Casual use of my skills won't affect its level or rank. I have to strive, overcome, and advance my abilities in one way or another to get results. Master Wang's quip on not having affinities created a query. What essence will I inhabit as my own if my body isn't tailored to any energy type? Is training my body a substitute, or have we not touched upon it yet?

"Master Wang, what essence have you attuned to?"

"Hmmm... That's an inappropriate question to ask. If you cannot tell by a glace, you shouldn't try to peer into others. You'll understand once you get yours."

"But why is it inappropriate."

"It's like asking about my sex life or my taxes. It just is. Unfortunately, I'm active in both to ensure I don't get into deep shit."

"Okay, master Wang."

"My wife is very demanding."

"Alright, master Wang."

"Especially on my tax returns. Always riding my ass about making sure everything is prim and proper. And the other things too."

"Thank you for your wisdom, master Wang. I must go."

"Scram. Oh! Find some free time, you should volunteer at my daughter's shop. It's not related to any training. It'll be nice if she can get support from someone she knows. I'm supposed to be mad at her, but I don't want her to overwork herself. I'd sacrifice any amount of herbs to keep her healthy, but having you help out is cheaper."

"I understand, master Wang."

~

Training my [Dash] skill to be a sudden burst of speed would be doubling up since I can use my [Battered Bones] skill if I utilize it correctly. I'm already heading in that direction, so maybe I should wait until my essence before deciding if I should shift gears or double down. Training to throw things "better" would be better. Going for accuracy and speed rather than power would supplement my skills well since I can compensate for damage with my modifiers and by sacrificing my health.

I also contemplated getting another journeyman's skill, as master Wang put it, but it'll be a lot of effort for something that needs a lot of investment. I don't foresee needing a boost in woodworking or jumping, so I think I'm fine. But there is one exception. A leadership-based skill would help my beasts and mesh well with other taming skills. My "master" themed skills are satisfactory, but since [Empower] is my only "active" buffing skill, I could complement it with more skills. The nature of my class would probably make it easier to gain as well. I'm more willing to waste time on this.

Before I could turn my brain off for the foreseeable future and go all out with training, I got a text message from dean Palmer's assistant. I was tempted to ignore it, but my curiosity got to me.

[Student Ellis. The dean wanted to inform you that he wants to set up a press conference since you are the captain that tied for first. You'd do most of the talking, answer some interview questions, and give a speech if inclined. The press there will be professional, so anything that would peer into secrets of your strength should not come up or shouldn't be pushed if you decline to answer.]

I start texting back.

[Why would I do that?]

[Publicity. Dean Palmer, Bluefield, our institute, and yourself will benefit depending on how you handle it. Not following up on your seemingly impossible win would be a shame for the fame you deserve.]

[I don't care for fame.]

[Perhaps. It is not my place to convince you, only inform you. However, I will note that fame would open a few doors. Sponsorships and business opportunities wouldn't be off the table either. There is also the personal relationship you would be able the foster with dean Palmer. It's not my place, but it wouldn't be harmful to have good relations with him.]

[Isn't he condemned by the people of his old job? At least, that's the vibe I got.]

[It's not my place.]

I don't respond immediately. I am alien to the culture of Rankers and celebrities. I'd basically be an athlete no one knew about going out of the country to represent us against other countries. The people would be curious, and answering questions would have no immediate downside. The dark sides of being well-known would not affect me in my day-to-day life.

My privacy would be hard to invade since my only official home is currently burnt to the ground. Paparazzi would be annoying, but I feel more pity for those that must take pictures of strangers to make ends meet. I might not even get enough fame to warrant any of that anyways. Other downsides like stalkers, ill rumors, and societal pressure wouldn't be problematic. Stalkers would be weird, but if they could infiltrate the estates of two different masters or my mansion, I couldn't do anything anyways. Before I could achieve a complete decision, the message I got swayed me.

[The speech can be ghostwritten for you.]

~

It took literal hours for everything to get set up. I was given a snappy suit that boosts my charisma by a small amount. I met the hair and makeup team hired to make me pretty for television. I thought this was more of a paper journalism event. Not a televised event. They could not cut my hair with their equipment, so I had to do it myself. I decided on the only hairstyle I know. The one I did every day for five years straight before the streak was broken to the freak hair loss incident, then the hair growth potion. It's a simple but professional side part. My hair is still considered medium-length for males, and I don't use hard gels. I still have bright blue eyes and platinum hair.

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Apparently, being televised makes you appear uglier and sweatier or something. The makeup team wanted to do some touch-ups and vigorously refused my refusal. I relented since arguing about something as insignificant as makeup is weird. My only concern was if they pulled a fast one and gave me the supermodel treatment rather than the news anchor one. I doubled checked their work. That also gave me a minor charisma buff. What the fuck is this stat. I would be concerned if there wasn't a magical effect being applied and this increase is from "natural" means. [Scientific Insight+] reveals that the suit is enchanted, but only to "suit" the wearer nicely and make them look dashing.

I get handed a few Q-cards by dean Palmer's assistant. I casually slide them into my suit's inside pocket. I consumed them with my [Lexicon] once they were out of sight.

"Do you want to speak to dean Palmer before the conference? I can try to find him."

"I'd rather not, no. Palmer makes me feel like he's trying to own me. Metaphorically. Don't tell him I said that, not that it would matter if you did. By the way, I have a question about all this." I look around at the hustle and bustle of the behind-the-scenes crew doing their final checks to ensure everything is alright. "I figured setting something up for a press conference takes more time. What's up?"

"Money."

"Ah."

"Money is once again a factor considering that the 'independent' reporters get paid by the story. Publication firms are also in the audience, newspapers aren't that common, but they are still in circulation. Additionally, a scandal with the government was recently brought to light, and the stations are scrambling for stories to 'mask the smoke.'"

"What? What scandal?"

"Something about improper use of taxpayers' money and taking advantage of the shift of paper/digital currency to credits to line pockets and fatten sacks."

"..."

"Don't get into politics. If you do, however, either learn how to not get caught or become a black sheep that doesn't do all that."

"Is this press conference staged? Will I be getting a list of questions beforehand?"

"No to both. The words I spoke were purely 'speculative.' They will treat this as everyday work, not a project to collude on. Any further questions? You have to be up in a few minutes."

"Wouldn't it be easier to be interviewed by one station instead of pushing me into a media conference for my first time? Am I that important to warrant this?"

"Dean Palmer believes it's more efficient this way. Same reason why the conference is live. Don't forget, publically, you are tied for the strongest person in your generation. People are into that kind of thing. 'The youth of today will bring us into a better future.' Yada, yada, yada."

"Why publically, specifically."

"Who knows what the clans have hidden away? The army grooming super soldiers wouldn't be a far-off narrative too."

"What kind of assistant are you?"

"Executive."

~

Honestly, I think the assistant is pretty cool. I will consider poaching her if I need an assistant for some reason. Maybe learning her name would be a good start. I stand behind a podium with a dozen different microphones aiming for my mouth. Cameras are everywhere, and the journalists wait for me to give my opening remarks. The cameras have been rolling, but I haven't gotten my cue that the cameras are live. Dean Palmer isn't here for some reason.

In the script I was given, there was a card detailing that Palmer would introduce me and then give me the stage for myself. I looked around until I could find the assistant off to the side, out of the many camera shots. She shrugs and then taps her watch. I look back over, and the cue guy is counting me down. If this is an elaborate scheme to embarrass me on live television, I will take dean Palmer with me into the annals of televised failures.

I give one full second after the cue guy signals me before beginning.

"Hello. My name is Ellis Vincere, and I am the captain of the Bluefield Institute's team. We tied for first place."

"..."

The journalists were not expecting such a blunt opening, or maybe they thought I wasn't finished and was waiting for me to continue.

"Ask questions one at a time, please. We are live on air, after all."

The journalists were professional indeed. They did not jump and shout to be called upon, but a simple raised hand. Let's see if I can have some fun during this situation. Most people here are at or around my level, and I have a bloated spirit stat. I use [Master's Hand] under the podium to direct the journalist to ask their question rather than call on them verbally. They seem to be quite bored anyways. I picked the most enthusiastic one first.

"Mr. Vincere! What is your relation to the Vincere family, which has steadily disappeared over the last decade or two?"

"I'm the last one to my knowledge."

That seemed to get their attention, so I added another sentence right after the first one.

"Please, no irrelevant questions. I won't answer them." I compelled the next one.

"Mr. Ellis Vincere, can you tell me more about yourself? How about your life in Bluefield? Life in the capital must be very different."

"Life wasn't hard. I had a wonderful family and a friend or two. It was peaceful, uneventful even."

"If I may ask a follow-up question. When did you lose your arm? I've noticed you have a prosthetic. Did you lose it when you arrived in the capital?"

"I lost it when taming one of my beasts. You can guess which one. It was in a fracture when I was taking a part-time job as a member of the hazard branch in the F.I.B."

"They let a student join that hell? What were they thinking?"

"To be fair, I was an exception after they got reports I survived an undead-filled fracture long enough to crawl my way out. This was right after gaining my system. I'm now technically a captain. I want a question from someone else."

"What rank is your class?"

"Less than A. Next."

"You are a tamer, correct? Can you tell me about your beasts?"

"Nah."

"What class do you have to be able to tame not only a golem and an undead but also dozens of sharks?"

"A taming class."

"Did you always want to become a tamer?"

"It just happened."

"Who was your first tamed beast?"

"Flash Gordon."

"Which is?"

"My rock. Next question."

"Do you have a significant other?"

"I hope not."

"Your prowess in battle was something to behold. You managed to solo the team from the Ironworks Martial Academy led by their prodigy, Kosta. How did you manage it?"

"Don't force credit on me. I did not solo the entire team. I had support from one of my tamed beasts and one of my teammates."

"That doesn't change the fact that you managed to hold your ground when tamers are stereotyped as weak melee combatants. And we can't forget about that golem you fought after."

"I practice a handy martial art."

"Is that the origin of your tankiness? Can you disclose the name of the art?"

"I'm built differently. But yes, the martial arts help." Master Wang, you owe me for this free shoutout. "The name is called [Path of the Broken Body]. I will not get into any more details."

"Your sword seems remarkable. Are you willing to talk about it?"

"Thanks for asking. No."

"Why did you show up only for the latter half of the competition?"

"'Fell in a fracture."

"Do you think you could win a fight against the Auroran Institute's team captain?"

"Never crossed my mind. Depends on the type of fight, I guess."

"Can you elaborate?"

"I do better in fights to the death."

The most efficient press conference gets interrupted when a journalist disrupts my rhythm. He stands up and asks a question.

"Why haven't you blinked this entire time?"