Sora walked through the bustling streets, his thoughts focused on the task ahead. The Auction House loomed in the distance, its towering structure standing as a testament to the importance of gear and resources in this new world. He quickened his pace, eager to secure what he needed before time ran out.
As he entered the Auction House, the atmosphere changed instantly. The sound of haggling filled the air as traders and adventurers bartered for rare items and gear. Sora scanned the listings displayed on holographic panels, searching for the equipment that would give him the edge he needed.
"Alright, let's see," he muttered, pulling up the gear categories. He needed to make this count.
He started with armor. His current gear, while functional, was only level 50 and for the kinds of challenges he would face in the coming days. Level 60 items were essential, and he wanted a mix of epic and unique pieces to ensure he wasn't just prepared for the immediate war, but for future battles as well.
He carefully browsed through the options, filtering by quality and attributes.
An epic leather chestplate with high agility and mana resistance caught his eye. Perfect for his speed-based fighting style. He immediately bought it, then moved on to the boots, gloves, and accessories.
Auctioned weapons could be purchased immediately by paying the requested amount if the seller put one. Usually it was quite expensive. Otherwise, he would have to wait for the end of the auction and bid higher than others.
Piece by piece, Sora upgraded his gear, selecting items that would not only enhance his physical abilities but also provide a way to hide his mana fluctuations and aura.
Satisfied with his new purchases, Sora shifted his focus to weapons. His [Ruyi Jingu Bang] was a powerful weapon, but sometimes versatility was key. He picked up a few weapons in case of unknown situations—a pair of daggers with a unique passive skill that allowed mana-infused strikes and a long spear designed to channel large amounts of energy through its length. He even got a gun that could use mana to shoot enemies.
He didn't splurge, though. Even with around 15 million gold, he knew better than to blow it all on level 60 gear.
Finally, he pulled up a list of miscellaneous items, training tools, and potions. Kara's growth had to be a priority. She was too far behind, and the gap between them would only widen if she didn't catch up quickly. He added a set of training potions to his cart—ones that would help increase stamina and resistance to pain, vital for the body-forging process he had in mind.
With the gold left, he bought level 70 items, but he didn't have enough gold for everything he wanted.
"Alright," he said under his breath, "that should do it for now."
As he finalized his purchases and exited the Auction House, he checked the time. "Still got a few days ahead of me. Time to get my Human Resources Assistant job leveled up."
Sora made his way toward the Job Hall, the large building standing just as busy as the rest of the city. His goal was clear: reach a higher level in his job. It would be crucial for gaining the trust he needed from Kara and ensuring their partnership could thrive. As he entered the hall, he was immediately greeted by thousands of job postings. Contracts—thousands of them, waiting to be signed.
Perfect.
He wasted no time, moving from office to office with lightning speed. He presented his job token, rushed through the formalities, and vanished just as quickly, leaving the workers stunned in his wake. At one office, an older woman looked at him in bewilderment as he rattled off his credentials and signed three hundred contracts in under a minute.
"You... you're done already?" she asked, blinking in disbelief.
"Yeah," Sora replied with a smirk. "Need to move fast. Got more places to be."
And with that, he was gone, leaving the woman staring after him in shock.
This was the routine for the rest of the day. Office after office, signing contract after contract, and leaving a trail of bewildered employers in his wake. He moved like a blur, breaking speed limits with his newfound strength and agility, pushing himself to cover as much ground as possible.
After visiting all 1,255 offices in Paris, he finally slowed down. Three days passed in the blink of an eye with all the running and signing. Looking at the horizon. Sora pulled up his job menu, his eyes scanning the progress.
[Job: Human Resources Assistant (Level 62)]
"Not bad," he muttered, impressed with his own efficiency. He had signed hundreds of thousands contracts in just three days, and the prestige multiplier had kicked in, pushing his job level up faster than expected until level 62. Now, he was ready for the next phase.
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He had unlocked unique abilities in his role, such as [Unfair Contract], which allowed him to tip the scales in his favor, gaining better condition than his counterpart. Every ten levels, he unlocked new effects, like the ability to establish contracts with NPCs, form guild contracts, impose harsher penalties, and even create binding summoning contracts between two parties. These abilities progressively made his job more powerful and versatile.
[Gold : 41,526,484]
This amount came from the contracts he signed. Most contract he signed provided 100 gold, but he also signed higher level contracts which paid more.
He made his way back to the auction house to prepare his level 70 and 80 gear sets.
After buying everything he needed, he still had gold left.
Heading to Gare Du Nord, he spotted Kara already waiting for him, her expression a mix of excitement and apprehension. She looked ready to go, and Sora could see the weight of her thoughts in her eyes.
"Let's go" said Sora, his atmosphere different. Kara directly followed into his steps.
They directly started walking towards the exit of Paris not far from Gare Du Nord.
"Stockholm, right? Are we heading straight there?" Kara asked, breaking the silence, her voice uncertain but eager.
Sora shook his head. "Not yet."
Kara's steps faltered, and she frowned. "Why not? I thought we were in a hurry because of the war."
"We are," Sora replied, his tone calm but firm. "But we're not going anywhere until we're ready."
She looked at him, confused. "Ready? What do you mean?"
"We need to talk. Find a quiet place far from distractions, and then we can train."
Without another word, Sora turned and led the way out of Paris. Kara followed, her mind racing with thoughts. He was so focused, so sure of what needed to be done, but his silence unnerved her.
The excitement of the upcoming adventure slowly gave way to unease. She was still new to all of this, and though she was confident in herself, the uncertainty in his tone made her wonder what kind of training he had in mind.
They traveled swiftly, crossing into a level 50 zone, deep in the wilderness where few humans ventured. The air was still and quiet, with only the sounds of nature surrounding them. It was a perfect place to train—isolated and far from prying eyes.
Sora finally stopped, surveying the area. He nodded to himself before turning to face Kara. "This will do."
Kara's heart raced. "What exactly are we doing here?"
Sora's gaze was steady. "I plan to help you grow, but before we go any further, I need to be sure."
"Sure about what?" Kara asked, her voice tinged with frustration.
"That I can trust you. Completely."
The words hit Kara like a wave. She stared at him, stunned. "You… you don't trust me?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Sora's expression didn't change. "It's not about trust in the way you think. We've only known each other for a few days. Trust like what I'm talking about isn't earned that fast. And my training… it's special. You'll understand soon enough."
Kara felt a flicker of anger rise in her chest, but she quickly swallowed it. He was right. They hadn't known each other long. Still, it hurt to hear him say it out loud. She crossed her arms, feeling a bit defensive. "You don't have to share any of your secrets with me. I'll train hard and do my best. I won't be a burden."
"You misunderstand," Sora said, shaking his head. "This isn't about keeping secrets from you. The training I'm offering is something different. It's… unique. And it requires absolute trust between us, for both our sakes."
Kara blinked, her frustration fading into curiosity. "Unique?"
Sora nodded, then gestured with his hand. A faint glow appeared between them, and a contract materialized in the air. Kara's eyes widened at the sight. It wasn't just a simple document like the contracts she'd seen before—this one pulsed with mana, a binding force woven into its very fabric. This one screamed power, authority and absolute binding !
"Is this another contract?" Kara asked, her voice quieter now, filled with intrigue.
"Yes," Sora said simply. "This contract will bind us in a partnership. A real partnership where both of us share certain responsibilities—and certain secrets. I need to trust that you won't betray me, and in return, I'll give you something that will help you keep up with players ten levels higher than you within a month. But this isn't just about power. It's about trust, about growing strong together."
The contract floated between them, the terms glowing softly. Kara leaned forward, reading the conditions carefully.
Partnership Contract:
Terms for Sora (Ralph Eden):
Sora will train Kara in special techniques that will allow her to fight against and defeat opponents up to 10 levels above her current level within a month.
Sora will provide Kara with resources, training items to help her growth.
Sora will keep any of Kara's secrets, including personal and class-related abilities.
Sora will protect Kara in times of need, ensuring her safety in dangerous situations.
Sora will never disclose any information learned about Kara, including her weaknesses and vulnerabilities, even under threat of death.
Terms for Kara:
Kara will undergo training provided by Sora without hesitation, following all instructions given for her improvement.
Kara will keep Sora's secrets and never reveal his methods, skills, or personal information to any third party, regardless of circumstances.
Kara agrees to use the power and knowledge gained through the training solely for the benefit of their partnership and the missions ahead.
Kara will place her trust in Sora's decisions during combat ensuring teamwork at the highest level, unless ordered to risk her life without a plausible reason