“You know, when you said you wanted to meet and chat, I expected a romantic date, not business,” Lindsey said as she cut into her steak.

They were both in Mathew’s home. Wine and steak were for dinner. Mathew realized not having fancy restaurants anymore was a pain. He will miss the luxury of fine dining until such conveniences come back.

Lindsey was looking at the description of Mathew’s Level 50 quest. “Like I said. I think [Far Step] will be a short-range teleport spell or a fast movement spell. Maybe a mix of both based on the name. As for [Mark and Recall] it reeks of classic game teleportation spells. You mark a spot and are able to teleport back to it. Like when you bind a spawning location for when you die you just respawn back at your base or a specific location.”

Mathew took a sip of the red wine and lavished on the flavor. It was still old Earth quality, but after weeks of surviving, it was perfect. “I’m stuck on which option to pick. I’m thinking long term. Both in the sense of powers evolve over time based on how you use them, and the fact that traveling between planets will be a thing.”

“Zack, myself, and all the others still think long range teleportation for everyone is feasible. If we get access to it before The System is done with our planet or after it’s done is the question. I will be surprised if there isn’t something like teleportation pads or hyperspace travel ships.”

“I would be too. Portals exist already. Dungeons. The ability to transfer groups of people and monsters practically anywhere. It’s a matter of time.” Mathew mixed a bite of steak with potato and stuck it in his mouth.

Lindsey finished a bite of food and spoke, “How was the third floor? I only know what Henderson mentioned before she ran off to do something.”

“A giant desert that was hot in the day and very cold at night. Talking well below freezing. If it wasn’t for my high Endurance stat and a few other factors, I would have been screwed. Agnox and Cherry, my newest companion, couldn’t handle the cold very well.”

“Then I’m glad I didn’t go up to the next floor. I reached the Level 24 cap on that Beginner floor with a few others and had no reason to go to a floor above my threat range. Anything interesting happens?”

Mathew poked his steak, thinking. “It wasn’t fun. Made contact with another clan and struck a good deal. I also met our world's strongest human. Zachary Mann. Killed two floor bosses, one of which I did alone with Agnox and Cherry.”

Lindsey raised her eyebrows at that. “You met Zachary? What kind of person is he?”

“Lonely,” Mathew said as he took another bite of food.

“Lonely? What? He’s the strongest! Someone literally tried to charm and have sex with you simply because you were in charge of this place. That guy could have as many followers as he wanted, most of them probably loyal as well.”

“He wants his old friend. He was weird to talk to. One moment serious, the next as if he didn’t understand how to hold a proper conversation. Multiple times he hinted at leaving me behind, or us separating. It wasn’t until we lost each other in a sandstorm that we truly split up. He reminds me of a teenager. Says one thing, means another.”

“That’s a little sad. Both because I feel bad for him, but also because he needs to grow up and act like the kind of person he is. When you are the strongest, people look to you for aid.”

“Don’t I know that.” Mathew huffed and took another sip of wine.

“Some people are talking about you, not many, but it’s mostly because you are both in charge and the third highest ranked in the world now.”

“It sure as hell doesn’t feel like it,” Mathew muttered.

“Where is that prideful bone in you?” Lindsey asked as she pointed at him with her fork. “You survived that hellscape of a World Dungeon alone. You survived an undead dungeon, rescued Bob from the evil undead leader as well, got rid of General Payne, and fought off a Beginner Ranked Dungeon Leader when you were barely in the Beginner ranks yourself. Time and time again you prove you are strong.”

“It’s not enough,” Mathew said flatly. “It’s never enough. One can’t be too powerful. Not anymore. Gods that can snap a finger and destroy everything. People with selfish goals who want to steal others’ souls for themselves, people who gave up their humanity for power, all of that, and then some. That’s just what I’ve seen. Nobody knows the full scope of horrid truths out there.”

Lindsey sighed. There was a sorrowful emotion on her face. She felt bad for Mathew. “Mat. Everything will be okay. I know it.”

They ate in silence after that comment. The next morning, Lindsey was wrapped up in his arms as Mathew just stared at the ceiling. He felt nothing romantically for her. He hadn’t been romantically involved with anyone in years. She was nothing but someone to spend time with. A friend at best.

“Mathew. Is this going to be a recurring thing between us?”

He didn’t say anything. Instead, his mind was elsewhere. Thoughts of how to do better. To expand. All the different people he will end up meeting with. Good guys. Bad guys. Selfish people. People who just want to be left alone. So many various walks of life. Yet, he knew only a fraction of them could truly protect themselves. He could barely do it alone. How could they?

He couldn’t help but think about various clients of his in the past claiming ‘they knew what was best’. They knew how the legal system worked. Some estranged uncle who was a judge or a sister who was a cop would be on the phone if he didn’t do it their way. He hated people who thought they knew better.

Mathew knew better. At least, in this instance. He knew what power was like. He knew he had to be the one to become a world leader. He couldn’t trust anyone else to do it. Not even Zachary Mann. Not Leo. Not his brothers. Not even the previous world leaders of various countries could be trusted to do things correctly.

“Mathew? Are you awake?” Lindsey softly asked.

“I am. Just thinking.”

“Your body was getting cold. Do we need more blankets? Are you okay?” She was sitting up, a hand on his chest.

Mathew looked down at her hand. He didn’t feel cold at all. He shook his head, “No I’m fine. You can go back to bed, I’m going to work on some things.” He slid out of bed, putting on a bathrobe and slippers.

Lindsey also got out, “No. I need to get up as well. Damien needs someone to cover him at the Adventures Guild. I’m second in charge there now.”

Mathew didn’t say anything. He just left the room and went into his kitchen to make some tea. As the pot was starting to boil, he heard his front door open and close.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Just as he poured his first cup, two figures walked in and sat at the table. “Boss. Glad you uh…are up.”

Cherry didn’t look at Mathew. She kept her eyes forward, her pink-hued bark skin somehow redder in the cheek areas.

“Either of you want some tea?” Mathew asked.

“You have coffee?” Agnox asked.

“I’ll take a cup!” Cherry meeped out.

Mathew looked at her for a moment, then shrugged. “No coffee. I have tea and water.”

Agnox grumbled. “Fine, I’ll take a cup, but please make it sweet. You know I hate that bitter stuff.”

Mathew nodded and poured them both a cup of their own. He sat down and slid both cups to them, made to order.

“How have you both been?”

“Fine. It’s nice to relax.” Agnox said. Mathew could see the Imp looked more muscular now that he had all his armor off. The tiny and frail familiar was becoming thicker and tougher.

Cherry looked the same, although she was wearing proper clothes. She was wearing a yellow sundress.

“Good to hear. Any time soon you thinking of ranking up?” Mathew asked, he took a sip of his morning tea.

“Not yet. I want to run through a Novice Dungeon alone with Jeffery as backup. I only have one skill left at Novice ranked. Which is my [Parry] skill. Once I get that to Beginner rank, I’ll go for a rank-up. My Axiom is Beginner rank as well thankfully. I feel like I have a strong chance of acquiring a powerful Apprentice rank class. Maybe something of the Very Rare scale.”

“We need to be careful about going up in rarity. Remember, the higher the rarity, the harder it is to adapt in ranks. Take Cherry for example.” Mathew gestured toward her. “She is one step away from the highest rank in her Profession. Because of that, she has a strong presence in a few stats. Yet, she has nothing going toward her Strenght or Dexterity. We have six more rank ups over time. Power is everything, but immediate power comes at a cost.”

Mathew was going over the information he purchased while in Gaia’s domain about rank structures and rarities. He knew the level threshold for the next three ranks, but only the requirements for the Student rank.

“I don’t know Boss. If I get a really strong class, shouldn’t I take it? You can do that, but my job is to protect you, remember? You said you needed someone to fight upfront for you. Yet, several times you’ve been forced to enter the melee with me and Jeff.”

Mathew nodded, understanding Agnox’s point of view. “It’s good practice. You can’t be everywhere at once. I need to know how to protect myself and fight in the melee as well. Sure, I’m more focused on magic casting, but my path is about the balance between my three cores. Body, Mind, and Soul. Right now, my Mind is super strong, while my Body and Soul are falling back stat wise. I am hoping to acquire some titles, maybe eat some fruits and develop my Axioms to shore up those fail points.”

He then pointed at his two summons. “That is where you two come in. I need several bound companions to fix my soul. Gaia suggested between seven and nine. Depending on their various strength levels. You are just as much a part of me as I am of you. You are both parts of my Path. So, I need to keep things flexible until we have an understanding of what is to come. Who else would end up joining me, willingly or unwillingly.”

Cherry sipped at her tea. “So, what will you need from us until then? I’m only with you until my debt is paid. I don’t know if I would want to stay with you after that.”

“Maybe, but I hope you stay. Already you are a valued member of the team. Tell me, in the past three days how much have you learned from Dr. Garcia?”

Cherry perked up a bit when she started talking. “A lot. Your people’s understanding of medicine without magic and old versions of technology is outstanding. Because you didn’t have magic, you were forced to truly understand the body. Because of this, the knowledge of the basics of the universe is heavily understood. It’s amazing. That understanding is what is fueling the rise in the power of healing magic among her staff. Nobody has a healing power under Beginner rank right now.”

“Good to hear. What else? Anything that seems to interest you? Anything more you want to learn about? Something to help around here and the people?”

“I know some are trying to start a farm. Garcia told me about that yesterday. Said I should check it out since I have the [Harvest] skill and [Control Plants] ability. My class is about nature, so I should focus on that more. I’m sure Gaia would appreciate my hard work and all I am learning.”

“I don’t know who is in charge of the farming area. I’ll look into that for you, and get you in contact with them so you can help.”

“Well, what about you, Boss?”

Mathew raised an eyebrow as he drank more of his tea. “What about me?”

“These last three days, anything interesting you’ve been up to? Other than the obvious.” Agnox waved a hand toward Mathew’s bedroom.

Mathew stared daggers at Agnox. “My personal life is personal. As for myself, I have a new quest I received when I hit Level 50. Outside of that, I need to work on my Rituals. Expand what I know in terms of patterns and possible configurations. Soon, we will start expanding Blue Oaks out. Absorbing other Hearth Crystal zones and inviting people. To do that, we need something to bribe them with.”

“Why would you need to bribe people?” Cherry asked. “Shouldn’t humanity want to untie to survive?”

Mathew laughed at that. “No. People are far too complex for that. I’ll have to kill some of them I imagine.” As Mathew said that he stared hard at the table. The full reality of what he said hit him like a truck.

“That’s horrible,” Cherry said.

“A grim truth. Evil people have power. The power they can and will abuse. It’s the job of those who are better off to stop them. That includes me.”

“Well if it means anything, I got your back,” Agnox said confidently. “You’ve been nothing but nice to me. Compared to that bitch Morthrus, you are a true friend. You have saved my life more than I have yours. I’m in it for life Mathew.”

Cherry just sat there feeling a bit out of place. “I’m here too.”

“Thank you both. I’ll be leaning on you both in the future, but know it’s a two-way street. I’m here for you as well.