Reborn as an Extra with the SSS-Divine Debt System and my Past Skills

The atmosphere inside Lumious Settlement was thick enough to choke on. Even after the chaos at the training grounds, the soldiers still cast glances at one another, their jaws tight, hands restless on their weapons.

Lucian observed silently, his expression calm, but his thoughts stirred like a storm beneath still waters.

This tension… it was fragile, like glass ready to shatter at the slightest push.

And he wanted it to shatter.

But not yet. He needed more time.

Lifting his gaze toward the crimson-streaked horizon, he pretended to sigh.

"It's getting dark."

General Ryan, who had been watching him intently like a predator eyeing prey, immediately latched onto the opportunity.

"You're right. The night will be cold. Allow me to arrange proper accommodations for you and your companions. The finest apartment in our settlement shall be prepared."

His words carried the tone of a gracious host, but Lucian did not miss the way the nearby soldiers stiffened, dissatisfaction flickering openly across their faces. They didn't like it.

Good.

Lucian allowed a small smile, feigning gratitude.

"That would be appreciated."

The general dismissed his men with a wave, his voice sharp as steel.

"Return to your duties. Now."

The soldiers obeyed, though reluctantly, their boots thudding against the dirt as they dispersed. Their resentment hung in the air, thick and unspoken.

Lucian filed it away—fuel for the fire he planned to ignite.

"Come. I'll personally see you settled."

Ryan said, gesturing toward the inner quarters.

The walk through the compound was silent, save for the heavy rhythm of boots. Eventually, Ryan led them to a tall wooden building on the quieter side of the settlement.

He opened the door himself, showing them into a well-furnished space. The air smelled faintly of dust and old wood, but compared to the barracks, it was luxury.

"Make yourselves comfortable. My secretary will fetch you when dinner is prepared."

The general said, forcing a smile.

Lucian inclined his head politely.

"Thank you."

Once Ryan left, his heavy footsteps fading away, Lucian stood in the center of the room. He raised a hand, his fingers tracing lines of mana into the air. Blue runes shimmered briefly before vanishing.

The barrier sealed with a muted hum. No sound would escape these walls now.

He turned to his party.

"We're alone."

Immediately, Mira threw her hands up.

"Finally! Ugh, this village sucks."

She dropped onto a chair, her wolves curling around her feet.

"No one here has any motivation. They train like machines, but they don't care about the future at all. It's like they're just… surviving. Nothing more."

Berry leaned against the wall, arms crossed.

"She's right. I've been looking around too. These people aren't fighting for a dream. They're just obeying orders. Hollow, like puppets."

Verus hesitated, his gaze thoughtful.

"I've seen this before. A settlement built on fear and obedience instead of hope. Places like that… they collapse sooner or later. And when they do, they drag everything else down with them."

The room grew quiet at his words.

Lucian broke the silence with a calm nod.

"Exactly. That is why…I've decided to interfere."

His eyes sharpened.

Berry blinked.

"Interfere? You mean…?"

Lucian's lips curved faintly.

"This settlement will not survive under General Ryan's command. So I will see to it that someone else takes over."

The room buzzed with sudden energy. Mira sat up straight, eyes gleaming. Berry raised an eyebrow, a slow grin tugging at his lips. Even Verus looked startled by the blunt declaration.

"Wait, wait. You already have someone in mind?"

Berry said, rubbing the back of his neck.

Lucian nodded.

"The secretary. You all saw it, didn't you? When the soldiers panicked earlier, when they had no idea what to do—they looked at him, not the general. Their instinct for guidance wasn't toward Ryan. It was toward the secretary."

Mira tilted her head.

"Huh. Now that you mention it… yeah, I did notice that."

But Luna frowned, her arms folded tightly across her chest.

"He looked like a coward. The way he flinched, the way he tried to stop Ryan's orders… he doesn't seem like someone fit to lead."

Lucian met her gaze evenly.

"You're not wrong. On the surface, he does look weak. But weakness is not always permanent."

Luna's frown deepened.

Lucian leaned back slightly, his voice steady, almost patient.

"People often reveal their true strength only under pressure. The secretary may not look like much now, but the soldiers trust him instinctively. That trust is more valuable than any brute strength Ryan has to offer. Trust is what turns frightened men into an army."

His eyes narrowed.

Verus listened quietly, but inside, his thoughts churned. Lucian spoke with such certainty, as though he could already see the outcome of events before they unfolded.

How much of this man's decisions were calculated, and how much were instinct?

Berry finally smirked.

"Heh. So the coward's going to be our puppet king?"

"Not a puppet, but a symbol. Even if the secretary only serves as the face of leadership, that will be enough to shift power away from Ryan. And once that shift begins, the people will find their own path."

Lucian corrected him sharply.

Mira leaned forward, her eyes glittering with curiosity.

"So, what's the plan? You're gonna… overthrow the general tonight?"

Lucian gave her a small, enigmatic smile.

"Not tonight. For now, we let the tension grow. It's already close to breaking. All we need to do is give it the right push, at the right time."

Luna narrowed her eyes.

"And when it breaks?"

Lucian's voice was calm, steady, certain.

"When it breaks… Ryan will fall."

The words settled over the room like a vow.

Outside the barrier, the settlement's drills continued, the rhythmic thud of boots echoing into the night.

To the soldiers, it was just another routine. To Lucian, it was the sound of a fragile order ready to collapse.

He closed his eyes briefly, his thoughts already steps ahead. The pawns were in place. The dissatisfaction among the soldiers was growing. And soon…

Soon, Lumious Settlement would belong to someone new.

With everyone in agreement, Lucian finally leaned back in his chair, the faintest trace of a smile curling on his lips.

"Good. Then listen carefully. I'll handle the secretary. While I work to draw him out and test his resolve, the rest of you will take on a different task."

He said, his voice low but carrying weight. Mira perked up immediately.

"A task?"

Lucian nodded.

"You've seen the cracks among the soldiers already. Dissatisfaction is festering. What I need is for you to widen those cracks. Agitate them. Whisper doubts. Stoke their anger. Fuel the fire of revolution until it can no longer be contained."

Berry chuckled, though there was a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"So, you want us to play agitators? Sure, why not?"

Luna crossed her arms but smirked faintly.

"I suppose kicking the hornet's nest sounds like fun."

Even Verus looked uneasy, but he didn't protest.

Lucian's gaze swept over them all.

"Do what you have to. If you succeed, then when the time comes, Ryan will already be standing on a crumbling foundation."

He leaned forward, his eyes cold. "Break the army from within so that we can build it anew."