In a quiet wooden room, a small spherical crystal projected a 3D hologram, painted in white and blue.
[[I did the same with village guards. When they came to find Slime, I just unleashed a horde of them at once. Dwarves aren't a race capable of fighting, so it's natural they got scared and ran away. As for the mercenaries, they didn't disappear; they abandoned the quest. I paid them handsomely to do so.]]
The electronic voice continued as the village chief's jaws dropped in shock. Aryan, while on the other corner, sat comfortably on a sofa looking at the chief's expressions, almost feeling pity for him.
The crystal continued to play the conversation between him and Elder before it strategically cut off at the point before Aryan bargained with the Elder.
The hologram faded, and the room fell silent. The village chief gasped, clenching his chest; he had yet to absorb the fact that he was being betrayed by a member he trusted so much.
"So, chief. What do you think you are going to do about it?" Aryan asked, standing up and walking closer to him. He stood just before the chief, as his hand slowly reached to touch another small white orb in his pocket bag.
"This...it can't be", The chief clenched his fist, heavy breathing. He walked to the wall, punching it like a madman. His voice trembled with anger, "How can he...how can he do this to our village...my trusted members."
Aryan adjusted his mask. He looked at the half-dwarf with narrowed eyes. His voice rang deep in the room, "Do you realize the meaning of your actions? If I report this to the adventure guild, you will be charged with posting false information and an attempt to murder."
The chief eyes widened in disbelief, "No please don't do that. If that happens, my reputation and all the years of hard work will collapse into nothing."
Aryan tilts his head, "Then, are you suggesting me not to report back to the guild? That would be a second legal offense."
"No...no...no this can't be happening," The chief muttered, his eyes turning red. He constantly pulled his hair, drenched in a bucket of sweat. "I can't let you do that...no. I will do anything to seize the information."
"Name your price, whatever you want to keep your mouth shut," The chief said, looking directly into Aryan's eyes.
'This one is not as dumb as that elder,' Aryan concluded, looking back at the Chief, "And what if I don't?"
"Then..." The chief stepped back, and out of nowhere a meter-long black metallic hammer appeared in his hand, "...Then you will have to die."
Aryan observed the weapon, but his expression remained calm, 'A one-time use magic weapon.'
"I see," Aryan let out a long breath.
Silence fell among them.
The chief wasn't wrong, even when Aryan was physically stronger than the chief, he wasn't dumb enough to try testing a one-time use of the magic weapon on him.
The same was true for the other side. The chief could attack him, but doing so amid the crowded village would be direct violence against the guild and empire.
Aryan smartly placed back the small white crystal in his bag, "Alright then, I will take on your offer."
"I want the most advanced storage space you have. That's all I will need," He said, in a calm tone. The village chief gulped the lump in his throat, his breathing normalized, "Your price is too high, but I am not in the position to bargain."
The hammer in his hand faded again in white light particles, "we have an agreement then."
"Fine," Aryan said, walking out the door, "I will be leaving this place within an hour; make sure everything is ready by then."
He soon left the village with the storage ring as said. The ring was not too flashy, but it was a work of art. A 5x5x5 subdimensional storage, where he could store anything as long as he poured some magic into it. If sold in the market, its price would be 10 gold coins.
As for the fire Aryan had lit within the village, the last thing he would want to stay and burn along with it.
With everything stored inside space, it was easier for Aryan to travel, discovering through the forests, and trying to find a light green slime. Objectively, to use his inherited skill.
In a world governed by magic and science, the people who could use magic were called 'Awakened'. Not only did they gain the ability to manipulate elements and energy but also a physical strength that could sustain the magic.
While only 1 out of 10 in this world awakened magic those who did gained a physical superiority. Even a base awakened had base stats 1.5 times normal humans, with the highest recorded number 2.4 times.
Aryan himself was 2.1 times, which made him above average even among base awakened. While the growth potential was unlimited, the ways to use it were not.
As he ventured through the forest, he found himself a suitable place to rest and eat something. He finally opened his mask and took a long breath. Even when his first mission went above expected, he couldn't find any slime along the way at all, let alone the rare green slime with the golden core.
Double tapping on the wristband he wore, he scrolled through the tabs and clicked on his status.
-------------------------------
«STATUS»
Name: Eone; Evo: 1
ID: 42SA02; Rank: Copper
Health: Normal
Magic: Violet
Skills:
1. Contract binding (inherited skill): Can make a contract with beasts, lower than your level. You can only contract with 1 beast right now.
2. Pyrokenisis [Basic]: Can imbue flames in weapons.
--------------------------------
Aryan looked at his status with a long sigh. When the first time he checked his status, he had one skill [Contract Binding] which came as an inheritence. While the other skill [Pyrokinesis] he gained from a spell scroll he had in his room.
It was a good start, considering each scroll skill cost above 1000 gold coins to get. As for the inherited skills, it could only be gained through bloodline. These abilities were unique to nobles only. Yet, at current magic powers he had, he could barely put any of these skills to test.
As the sun set, his search through the forest yielded no slimes, and his injuries were wearing him down. Exhausted, he boarded a late train to the city. Heading directly towards the adventurer guild.
And the next thing, he was in a dimly lit room, sitting before two inspector, while the recording crystal played visiual conversation between him and chief. The visual abruptly cut at the part before Aryan made deal with chief.
"Such impudence," one of the officers commented, "playing with country rules and adventurers lives, then threatning them to keep information hidden."
The other officer agreed with a nod.
"So, Eone, Just to confirm things. The legal charges on Half Moon Village would be deliberately posting false information. Plotting murder and threatning you to hide information from the guild." The inspector asked. Aryan innocently nodded his head.
"Which raises a question. Do you have an idea about what motivation they had behind the crimes?"
"No idea, sir!" Aryan responded.
The officer noted down.
"Very well then. With proof we have, the action will be imediate." The officer stood up from his seat anger visible on his face, "We will also make sure that you will get rewarded for your quest as well as for your bravery. Please get your injuries healed in the guild medical room, and rest well."
With a final exchange, both inspectors left the room. Aryan, adjusting his mask, headed straight for the medical ward. His injuries were minor, and basic healing magic was enough to restore him completely.
Returning to his apartment, he took a quick shower. The sun had already risen, and after two sleepless days, Aryan collapsed into bed, barely noticing when his eyes closed.
But his rest was short-lived. After only a couple of hours, he heard huge knocks on his door.
Groggy and half-awake, Aryan barely registered the noise until—CRASH! A powerful force splintered the door, flooding the room with sunlight. Aryan sat up, frowning.
Aryan abruptly sat up, his brows turning into a frown. "I told you not to break the door every time you come!" He yelled, almost instinctively.
A deep laugh followed as a towering, muscular figure stepped inside. His dark skin, short red hair, and a scar running from his brow to his chin made him all the more imposing. Golden bracelets adorned his thick wrists, and his black, metallic-looking pants gleamed in the light.
"Karl..." Aryan muttered, memories flooded in his head. A cold sweat dropped down his head, he was facing before the one person he didnt want to meet.
"Been a while, brother!!"