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Chapter 485: Amanda’s Determination
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Amanda gasped and she looked at Rex with tears threatening to fall. She wasn’t strong or someone special and she knew that. If something, perhaps she was only a pretty face and nothing more. That is why it pains her to admit that as much as she wanted to be of help to her boyfriend, she was nothing more than a burden and also a luggage that needed constant worrying about.
“Is that everything you know?” Rex said after a few moments of silence.
—did he only realize that now?
John Bryn thought.
“That is everything I know.” He said. “And the reason why I am telling you this now is because I want you be aware of what you are and how you can affect the Princess’s life.”
Rex closed his eyes and silently breathed it all in.
He then looked over at Amanda.
Silently looking at her beautiful face, pondering.
He then looked at the Margrave and just as he was about to open his lips to talk, Amanda cut him in and declared strongly, “Won’t my mother also a legitimate candidate to be Queen?”
The Margrave was obviously surprised but still, the content of her inquiry was something they at the House of Bryn had already considered.
“Yes.” He replied, nodding, “She is qualified. But the thing is, compared to you two… there was a symbolic significance of you being the Queen instead of your mother?”
Amanda was confused, “What’s the difference?”
“You may not know this but RPG: Terroa is almost a national emblem for the citizens of Christiana. A person as famous as you, regardless —and also especially because you’re close to Siva— when we announce your name for the throne, the overall support could only be… enormous.”
Isn’t it just a ridiculous notion? Amanda thought.
A game avatar-image being the Queen of a nation, a fans-club for the throne… is the throne of the World Noble this…. ridiculously shallow?
Even Rex also thought the same. John Bryn also knew what they were thinking and added.
“You don’t know this but… the original concept of NanoTech in that game was actually a joint project of the Christiana Monarchy. We are the origins of the Nano-Technology and the countrymen know it and treat the game as source of national pride.”
Shallow indeed. The two thought but then again, in the perspective of a World Noble and citizens of which were one of the richest and most ‘noble’ in the world, the mindset of those below their eye level might not be worthy of even a glance at them.
In short, to the citizens of Christiana Country, the so called “rich people” of third-world countries like theirs were perhaps only, at most, mid-level class citizens here.
Meaning, in the most simplest of the word, their eye-levels really just doesn’t meet at all.
Rex chuckled in defeat, savouring the irony of this simple reason of sitting at the throne as queen.
Yeah, this is indeed just a matter of status and the mindset in the end. Despite their thinking, they are nothing more than ‘opinions’ in the end which the World Noble “Christiana Monarchy” does not need to even listen at all.
As a Margrave of such a country, he understood this rock-bottom simple yet also insulting reason for choosing a Queen but they’re a “World Noble” and whoever has something to say could only shut their mouth and swallow their words down.
For Amanda, the thought she ended up to was also much simpler.
In her mind, nothing else matters, not the view of the world and most especially NOT, the opinions of any other people, World Noble or not. For her, it was only Rex and nobody else.
She just loved him that much.
“If I become the Queen, will I hold power within the World Government?”
Hearing her words, the two men blinked.
The Margrave was shocked but he still nodded.
“Yes, you have.” He said but seeing the confused look on their faces, he clarified: “There are three ranks or level of authority in the UNICORN. The first are those on the very bottom like the Uglya Kingdom and all other smaller Noble Parties; next are the Middle Level World Nobles —where not all of them were actually families but rather organizations—the likes of Goldwyn Family, Campbell Family, or the likes; and then there’re the Supreme Noble Families, all of which are ‘names’ with very deep history and foundations like our own Christiana Monarchy, the Maecenas Family, the Boundmasons, Missilefeller, House of York and Newton, and others… the end point is, we, as a country, do indeed have some voice in the UNICORN, my Princess. But it’s not a voice that can be abused by randomly declaring things. I dare say that within the council, ours have the most special kind of voice in the entire assembly.”
Amanda bit her lower lip and then asked, “If I want to protect him, how can I do this?”
The Margrave was shocked and instantly wants to refute it but when he saw the unyielding pair of eyes of his liege, his face twitched as he fought an urge to strangle the man who she was going to do all of this trouble for.
“Of all the Supreme Nobles, we can say that it can be divided into three more rankings. We are in the middle ranks and for voice at the top, there is but one Family that has the loudest voice in the entire council.”
“Is that…”
“The Thornberry Family. So if you want to protect him, your proposal should earn the approval of the head of the Thornberry Family.”
Rex and Amanda exchanged looks. Isn’t that the surname of one of their friends?
“Rex, I’m going to do this.”
“But there is a chance that they can control you to do their bidding instead. You don’t have to do this, Mandy.”
Amanda chortled then she took the now returned Comm Device that was taken from her. After the press of the activation, Lily materialized in the air and looked at Rex then to Amanda.
{Master, you are okay.} It was the usual indifferent tone but the worry in her actions was palpable.
Still, that (||_||)-face still misleads in all respect that you can’t know if she was sad, worried, or having any other emotions on her face at all.
The Margrave’s eyes went wide seeing the little thing floating in the midst of the three. But that’s just the beginning of his surprise.
{How rude, Lily, you didn’t even greet the boss.}
Following her materialization was Cortana who said so in a rebuking manner.
{The boss has you, mother, why should I worry?}
{Oh. Well, you are right on that one.}
{Mother is an airhead.}
{I am not. I am still developing. Unlike you, you’ve obviously inherited that rebellious and obnoxious side of ours from your father.}
“Hold it right there, you two!” Rex couldn’t help but interject. Did Cortana just admit that Maki had just given her a child? “First things first, Lily, this time, you’ve failed to protect Amanda greatly. You didn’t even realize they were being kidnapped and sent a warning to me before you were cut off.”
Lily flew over in front of Rex and bowed deeply in a dogeza
{I am sorry, Boss. I will be more observant from now on and do the security protocols that mother uploaded in me.}
“I don’t want this happening again in the future.”
{Yes sir.}
{Never cut your connection to me ever again, do you hear that you little child?}
{Yes mother.}
The entire time, the Margrave couldn’t keep up with this sudden development in the air around the topic. Wasn’t there a tense air earlier? Where has it gone off to?
—NO!
——why am I… that’s not even important...
———just what is this little thing exactly? Is this a Battle-AI or something? But why is it calling that mature-looking Battle-AI mother and this Rex as her boss? Father? Mother? Good grief…
“Cortana, give her the assignment.”
{Upload complete. Now, little one, have you read your protocols?}
{I understand, Mother, Boss. I will not commit the same mistake ever again.}
—a Battle-AI committing a mistake and actually is aware of it? WOW!
The margrave only watched on as Rex and this AI Cortana rebuke the little thing, wondering over the shock he received and not noticing that although they look comical and funny, the contents of their words were actually shocking.
“If you understand, then use the Margrave as your contact. He will be Amanda’s bodyguard from now on too so you can relay your orders with him.”
“Hey I’m not a—“
{Alright. Mister Margrave, I am Lily. From now on, I will be in charge of the arrangements of master’s security. I hope you will listen to my suggestions.}
John Bryn… conferred the title of Margrave within the nobility of the Christiana Monarchy, is officially now a subordinate of a Battle-AI.
And it would seem that Amanda trusted Lily more than a real person, him, a Margrave loyal to the throne of the Queendom and a bona fide patriot of his country…
…and he was reduced to a follower in an instant.
In his chock in the turn of events, he only realized the point soft the matter after a few seconds.
—wait a minute, a bodyguard? Me, a Margrave, as a mere bodyguard…?
——wait another minute! On second thought, this was actually a good chance to prove my loyalty to the throne…!!
When his mind drove to here, John Bryn suddenly got a hot feeling in his chest and nodded.
“I will do my best, Your Highness.”
Rex blinked, stopping himself from laughing. Did he just see something ridiculous just now?
All of those tensions earlier gone. What remained was just the aftermath result of the debriefing of their kidnapping situation.
In the end, the entire event became a silent cry in the heart of those who know it and to the outside world, there wasn’t any kidnapping but there was only the short chaos in the House of Levingston.
Did they really fall?
Did they really become under the House of Bryn?
What was this incident about?
…..and why, to those who knew more than all the circulating rumours, does the name “Mitra” included in this incident?
*****
The entire night passed and the group reunited in a private hotel. To avoid being detected by any of the remnants of the Heavenly Father, Rex planted and activated a 24/7 dynamic surveillance through the bugs he planted all around the city.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
As long as there is the Net, the Echelon Network will work and any movements and suspicious news will be seen and monitored by Cortana clearly.
Amanda lay on Rex’s chest on the sofa, her soft moans as she sleeps ringing in his ears.
Everyone was asleep except for him but he didn’t dare to wake her up to move into the bed since she hugged him tight and he felt afraid of actually waking her from this long deserved rest.
In his heart, he was really angry at both the House of Levingston and that Heavenly Father.
They’ve put these children to such a trauma just so they could get their claws on him.
In the end though, was this all a test?
Are they gauging his limits?
….his capabilities?
Well then, they’ve missed the mask. Not only did Rex gain loyal minions in this trip, he actually also instantly jumped from being a millionaire into being a billionaire.
What more…
‘Cortana, have you finished reorganizing all those factories the House of Levingston owned?’
[Done sir. All operations are normal.]
Rex felt a satisfied vengeful smile form on his lips.
Although he sold 98% of the assets he received from the House of Levingston back to Christiana Monarchy, there are certain ‘properties’ that Rex did not relinquish and instead secured tightly and even integrated into his soon to be launched real-world private company.
…..even going so far as to purchasing another private security company and assigning them with specific designations and Echelon-sealed bugged database and newest security equipment —all so that they can ensure that those facilities and new properties were safely guarded.
Their mission plan were so even detailed that any speck of dust that enters would be screened at least a hundred times until its sub-atomic level of aspect before it can even be allowed to make any form of contact to its system, employee, or of its operations.
His plan for “the company” had just taken a giant leap into fruition and he wouldn’t need to wait until he gets enough dough through his seam-entering, cheating-level legal stock strategies to either buy those needed facilities or factories. No. With his recent acquisition to all of these properties, the company’s launch date had just been moved one giant leap forward.
And Rex’s overly overtight sense of insecurity was all so that those facilities were protected.
‘Cortana, send the message to all related pers. We are now launching the company in Terroa. Screen all clients and relative personnel very carefully and organize all formatted marketing ads for release.’
[Message sent, sir.]
‘Good.’
He heaved another sigh and closed his eyes to finally rest and fell asleep.
*****
Rex hasn’t logged in for close to 3 days in Terroa.
As soon as he materialized in the City Lord office, he looked at the completed projects on his list and was satisfied with the additional items he received:
SS-Generator >> 1,000pcs
Dáinsleifs >> 11pcs
Dáinsleif Ammunition >> 709 bullets
Fire Lord Set >> 2 sets
Dragonator >> 2 sets
Lightning Flash Bombs >> 366pcs
Three days not online would have made him want to rage on for the lost time but this also made him see that what happened so far was just too fast he didn’t even have time to blink and ponder over all things even more deeply.
Checking on his list, he also smiled, “Cortana, you now have the new body modified according to your specifications. Have you decided on what race you will be taking your form?”
Cortana’s [Nano Body] was now finished with its modifications and even Siva wanted to check how he had set this Nano Body.
[Should you be choosing that for me, sir?]
“This time, I’m giving you the liberty.”
[I cannot decide on my own without your input so at least give me your preference.]
“As far as my so called preferences go, I’d rather just get someone I’m familiar with. For that ‘race’ though, can you reverse it after choosing?”
[No sir, it seems I can’t. For some odd reason, an integral part of my programming is encoded with an unknown inscription indicating that I can only select a race once when I choose to materialize in Terroa. I think it might be related to that ‘rebirth’ system of the game; or maybe what that Margrave John Bryn had said… a system in Terroa running a so called Project Salvation program.]
Siva wasn’t too surprised about it. In fact, he had a premonition that this might be case as soon as he heard him say them.
“I keep having this nagging familiarity about this so called Project Salvation but I can’t point my fingers on it properly. Well, anyways, then… of the many different Terran Races in my head, I permit you to choose in a random manner for it.”
[Alright. I’ve chosen one. Please let me begin the final adjustments.]
Siva pulled out a large metallic box and put it in a corner of the City Lord Office then while she did the last activation set up, Siva checked the NEW and improved Neo-Master Armament.
It was still dark blue but the difference this time is that it now had a tinge of darker red in it, like the colour of blood in a dimly lit night.
“Now let’s try it.”
Siva pulled up the new equipment and put it at the opposite corner away from Cortana’s Nano Body.
Just like how the first Master Armament looked like, it was like a giant pillar —heavier, as well, and still had that pulsing electrified surface as if there was lightning running on its exterior sheen from a blue-white fist-sized metallic core, giving the feel of a robust weaponized pillar that can form into a lot of shape and [form], small and big!
“Beautiful. And size-wise, this NEO-form is a lot bigger, heavier, and also comprised of more than 10,000 parts, compacted into its 5m (L) by 3m (W) by 2m (H) dimensions… ah, I imagine how it looks like smashing someone’s faces with it. Kyukyu… kyukyukyu…”
[Boss, you’re letting your evil thoughts leak out.]
“Cough… cough… Anyways, how are y—EH?”
As Siva turned around to look at Cortana’s Nano Body form, he felt his mind blanked.
At the same time…
[System Announcement]
[A new dawn is coming! The long lost Vulpine Race, legendary existences with a great affinity in Mana and a special racial disposition, had just been discovered by an adventurer! New and old players can now select the Vulpine Race as their starting Race. Pave your own path. Enjoy the great sights of Terroa and be your own legend as you create your own history!]
The Vulpines: Descendants of the Great Vulpes of the Divine Beasts Race. They inherited some of its beastly features making them one of the most amiable races in the entire universe. Having a great affinity with Mana from the day they are born, they have very long lifespans just like the Elves but lacked the corresponding physical gift which is characterized by their small frames. They also share the same problems as the Elves in regards to their reproduction rate so there are only a few of them being born every year cycle.
Racial Traits:
**Can add a minimum of 80 extra stat points to MNA or DEX stats
**Can only use Staves, Orbs, and Wands as their primary equipments
**Can only start at designated starting cities in the Southern Continent of Heartilia
**Can only wear Cloth and Light Equipments
**Gets additional buff of 20% MNA when in a wide grassland, high altitude, and/or when there’re one (or two) full moons in a night sky
**Gets the Racial Ability: [Examine] when in a wide grassland, high altitude, and/or when there’re one (or two) full moons in a night sky, allowing players to ignore restrictions and see the spell target’s stats and all junctioned abilities. Can only be used once a day; Drains 100% Stamina or Endurance
**Grants additional 20% stat bonus to STA or END
On Rex’s vision, Cortana’s [human] display shifted after a bright flash of light.
Then, she vanished, and the eyes of the [Nano Body] opened, speaking with Cortana’s voice.
[It seems that my programmed traits… have been updated, sir. I have a new set of programs on my protocol options and it has the characteristics of the Avatar Race that you are reading.]
Rex was utterly surprised, shocked, astounded, or perhaps it can even be said to as having been put in a coma and waking up suddenly one day and 10 years have already passed—feeling.
More than the surprise of seeing an extinct race in front of him, he was actually more surprised that Cortana managed to pick this up from all the fragments of his memories about this race.
And then, he remembered, “How are you treated by the system right now?”
[I am still a Battle-AI, sir, but my racial alignment is updated and all options to change my racial traits are locked, although I am still Cortana in and out of this game.]
—so in a word, aside from her appearance being locked to the Vulpine Race, she’s still the same Cortana dad gave me.
[Yes sir.]
—and she’s reading my thoughts and replying as always…
[Your PNF’s level was still low in Level and unable to edit the “Flesh Body” from Galatea. I can’t use the racial abilities of this race unless you get your PNF to a higher level and, or, get me a receptacle for channeling Mana, sir, so that I can integrate it to the Absolute Domain’s ACTIVE SCAN.]
—she’s still nagging me on it… yep. She’s still the same Cortana alright.
Rex looked at the Fox-girl in front of him with flat eyes and a blank expression. She has a fiery red bushy tail that wrapped on her waist like a belt; a pair of foxy ears that twitched and turned in a 90 degree arc; her facial features were still Cortana yet she now had a fiery red-gold pupil; and lastly, she was shorter in height… around 150cm.
—it was the typical height of the Vulpines…
Somehow, the conversation just now seemed to be a reminder of his many lackings.
He checked his PNF Level.
It was currently at Level-7…
…two levels higher than two days ago.
“Considering that ever since it reached Level Ten back then, the PNF Level’s raised every 36hrs.”
As he was pondering over the gains of the recent events, Cortana brought him back to reality.
[Boss, now that you’re relaxed, it is time to take notice of those ignored communications attempt from a few people.]
Upon being reminded, Siva hit his forehead as he recalled the order he gave Cortana a day ago.
Because he was focused on rescuing Amanda and the rest, he didn’t entertain even the thought of any kind of communication unless they were all important and related to his rescue.
But now that he had somehow relaxed, it was time to also go back and finish everything he started.
“I owe the Atropos that, do I?”
[Not only that, sir, but the situation around the city is a little bit complicated.]
Having said that, the now foxy-Cortana with a lithe body but still had that gentle and aloof expression that didn’t match with her Onee-chan manner and tone of her voice, walked over the window of the office as she wiped in the air and displayed the Real@D rendering of the situation outside of his blue smoke tornado.
“Oh, now this is interesting.” Siva couldn’t help but make a shy laughter at the sight of the situation outside of the City Lord Mansion.
Thankfully, with the 7-days ‘battery life’ of the Vajra Lightning Bolt-supercharged Liberty Drones deployed in the city, the blue smoke tornado only lost 4% of its overall ‘smoky integrity’ and still had the shape of the slow-rotating blue tornado.
But outside… the crowd had already doubled.
There were now 30 Warships whose main canons were locked at the mansion, and over a 100,000 men and women all wearing the clothes of The Union of the Six Federation inside the game with their weapons and armors shining with brilliant lights on their frames.
A speaker is in front of the mansion, megaphone in hand, and he looked to be rather important with that beaming smile and confident air of his.
Beside him, wearing the same kind and amiable grin, was another man with an elegant stature.
And for the third person, Siva was familiar with him since he was one of the guys that survived the crash of their looted warship. He forgot his name. He didn’t care. But he does look like he wasn’t okay with what the man was saying.
{Siva, we only want to talk. It’s been two days that you have ignored our plea and we have given you a warning… since you still are not intending to talk with us, we can only attack and breach the place. I hope you understand that we are not aiming to be antagonistic to you. We just want to have a talk in a lot of things… and also in regards to the open plundering and aggressive stance you have taken against the people of The Union so far…}
Siva was listening to the man and already felt his ears aching with the long winding words he said.
So in short, he wanted to talk about the recent events in Maria but because Siva wasn’t responding to anything for the past days because of the events in the real world, they thought he was deliberately ignoring them.
“Ugh… this is troublesome…”
[There was post online about two contact persons in case you wanted to talk to them. Should I send them a reply?]
“Who were the contact persons?”
[They were called Longyun and Tabata… and it would seem that they are actually King Candidates in Jeremiah’s King Test.]
As she spoke, pop-up windows appeared on his vision and in it showed the current rankings of the King Candidates during this Second Test.
Longyun and Tabata are running third and fourth respectively next to Volt in second and Zelga as the first.
Siva frowned, “This doesn’t look like something a contact person would do. Judging from the words that guy just said along with that disgusting smile and sneering visage, I can already assume they’re not intending to talk about anything.”
[Thought process archived, sir. Based on all your assumptions, it would indeed seem that these two are using you as a spring board to popularize themselves in the King Test. After your latest feat in Jeremiah, its citizens were offended when you killed their Allied Defenders. They’re using that as a base to slander you.]
Siva laughed sarcastically, “With how powerful the Military Strength of The Union is, I wouldn’t even doubt it to be so.”
He then glanced at the video posts on the Local Net about his act of blatant disregard to the Allied Defenders in the City of Jeremiah back then. The violent comments and defamation threading on in a regular rate couldn’t be more nerve-raging.
For some reason, he also felt that it ought to only be natural for enemies to spring up one by one if he considered his sudden rise in strength in just a matter of two short months.
An unknown individual gaining a lot of popularity and strength in a series of world-shaking events is indeed going to provoke the ire of many.
Whether he’s actually an NPC or not doesn’t mean a lot to these people. The fact that he’s making so much noise and gaining strength and popularity in a bout of unstoppable momentum alone is already affecting many people’s careers and was enough reason for them to hate him to this extent.
Considering their last meeting in Alexandria, this Union Federation-controlled region in Espada that he occupied without their approval was indeed an act of disregard to the authority and ‘face’ of their organization’s name.
Of course, The Union won’t allow it.
Not only were they NOT going to thank him for saving Walled City of Maria, the fact that Siva had actually spent half a whole week here and even ignored the requests of The Union to have a simple dialogue —and especially when they blame the destruction of a Warship to him and not to his enemy who was there with him— is considered a proof of Siva’s disdain to The Union’s name.
With ow things are now, would Siva still explain to them that he wasn’t online by then?
No.
Would he care to make it clear that he’s NOT an NPC now that he was going to be using Atropos to conduct a strike to their HQ?
Of course not —at least not until he saved Baron.
Let the misunderstandings continue. For all Siva cares, they can destroy each other as long as he’s able to keep Baron safe and sound.
So…
Would he still care what The Union thinks?
Abso~fucking~lutely not.
This is already a fall out so The Union will send an antagonistic contingent of their force to bring him down regardless of any reason; and also use this chance to both show the world their absolute iron fist as well as make use of this opportunity to pull up their rankings in the King Tests.
Such a chance to catching multiple birds with just a single stone was rare. Only idiots will miss this chance and choose other options.
But Siva thought otherwise.
—if I trample these guys here, The Union would not let me go… although Baron is with them, they didn’t know I am searching for him… I just have to put it as me defending myself…
——unless the Bloody Church rats me out…
———but with Metheus’ intel, it’d be impossible since The Union’s pride to their national power in the game wouldn’t allow them to submit to any of the NPC-controlled powers in Terroa and become a follower instead of the dictator…
—–——hmp! You want a piece of me? I’m gonna make ya’ll regret it!!
For some reason, the thought excited him. Siva’s habit of smearing shit on the face of his arrogant enemies was aroused.
—just because they are a world power in the real world, I should fear The Union?
——In your wet fucking dreams!
“Hmp! Just because I chose not to clash with The Union doesn’t mean I’m scared of them!”
Siva was clenching his fists hard.
[Many Jeremiah-based Players are supporting the campaign and they are using it to garner support from NPCs of the country. There are propaganda posts on the local Net as well about your so called crime of slaughtering the 7,000 Allied Defenders who chased you for The Box back then.]
“M*ther ****ing bastards….”
His fingers cracked as he flexed his hand muscles in his anger. A wicked smile beamed on his lips.
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Well now…
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Next Chapter: Confrontation negotiation…