...
"Alright," Leon muttered to himself, glancing at the shimmering interface in front of him. "200 RP and a 'Mystery Item'? System, care to explain?"
The system's monotone, slightly detached voice echoed in his head.
[200 RP (Resource Points)]: A currency usable within the system. RP can be spent on various upgrades and items through the system's shop. Current balance: 200 RP.]
"Resource Points," Leon murmured, tilting his head. "So, basically, a fancy currency to buy stuff. Makes sense. And the shop…?"
The system didn't respond directly but instead displayed a new section in his interface. A sleek menu appeared, revealing categories of items available for purchase:
[Consumables]
[Equipment]
[Blueprints]
[Abilities]
[Mystery Items]
His gaze lingered on the last category for a moment before shifting back to the second part of his reward. "Okay, what about the 'Mystery Item'? What's that all about?"
[Mystery Item: A randomized, high-value reward chosen from the system's inventory. Potential items include rare consumables, unique equipment, or one-time abilities. Mystery Items are not purchasable with RP and are only unlocked through mission completion.]
"Randomized, huh?" Leon raised an eyebrow. "So, basically a loot box. Great."
The system prompted him with a glowing text box.
[Would you like to claim the Mystery Item now? Y/N]
He hesitated, curiosity tugging at him. From her spot on the makeshift cot, Elys's gaze flickered toward him, but she stayed silent. Leon's fingers twitched slightly before he made up his mind. "Claim it," he said.
A soft shimmer of light materialized in his interface, coalescing into a glowing icon. As the light faded, the system displayed the name and description of his reward.
________________________________
[Ability Acquired: Transmuting Touch]
Ability: Transmuting Touch
Description:
With a single touch, this ability allows you to transform ordinary, worthless materials into something valuable or extraordinary. A stone can become gold, dirty water can turn into fine wine, and even scraps can be reshaped into rare treasures.
How It Works:
Touch to Transform: Simply touch an object to trigger the transformation.
Imagination Matters: The result depends on what you picture in your mind—anything is possible as long as the mass stays the same.
Mass Rule: The new material cannot exceed the size or weight of the original item.
Examples:
- Turn rubble into precious gems or metals.
- Transform stagnant water into clean drinking water—or even luxury wine.
- Change broken tools into perfect, high-quality weapons or armor.
- Convert mundane items into rare magical or valuable materials.
Limitations:
- Cannot be used on living things.
- The more complex or rare the transformation, the more energy it consumes.
- Usage scales with the size of the territory under the user's control.
________________________________
Leon blinked at the description, his mind racing. "Damn..." He stopped himself, grinning. "So I'm basically a walking treasure machine now. A golden egg-laying chicken."
He chuckled under his breath, his amusement drawing Elys's attention. "What?" she asked, her brow furrowed with curiosity.
"Just got something that'll make my life a whole lot easier," Leon said vaguely, leaning back with a satisfied smirk.
Before he could elaborate further, the system interrupted his thoughts.
[Additional Shop Unlock Explanation: The shop now includes high-value items tailored to the user's progress and missions. Shop inventory will periodically refresh based on user achievements.]
Leon rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So, the more I grind, the better the rewards get. Fair enough."
He leaned back against the wall, a glint of excitement in his eyes. With this new ability, the possibilities were endless.
...
At dawn, Leon woke to the faint glow of sunlight spilling through the cracks of the abandoned tannery.
The air was cool, heavy with the lingering smell of damp leather, but his mind was sharp, already anticipating what lay ahead.
Elys stirred on her makeshift cot, her features soft and unguarded in sleep, a rare sight that Leon didn't linger on for long.
He stood, stretching out the stiffness from the night. Today was important—Arial was supposed to meet him at the city gates, and from what little she'd told him, things were about to take a sharp turn.
By the time Leon reached the gates, the city was alive with morning bustle. Merchants were busy setting up their stalls, calling out for buyers with loud, practiced voices.
Guards strolled lazily, their expressions hovering somewhere between boredom and mild suspicion as they surveyed the growing crowd. Leon leaned against a post, his face shadowed by his hood, waiting.
It didn't take long before he spotted Arial weaving through the throng. She moved with a purpose, her cloak drawn tight against her, making her look almost unapproachable. When she reached him, her lips curled in the faintest smirk.
"Leaning against a post like you've got nothing to do?" she teased.
"Just saving my energy," Leon replied. "You ready for this?"
Arial gave him a nod. "Let's head to the city lord's office," she said without preamble, motioning for him to follow.
As they walked, Arial's tone turned wry. "I don't think he'll be expecting someone to just walk in and throw him out of his position, though."
The pair made their way through the winding streets. The deeper they went into the city, the more well-guarded and structured the surroundings became. It wasn't long before they arrived at the city lord's office, a stately but weathered building with a grand facade that had clearly seen better days. Two guards stood at attention at the entrance, their gazes sharpening the moment they noticed Arial and Leon approaching.
Arial stopped a few paces from the guards, her posture relaxed but her presence commanding. One of the guards stepped forward, raising a hand to halt them. "State your business," he barked, his eyes scanning them warily.
Arial reached into her cloak and retrieved a gleaming badge, holding it up for them to see. "On behalf of the Empire," she said, her tone calm filled with authority, "we're here on official business."
The guard's eyes flicked to the badge, his brows furrowing. "Official business? That badge could be a forgery for all I know," he said, his voice laced with suspicion. "We've seen plenty of fake insignias in our time."
Arial's expression didn't waver. Instead, she took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "If you believe it's fake, then summon your captain," she said coldly. "I'll wait. But know this—delaying me will have consequences. Serious ones."
The guard hesitated, his confidence faltering as he glanced at his partner. After a brief, tense silence, the other guard muttered something under his breath and stepped aside. "Let them through," he said reluctantly.
Arial gave a curt nod and strode forward, with Leon following close behind. He couldn't suppress a grin as he leaned in and whispered, "You really enjoy making people sweat, don't you?"
Inside, the city lord's office was as grand as it was disorganized.
Stacks of parchment littered the massive desk at the center, and the man behind it—a balding, overweight figure with a perpetually sour expression—looked up with a scowl as they entered.
His small, beady eyes flickered between Arial and Leon, and he leaned back in his chair with an air of impatience.
"And who might you be?" he asked, his tone dripping with irritation. "I don't recall having an appointment with vagabonds."
Arial didn't bother with pleasantries. She stepped forward, placing the badge firmly on the desk in front of him. Its gleaming surface caught the sunlight streaming in from the windows, and the intricate design practically screamed authority.
"By order of the Empire," Arial said, her voice sharp and commanding, "this city is now under new leadership."
The city lord blinked, his scowl deepening as he stared at the badge. "This... this has to be a joke," he sputtered. "You can't just barge in here and make ridiculous claims. Do you have any idea who I am?"
Arial leaned forward slightly, her expression cold. "I do. And soon, it won't matter. This badge gives me the authority to appoint your replacement. Your time as city lord is over."
The man's face turned red, his indignation boiling over. "This badge could be a fake! You think I'm stupid enough to—"
"Enough." Arial's voice cut through the room like a blade. "If you doubt the badge, feel free to report it. But I assure you, by the time your complaint reaches them, your seat will already be occupied by someone else. Now, sign the transfer document and step aside, or we'll proceed without your cooperation."
The city lord hesitated, his gaze darting between the badge, Arial's unyielding expression, and Leon, who stood silently, arms crossed, exuding quiet confidence. Finally, with a shaky hand, he picked up the quill Arial had placed on the desk and signed the document.
Arial rolled up the parchment with a satisfied smirk and turned to Leon. "Congratulations," she said. "You're the new city lord."
Leon raised an eyebrow, his expression somewhere between amusement and disbelief. "Just like that?"
Arial chuckled softly. "Don't get too comfortable. This is the easy part. Now, the real work begins."