The city was filled with hustle and bustle. News of a challenge to a General of the city had spread like wildfire, not just to the spawned citizens of the System City, but also to the people of Earth who frequented this place. The system announcements of Sylas’ feats had shocked them all to the point everyone was scrambling to learn how to replicate what he had done.
Unfortunately, in these days, most hadn’t been able to find many clues at all. And those that were able to certainly wouldn’t share it. Instead, they kept their awe to themselves, wondering how Sylas had managed to afford such a thing…
Until, that is, news of what happened in the Nexus appeared, and everyone began to put two and two together. If Sylas was receiving 10,000 F Coins a day, a total that would only increase with time, then it was no wonder he had been able to do what they could not. Those that understood the path could only grit their teeth and start hoarding their coins. Little did they know that buying property only made you a true citizen, not a Noble. Their path ahead was long, and before they could even try to catch up with Sylas, news of this battle began to spread.
Even more unfortunately for them, because they weren’t citizens, most of them ended up locked outside, unable to witness the festivities.
…
Sylas calmly walked down a dark and cold corridor. There were faint sounds of crowd noise in the far-off distance, but it ironically only made one feel more isolated, as though that crowd was just worlds away, and yet at the same time a scene that you didn’t want to see… because seeing them would inevitably mean that you would have to put your life on the line. It was an interesting psychological tactic, one that didn’t work on Sylas at all.
Sylas’ gaze flashed as he noticed a figure ahead of him. He leaned on the wall and gave Sylas a casual glance as though trying to see something. This man was none other than Licirius. Sylas’ steps came to a calm stop. He was just about five meters or so from Licirius, and he didn’t seem to have any intention of getting any closer.
He didn’t say anything, waiting for Licirius to speak.
“Ah, so you’re that type,” Licirius said with a silent chuckle, pushing himself off the wall. “Cold. Stoic. Logical, I think the word is. That makes things much easier, no? How about you come and work for us?”
Sylas looked at him for a long while.
“Who are you?” Sylas asked.
Licirius smiled. “That’s not something I can tell you just yet.”
“But you want me to join you?”
“Wouldn’t that be for the best? Your little world doesn’t have—”
Licirius looked up and then stopped talking. Sylas could see him tense a bit before everything went back to normal.
‘Interesting,’ Sylas thought. It reminded him of the Taboos of the Madness Key.
“What would I gain for doing something like that?”
“I don’t want to threaten you because that sort of thing probably doesn’t work on people like you. But equally as true, you’re capable of understanding what’s implicit even without me saying it so boldly.
“Instead, I’ll do this. If you join us, this System City and everything it produces will be yours from now until the end of the Summoning. Once this little planet has… you know, we will take you out of here and you’ll live like a King with the resources you’ve gathered.”
Sylas didn’t respond as he continued to look at Licirius. Was that a joke? How would he have any guarantee of protecting what he had? Everything would be controlled by these people.
That said, he could theoretically mobilize the System City to pump up his own power as best as he could. But in that case… why would he rely on these people? Soon enough, this city would be his. If this was the best they could offer right now, it was too pitiful.
Licirius was waiting calmly when Sylas suddenly continued to walk until he was by him.
“Do you know how many System Cities there are on Earth right now?” Sylas suddenly spoke, his back to Licirius as he continued to walk away.
“Are you trying to say our offer is too pitiful—”
“I wonder. How many of them have been taken over by people like you? And are you all really friends?”
Licirius froze before his eyes suddenly thrummed with murderous intent.
“I have a feeling that there are probably multiple powers eyeing our little planet. Maybe you’re all under the same umbrella, maybe you’re not… but one thing I know for certain is that internal strife most definitely isn’t unique. Where there’s interest, where there’s greed… Gluttony… there’s selfishness.”
Sylas didn’t say anything else because he didn’t need to. He had already seen through Licirius’ greatest weakness in a single exchange.
Daring to promise him a System City only meant two things. First, this System City was just a springboard toward what they really wanted to do, and second… it wasn’t valuable enough to tip the scales too far in his favor.
That latter thought reminded Sylas of something clear. How many System Cities were there on Earth right now? Thousands at the very least… In fact, it was more than likely tens of thousands.
It was doubtful that all of them were under the control of outside parties, but he would bet that there was a sizeable portion, and none of them seemed to be working together or capable of working together.
Plinli couldn’t even perfectly control what happened in this City alone. And soon enough, he would be ousted by Sylas.
There was a rush of light, and the crowd noise hit Sylas like torrential rain. Then, he locked eyes with his opponent and couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.
He was an enormous man wearing crimson armor and riding on the back of a neighing steed. General Aleen’s horse wore similar crimson armor while its coat was a jet black that glistened in the sun.
—
[General Aleen (FFF+)]
[Level: 27]
[Physical: 777]
>[Strength: 822]
>[Constitution: 873]
>[Dexterity: 707]
>[Speed: 706]
[Mental: 811]
>[Intelligence: 1362]
>[Wisdom: 871]
>[Charisma: 200]
[Will: 651]
—
