NOVEL NEXT Chapter 500: Recruiting Leroy
Leroy looked at Arthur with growing amazement and horror as the full implications of what he had just experienced settled into his consciousness.
The ease with which Arthur had absorbed multiple S-rank attacks fueled by his wind talent without any visible defensive technique or protective equipment spoke of power that went beyond his understanding of what individual awakened could achieve.
Despite his lowered stats from the Winter Beast's domain effects, Leroy knew with absolute certainty that the difference in their strength was catastrophically vast. It wasn't a gap that could be measured in conventional terms—it was an abyss that separated different orders of existence entirely.
The disparity was so enormous that Leroy felt genuine inferiority for the first time in his beta player career, a sensation that challenged everything he had believed about his own potential and position within the global hierarchy of power.
He had always known he wasn't the strongest awakened worldwide such claims would have been arrogant beyond reason given the vast scope of human potential. But as an S-rank awakened, he had maintained personal pride and confidence that came from understanding his place among the elite tier of supernatural combatants.
Leroy had believed that while strength gaps certainly existed between S-rank individuals, they weren't so vast as to make him lose fundamental confidence in his abilities.
Experience, environmental advantages, tactical preparation, equipment quality—all of these factors could potentially bridge moderate power differences and create opportunities for victory even against stronger opponents.
But the man standing before him with that patient smile had truly made Leroy feel inferior in ways that shook his core understanding of what was possible. Arthur's presence suggested that experience meant nothing when facing such overwhelming capability, that environmental factors became irrelevant against absolute power, and that his own S-rank abilities were pathetically weak in comparison.
The realization was simultaneously humbling and terrifying. Leroy had spent his time in the game developing his capabilities, earning his position as Australia's champion through demonstrated excellence against every threat their continent had faced. Yet here stood someone who made all of that achievement seem like children playing at being warriors.
Leroy sighed deeply before speaking, his voice carrying the weight of someone whose worldview had just been fundamentally altered.
"May I know who you are?" he asked respectfully.
He was no longer adressing a fellow awakened but a force of nature.
Arthur paused for a moment, his expression carrying consideration of how much information to reveal during this initial recruitment conversation.
"When you agree to join me, you can learn my identity," Arthur replied with firmness that suggested the request wasn't negotiable. "For now, understanding my capabilities and the opportunities I'm offering should be sufficient for making an informed decision."
Leroy paused for several seconds as he processed the conditional nature of Arthur's response. While the offers Arthur had outlined were genuinely impressive and the benefits undeniably attractive, Leroy recognized that he still didn't understand what he would actually be signing up for by accepting such alliance.
As a man who operated according to a strict moral code, Leroy couldn't simply join any organization solely for the promise of increased power or material benefits.
There were principles he wouldn't compromise and actions he wouldn't take regardless of the rewards offered. His character had been forged through making difficult decisions that prioritized ethical considerations over mere personal reasons, and that foundation couldn't be abandoned now.
"What is the goal of your organization?" Leroy asked with a careful tone.
He kneew if the answer wasn't to his liking, things would crrtainly not look good for him. His bext decision depended heavily on Arthur's answer.
Arthur's expression grew more serious as he addressed the foundation of what he was building rather than simply its practical benefits.
"Our goal?" Arthur repeated thoughtfully. "To live peacefully. Our first immediate objective is to push back the dimensional threats and stabilize this world against the ongoing crisis that threatens human civilization, whether it's from the inside, or the outside."
His voice carried conviction that spoke of genuine commitment to planetary defense rather than mere rhetoric designed to sound appealing.
"As for our second goal…" Arthur paused with the consideration of someone discussing long-term strategies that remained partially undefined. "We'll address that when the time comes. For now, our focus remains entirely dedicated to saving this planet from forces that our governments failed to prepare for."
Arthur's tone shifted to something more personal as he described the organizational force he was establishing.
"In our organization, we operate as one unified body rather than competing individuals pursuing separate agendas. If any part of that body is hurt, the rest awakens with protective fury, feeling the pain of the injured member and mobilizing immediately to provide assistance."
The description carried the rule of loyalty and mutual support that went beyond professional cooperation toward something approaching family bonds forged through shared purpose and common struggle.
"We don't abandon our people when they face overwhelming odds," Arthur continued with intensity. "We don't sacrifice members for convenience or advantage. When someone joins us, they become part of something larger than themselves—something that will fight for them with the same dedication they show in fighting for others."
Leroy's expression showed growing interest as Arthur's explanation addressed many of his concerns about his organisation's ethics and member treatment. The picture being painted was of a group that prioritized collective welfare and mutual protection rather than simply accumulating power for its leadership.
"And the methods?" Leroy asked with continued caution. "How do you pursue these goals? What lines won't you cross in achieving stabilization?"
Arthur's smile carried understanding of why such questions mattered to someone with a moral foundation.
"We eliminate threats to human survival," Arthur replied with clear directness. "We protect those who cannot protect themselves. We build strength that serves defensive rather than aggressive purposes. We do not bully the weak, and we certainly don't kill the innocent.
Despite what I said, that doesn't mean we are cowards, or have no spine. Not at all, when the need for fighting comes, we will fight and we will kill without mercy."
The conversation was revealing the philosophical framework that would determine whether Leroy could in good conscience accept Arthur's recruitment offer.