Translator: HunterW
Editor: RED
“Hmm…” I sighed to myself as I stood in one of the palace’s many luxurious rooms, staring down at Amplification. I recalled the conversation I had when Baden handed me the item.
—
“Mr. Lee.”
“Yes?”
“In one week, I will have to fight my foolish brother over the right to rule Abu Dhabi.”
I knew that. I was there when it all went down. I had already made my decision to not concern myself with their family matters.
“We are also outnumbered four to six.”
“I see,” I said, making it clear that I had nothing to do with this. A guild master like Baden should have gotten the hint by now.
“It’s a battle we can’t avoid.”
“Right.”
“That said, could I ask you for a favor?”
“No, you can’t. My job here is already done.” It was painfully obvious he was going to ask me to help in his guild’s upcoming battle, but he should have asked on the spot that day, or at least asked me for my opinion. Khalid was now not only Baden’s enemy, but mine as well. Unfortunately for Baden, that ship had already sailed.
Baden didn’t even flinch and just laughed. He didn’t seem put off by my curt response. “I will make sure you are properly and well compensated for your help.”
“I don’t care about…”
“I just would like you to take Prince Jayid with you when you leave.”
“…” I didn’t know what to say to that. I was sure he was going to ask me to help in the coming battle.
“I don’t care if you have him clean your home, or have him work as an errand boy. I don’t care if you feed him scraps. I just want you to keep him safe and raise him until he becomes an adult.” Baden was being serious. He was just worried about his son. That just shocked me even more.
“I… I’ll have to think about it.”
“Thank you.”
——
“Hmm…” Taking Prince Jayid under my wing was easy. To be honest, it just made it harder to decide what to do.
“Man, if he’s going to go to this extent…” If Baden had asked for any other favor, I wouldn’t have cared much, but the boy was only ten years old. I wasn’t that nice to go out of my way for a single child. There were plenty of starving children and mortal adults out there who will be unfortunate enough to never see a single Don Gate ever in their lives, and I hadn’t done anything for them. The most I had done was ask Sunbin to take care of their mortals, but that was it and I didn’t care. That was the new world we all lived in now.
But this concerned Jayid, the boy I had saved with my own two hands. Fate had connected us now, and that was bothering me. I was still human; I couldn’t outright ignore the boy.
“Damn it! Taking care of Jayid, or standing by Baden’s side and dealing with Khalid is pretty much the same thing!” That was my problem. Rather than take Jayid with me, I could just get rid of Khalid. Honestly, that seemed the better idea.
I looked back down at Amplification. It boosted the power of an item of my choice anywhere from 50% to 100%, and I wanted to use it on the King-Emperor’s Commitment. All of Commitment’s effects were great. What I was worried about was how the Mana Conversion effect would be affected.
From what I knew, nothing could be raised partially. If I got 99% from Amplification, Mana Conversion’s level should technically be raised to 3.98; almost level 4. But the system wouldn’t count it as level 4 and keep it at level 3. The boosts of the other effects would definitely more than compensate for it. A 99% boost to 450 stat points was 895.5 points, but I would still get 895 points. In other words, a 99% boost was more than good enough. But it just seemed a waste for Mana Conversion. A 99% boost to Mana Conversion was the same as a 50% boost. I needed 100% no matter what.
“If I get 100% out of Amplification, then I’ll tell Baden I’ll deal with Khalid myself!” I would do anything for Baden if I got 100%.
I took deep breath and took out the King-Emperor’s Commitment. I placed Amplification right over the earrings and said the words in a shaky voice, “Use Amplification.”
==[Are you sure you wish to use Amplification on King-Emperor’s Commitment?
The effects of King-Emperor’s Commitment will be boosted by 50%-100%.]==
“Yes!” A bright light soon emanated from Amplification and enveloped Commitment. Not long after, the light disappeared, leaving the same Commitment in my hands. Amplification was gone as well.
I gave out a shaky sigh. I was too nervous to check right away. A 50% boost was good enough. It would raise Mana Conversion’s level by only one level, but that was enough; it should be enough. But I was greedy. I knew I wouldn’t be satisfied if I didn’t get 100%.
“Item Check!” Amplification was used and gone now. Nothing was going to change that.
==[The King-Emperor’s Commitment (Rank 10)
The King-Emperor’s true treasure.
All Stats increased by 900 points
Increase Mana Conversion skill level by 4
Add Blink Skill (Cooldown: 150 secs, MP required: 1, no skill points required) Blink range: 1,000 meter radius as long as King-Emperor’s Commitment is equipped.
Increase CRIT rate by 18%
Increase CRIT damage by 1,000%
Increase Penetration by 480 points
Increase EXP gain from monsters by 30%
DEF 2,000, MDEF 2,000]==
“Oh…!!!” It worked! It actually worked!
After a moment of being shocked into silence, I burst out laughing. People already thought Commitment was overpowered during the “Treasure!” quest. But now, Commitment was way past overpowered.
“Man, that Luck Boost…” I knew getting Luck Boost was the right thing to do. It might not directly affect my combat abilities or Stats, but this was way better!
—
Antisiranana, Madagascar’s northernmost port, also known as Diego Suarez…
“It’s nice having this room not crowded.”
“We did lose three people.”
“That’s perfect, isn’t it? They never came to these meetings anyway.”
“Don’t be like that. They were still once our comrades.”
“What comrades? Leave the bull crap by the door. It’s not like we’ve broken bread together or anything.”
Two men and one woman were seated around a large table. The two men were rambunctious, but the woman practically whispered her words.
“So why were we called here?”
“I’d like to know, as well. We hardly ever meet face to face, and I’m sure we’re all busy,” the two men asked the woman who called this meeting.
“I’ve always thought being a deity was a blessing. I thought I was a chosen one in this new world. That was why I believed I should shepherd the devas as their leader.”
“…What the hell are you saying?”
“Have you finally lost it?”
“Look, devas get an extra 1000 Stat points if they’re the first to get a Stat past 10,000 base points. Even if they aren’t the first, they still get 100 bonus points. But deities don’t have those perks. We also have the worst penalties for dying. It’s no wonder we live in fear of death. These days, many deities actually enter the services of devas!
“Why are you telling us this? If you like devas that much, become one yourself. Go ahead and jump into the Sea of Reset.”
“I want to, but I’ve come too far to do that now.”
“Then just live your life. Did you seriously call me here so that you could complain to me?” one of the men, a red-headed individual, asked in annoyance.
“Is it because of Lee Jiwon?” asked the other man.
“…” The woman didn’t speak for a moment before replying. “Well, it might be.”
“Tsk. What a waste of time. I’m leaving.” The red-headed man stood up from his seat.
“I said it might be, and I didn’t say I called this meeting,” the woman said before the trio heard a set of footsteps heading for the room.
“Hoho. So this is the Reaper’s idea, even though he hardly ever shows up to any of these meetings?”
“That’s right,” the woman replied as a man draped in a black cloak entered the room. The cloaked man seated himself in the remaining chair.
“So, why has the Reaper called us here?” the red-headed man asked.
“I want to kill Lee Jiwon.”
“Oh, is that right? So are we here so that you can ask us for our help?”
“No. I don’t need help from the likes of you.”
“Tch. You’re beginning to get on my nerves.”
“There are many these days calling Lee Jiwon our Emperor,” the cloaked man quietly said.
The red-headed man only laughed in response. “Well, I don’t care much about that. I don’t really want to make Lee Jiwon my enemy. I’m just worried we’ll be called the Three Monarchs soon, instead of Four. Hahahaha.”
“The Reaper wants Lee Jiwon’s head.”
“Oh ho!” The two men and woman didn’t need to say anything else any more. They all knew what it meant for Lee Jiwon to be wanted by the Reaper.
==[Target: Lee Jiwon
Kill Lee Jiwon within 3 months.
Time remaining: 85 days 17 hours 53 minutes.
Penalty: If you are unable to kill Lee Jiwon in 3 months, you will incur a death penalty. You will lose your exclusive ability, Death.
Advantage: Never miss Lee Jiwon, Cancel out Lee Jiwon’s Unrivaled skill, Lee Jiwon will receive 10 deity death penalties upon death.]==
“Lee Jiwon will die by my hand. I will show the entire world what a mistake it was to call Lee Jiwon our Emperor.”
“Will you be able to do it alone?” asked the woman.
“The Grim Reaper doesn’t want it done by someone else’s hands. I’ve also prepared the perfect place for Lee Jiwon to meet the Grim Reaper as well,” the cloaked man said.
The others didn’t oppose the cloaked man. No one had ever been able to escape once they were targeted by the Grim Reaper.
—
Abu Dhabi Palace…
“I’ll do it.”
“Thank you!”
“I don’t mean your son. I’ll help you fight in the guild battle instead.”
I had to admit, the abilities of healers and supporters were amazing. In less than four days, the half-dead boy was brought completely back to life. He was so lively that he had planted himself on my leg and made himself comfortable.
“Can you get off, please?” I asked Jayid as he climbed up while I tried to converse with his father.
“No. I don’t want to.”
“I’m not your personal chair, you know.”
“I know.”
“You still won’t get off?”
“Nope.”
“…” I knew I wasn’t going to get anywhere with this kid.
“Are you serious?” Baden asked.
“I am. I don’t exactly know how much I can help you, but I will if you’re okay with that.”
“Thank you so much! If you help us, I’m sure we can win the battle!” Umaru seemed happier than Baden.
I was beginning to suspect this was what they wanted and used Jayid to make me say it myself, but I ignored the thought. If it was, it was a pretty clever tactic. I honestly wouldn’t be mad.
“Okay, it’s time for you to come down.”
“But I like it here.”
This damn spoiled prince…
