If there was one thing Shane hated the most, it was this world being entrenched in Classist philosophy.
The people of Pandorica were naturally evil…
Not the purposeful kind, but a thoughtless one.
At least those of the Lower Realms learnt from their mistakes, they used the past to build a future.
But what of this world?
All he had seen were people naturally fitting into the 'Classes' they were born without forethought.
Commoners looked down on themselves without thinking they were worth the time of noblemen.
Their weakness stemming from a sense of inferiority, rather than the difference in capital.
It's what allowed the aristocracy of the world to continue their charade of being 'Dark Nobility'.
Their wickedness unchanging even with time…
And yet, these foolish creatures dared to dream of being brought into the light and easily forgiven?
In the time Reigning Queen Lara Pandorica took the throne, she had established herself as the enemy of many nobles. In fact, you could say her brand of 'hope' was making them use the system properly.
Giving human rights to Commoners born to be servants as well as changing their relationships.
Those of the lower rung of society wouldn't be forced into unpaid labour, but treated with honour.
Even if you were born into the 'Thief' Class, you wouldn't be discriminated against unfairly.
It was a mindset that threatened to take away the inherent majesty of higher ranking 'Rare Classes'.
Especially those passed down through lineage.
Shane assisted King Ramos and Queen Lara in their attempts to create a new kind of kingdom.
One that properly used the concepts brought to them from the lower realms, rather than only taking advantage of the inherent usefulness of sorcery and technology. A crucial part of the king's plans.
Without his, his further machinations were useless.
If they couldn't even tame the Dark Nobility, then they had no right to venture into larger territories.
Going beyond the scope given to them by Gaia…
Regardless, the slick samurai hoped the woman from the picture hadn't been taken advantage of.
Her name was 'Judetta Darby'.
After failing as a Swordsman and Adventurer, her talents in biology was uncovered in their place.
She used to identify monster corpses.
Being part of the team that dismantled the useful bits after Adventurers brought carcasses back.
Her life was swell from there, until…
Those who were interested in the secret experiments she did independently found her.
They destroyed her origin of magical energy to make her powerless, then forced her to continue.
Her private research bore fruit after some time…
It was thanks to this that the Dragon Cult was able to manufacture artificial monsters and chimera.
But the most important part of her research was shown on his body. Mainly, the eyes he'd hidden.
Shane took off his mask to reveal a pair of eyes that didn't belong to that of a human being.
They were… 'Dragon Eyes'.
With lizard-like pointy pupils followed by a dusk orange glow around them, it was a beautiful sight.
His eyes glowed in the pitch black environment.
The street lamps unable to shine a light on his figure when he looked at a distant residence.
That alleyway hiding his silhouette.
When he moved into the light, those eyes became even clearer under the brightness of the lamps.
And so did the scar on his right eye…
A company branding with the words 'FH DUST' over his eyelids and face. The burns still haunting.
He could still feel the pain of when he first got the marking. The hate and anger that had defined him.
But now, he was trying to change.
He was no longer a freedom fighter who was given the divine task of liberating 'Beastkin' by destiny.
Now, here was merely a royal guard and familiar.
Thinking that, he put the mask back on.
Even if he'd decided to change himself, now wasn't the best of times for that 'change' to take place.
He still needed his strength of a freedom fighter.
The steeled resolve to go through with his actions independently, even if the world was against him.
He'd came to the Arcadia residence because of that. The place relatively far from the royal palace.
Even though the Arcadia Dukedom was somewhere else, it looked like many aristocrats didn't properly manage their territories. All they did was keep the security tight and from afar using their 'phones'.
Independently walking there wasn't popular.
In fact, why would they need to?
As long as everyone did their jobs as the Class System had intended, no one would go hungry.
A crazy way of doing things fit for another world.
The silhouette sighed before fixing up his clothes and sleeves. He wanted to look a bit presentable.
Shane then approached those standing at the gate.
Two men dressed in guardsman attire were undauntedly doing their jobs without being lazy.
They looked well-trained even in this darkness.
"I'm here to meet someone." He knew how this would end, but he wasn't used to being 'stealthy'.
All he knew was getting the job done efficiently.
The two guards looked at him suspiciously.
One of them was about to speak, but stopped when the man on other side stepped forward.
There seemed to be a difference in their status.
"I'm a true Guardsman under the service of the Duke. You… You're an 'Otherworlder', aren't you?"
"That's right."
"Unless you're here to pledge allegiance… then begone from here!" The guard didn't budge.
"…Absurd." Shane scoffed in amusement.
"W-what?"
"You're still not using a modern accent in this day and age. I'm guessing you don't have any friends."
"What does that have to do with-"
"What I'm saying is: Get out of my way. At least do it while I'm still asking nicely." His mask lit up.
The glow of his eyes making his mask scarier.
The other guard figured they were about to get into a fight, but swiftly intervened rather than watching:
"Please stop!" The man's words causing the two to briefly half as he continued: "I'm a Gladiator employed by the Arcadia Household. I'm not sure why you're here, but I believe we can do this pea-"
"Why do you guys introduce yourselves like this?"
"Huh?" The unexpected question interrupting him didn't seem to make much sense to the guard.
He pointed at himself and spoke: "My name…?"
"Yeah, why doesn't anyone introduce themselves by their names in this world? Are you not people?"
"…An 'Otherworlder' wouldn't understand."
"Right, then I'll stop trying. Anyway, I'm trying to look for someone. Can you help me find them?"
"Wait! You bastard, who are you to but in?" The man with the Guardsman Class didn't stay quiet.
He pointed at the herbivore with the Gladiator Class, then went round to insulting Shane too:
"You're not finding anyone! You filthy Classless creature, get out of my sight!" The man glared.
A blade manifested from his soul. The common-looking Spirit Essence of his Class had formed.
Though this display didn't move him at all.
Rather, he continued to talk with the Gladiator:
"Does a 'Dud' called Judetta Darby work here?"
"…She's the master's assistant." A reluctant answer came from the other guardsman just doing his job.
His thoughtless way of answering only made the so-called 'true guardsman' slash them ferociously.
Just as the blade was being swung, the air was somehow disturbed between the two guards.
The sword swung out hit the floor powerlessly.
And so did the bodies of the armoured men.
"He saved your life. You better be thankful." Was the last thing he said before putting away his blade.
The sound of it returning to the sheath resounded.
He didn't know if they were stupid or crazy for not installing a camera system as part of their security.
A part of him wanted to believe that it was because they was so sure their guards could protect them.
But Shane also knew that wasn't entirely the case.
The reason there were no cameras to see his intrusion into Arcadia territory was because…
…there was no Class called 'CCTV Operator'.
Even though there was a Gladiator here acting like a Guardsman, there was no creativity in other jobs.
It was a stupid reason to keep crude security around without upgrading it to the next level.
Maybe this was why the kingdom never changed.
Regardless, now that they were unconscious, it looked like he now needed to find a way inside.
Shane looked around with his eyes and saw layers of automatic magical barriers installed at the gate.
Some acted as alarms, and others to trap people.
It looked like getting in wouldn't be easy…
Rather than trying to break it with force, Shane instead opted to go by a more crafty solution.
Guardsmen definitely went in and out of the place without being detected, but why was that so?
The answer he came up with was… armour.
He stripped the 'true guardsman' of what he wore before going in. It wasn't even really a 'disguise'.
He still wore the same black clothes and animalistic mask. The only difference was the outer layer.
Parts of another's armour being added on top.
The moment he casually opened the gate and walked inside, he found himself getting lost.
Though he blamed the residence for being too big.
He walked along the corridors until he came across another 'Guardsman' acting as the house's butler.
Before the man could shout or summon his Spirit Essence, the 'hoof' of his foot struck his leg.
The shoe Shane was wearing revealed an opening near the toes meant for the mutation of his body.
He grabbed the man by the face and asked:
"Where does your master do 'experiments'?" Even though he was a mere butler, the man seemingly had endless loyalty for the Duke. However, it wasn't the first time he'd dealt with this type of person.
He dragged the man by the jaw and dragged him through a corridor. A maid saw him this time.
"Sshhh… Unless you want me to crack his head like an egg." The maid immediately got ahold of herself.
Her eyes holding deep animosity…
"Don't talk. Lead me to where your master does his experiments. If you don't do that, he dies… then you." The silenced screams of the butler struggling in his hand frightened the lady into submission.
She showed him the way without any tricks…
At least, that's what he'd initially believed.
The moment he started to become nauseous from the strong smells that were assaulting his senses, a voice tried to shout towards the two shadows casted on the door. The lady knew who they were.
"Help…!" Before she could alert the entire residence to his presence, a blade cut her throat.
And the butler's skull was crushed straight after.
Two figures broke down the door and charged out to see the intruder. Their conversation cut short.
Duke Bryan looked as if he was seeing something unbelievable. How could someone dare intrude?
His security should've been strong enough to deal with mere Assassins. Something seemed a bit off…
He quickly came to a conclusion.
Shane's strange appearance that didn't fit the stereotypical mould made it clear of his origins.
He was an Otherworlder.
Since that was the case, he was likely one of those serial killers sent recently by an unknown house.
A loud clashing sound resounded just as he was manifesting his Spirit Essence into existence.
Clara's sword collided with Shane's blade handle.
The two of them instinctively understood that the other had trained in martial arts from a young age.
Regardless, Shane wasn't here to fight them.
'They will get in the way if I let them off easy.' Was what he concluded inwardly after deliberation.
Stepped back into his signature stance.
Time wasn't his friend, he needed to deal with them in less than half a minute to be sure.
Thus, his Iaido Style was revealed.
A strand of dark electrical energy sparked on his body while holding that sharp Mystic Tool of his.
Unfortunately, he didn't have any advantages.
His two part Mystic Tool: 'High Fell' and 'Low Hell' were a pair of Red Steel chokutō and Dark Steel Rifle Sheath respectively. They were used in tandem with each other to boost quick draws.
The only problem here being that his weapon wasn't made to clash with durable Spirit Essences.
Moreover, it looked like his opponents weren't pushovers like the people he'd met so far.
Shane's blood boiled and adrenaline shot high!