EmEs_etherious
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Chapter 45- Conceding
🕑 Added 2022-12-09 23:55:00 +0000 UTCArthur wasn't expecting anyone to come today and his friends were not the type to just spontaneously visit him. Well, Elizabeth had sometimes, but she’d learned to call in beforehand after the countless times she hadn’t found him at home. That left only one person he could think of.
Walking towards his door, Arthur looked through the peephole and sighed when he recognised the woman in front of him. He knew he’d be seeing her again the last time they’d met, but Arthur had hoped the Zaibatsu corporation would have been able to wait at least another day before they’d come calling for him.
He hadn't even started the vacation he had claimed he would be going on in jest, and after his fight with the Draconic Liverthion, he felt that he deserved one. Reluctantly opening the door, Arthur prepared himself to receive his uninvited guest. He carefully observed the stunning young woman in front of him.
In the intervening two days since he’d last seen her, Selena Williams had managed to level once to reach level 80. If she noticed his own growth in power, she didn't comment on it, but Arthur saw how her eyes widened in shock for the briefest of moments before quickly returning to normal.
“It's nice to see you again,” she told him, reaching her hand out to shake his own. This time, she didn't try to crush it like she had last time and instead tried to smile pleasantly at him. She had, however, been on a wild goose chase for the past two days and some of that frustration seeped into her face despite all her attempts at cordiality, ruining the effect she hoped her joyful appearance would bring.
“So why did you come here to see me again?” Arthur asked despite knowing almost certainly why she was there.
“I’m sure I was quite clear during our last meeting regarding my stance. Right?”
Selena William took in the strange sight that Arthur presented, choosing not to reply to his probing statement yet. His shirt was filled with holes and covered in his blood from the shadow bomb he’d cast earlier and he hadn't had the time to change into appropriate attire yet. In all honesty, he looked like a homeless man that had just been stabbed with a broken glass bottle. A handsome, mysterious homeless man, but a homeless man nonetheless.
Deciding to just get this over with, Selena pulled out the monster core she had bought with her, presenting it to Arthur.
“The Zaibatsu Corporation offers this core as a form of apology for the way we treated you the last time we met,” she said, pushing it into Arthur’s surprised hands.
“I too would like to personally apologise for the way I treated you in our prior meeting. Testing you as I did was uncalled for and unprofessional, and for that, I’d like to ask you for your forgiveness. I am invested on a personal level with the matter the corporation requires your assistance with, and so I couldn’t help but be sceptical of your abilities.”
She bowed her head to him.
“A feeble excuse I know, but I ask that you don’t take my own shortcomings as a reason for you to antagonise our group.”
Arthur accepted the augmented regeneration core, both confused and amused that the meeting was proceeding much like he had expected it to. Amused at how quickly the woman had come back to him, but also confused at her own genuine apology for what was in all honesty a standard test judging by the information she’d had on him. So maybe she isn’t all that bad, actually. I can only hope that goes the same for those she works for.
“I’m sure that isn't the only reason why you came here,” Arthur stated dryly.
“Could you not find anyone else for the job?”
He tried to appear nonchalant and talk politely, but a bit of satisfaction almost crept into his voice as Selena scowled. If he’d known she’d been searching high and low for him for two days now, he wouldn’t have been anywhere near as passive-aggressive as he currently was.
The look of discontent was gone from her face just as soon as it had appeared, replaced by the business smile the woman always seemed to wear.
“That is exactly the case, Arthur Ward. As expected of a prodigious medical student, you saw through me straight away. Though we have searched high and low, we couldn't quite find a healer of your calibre,” Selena said, laying it on a little thick. A little flattery never hurt anyone.
Arthur smirked when he heard her words of praise, ignoring her sarcastic tone completely.
“That is why I would like to extend to you an offer to request your assistance. I’d like it if-”
“You or your boss,” Arthur rudely interrupted.
“My boss.”
Selena gritted her teeth. There was only so much cheek she would accept from someone younger than herself and Arthur knew she was approaching that limit. He decided to relent and ease up on his bitchiness.
After all, she was just an underling, not responsible for the callous disregard of Arthur's wishes that the Zaibatsu corporation had treated him with. Selena took a deep breath before continuing her speech.
“You'll be duly compensated for your time. Toshiro Tatsumi for all his strange eccentricities is a very, very generous man. I advise that you make the right decision. It could change your life forever.”
Arthur narrowed his eyes. Her last words had almost seemed like a warning. Maybe even a threat. Arthur knew that there probably would be some sort of backlash if he refused such a powerful individual's offer for a second time which is why he had decided long ago to accept the offer if it ever came around again.
And yet by Selena’s tone, it seemed that he would not want to cross Toshiro Tatsumi in the slightest even with his considerable strength which the man’s messenger woman must have come to realise in their brief interactions.
“So, what do you want my help with, anyway,” Arthur finally asked. He was curious; even with all their conversations being centred around the fact that he was a healer, he still had no idea what was wanted from him.
Selena sighed in relief when she heard the curiosity in Arthur’s voice. It seemed that she'd be successful in recruiting Arthur despite all the struggles of the past few days. He seemed like he’d accept, all these questions were now more a formality than anything else. At least that was what she hoped for.
“Well, the details can't be given to you until you formally accept our proposal. All I can tell you is that we need your assistance in killing a particularly troublesome monster. One where your unique healing capabilities may play a pivotal role in ensuring our success,” Selena explained.
She’d told Arthur more than she was supposed to, but she reckoned her superiors wouldn't mind too much if it would help her secure Arthur’s assistance. The man in question meanwhile, was frowning, eyebrows scrunched in deep thought.
What kind of monster can a man in charge of the Zaibatsu Corporation not deal with on his own, and why will my healing abilities help against it?
A beast that was supposed to be far beyond Arthur's current abilities, of which he was sure. At least if he was going off how strong the group probably assumed he was. Still, despite all the risks and uncertainties surrounding the task, the promised rewards were so tempting given the fact that they had given away a monster core like it was nothing. Even if they couldn’t derive benefits and stats from it as he could, it was still a Rare rated item.
Arthur took a look at his status, inspecting the numbers it displayed before committing himself to anything. With his current stats, Arthur was positive he could take some, no, a LOT of risks and at least survive the consequences. He didn't want to live the rest of his life as a cautious hermit and if anything could help him get stronger and better faster, it would be braving the unknown.
Taking a deep breath, Arthur reaffirmed the decision he’d almost made the second he’d laid eyes on the woman, hoping that he wouldn't come to regret it in the future.
“So, when do we go meet your boss?”
Arthur Ward
Level 60
Unallocated stat points: 168
Strength- 120 (100)
Vitality- 160*
Endurance- 460
Constitution- 182 (140)
Agility- 118
Intelligence- 323
Willpower- 190
Charisma- 95
Health- 3185/3200 (352(160)/hour)
Ether- 2900/3230 (323/hour)
Stamina- 4555/4600 (460/minute)
