"Lord... Atlas!" The receptionist behind the counter greeted him with a bright smile. She had short blonde hair and fingers poised over a sleek virtual keyboard embedded in the desk.
"So, you’re looking for thirty to forty combatants and around ten workers, correct?" she asked, confirming the details.
"Yes," Atlas replied with a polite nod. "And I’d also like to know what kind of budget I should be preparing for that."
She rested her hands on the desk, her smile softening into sothing more businesslike.
"We’ll do our best to match you with suitable candidates. But since you’re a newly awakened Lord with no reputation yet, and this being your first battle, the number of applicants may be a bit limited."
She let the words settle before continuing, "However, increasing the pay rate could help draw more interest. We’ll run an initial search and notify you as soon as we have so results."
"Thanks," Atlas said.
Hiring temporary rcenaries turned out to be more expensive than he’d anticipated. Contracts ranged from 3 to 5 gold for just a 14-day period. A high price, especially considering he’d only scraped together 1,000 gold so far. Recruiting forty people would cost between 120 to 200 gold for two weeks, and could reach up to 400 gold for a full month.
Still, if he could secure the right people, those he could count on when it mattered most, the investnt might more than pay off. Victories would bring loot, territory gains, and valuable rewards that could easily outweigh the upfront costs.
But war ca with real consequences. Losses on the battlefield could an serious injuries, permanent damage... or worse.
For rcenaries who swore loyalty to a Lord, though, the benefits went well beyond gold. They’d gain access to Exp Orbs, allowing them to level up much faster, and might even acquire specialized armor, weapons, and rare gear otherwise out of reach.
After going through this phase of temporary hires, so rcenaries would eventually choose to sign long-term contracts, pledging themselves entirely to their Lord. But such devotion wasn’t given lightly. It required deep respect and hard-earned trust, the kind of bond that took ti to forge.
Still, recruiting Awakeners this way remained one of the most effective thods for building a solid foundation as a Lord. It was a way to rapidly boost strength and potential, especially in the early stages.
Sure, Atlas had the Gacha System at his disposal. An imnse advantage that granted him subordinates of far greater rarity and power than typical hired Awakeners. But even with that edge, a battle of this scale couldn’t be fought with just four or five people. He needed numbers, coverage, and coordination. A team, no matter how temporary, was still vital.
"O...kay..." the receptionist said as she checked her screen. "I’ve also noted the materials you requested, and I’ll notify you as soon as I find sellers offering decent prices. Just so you’re aware, though, the current price for World Shards is around 150 to 200 gold each. So if you’re aiming to get three, that’ll run you up to 600 gold."
Just as he feared, the cost was steep.
But, of course, he had to prioritize acquiring those materials. They were essential if he wanted to expand his forces and recruit more rcenaries effectively.
"All transactions are handled anonymously," the woman added reassuringly. "So you don’t have to worry. Your personal information will remain protected."
And with that, Atlas’s business at the Association Center was concluded. He still had to wait for updates, but according to her, it shouldn’t take long. Within the next two days, he was expected to receive the first round of results.
Atlas had also picked up five additional Awakener Devices. Each one capable of long-distance communication. He planned to distribute them among his key subordinates.
Without a reliable way to stay in touch, coordinating between them beca nearly impossible. Like right now, for example: he had no idea if sothing had happened to Edrik, Morganna, or Mira while he was out here with Karian and Lyrassa.
He moved toward the exit, crossing the wide lobby where a fair number of Awakeners were gathered, talking in small groups or lounging by the information boards. But sothing felt off.
Why did it feel like all eyes were on him?
As they walked, Atlas finally noticed what Lyrassa was doing. She was waving at people around them and, from ti to ti, even bowing.
"What are you doing, Lyrassa?"
"Oh..." She turned to him with a soft giggle. "They were looking at , so... I’m just greeting them back?"
"They’re just glancing this way. No one’s actually talking to you."
"They... feel like they want to," Lyrassa replied. "Like they’re interested in ."
What? Atlas frowned slightly. Lyrassa always said things like this, as if she could sohow sense what others were thinking or feeling.
"Wait... can you read their minds or sothing?"
Lyrassa only smiled, offering no real answer. "Should I just ignore them then, My Lord?"
"It’s actually a little strange if you’re that friendly in return. They might get the wrong idea about you," Atlas said, lowering his voice. "Besides... you’re a bit too eye-catching for most people."
"Huh... why?" she asked, blinking in surprise.
Karian chid in with a chuckle, "They probably think you’re showing interest, Lyrassa. Don’t be surprised if one of them works up the courage to co over and ask you out."
"Oh... is that how it works?" she asked, looking genuinely puzzled. "What should I do, then?"
"Just ignore it," Atlas advised. "Act casual around strangers, especially if you don’t really know them."
"O...kay," she said cheerfully, still smiling as they stepped outside.
But as they walked further, Atlas couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling crawling up his spine. Nearly every man they passed, and more than a few won, turned their heads to look. And not subtly either. Their stares followed Lyrassa.
He glanced at her. She was dressed casually: a simple blouse and a knee-length skirt, nothing flashy. But even her naturally slow gait, more a result of her unhurried deanor, ca off as sothing graceful, like a practiced model gliding down a runway.
Should he consider getting her sothing more concealing? A full robe, maybe even a desert cloak to cover her from head to toe?
"Is it your Nature Perfu, perhaps?"
Lyrassa tilted her head, clearly confused. "What about my body scent, My Lord?"
"It’s like... having the sll of fresh food hovering under my nose," Karian muttered beside them.
"Really?" Atlas raised an eyebrow at him.
"You don’t notice it, My Lord?" Karian asked.
"No, it’s more like... sothing sweet. Calming, even," Atlas replied.
"They say everyone interprets my scent in their own unique way," Lyrassa said with a small giggle. "It’s different depending on the person."
"Really? So what does it an if I sll it that way? I just assud everyone experienced the sa thing."
"That ans you’re soone who longs for peace and serenity," she said softly. "You might even feel those things just by being near . I could help lull you to sleep, you know. Sweet dreams, restful nights. Would you be interested in that, My Lord?"
"Please don’t say things that might be... misinterpreted," Atlas said quickly.
"But I didn’t an it that way, My Lord. Shall we try it tonight?"
Cough! Karian cleared his throat, a little too loudly, clearly pretending it was just a harmless tickle.
Atlas made a quick stop at a nearby shop to pick up so snacks and drinks to bring back to the hotel for the group. Yet even the cashier couldn’t keep his eyes off Lyrassa.
"Sir, can I get my cake?"
"Oh. Yes, sorry..."
And of course, Lyrassa gave him a small wave. "Hi..." she said sweetly.
The poor guy froze, stunned into silence.
Atlas sighed and gently took her by the hand, leading her out. "Let’s go. We’ll find cake sowhere else."
After a long walk around town, hunting for fun snacks, collecting pointless but charming souvenirs, and enduring constant stares from nearly everyone they passed, all while adjusting to Lyrassa’s leisurely pace, they finally made it back to the hotel.
Atlas could only imagine the chaos if he’d brought Mira along too. That would’ve been a charm overload. Two walking distractions would’ve brought the entire city to a standstill.
He couldn’t help but laugh to himself. With both Lyrassa and Mira around, he could probably rob half the town blind. No one would even notice with all the attention those two would pull. Not that he had any intention of trying, of course... but still, the idea was amusing.
As they stepped inside, Atlas found Morganna seated in the common area, legs elegantly crossed, watching sothing on the television. Edrik stood nearby, just outside the room.
Setting the bags of snacks and fresh fruit on the dining table, Atlas caught Morganna’s attention. She glanced over.
"Morganna, co here. I’ve got so ice cream," he said with a friendly smile. "Have you ever tried sothing like this?"
Morganna looked in his direction, but as soon as she saw his smile, she quickly looked away again. Still, to his surprise, she stood and walked over.
Atlas handed her the small tub of ice cream. "Try it. This one’s magic. It can cheer anyone up after just one bite."
Morganna took it without a word, peeled back the lid, and brought a spoonful to her lips. The mont the flavor touched her tongue, her expression softened. Her eyes widened slightly, and a faint, almost a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
Atlas watched her, grinning.
Everything’s going to be better from here!
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