Status

Name: Michael Collins

True Name: Cain Adamson

Race: Human ( Lvl 0 )

Class: Mage ( Lvl 0 )

Sub Class: Slave Master ( Lvl 0 )

Profession: N/A

Bloodline: ????????? ( Suppressed )

Resources

Mana: 12

Stats

Strength: 9

Dexterity: 8

Constituation: 9

Perception: 9

Mind: 9

Soul: 999 ( Locked: ???????? )

Fate: 0 ( Uncountable: ???????? )

Free Points: 0

Alert: Soul is set to Maximum available for Lvl 0 Human.

Alert: Fate is set to 0 for the Lorelyn System.

[ Skills: Unavailable ] / [ Quests: Unavailable ]

The status screen did indeed look somewhat like what he expected, with levels and stats.

He was surprised to see his full name on the screen. Mike did the typical thing, reaching out his fingers to trail through the lines of light that seemed to be roughly an arm’s length away,

But his eyes stopped at the second line. Cain Adamson. How fitting. A derisive snort escaped him as he tried to control the suppressed memories.

Now was not the time. Things were happening, and all the decompressing that he typically do in his infant year would come later.

Going over the following lines, Mike stared at the stats. He was a bloody reincarnator, so of course, he’d played countless games. Some even developed by technologically advanced humanity that provided 99.9% of realism.

The stats were a little bit of a hodgepodge from various sources, but he wasn’t unfamiliar with them.

But all he had were speculations and wishes. His status didn’t tell him much, it didn’t even explain what each stat meant. Some were obvious, but not all of them, which left him with more questions than before.

There were a few points he did not really understand, though. Soul and Fate were worrying. One was set to the maximum and the other to 0.

He’d never seen a game with that for a stat but… well, this wasn’t a game, was it? Not really.

Multiverse. Real Multiverse, from what the system meant.

He looked at the hovering screen, his jaw set.

His race ‘Human’ was in the same red color as his class. That had to mean something, even if he had no idea what.

There were countless questions he could ask, and a saner person might have asked if they were serious, if this was real, on and on.

He could do that, but now that he was oriented, had observed the reality before him, it was time to decide.

And he decided that, if this was all some fever dream or the last dying synapses in his mind giving up the ghost, he would rather dive into the deception and enjoy it for as long as he could.

Besides, he could find all his answers on his own.

The [ Skills ] and [ Quests ] tabs were unavailable. Before he could check anything else a new screen flashed across his eyes.

[ Scan Complete: Exiting… ]

And then he was back in the world. At the same position. Same area.

Almost as if no time has passed. Clearing his mind, he worked on the present problem. Better to experiment in a safe space.

The mage's body was in front of him. Dead cold.

Thanks, old man.

He turned his attention to the slaves, staring back at him with uncertainty. They weren’t rejoicing at the death of their captors, fair enough.

Experienced.

They know about their situation. After all, Mike hadn’t killed them to free the slaves or anything like that.

As far as they knew, he was about to kill all or sell them himself. They just have changed their Master.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

Each of them was a variable, possibly benefiting or dooming him. It would have been best just to let them go, but he decided to get some use out of them first.

The slave traders had spoken with an accent that he had never heard before, but it was English, though they probably didn’t call it that. These slaves must also speak it.

“All of you, I give you permission to speak. Do you all understand what I’m saying?”

They didn’t verbally respond but nodded in the affirmative.

“Are there any among you who are familiar with this area?”

None of them answered.

Much more experienced and Beaten down.

Possessing knowledge could either make them valuable or a liability. They didn’t want to expose themselves unless they knew what awaited them or for a reward.

And also, no one was using the chance to be close to their new master.

Mike sighed and returned to the old man, patting him down until he found an iron key, likely going to all of their collars. There was a detailed, glowing symbol at the top of the key, unlike anything he had seen.

As soon as he touched the key, a new screen flashed across his eyes.

[ Slaver Master Key ( Unbound ) ]

Details:

Slave Restraints: Grants the ability to use magical restraints, collars, and bonds. Increases in power with the owner's level.

Equipment Sync: Any equipment forged from the key or magically linked to it will automatically adjust to it.

After reading the new screen, he focused on the details. Two functions. Magical Restraints and Master Key for Equipment.

Unbound. Does it mean that it was bound to the old man?

Can he bind it now? But how even can he bind it? With blood, or maybe there are runes or rituals, as he remembered the magical ring produced when the mage was fighting him. Maybe only mana? Or a combination of others?

There was no answer, but hopefully, he could use it without being bound. After all, the slaves are still here without trying to escape, so the restraints should still work.

He held up the key for all the slaves to see.

“I need one of you to guide me to a safe area with a source of fresh water, off the road where I won’t be seen. Whoever volunteers will get their collar removed and can ride in the wagon.”

Six slaves raised their bound hands.

“You.”

He had selected a scrawny girl that looked to be around his physical age. Around eighteen. The smallest of everyone present.

She was dirty and underfed, but appeared healthy enough to be useful to him, and he could undoubtedly overpower her if she tried to betray him.

It was hard to gauge her appearance in this state, as she had a pitiful look permanently etched into her face, like a basset hound.

If he cleaned her up, she might be a real cutie, but right now, she was so dirty that he couldn’t even tell her natural hair color.

"All of you move to the side. If anyone tries anything, there will be only death." His voice, edged with a steely resolve, cut through the air like a cold breeze.

He needed to establish his position, make them understand that, for now, fear would keep them in check. Until he could navigate this world's treacherous waters, it was the only card he had to play.

The group of slaves visibly tensed, a shiver rippling through them as if his words were a physical blow. They quickly rearranged themselves, leaving the girl standing a few steps apart from the rest.

“What's your name?”

“Cinder, sir.” She didn’t make eye contact. None of them did.

Hmm. Bleak name for a slave. And unimaginative. Maybe a slave from birth…?

Mike narrowed his eyes slightly. “Cinder,” he echoed. “I need you to speak up. Don’t make me ask twice.”

Her frame tensed, a visible swallow tracing the line of her throat as she gathered the shards of her courage. Lifting her gaze just enough to catch the edge of his shadow. “Yes sir,” she repeated, louder this time.

“Do what I say, Cinder, and you’ll earn your freedom. Go against me, and I’ll kill you.”

He turned his attention to the collar encircling her neck, made of the same metal as the key. Iron. There was also a faint glowing symbol at the center.

Thankfully, the key worked easily. With a satisfying click, the collar came loose.

He didn't miss the slight stiffening of her shoulders, the shallow breath she took as the weight of her bondage was, in part, lifted.

He left her wrists bound but removed the chains connecting her to the wagon, clattering softly to the ground.

He met her gaze, finding the eyes filled with apprehension. “Now help me take care of these bodies.” His tone left no room for disobedience.

Mike searched the corpses of the three slave traders, taking everything of value.

Cinder also moved to assist, her actions hesitant but soon gained speed.

Along with their swords, he got a couple of daggers, some ropes, and three makeshift wallets. They were snake skins with stacks of coins inside, tied to their belts.

The weapons and the three strong people instilled a little worry in him.

Mike glanced around the dense forest beyond the clearing, his gaze finally landing on Cinder. "Cinder, is there any danger of wild animals in these woods? Anything that I should worry about?"

Cinder, her eyes on the bodies, turned to him and answered in the same dull voice. “Monsters will surely be drawn by the smell of blood here. It would be best if we keep movin'.”

Mike's brow furrowed, a silent curse under his breath as he huffed in annoyance. Great, now he had monsters to worry about. This certainly was a world unlike any he had seen before. “Very well. Remove the clothes from the bodies and put them in the wagon.”

She wordlessly obeyed, proceeding to strip the corpses without unease or discomfort. Most girls her age would be too squeamish to do anything like this.

As she worked, Mike searched the wagon and found a canvas bag, smelling too rancid to be used for food. He soaked it with a wineskin, and while it wasn’t ideal, it was good enough for him to use to put out the fires that the old man had started.

He and Cinder completed their tasks, leaving three naked bodies on the road and a few charred trees. Mike retrieved one of the swords, just a crummy machete, but sharp enough to get the job done.

He showed no discomfort in decapitating the bodies and storing the heads in the canvas bag.

“Drag these bodies into the woods, out of sight from the road. That should satiate any beasts that search this area.”

There was no telling what the value of these slave traders was. If they were even slightly important to someone, their disappearance might lead to an investigation.

On the other hand, three nude, headless bodies devoured by monsters wouldn’t leave any evidence. They couldn’t even be identified. Plus, if they were criminals, then their severed heads could be used to collect a bounty.

He had been in a lot of bad situations and chaotic timelines, so this mindset was a skill he knew he could rely on and use as he needed.

Once the bodies were dealt with, Mike took his seat at the front of the wagon, and Cinder joined him.