"What is going on here?!"
Those words were spoken by Lord Silvers who was accompanied by Maya. The beast tamer stepped forward and replied.
"I caught this boy trying to escape and simply stopped him. The fact that he had to fight my serpent means doesn't have authorization to leave , am I wrong?"
Silvers turned to Arc
"You tried to run away? Is this true?"
His situation had just gone from bad to worse. Not only had he gotten caught, there was no possible way he could escape these three powerhouses, it was simply impossible for him right now.
Still, Arc couldn't afford to back down now that he was this close. He chose to stand his ground.
"That's right! I have no interest in revenge or being a part of your twisted organization. I'm going to become a hunter who saves people and upholds justice!"
"A hunter who upholds justice? What the hell is that? Hunters are selfish people only in it for themselves and that extends all the way to the top. The Midgard World government isn't the righteous place you think it is, they don't care how many lives they destroy or how many people they use to achieve their selfish objectives"
"Isn't that what Ragnarok is? You're a criminal organization responsible for the deaths and destruction of millions. And who had to save those caught up in your people's warmongering? The world government!"
"The Cradle is a subsidiary of the hunter organization, if I recall correctly, they tried to kill you, didn't they?"
"I'm not a fool! Even I can tell that this power I possess is sinister. That is probably why they tried to end my life"
Maya tried to intervene but Silvers raised his hand instructing her to stay out of it.
"And what about your friends who were "deported"? Those monsters disposed of them without a second thought like broken toys because they were deemed useles—"
"That's precisely why I'm going back! With this power, I'm going to rise up the ranks and change the organization from the inside. I'll make sure no one else has to die"
"And you think they'll just welcome you back with open arms? Who's to say they won't just kill you on the spot because of your power"
Arc smiled a little, his gaze full of determination.
"I'll just have to prove to them that I'm not a threat! Sure, it might be difficult, but I have to try! I owe it to all my friends that died, and the kids back at the cradle"
The staredown between Arc and Silvers lasted a couple minutes till the old man finally caved.
"Sigh, fine. You can go"
"W-What? Really—"
"However, you will come to your senses and realize I was right—"
He handed him a remote with a single button and smiled softly
" —When that time comes, I want you to know there will always be a place for you at Ragnarok. If you ever decide to return to us, just press that button"
"Don't count on it though. I'm going to become a paladin after all, just you wait"
Hearing those words made the old man laugh excessively. He regained his composure after a bit
"Sorry about that, young master....I can't wait to see what your future holds. Please, accept the serpent as a parting gift from me"
"But it's—"
Arc turned to look at the serpent and realized it was injured but not dead. Even better—
[Name: Alberto Race: Great white serpent Costs 2,500 coins to enslave]
Weakening it also reduced it's value. Still though....
"It's already half dead, wouldn't it be a waste of coins?" Arc thought
[No need to worry. The Stables have healing properties so once you acquire it you can just let it recuperate in your stables. Although, since Lady Irene is still in a mood and refusing to heal them personally, it'll be a month before you can use both it and Yami again]
Yami was about as injured as the serpent after going up against the tier 7s as well.
"I see... Then... Enslave EVO"
[COINS: 7950—> 450]
[ENSLAVEMENT COMPLETE. ADDED TO STABLES]
"Well then, I guess I'll take my leave now"
"Safe travels, young master"
Arc turned his back and walked towards the door. With each step, he recalled the memories from his time there and wondered if they really were bad people.
The chefs who were always eager for his help and never once got angry whenever he made a mistake or asked an annoying question, Silvers who always passionately expressed his distate for hunters— you could see the wrinkles multiply on his face whenever hunters came up..... And Maya
He turned back at the door and saw Maya's sad eyes.....eyes that shook his resolve a little almost making him turn back and stay..... but he had already steeled his resolve.
"Goodbye, Instructor Maya"
He muttered as he left through the door.
"And there he—"
"—he goes" was what the beast tamer wanted to say but was cut off by Maya who confronted Silvers
"HOW COULD YOU JUST LET HIM LEAVE LIKE THAT!"
"Calm down, Maya-chan"
The tamer said but she wasn't having it
"How do you expect me to calm down, Lord Clay?! At the very least, if Lord Silvers corrected his misconception, he might've stayed"
The cradle didn't get rid of Arc because they feared his power. It was because according to Silver's stolen research, the other twin was a liability who hinders the masterpiece's power. If they found out Arc was the masterpiece, there's a huge possibility they'll get rid of Ash.
"With his hero complex, he would've at least stayed to protect his broth—"
She was frozen in fear, the cause wasn't Silvers though, he was standing there silent. It was Clay's intimidating aura.
"Maya, relax"
She complied immediately. She had no choice in the matter as she was well aware of the difference in power between Clay and herself. After all, he's a Saint class, and Silvers' superior in Ragnarok.
The dangerous aura disappeared as he turned to Silvers, looking at him with a plain smile
"As for you, I bet you're cackling deep inside right now. You sly bastard, so that's why you kept him here instead of our branch HQ"
A smile formed on the corner of Silver's lips
"Maybe"
Clay shrugged at his response. Maya was lost
"Don't leave me in the dark, Lord Clay?"
"Tell me, have you heard of "sample selection bias?" "
"Are you mocking me?" She pouted
"Hahaha, just answer the question"
"Ofcourse. It's when the sample used in a survey doesn't represent the larger population the researcher intends to draw conclusions about. For example, if we want to find out how popular Clay Rider is and we only ask everyone present, your popularity rating will be hundred percent. However, if we take the whole of Midgard, your popularity rating will be less than 0.000000000000000...."
"Enough with the zeros, that's just rude! Anyway, Silvers plan is something along those lines"
"I still don't follow"
"The world government is a good and noble foundation, true. However every good tree has a few rotten apples here and there— hunters with selfish interests who perform several acts of cruelty—bribery, corruption, human experimentation, slavery and the likes...."
"I get it now! This base is located in one of the badland sectors— filled with the dark elements of the government. This world, the next, the next and the ones after that"
"Bingo. Silvers has already planted the suggestion that hunters are not good people in your young master's mind with his constant vents. As he ventures out in the world, he'll take in the darkness of hunters again and again and start thinking all hunters are like that"
"I admit it's a sound strategy but still.....do you really think that's all it will take to get him to join Ragnarok? You shouldn't underestimate his hero complex"
"No, all we need is for him to lose faith in hunters, the overlord system will take care of the rest..."
Silvers finally spoke as he turned around.
"Please explain, Lord Silvers"
"The overlord system was designed to recreate the previous overlord Ymir. If all lady Irene required was someone to inherit the power, they'll be no need to assign him missions and reward coins. The coin system itself is counterproductive if it didn't have another purpose"
"Which is?"
"To have him complete her missions"
"Hmmm? Why though?"
"It's simple really...With each mission the young master completes, his personality gets overwritten with that of Lord Ymir"
"R-Really?"
"Yes. The more he uses the system, the faster he'll naturally become a cold, cruel, overlord whose desire is to bring about Ragnarok and slay Asgard. At least that was supposed to be the case"
"Supposed to be?"
"His naivete and foolish hero complex is hindering the overwriting. That was why lady Selene hesitated all this while to grant him her power and the idea behind the message she gave you"
"I see.... So as long as his spirit breaks, we win"
Maya finally understood the reasoning behind Silvers actions. Clay smiled at the fact his subordinate was finally up to speed and issued his command.
"Our young master's first stop is the world of Baldur. Maya-chan, I want to follow and watch over him without letting yourself be noticed, and do not interfere unless your actions will hasten his despair"
"Yes Sir!"
Maya saluted and headed through the gate, after which it closed.
"We'll be seeing each other again soon enough, Lord Ymir"
Clay soliloquized as he strolled back inside with Silvers, the darkness swallowing their steps.