The lobby of Majestic Technologies Tower was crowded with reporters. On seeing a limousine pulled up outside the entrance, they flocked towards it but were pushed back by security guards.
Stepping out of the car was George Yang who carried an aura of power around him. Despite being in his fifties, he looked radiant and energetic. His poker face didn't seem to express any sense of worry over Lucas' kidnapping. Behind him, a young and good looking man exited the limousine. It was the eldest son of the Yang family, Hubert. He remained composed despite the commotion.
"Mr Yang, can you fill us in on the details of your son's kidnap?" the reporters began firing questions.
"Do you have any suspects in mind? Did they do it for money?"
"Did you know why your son was kidnapped? Was it a revenge? Did you offend anyone lately?"
They expressed no sympathy for the Yang family. All they cared about was getting the headlines. Neither George nor Hubert spoke a single word as they make their way towards the lifts. The guards formed a line to prevent the reporters from following them. The lift arrived and they entered, leaving the sea of reporters who were still hungry for news.
Inside the lift, Hubert observed his father. He couldn't decipher his thoughts and was afraid of speaking to him. Till now, he had managed to keep his story flawless. Nobody suspected him, not even the police. He told them that there was nobody else when he showed up to deliver the ransom at the secluded forest the kidnappers told him to go. Following the instructions, he dropped the money near a tree and left.
There was something else he still worried about - Janson. After abandoning Lucas, he headed straight back home to avoid drawing suspicion from his father. He had no idea if Lucas was still being held captive or if the worst has happened to him. Janson had ceased to contact him since that day.
To keep his status as the heir to Majestic Technologies, he must make sure everything that happened on the yacht stays there. Nobody can find out that he was the mastermind.
The lift arrived at level 45, the highest floor of the building. Neither father nor son had spoken to each other. Hubert never deciphered his father and the silence made him feel uneasy.
"When's Mike returning?" George asked as they exited the lift. His second son had been on an overseas business trip.
"He'll be back on Friday. Don't worry, father. I'll make sure he leaves the airport before any reporters show up." Hubert replied, glad that the silence was finally broken.
"Set up a meeting with the PR. Find out who's the reporter who asked if the kidnap was a revenge plot. Make sure they don't spread rumors that'll tarnish the company's image."
"Yes, father."
Hubert watched as his father nodded and walked into his office. On the outside, he seemed unbothered by Lucas' kidnap but he knew his father was only maintaining his image so people wouldn't speculate any rumors. When Lucas didn't return after the ransom was paid, his father's face turned pale as if his soul had left him. Hubert knew that his father would do anything to get Lucas back, whether he was dead or alive.
Returning to his office, Hubert poured himself a glass of red wine and took a sip of it as he contemplated his next step. If Lucas was to return, he can only come back as a dead man. Or he would make sure that happens.
As for his second brother, Mike, it was best if he minded his own business. But Mike was intelligent, and any loopholes would catch his attention. Hubert must be careful if wants to maintain a clean record and continue being the charming and talented CEO idolized by many.
———————
Back inside the realm of DOJ, Lucas continued to clear every quest available, unaware that his return was not welcomed by his brother. He continued to check the forum and chat channel regularly for updates but seemed like the police hadn't revealed further details.
Upon reaching Level 10, he was able to choose a free skill from the Skills Library but he hadn't the heart to do so since reading the news. Skills had different levels too, just like equipment.
Blue-level skills: Most of them could be obtained for free from leveling up or completing missions. They are easy to acquire but dealt the least damage and most players no longer use them in the later stages of the game.
Purple-level skills: Slightly better than the Blue-level skills, they can be obtained for free or purchased.
Orange-level skills: All of them can be purchased from the Shop but it will be costly to do so. Certain skills, however, can be obtained from dungeons or more difficult missions. They are a 'livelihood' in DOJ - without them, it'd be near impossible to clear higher level dungeons.
Red-level skills: Also known as Ultimate skills which dealt the highest level of damage. Most of them are only available for purchase at a high price tag. A few of them can be obtained through dungeon rewards although the odds are slim.
The key to becoming stronger didn't lie in obtaining every skill. One had to choose the right skills for their avatar. A healer should acquire a good number of healing skills while a swordsman should have a mix of attack and defense skills. Every skill had a different effect on a player's stats so choosing the right ones was crucial. Moreover, certain skills had a bonus effect when equipped together. Being a master of the Swordsman class, Lucas needed no guidance.
"I could use a distraction," he opened the Skill Library menu.
[A free Blue-level skill is available for Level 10 Players. Please choose wisely.]
Scanning through the list, he saw:
[Icy Palms - Deals ice attacks to enemies. Increase Att 10%]
[Flower Drizzle - Releases a field of healing flowers. Increase amount of HP healed by 10%]
[Golden Shield - Conjure a defense shield in battle. Increase Def by 10%, Att by 2%]
[Lightning Strike - Deals lightning attack to enemies. Increase Mana 10%, Att 5%]
[Dash - Increase Agility by 5%]
…and the list went on to include other skills. Unlike in the past when he could buy any skills he wanted freely, he had to be careful now. This free skill was precious to him, whatever he chose now would affect his stats later on.
Choosing Icy Palms seemed like the right choice. As a Swordsman, dealing damage was part of his job so the higher his Att stats were, the better. However, he was rather inclined to select the Golden Shield skill. Although it would only increase his Att by 2%, he needed the 10% Def. A good swordsman cannot be squishy so building up on defense was just as important.
[Do you wish to master the Golden Shield skill? Yes / No]
The system prompted him when he tapped to select the Golden Shield skill. Lucas was sure about learning this skill and selected
[Gentle reminder to learn skills that match your class! Please tap
"Yes, yes, yes. I know Golden Shield is meant for tankers from Kun Ming Sect but I know what I need. So stop preaching." he needed no system to remind him what he knew.
[Congratulations on selecting your first skill - Golden Shield! Before you can equip and use it, you have to master it. Begin your journey to Kun Ming Sect and learn from the respected master himself, Yuan Pi!]