Once the apartment became silent, Seth walked towards the window, the blinds half open, revealing the entire city from the overlook as he pulled out his phone and began typing his assistant's number.
Seth looked at the dark, burning forest in the distance, a solemn expression on his handsome face as he squeezed the smartphone. "I cannot continue like I was—they will need a leader, one both cold, calm and calculated... Yet able to show compassion and warmth even if fake and part of the calculation."
"I am Seth Darkwood, a villain designed to abuse my company money to pester a heroine and make the populace feel inferior."
'No, that is the Seth Darkwood that will die. I shall become a villain that outsmarts the story, surpasses the hero and makes the populace believe I was in the right even when I shoot someone's brains out in front of them.'
Organising his thoughts, he tapped the keypad and called his assistant, hoping he wasn't too tired from yesterday's tasks.
'Talk about good luck.'
Somehow, Seth was happy that the place he purchased was a huge mansion with a sub-complex that used to be used for employee getaways, with a secure and huge underground with two floors below that would be perfect for storing and preparing for the coming chaos.
Tap Brrr Brrr
A few moments later, his sleepy assistant answered—from the distant background were the voices of various people and the sound of a coffee machine. It was likely a bad time to call as Vincent was probably getting coffee for the morning before heading to pick him up.
"Boss!? It's so early!" Seth slapped his face, remembering that he was usually lazy and didn't go to the office until after midday unless he could speak or see Su Muyue... 'Damn this simp's habits!'
"Morning, Vince. There's no rush to pick me up today, but I have more things for you to handle. They are of utmost importance."
"..." Seth could only smile because he heard the sigh and muttering under Vincent's breath.
However, with the amount of stuff this guy has done while earning a barely decent wage, it was fine for him to do it this once. If he keeps doing it, then even Vincent must be shown that I am no longer the pushover and emptyheaded Seth.
"It's nothing severe. First, I want you to invite our company's most reliable and elite members, not those who are friendly to me but those truly useful to the company."
"Even if poor or lacking college and university degrees, to a business and work seminar located at the new mansion I asked you to purchase."
Seth tried his best to speak confidently, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples while using the combined memories of himself and the idiot to find any hopeful employees that Vincent's search might miss.
'Who in the company was a high-rank evolver in the novel... I'd prefer women, but men are fine too....'
Anna Kovella came to Seth's mind, but she was a heroine from later in the novel. It seems that she was subject to a horrifying experience and ended up becoming a psychopathic killer. Her SS Rank ability was a double type, with Stealth and Sharp Blades.
"Hmmm, boss, do you mean prioritising those with skills other than your brothers?" His voice seemed to doubt Seth, but there was no time to deal with those who merely enjoyed his rich parties and gifts when they only lost and spent the company money to pick up girls.
"That's correct; don't invite them to the retreat. Allow those who seem reluctant to bring their families for a two-day and three-night stay four days from now. I am counting on you to ensure Anna Kovella is also present; if she is, you can have a month's vacation."
"I see, I see. The boss is finally moving on from that cold woman! What a great day for the Darkwood Group!" Vincent seemed happy for some reason, but it was obvious he had misunderstood, but that was fine.
Seth didn't care as long as the most important people were saved for the base to work.
"Mmmm, good work—also, keep trying to get more dry food, seeds and medical supplies from antibiotics and painkillers to diabetic medicine and other specialised medicine from my mother's company."
Vincent took my words and began to make stupid noises. It seemed he had a question: "Boss, can I ask, did getting rejected break your head? Why are you buying these things? It's a little too much, right?"
He was only showing concern so Seth didn't get angry or offended. Instead, he leaned against the wall as the clock moved close to eight o'clock. "Will you trust me, Vince? I will let you know why when you come to the retreat."
'He should accept... we've been friends for nearly twenty years.'
The call went silent momentarily with the distant beeping of cars and the coughs of people likely in the distance. It seemed Seth's hearing had improved greatly after cultivating, though it wasn't something superhuman—things he might have missed were now clear as day.
"Okay, boss, you're probably hurting right now; I will ensure Anna comes! Trust me with your life, and I will take you to the promised land!"
".... Shut up, you fool."
"If possible, look into buying some animals, like cattle, there were three people from farms in our company, right? Invite them to the retreat."
"You have my account details to use; if you buy the items I require, take a ten per cent bonus and treat yourself."
Clack!
Seth didn't wait for him to continue—everything he needed to ask was done, and now he would train for two hours to adapt to this body and improve himself... The cultivation manuals, although they would work on their own, he needed to adapt completely in the next week or his life wasn't guaranteed.
⁜ You took your First Step To become an actual Villan Boss: VP + 100
'I should message Elena and train with her because she should be able to help me for now—I should probably save enough points to buy her a basic cultivation method; otherwise, she might just be torn apart by an overlord one day.'
He changed his clothes, heading towards the exit with a bottle of his premixed workout shake. It was a poor mix as this fool bought only expensive things and threw them together, but the vitamins and minerals were at least high quality.
'Upgrade my weapon three times.'
The moment he made the choices in his mind, the gun vanished from his makeshift holster before a loud tinkering and clattering sounded, and the weapon returned, this time with a proper black leather holster with the Darkwood Name and Logo embedded on the pouch.
⁜ Deadly Rounds - Increased Stopping Power: VP - 20
⁜ Deadly Rounds - Increased Stopping Power: VP - 40
⁜ Rapid Fire - Increased Fire Rate: VP - 80
⁜ Rare Quality Handgun (Large Magazine, Self Maintenance, Rapid Fire, Deadly Rounds Lv.2)
⁜ Uncommon Harness + Holster Added as a bonus!
'Thanks for the bonus—well, let's work up a sweat.' He thought as he saw Elena in a training outfit that was skin tight, revealing her wonderful figure and soft curves before she waved at Seth happily, rushing towards him as they headed to the first floor together in tandem.
"Seth! It's rare for you to offer to train, and your mother said you are lazy and hate training and wouldn't be up now!" Her face was filled with joy as she hooked his arm naturally, but her training outfit was so small that the bumps on her chest and the mound between her thighs were completely visible.
'I don't want other men to see this cute woman like this... Let's warn her.' Seth thought while enjoying the sight, glad he was rich and could keep her silly parts to himself.
"Never wear this when you are in public! Only wear it when in front of me." Seth's voice was very forceful as he opened the door to their private gym and training area, causing Elena to blush as their faces were less than an inch apart, only nodding as she heard his jealous and possessive words.
With a delighted face, she followed after him, ready for an intense sparring session where she would beat him up and take back control of their relationship again.
'What is the global and local infection rate.'
⁜ Global Infection Rate: 7%
⁜ Local Infection Rate: 22%