NOVEL NEXT Chapter 9: 9:Charismatic Greeting
Name: Lukas Star
Class: None
Species: Human
[Stats]
- Strength: 0.4->>0.48
- Dexterity: 0.7
- Constitution: 0.2->>0.28
- Agility: 0.7
- Perception:1.4
- Wisdom:0.8
- Will power:9.8
- Mana Capacity: 1.5
Potential: 3
Ability:
- None
Weapon Mastery:
- Dagger Style (Novice)--89%
- Archery (Adept)--20%
- Swordsmanship (Novice)--70%
- Unarmed Combat Style (Adept)--78%
Spells:
- None
Talents/Blessings:
- ???
Skills:
- Shadow Step (Novice)-0%
- Soul Reap (Novice)-0%
"Nothing unusual!" I murmured after three days of intense training, getting used to my new body. While I noticed subtle details that had gone unnoticed before, there was nothing over the top.
However, what broke my heart was seeing my unarmed combat style ranking—novice. A novice! For god sake, I was a black belt in taekwondo, with training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai…
Thankfully, the more I trained, the quicker I adapted to it.And after I got used to my new body, it took a jump changing into adept.
Sighing, I turned to the mirror and took in my reflection once again.
My hair had grown long, falling over my eyes like messy bangs.
Running my fingers along the smooth, flowing waves of purple, I noted how the color resembled the cosmic twilight sky.
To explain my looks, Lukas' body possessed an otherworldly beauty: pale, white skin that almost shimmered softly like moonlight. His purple hair, though striking, had its own charm and fell in long, covering his face with an emo look.
That was the style he had deliberately made for himself to obscure his face. Not exactly something I would prefer, but altering this shape of long-duration hair seemed too much of an effort.
The violet irises, deep and enigmatic, looked ethereal and carried a cosmic aura.
Despite my average height, the lean, agile physique told tales of years of rigorous training. Yet, even that wasn't enough to mask the inherent fragility of this weak body itself.
After assessing my body, I looked at the mirror and caressed my face.
It had an unsettling vibe of a murder hobo—enough to make people keep their distance.
As I looked at it, a memory of my mother's words surfaced:
"When life becomes hard, why grimace? Since frowning won't lessen the burden, why not smile with positivity for it might lighten someone's day."
With that in mind, I pressed my fingers to the corners of my lips and stretched them upward into a smile.
"Here you go, Lukas… You are ready to depart," I muttered.
After grabbing a few things, I quickly checked my bank balance.
[2000 Crypts.]
Difficult but still manageable. My plan might still work.
_____
Soon, I reached the gate of Archeon Academy and showed my ID card to the guard.
He gave it a quick check, then nodded. "Remember, the session starts in 15 days. Don't miss it."
"Yes, Sir!" I replied with a quick nod, appreciating his kind reminder.
Leaving the sprawling academy grounds, I took a cab.
"Where to, kid?" the driver asked, eyeing me curiously.
"Marriott Market," I answered.
His brows furrowed and he frowned. "That area can be rough. You sure?"
I just pulled out my ID card and showed it to him in response.
"Oh, a hunter from the famous Academy! You'll be fine, then," the middle-aged man chuckled and started the engine.
On the way, he grew rather chatty, much to my annoyance.
"You must be really strong to get into that place."
"Not really. I'm at the bottom," I admitted.
"Doesn't matter. Just being there is an achievement. I always wanted to be a hunter, and so did my son, but neither of us could awaken mana."
Though he meant well, I just kept my responses polite but brief until we arrived at the destination. As I got out, I pulled out my phone to pay, but he shook his head.
"No need. It's an honor to chat with someone talented."
I hesitated, then nodded. "Thanks!"
_____
Stepping into a dim alley that led to Marriott Marke, I was greeted by a bustling night bazaar.
The air buzzed with activity as vendors and hawkers lined the streets, and old stores crowded together, giving the place a slum-like look.
"Quite the crowd," I muttered.
A passerby chuckled. "It's a night market. It's always the busiest at this time. First time here?"
"Yeah," I admitted. "A friend recommended it."
"Then watch your pockets. Plenty of newcomers leave here with empty pockets," he warned before walking off.
"I'll keep that in mind, Sir," I replied politely.
"Let's just hope I don't get trampled," I muttered, stepping inside.
Suddenly, a loud voice called out, "Sir! Come check out this freshly prepared high-quality weed! Perfect for someone like you!"
I almost stumbled and shot him a cold glare. 'Do I look like a drug addict?'
Unfazed, he persisted, "One drag, and you will feel the magic!"
The absurdity didn't end just there as other voices started shouting while I moved through the crowd.
'Why the hell am I getting calls from druggers.'
"Sir, look at this sword technique! One step to ascend to heaven!"
"Try these pills! Boosts strength and stamina in bed!"
"Artifacts! Legendary artifacts at cheap prices! Treasures of ancient emperors and generals!"
"Spirit-nourishing spill! Try once, and you'll beg for more!"
I pushed through the cacophony, marveling at the sheer amount of nonsense that was available for sale.
In the game, this place was a gateway to the Black Market, full of shady dealers. It was also a spot to grab items to sell later but I didn't plan to enter the black market today.
Finally, I stopped before a rundown shop with a faded sign that read: The Stone Gambling Den.
An old man with shifty, foxy eyes gawked at me as I entered, his smile a mix of amusement and curiosity.
"Welcome! Are you here to gamble on stones? You come to the right place. In a few hours, we will open the gambling channel—you might strike it rich!"
I shook my head. "I didn't come here to gamble. I wanted to buy a few of your stones."
"Huh! Do you want to buy stones…" He paused, his sharp eyes studying me carefully.
"Okay, I will showcase a few stones. You can buy from them."
"No, I want to pick them myself—from the storage."
"What? Hell no? Who do you think we are?" the old man got up from his seat and glared at me.
Having expected such a reaction, I calmly took out my ID card and placed it on his table.
The man frowned seeing this. I carefully observed the look in my eyes.
The old man froze, his expression morphing from irritation to hesitation. I watched as he scrutinized the cars, his thoughts racing—wondering about my identity, trying to guess my motives and weighing his options.
Studying and graduating from Archeon Academy might not be a big deal for the upper circle, but in the lower ones, it was worthy of attention. Even the weakest graduate at best ended up in Public Security, essentially the Police.
As long as you are awakened, survival would never be much of a concern—food on your table and a special societal status were guaranteed.
While the man before was lost in his thought, I spoke, pulling him from his stupor.
"Albert…"
His head snapped up and his cautious demeanor intensified. "How do you know my name?"
"Sorry," he muttered after a pause. "I won't be doing business with you. Please leave. I understand you are a hunter, but that doesn't mean I can let you access the storage."
I leaned in slightly, my voice low but firm. "12th Lane, Decker Street… You know what that means, don't you?" I muttered with a benevolent smile.
Albert's face paled instantly, but before he could speak, I inched closer to his face and whispered in a voice that gave him deja vu…
"You can kill me, but I have already informed the authorities. They have eyes on your family, so if something happens to me, your family might…" I let the sentence trail off with a smile, then patted his shoulder and spoke with a chuckle as if we were old friends.
"Albert, do you understand the situation now?"
"Do you know how fucked up are you now?"
Swalling his saliva, Albert raised his chin catching the glimpse of my charismatic smile that add gifted him a layer of chilling sensation.