry room and prepare the car. I'm going to take a bath so you better be ready. Make sure that the person we'll meet in that place is very important and someone who is worthy of my time," he commanded.
His servant giggled and he thought inside of his mind, 'As usual, my master is always good humor. Of course, he knows who am I referring to as a client.'
"Ooh, I love seeing that devilish eyes of yours, my Don. I can guarantee that person is going to bring us good fortune unlike that despicable man - Zamor. Now that I mention it, should I bring a flower too, my Don?" he asked, glaring.
Hermes halt for a second and he said without looking back.
"Flowers, for what? Well, do what you wish," he waved his hand in approval.
Justin bowed his head and pressed his right hand on his chest with respect.
After thirty-four minutes and twenty seconds in the clock, the young Don changed his attire to his merchant suit.
"My Don, the car has been prepared according to your command. Please take this flower," his servant handed over one bouquet of flowers, mostly all of it were red roses.
"Who are we giving this, Justin?" he asked, bluntly.
His butler giggled and opened the door for his master.
"I'll tell you later. Please enter the vehicle first, my Don," he requested, smilingly.
"Man, I wish this ain't what I've been ――
―― for..... Greetings, milady. How are you today?" Hermes swiftly trembled his shoulder in the presence of the girl he saved four days ago. His face was full of cold sweat.
"Oh, my gosh. Are these flowers for me? I'm flatter. Thank you very much. I didn't know you're such a charming man, Sir. Aljen," she accepted his gift with a smiling face. "Uh, eh, yeah. Yeah, you're welcome," Hermes humbly replied with a cold sweat.
Her name was Venus Aphrodite, the new High Priestess of the Neue Fiona Church. She was a pure, selfless, and bright lady. Her clerical clothes were classic but looked majestic, showing the girl's authority and influence within the village. Her long white sleeves covered the silky skin, and a hood garment protected her head from the sunlight.
On a side note, she's looked one year older than the young Don.
"Oh, Mr. Aljen, God is good all the time. Not only I received this gift, but you're also present this morning. I'm very happy to see you today," Venus unhesitantly wrapped her arms around his neck. "Guagh, my neck. R-r-right, please calm down," Hermes's face slowly turned blue as she rubbed her cheeks on his neck like a pussy cat.
'Another good remembrance,' Justin's eyes twinkled and he instantly pulled his hidden camera out from his chest pocket.
"P-P-Priestess Venus, please restrain yourself. You're in the presence of the guests. You're the head of this church so you better show some manners," said the little girl who had the same clerical clothes but with a hoodless garment.
Her name was Ylla Ereneus, the second district representative and the acting regent of the Neue Fiona Church.
'Someone help me.' His thoughts.
"Ylla, you're really annoying sometimes," Venus sulked before she resigned.
Finally, Hermes was released from her uncontrollable affection.
"Ms. Venus, the Goddess Gaia would be disappointed if you keep doing that. So, please remember your position first before love life," Ylla dropped her shoulders and reminded.
Hermes questioned himself about what did he do wrong. He didn't even trigger an event. He's truly devastated by this sudden development.
'Women in love are scary!' Hermes cried.
For the past few days, he carelessly studied the psychological behavior of women in this world. All of them were programmed to be attracted to the boys with worse personalities regardless of who they were. He ain't that too vicious though so why?
'Damn it, I hate this otome game,' Hermes sighed.
Inside the chapel room, the young Don took a sit on the single-seat red foamed chair whilst the two ladies were sitting on the four-seated red chair. Behind him, Justin, who was standing alone, was on standby mode for one foot away from his master's chair.
And there's the chief, his firm appearance and sharp glance had been focused at the young Don. His single-seated black chair had moved backward slightly as he raised his hand to show his gratitude to this young man.
"Once again. Thank you for your service, Mr. Aljen." he said, smiling.
The young Don looked at his hand first before he shook it.
"You're welcome. It is part of the deal though." He humbly responded.
"So, I don't think we have time for compliments. Oh, don't look at me like that, sir. The reward is on the right side, in front of you. That's the desirable payment you ever wanted in the first place."
The young Don picked the sealed document and handed it over to his servant without looking inside of it.
The chief asked in curiosity, "You don't want to check it first?"
Hermes simpered and he crossed his legs with a sharp gaze at the old man.
"I don't think I have to take the time to check the content. I'm sure the legal documents for the transferee of consignation, land ownership, and titular management has been added in the list, in accordance with the agreement four days ago."
"Oh, I'm honor to be recognized as a trusted client for Mr. Aljen. Thank you very much."
"Hmph, don't even think about it."
"Mr. Aljen, you don't have to be rude in front of him, do you?" Ylla asked, showing a terrifying smile.
Hermes's face turned blue with a cold sweat. He made a comment inside his mind that the girls in this world were truly scary. Thus, he must be more mindful of his manners in front of these beautiful young ladies.
He diverted his gaze at the reflection of the window, looking at the face of Chief Zamor through it. His eyes opened wide and he realized that his servant ain't lying about it.
He thought his servant deceived him to meet with the scary lady, however, he truly set him to meet his client but it appeared that this man had something to tell him.