"Sienna?" Arthur stammered, his eyes widening with recognition.
She's one of the Guardians of Gaia, with the nickname 'Scarlet Ravenwood'!
Arthur remembered that the women in front of him had been one of the strongest members of the Guardians of Gaia in his past life. Her Legendary-Grade Traveler Talent, known as [Fiery Wolf], had granted her incredible abilities when she transformed into a powerful fiery wolf-like creature.
However, her Talent was infamous for its dangerous drawback - each transformation took a toll on her sanity. The more she used her power, the more her sanity dwindled. Each transformation had pushed her further into madness, until she had become a mere shadow of her former self.
He remembered vividly the day when the news had reached him - Sienna Ravenwood had lost her sanity just four months after the 'Main Plane' incident.
Back at the scene, Sienna's eyebrows furrowed in bewilderment. "How do you know my name?" Her tone was a mix of suspicion.
Before Arthur could respond, another figure appeared at Sienna's side. This woman, also wrapped in a towel, seemed far less confrontational. However, Arthur did not recognize this woman in his previous life.
She wore a worried expression as she stepped forward and bowed respectfully to Arthur.
"I'm so sorry for the commotion, Sir Arthur. Please accept our sincerest apologies on behalf of my Mistress," the woman said with utmost sincerity. Her demeanor was calm and collected, a stark contrast to Sienna's fiery disposition.
Sienna glanced at her assistant, her confusion evident. "What are you apologizing for? I'm the one who-"
Her assistant cut her off, her voice firm and resolute. "Mistress, Sir Arthur here is also the same as you, a person with Legendary-Grade Talent, so we shouldn't cause trouble to him."
Sienna huffed, "Hmph! But he was the one in the wrong here!"
"This is a mixed bath, Sienna," the assistant hissed. "It's not a crime for a man to be here, and it's certainly not a reason to cause a commotion. If anyone was making people uncomfortable, it was you."
~Sigh
She took a long sigh as she continued. "Please. It's important that we make amends for any misunderstandings in here, Sienna."
Sienna clearly unhappy with the situation, but she nodded reluctantly after her assistance called her by her name. "Fine..."
The assistant turned to Arthur, her eyes filled with sincerity. "I apologize on behalf of my mistress. We didn't mean to cause any trouble."
Seeing the situation turn out like this, Arthur couldn't help but let a small smirk creep onto his face, though he did his best to hide his mischievous intentions. He decided to push the situation further, seeing an opportunity to have some fun.
"An apology, huh?" Arthur said, his voice carrying a teasing tone. He stared at Sienna with a pressing demeanor, letting a bit of his aura leak out, which caused a few people nearby to unconsciously distance themselves. "Do you realize what you've done? My reputation has been damaged because of this-"
~Swoosshh
In an instant, a controlled and powerful stream of wind surged toward Arthur before he finished his line, sending him crashing into a wall ten meters away. The force of the impact shook the bathhouse, and the people inside immediately panicked, fleeing the scene in fear.
"Ugh..."
Groaning as he slowly picked himself up from the floor, Arthur blinked away the stars dancing in his vision. He wasn't seriously injured, but he was certainly taken aback by the unexpected attack. He quickly scanned the room, trying to identify the source of the assault.
Before him, three individuals had appeared, each with a powerful aura. The one who had directed the wind stream at Arthur wore an expression of righteous anger as he chided him. "Don't make things difficult for these two women who have already apologized to you."
Arthur recognized him instantly. It was Samuel, a member of the Guardians of Gaia. Samuel possessed the Legendary-Grade Talent of Aerokinesis, allowing him to control and manipulate the air around him with unparalleled precision.
~BAM!
However, what surprised Arthur even more was Sienna's reaction. Instead of defending herself or seeking help from them, she balled her fist and swung it at Samuel with a fierce punch. Her punch landed squarely on his cheek, snapping his whole body to the ground.
"Don't interfere in my business," she spat out, her eyes blazing with a fiery resolve.
Sienna's assistant looked bewildered by the turn of events, "Sienna!"
Sienna's temper flared. "What? They started it first!"
Samuel, now nursing his reddening cheek, seemed taken aback by Sienna's reaction. He rubbed his jaw, his expression conflicted, and remained silent.
The other two individuals who had accompanied Samuel watched the unfolding scene with impassive expressions.
As Arthur steadied himself, he couldn't help but admire the presence of these powerful figures. They were not to be trifled with, and he knew that firsthand.
They were members of the Guardians of Gaia as well in Arthur's previous life. Arthur could also see they radiated an aura of power and competence.
In his previous life, he had encountered the Guardians of Gaia on several occasions, always from a distance. They were the most powerful group on earth comprised of figures with Legendary-Grade Talents, making them a force filled with monsters.
As he looked at Samuel, his mind began to race, and he recalled the Legendary-Grade Talent that made him such a formidable member of the Guardians of Gaia. Samuel's [Aerokinesis] allowed him to control air currents and wind with incredible precision. It made him a formidable combatant, as he could unleash devastating attacks and defenses with the very air around him.
Turning his attention to the two silent figures, Arthur remembered them as well. The woman was Isabella, known for her Legendary-Grade Talent of [Pyro Lantern]. As she summoned her lantern, she could manipulate and generate flames at will from within the lantern, making her a deadly force in battle. Her calm and collected demeanor masked a fierce determination, and she rarely displayed her full abilities unless absolutely necessary.
The man standing beside Isabella was Leon, a Guardian known for his [Earth Titan]. With this Legendary-Grade Talent, he had the power to summon Titans that could manipulate earth and stone, creating barriers, shifting the terrain, and launching devastating rock-based attacks.
As Arthur's mind raced, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. These figures were renowned for their power and skill in his previous life, and the prospect of having them as his subjects intrigued him.
Soon, a thought of `I WANT THEM ALL` swirled through his mind as he focused his gaze on them.
With a little smile, Arthur chuckled lightly, he dusted off his towel and approached them with a nonchalant demeanor.
"I can see why the Earth Federation values you guys so much." Arthur remarked casually. "I'm leaving now, see you at the meeting later."
As Arthur left the bathhouse, the atmosphere in the bathhouse had become less tense.
Returning to his room, Arthur's thoughts buzzed with anticipation for the upcoming meeting. The chance to attend a meeting of the Earth Federation on behalf of his country would be a significant development to his future, and he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement at seeing so much talent here.
Before retiring for the night, he jotted down a brief note and tucked it into his pocket and went to sleep.
As he settled into a comfortable sleep, he soon woke up again inside his luxurious Lord Manor. The warm, inviting glow of the Manor's interior greeted him as he opened his eyes.
With the sun rising, Arthur decided that today would be the day he attempted the [Lord Mission II]. He needed to grow stronger as fast as possible if he wanted to change his life on the 'Main Plane', because he knew that if he lacked for a moment, he would soon be left behind by others.
After a hearty breakfast, he summoned Elara, his trusted advisor, to his side.
Sitting in the opulent surroundings of his Lord Manor's study, Arthur engaged Elara in a conversation about the basics of solving a town's issues.
He needed to understand the fundamentals before attempting the mission, and he trusted Elara who had grown up in one of the Human Race Divine Empires to provide him with the necessary insights.
For over a few hours, Arthur absorbed her words with keen interest, nodding in understanding as he processed the information.
After their discussion, Arthur gained a little confidence to attempt the [Lord Mission II] as he gained some insights from his Advisor, Elara.
With a sense of determination, he opened the system and activated the [Lord Mission II]
[Enter the Simulated Plane?(Y/N]
Without hesitation, Arthur uttered a single word, his voice filled with resolve, "Yes."
[Transporting...]
Instantly, the world around him transformed again, and he found himself transported to a Simulated Plane, distinct from the familiar realm he had known.
The transition was seamless yet disorienting, like a dream slipping into reality. When the world around him finally solidified, he found himself standing in a small, idyllic town nestled amidst a dense forest.
The town had a quaint charm, with cobblestone streets winding through rows of timber-framed cottages. The houses had thatched roofs and small, neatly kept gardens. Smoke lazily curled from chimneys, hinting at hearth fires within. The air was filled with the soothing murmur of a nearby stream and the soft rustle of leaves in the surrounding woods.
For a moment, Arthur stood still, taking in the tranquil scene. However, his moment of reflection was interrupted by a strange sensation. He felt lighter, smaller, and when he glanced down at his body, his heart skipped a beat. He had transformed into a diminutive creature, no taller than a few feet. He was now an Imp.
Arthur blinked, trying to make sense of the situation. His hands, which had once been strong and big, were now small. His body had shrunk, and he could feel the ground beneath his tiny feet. Panic began to gnaw at him.
"I'm an Imp?" he muttered, disbelief evident in his voice.