Carter and I sit down in a clean office. We sit in a comfy armchair, it must be pretty expensive as I'm easily sinking into the cushions and I could happily sit here for hours without getting uncomfortable. In front of us is a small glass table and beyond that is a sofa that looks comfier than my bed at home.
We have been sitting in the room for a few minutes alone, just quietly soaking in the atmosphere in silence. The door swings open and the B-Rank hunter whose name I'd already forgotten walks through the door. Following behind him is a thin man dressed in a tan suit. He has a cold feel around him and when he enters the room I could almost swear the temperature dropped. His eyes are glowing golden as they scan us head to toe.
Without saying a word he sits on the sofa opposite us while the hunter who entered in front of him waits behind to shut the door then stands behind the sofa directly over the man's shoulder. The man looks towards me, ignoring carter.
"How are you related to Kaira?"
A look of confusion paints my face. The man's gaze intensifies before he continues.
"How are you related to Cataclysm?"
"What's Cataclysm? And who is Kaira?"
The man's gaze focuses to its limits, eyes squirting as if trying to see through me before he sighed and relaxed, leaning back into the sofa.
"Sorry to be so hard on you after calling you here without telling you anything. My name's Roland, I'm an S-Rank hunter that works for the System Association. That ability you used is also used by a wanted criminal called Kaira. She's part of an organization called Cataclysm that opposes the System Association."
"So you thought I was this kiara person?"
"No, we know you aren't her, we were worried they would have already reached out to you since you share the same ability and possibly the same class as one of their core members."
Roland seems to be apologetic over the misunderstanding but also concerned that they may still reach out to try to sway me to join them.
"Look I understand that you don't have any relation to Kaira or Cataclysm due to a lie detecting skill that I have but if you have the same class as Kaira then it would greatly help the System Association. It could help us figure out what her class actually is and how we can fight it. The Association will give you resources to increase your skills so we could study them more as well as some compensation."
Turning to Carter, I searched his face, looking for a sign on what to do or how to get out. He shakes his head showing that there was nothing he could do to help me get out of the situation.
"I don't have the same class as the person you are looking for."
Roland could tell I was telling the truth but his confusion was clear.
"For something like this we need a bit more than your word. Even if I can see your telling the truth, the Association won't accept just your word."
I sigh. I take a moment to really think but it doesn't really matter. Either way I couldn't keep my class and my abilities hidden forever.
"I can show you my status window but I would prefer to keep it a secret if I could."
"If the status window doesn't reveal anything that would be helpful towards our investigation of Cataclysm then we will keep your information private."
After passing my glance between Roland and the B-Ranked hunter, Roland gave a sign to his companion, causing him to retreat out of the room.
"Now it's just me, you and your friend. Please show your status window to me."
Another sigh escapes my lips but I cave in, opening my status window and turning it towards the S-Ranked hunter.
Name: Miles Ires
Class: Wild Mage
Level: 11
Titles: None
Skills: Long Range Spell, Buff
Stats:
Strength - 25
Stamina - 25
Defense - 25
Intelligence - 103 (5)
Luck - 100 (40)
Mana 1030/1030
Unassigned Points - 20
Rolands eyes scan my status window but quickly turns to me.
"Why don't you have the ability to control the bugs?"
"All my abilities are random. I used my ability called 'Long Range Spell' and that's the spell that came out. Sometimes it's fire, sometimes light but that was the first time I've had the bug ability."
He thinks over this for a moment, rubbing his chin.
"Can you use this now? I wish to see what you mean."
I shake my head.
"I wouldn't recommend it. It could be a small spell that wouldn't bother even an F-Rank but it could also be a spell that could kill an S-Rank."
I wonder if I actually could kill an S-Rank if I got the right spell. I mean if there is a spell out there that could kill one of the strongest people in the world in a single hit then it could get even more dangerous when using my ability.
Roland thinks over what I said for a moment, really taking in the concept of having every spell in the hands of an E-Rank.
"While I dont think I should use that ability, I can use my other ability. It has a similar effect but only for buffs so it shouldn't cause any harm to you."
"Very well, go ahead."
Casting buff on the man was simple, i cast it once, improving his strength which he nodded at the mediocre buff of only 5 stat points. I canceled the buff after just a moment and cast another. This time his defense increased by 25 which got a little more of a reaction as a buff of this level shouldn't be castable by an E-Rank. I canceled the buff once more and applied another. This time I cast the buff and the man's shock was clear. I didn't know what buff I cast immediately so I chose to look at the status window in front of me.
'Buff activated: +100 All Stats'
If I had water in my mouth, I would have spit it out. This is by far the best buff I've used so far. I'd gotten buffs that affect all stats but no more than a +15. This buff is insane and even an S-Ranked hunter would want to keep around someone that could throw a buff like this out all the time.
'Title Unlocked: Buffed Up'
'Using a buff, increase the target's stats by 500 or more.'
'Reward: +100 to all stats permanently'
If my jaw wasn't already on the floor then it definitely was now. I silently showed the status window to Carter who had been silently watching next to me. His jaw dropped the same as mine looking at the reward.
Roland was still stunned looking at the buff he received from me before I interjected.
"Um Roland sir… What kind of rewards do people normally get from titles?"
He composed himself, unsure of why I would ask before answering.
"It depends on the title and how it was obtained. Most titles give a stat boost of around 50 points while some can give passive bonuses to abilities and so on. Why? Does it have something to do with the buff you just cast on me?"
Turning my status window from Carter and pointing it towards the S-Rank hunter, I show him the title I just obtained.
"That's…"
Roland quickly stands before making his way to a desk on the other side of the room. Opening a drawer on the desk he pulls out his phone and looks back at me.
"Do you mind if I make a call? I think there's someone who would want to meet you."
"I said I don't want my abilities to get out if I can help it."
I tried to protest but he was already dialing the numbers into his phone.
"This person is trustworthy and I think it will be a good meeting for you. They are another S-Ranked hunter that was originally a support type hunter but after hitting the B-Rank they quickly shot to A-rank and then shortly after they reached the S-Rank all through soloing gates."
A support class that can solo gates? If this guy could use buffs on himself to raise his stats and allow him to fight monsters alone then I guess meeting him would be good, but with the randomness of my abilities I don't know how much he could teach me.
After a brief moment on the phone, Roland slides it back into the desk. You are lucky, they were just stopping by the Association building to drop a few things off so she will be coming up here in a moment.
Wait… She?
The door flings open with a loud gruff following shortly after. The woman was tall and had well built muscles from what must have been years of training. Her dark orange hair is a mess, I wouldn't be surprised if a bird came out of it. She looks around the room, taking in the small group of us sitting at the table before she speaks.
"What's so important you dragged me all the way up here?"
END OF CHAPTER 10