"Mister… Atlas!" The receptionist behind the counter, a woman with short blonde hair, greeted him, her fingers poised over a virtual keyboard embedded in her desk.
"So, you’re looking for 30 to 40 combatants and around 10 workers, correct?" she confirmed.
"Yes," Atlas replied, "and I’d also like to know what kind of budget I should prepare for that."
The woman smiled, resting her hands on the desk. "We’ll do our best to find suitable candidates. But since you’re a newly awakened Lord with no track record yet—and this being your first battle—the number of interested applicants might be on the smaller side."
She paused to let her words sink in. "However, if you’re able to increase the pay rate, it could help attract more candidates. We’ll run an initial search and update you as soon as we have results."
"Thanks," he replied with a nod.
Hiring temporary mercenaries turned out to cost between 3 to 5 gold for a 14-day contract—a steep price, given that he’d only managed to accumulate 1,000 gold so far. Recruiting around 40 people would mean an expense of 120–200 gold for two weeks, or up to 400 gold for a full month.
Still, if he could secure truly dependable recruits, the investment could pay off many times over. Success in battle would yield loot and rewards that would far outweigh these upfront costs.
Yet, the risks of war were real. Defeat could bring injuries, permanent disabilities, or even death for anyone under his command.
For mercenaries who pledged their loyalty to a Lord, the rewards extended far beyond just gold. They gained access to Exp Orbs for accelerated leveling and had the chance to acquire specialized armor, weapons, and other rare gear.
After experiencing this phase of temporary hire, some chose to switch to long-term contracts, essentially dedicating their lives to their Lord. However, this level of commitment required deep respect and earned trust—a bond not easily formed.
Recruiting Awakeners this way was indeed one of the most effective ways to build a foundation as a Lord, quickly amplifying strength and potential in the short term.
Sure, Atlas had access to the Gacha System, which provided him with subordinates of far greater value than hired Awakeners. But even with that advantage, a battle of this scale couldn’t be managed by just four or five people. He’d still need a broader team to cover all the essential roles. So, for now, this approach remained necessary.
“O…kay…” the woman said, glancing at her list. “I’ve also noted the materials you requested, and I’ll notify you as soon as I find sellers and reasonable prices. But just so you’re aware, the price for World Shards is around 150 to 200 gold per item. So you might need up to 600 gold if you’re looking to get three.”
Ah, just as he suspected—the price was steep.
After that, Atlas acquired five Awakener Devices, which could also be used for communication. He planned to give one to each of his key subordinates. Without a reliable way to communicate over long distances, coordination became difficult. Like now, for example—he wouldn’t know if anything happened to Edrik, Morganna, or Mira while he was out with Karian and Lyrassa.
Atlas moved toward the exit, passing through the large lobby, where he noticed a fair number of awakeners gathered in the space. But… Why did he feel like their eyes were on him?
Was it their clothing? No, they were dressed normally. Maybe it was Karian’s impressive height and build? But he was in regular clothes now, not the dragon armor he’d worn when he was first summoned.
As they continued walking, Atlas finally noticed what Lyrassa was doing. She was waving to the people around them and occasionally even bowing.
“What are you doing, Lyrassa?”
“Oh…” Lyrassa turned to him with a giggle. “They were looking over at me… so… I’m just greeting them back?”
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“They’re only looking our way; no one’s actually saying anything to you.”
"They… seem interested in me, like they want to talk to me," Lyrassa said.
“Can you… read their minds or something?”
Lyrassa only answered with a smile. “Should I just ignore them, then, My Lord?”
“It’s actually a bit strange if you’re that friendly in response. They might get the wrong idea about you. Besides… you’re a bit too eye-catching for most people.”
“Huh… why?” she asked, puzzled.
Karian chimed in, “They probably think you’re interested in them, Lyrassa. Don’t be surprised if one of them approaches, hoping to ask you out or something.”
“Oh… is that how it works?” she responded, looking genuinely confused. “What should I do, then?”
“Just ignore it and act casually around strangers you don’t really know,” Atlas suggested.
“O…kay…” she said with a friendly smile.
They continued walking outside, but Atlas couldn’t shake a growing sense of discomfort as nearly every man—and even some women—they passed turned to stare. No, not at him, but at Lyrassa.
Why hadn’t he noticed this sooner? Was it because he’d been too focused on serious discussions with the others?
He glanced at Lyrassa, who was wearing a casual outfit with a knee-length skirt. Even her naturally slow pace—simply because she was a slow walker—came off as an elegant, graceful stride, almost like she was on a runway. Should he consider giving her a full robe that covered her head and body, something like a desert outfit?
"Is it because of your Nature Perfume, perhaps?" Atlas asked.
Lyrassa turned to him, looking puzzled. "What about my body scent, My Lord?"
"It’s like… the smell of food under my nose." Karian said.
"Really?" Atlas glanced at Karian.
"Don’t you notice it, Atlas?" Karian asked.
"No, it’s more like something sweet and calming," he replied.
"They say everyone interprets my body scent in their own unique way, My Lord," Lyrassa said, giggling.
"Really? And what does it mean if I smell it that way? I assumed everyone experienced the same scent."
"That means you’re someone who dreams of peace and tranquility… You might even feel those things just being close to me. I could even help lull you to sleep, so you rest soundly and have sweet dreams. Interested, My Lord?"
"Please don’t make statements that could lead to misunderstandings, Lyrassa.”
"But misunderstandings weren’t my intention, My Lord. Care to try it tonight?"
Cough! Karian cleared his throat awkwardly, pretending it was just a tickle.
Atlas made a quick stop at a nearby shop to pick up some snacks and drinks to bring back to the hotel to share with the others. Yet even the cashier couldn’t help but stare at Lyrassa, completely entranced.
“Sir, can I get my cake?” Atlas prompted.
“Oh—yes, sorry, he he…” The cashier snapped back to reality, his eyes still drawn to Lyrassa.
And what did Lyrassa do? She giggled and gave him a little wave. “Hi…” she said sweetly.
The poor guy froze, completely stunned.
Atlas sighed, taking her by the hand and guiding her out. “Let’s go. We’ll find cake somewhere else.”
After a long trek around town, hunting for interesting food and pointless but cute souvenirs—and enduring the constant stares from everyone they passed, along with keeping up with Lyrassa’s unhurried pace—they finally made it back to the hotel room.
Atlas could only imagine the chaos if he’d brought Mira along too. That would have been a double dose of charm, overwhelming everyone around them.
One amusing thought crossed his mind: he could probably rob people blind while they were distracted by Mira and Lyrassa’s combined allure. It would certainly make for an effective strategy.
As they stepped inside, Atlas found Morganna seated in the common area, legs crossed, watching something on the television. Edrik was also there, just outside the room.
He set the snacks and fresh fruit on the dining table, catching Morganna’s attention. She glanced their way.
“Morganna, come here. I’ve got some ice cream,” he said, smiling warmly. “Have you ever tried anything like this?”
Morganna looked over but quickly averted her gaze when she saw his smile. But, surprisingly, she got up and approached.
Atlas handed her the ice cream. “Try it. This one can make anyone feel happier just from a single taste.”
Morganna took it, opened the container, and brought the spoonful to her mouth. The moment she tasted it, her face softened, brightening just a bit as she experienced the magic of the ice cream.
Atlas grinned. Everything will be better from here.