"How did you know it was me?" he asked.
"Because no one would dare come in here and check my room," Ethan said, handing him a bottle of water. "How were you able to leave?"
"I can leave this place whenever I want to."
Arrogant, Ethan mused. But he quite liked it.
"You can stay here or come with me," Ethan said.
"Are you not afraid that I will kill you to silence you?"
"I might be the only one on this continent—in this world—who could help you." Ethan sat on his bed and stared at Furcio, who was still standing not too far away from him. "Are you really going to kill me?"
Furcio did not answer. Instead, he pursed his lips, stared at Ethan, and sighed. Then he opened the bottle of water and finished it in one go.
"Are you not going to tell me how you knew about the contract?" Furcio asked.
"No," Ethan answered without batting an eyelid.
Furcio glared at him, but he said nothing in response.
"All you need to know is that I am looking for an ally," Ethan said. "I need your services, and I am willing to pay you. I would never harm you or cause you and your kind any harm."
"Those humans said the same thing when they arrived in our world," Furcio said. "None of those words were true."
Ethan decided not to say another word. He knew he would not be able to convince a man who had already made up their mind.
"The Harmony Pact shall be done as soon as possible," Furcio said. "It would at least act as an assurance that you will not cause me any harm."
Ethan nodded. He was actually very curious about the reason behind this man's desperation for some magic stones. Not long after, the two started talking about the details of the security job that Ethan offered earlier. Again, he only wanted magic stones as payment, and he would do everything to help Ethan out.
This conversation, however, was interrupted when Ethan heard a soft knock on the door. He immediately gestured for Furcio to hide his presence. Opening the door, he discovered Jihoon with Master Wu and Ramon.
"Young Master—that man has escaped. Please let Ramon check your room to make sure that he is not hiding, lurking around this place."
Ethan had a look of surprise on his face. Then, without saying a word, he let Ramon and the others inside. It did not take too long for them to tell him that the room was safe and secure. Obviously, Ramon did not want to take any chances, so he even left two men guarding the door outside.
They knew that the assassin was an expert at shapeshifting, so he feared that the man was going to try to kill Ethan using someone else's face. After some back and forth, it was decided that Ramon would leave two people outside, and Jihoon was going to find someone to accompany Ethan at all costs and act as his assistant.
Naturally, Ethan agreed. After they left, Furcio did not reveal himself again, and even Ethan could no longer feel the man's presence. If he was right, Furcio should still be inside the mansion, but he chose to hide himself to avoid trouble.
"Young Master, the reason why I came here is because of the Funeral tomorrow. Many government officials are going to come here. The top members of the SEP are going to come. Here is the list of the Essentia Users from different regions, as well as their abilities, and then the list of SEP members." Master Wu wanted to be as thorough as possible. Ethan had just arrived in Yeonsin, and he was already targeted twice!
He was certain that the others were not moving because of the Funeral. At least a few of those people still had respect for the old man. Another reason was actually the fact that they did not know anything about Ethan aside from the fact that he did not have an Essentia, and he was protected by both Jihoon and Master Wu.
Currently, they were not certain how many people from the Chairman's faction were willing to protect Ethan and how many of them were willing to betray the Kai Family.
After giving Ethan more instructions, both Jihoon and Master Wu finally leave, leaving Ethan alone to examine his rewards and current stats!
The moment he thought about it, he immediately beamed at what he saw.
[Congratulations on unlocking Skill Level Progression!]
[You can now advance ABILITIES AND BASIC STATS using skill points. Well done! Keep progressing!]
[Congratulations on unlocking skill: Persuasion Skill Level 1!]
[Ability Name: Persuasion Level 1]
[Description: Persuasion Level 1 is a formidable ability that enables the user to exert a persuasive influence over others. With a keen understanding of human psychology and effective communication, the host can subtly sway opinions, motivations, and decisions of individuals within their vicinity.]
[Upon activating this skill through mental visualization, the host can envision their desired persuasive approach, aligning it with the target's personality and motivations. The persuasion is subtle, and the target may not even be aware of the influence, making it highly effective for guiding conversations and interactions.]
[Physical Effects: Post-activation, a subtle shimmering aura manifests around the host, denoting active use of the Persuasion skill.]
[Limitations]
[Limited Influence: The scope and depth of persuasion are limited at this level. The wielder can only influence minor decisions or preferences, and the effect is temporary and fades over time.]
[Target Awareness: Skilled or perceptive individuals may sense a subtle influence or manipulation, especially if it contradicts their core beliefs or desires. This awareness can reduce the effectiveness of the persuasion.]
[Mental Resistance: Individuals with strong mental resilience or prior awareness of persuasion attempts may resist the effects, making them less susceptible to this skill.]
[Energy Consumption: 3 EP per activation]
[Activation: Can be activated through Mental Visualization]
[Usage: Unlimited as long as the host has sufficient Energy Points (EP)]
[Level 1: Skill Limitation Protocol Active]
[Effectiveness: Capable of subtly influencing up to 2 individuals within a specified 12-hour time window.]
[Progression: Persuasion Level 1 can be further honed and expanded to higher levels by using Skill points.]
Ethan's gaze immediately focused on the words Skill Points. SP.
However, the moment he tried to access what it was or how to earn it, he was met with an error:
[ERROR: Skill Points (SP) Access Restricted]
[Skill Points (SP) access is restricted at the current skill level. Skill Points can only be unlocked and utilized once the wielder reaches Novice Level 3. Please continue honing your abilities and advancing to gain access to this feature.]
[Return to Persuasion Level 1?]
Uh…. What?
The smile on his face vanished.