It was usual morning at Michael's bookstore.
Ross was attending customers at ground floor as usual and trio discussing in break room over some tea.
It was five days passed since Lawrence last meeting to third NPC.
He was recovering at home all these time. Main reason for it was his stunt with poison which almost drain all his energy.
Lawrence try and test different methods for confirming his healing talent so he is no indifferent to poisons and venoms but that day he overexert himself with such high concentration poison so naturally he was very weak after that.
He stop the conversation now and leave with Ross. Today was date he promised last time.
"Ross after today's one cancel all future dates from those women also don't give my contact info any new woman." He order the butler.
"Okay sir but what excuse I give those ladies also is there any special reason behind sudden order?" Ross asked eyes full of curiosity.
"Well you know my hunter thing right? Our last visit to slumps related it also what I observed is all those womens have ulterior motives for me. As for excuse, tell business needs my undivided attention now so my schedule is almost full with no spare time."
Lawrence explain him in simplified version and attend today's date.
As he expected, this woman also just want to make contact with him for getting good light of her father.
While he maintained his signature smile and poker face but internally he was tired from date.
As date ends he leaves the restaurant immediately. Maybe because of pride or high self esteem he was furious over that lady.
'She was neither that much beautiful or smart, sensible still trying play with me. I will remember you.' He curse that woman in his head.
"Calm down it's not time for such trivial things. Just few more days remaining so be focus." He spoke to himself trying calm his nerves and clear his head
Days pass just like that and Lawrence awakening day finally hit. While he deliberately keep himself free of any meetings, dates and other things but his time still not got free from different theories and plans he was making after introduction more knowledge.
At downtown, it was average wednesday morning. Two persons standing outside of old government building of block. Locals themselves don't know much about building other than it was related to hunter's support or something.
Building was standout because it's looks of dire restoration and no signs of human activity or whatsoever from outside.
While there are many other government building related to hunter in downtown and uptown but no one near strange and eerie like this building.
Lawrence look upward at half broken sign board.
'Hunter Support Centre'
"Don't judge too hard from building's state. They are not your proper awakening centres run by government and guilds that you finds all over city. This much of old school auxiliary centre for providing mainly support and assistant for hunters." Man spoke with indifferent face.
"How many these centres are still active?" He questioned man, he had quite serious, stoic expressions rather than usual playful one.
"Under dozen or so. Their jobs pretty much taken by mainly guilds and other government departments. These centre nothing more than relics of past now. Inside the building follow my orders and don't try to play around." Man instruct him and he just nodded slightly.
Man now wears a black jacket and instruct Lawrence to follow him.
Duo entered the building and man head straight to first floor. Lawrence following him quitely and try to remember this place from his memories.
Because this support centre's only significance for players awakening and registration. Game leave pretty much unexplained their relation with man and information about NPCs work here.
This is reason why he take such all around route similar to game. Too little information and uncountable variables a very bad combo for any his plan for workout. Even with his current connections of upper echelon all he find out that these centres are more of sort punishment and abandoning for rebellious, rigid public employees.
Both of them now reached at first floor and greeted by sight of tirelessly working employees. Ground floor give vibe of lobby but didn't encounter anyone till now.
There more than twenty people working on this floor. Most of them are of middle age with suffering from overwork, exhaustion, sleep deprivation.
Man stopped by one of desk and start talking to lady who is working there. While they were talking Lawrence observing other employees.
He got little sad seeing them working to their bones. He was also slave to system like them hanging by his paycheck to paycheck.
Suddenly he was call by man, person he was talking to now looking at him. She gesture her hand forward for handshake.
Appearance wise this lady, nothing distinctive or anything but simple oval face, short black hair compliment with dark brown eyes. She is prime example simple yet beautiful.
Though there are effects of time can see through her some grey hair and wrinkles but even they can't fade her charming beauty.
"Nice to meet you. My name is Mary." She spoke with short greeting.
"Thank you for having me. My name is Lawrence Medici." He replied and continue his handshake with Mary.
After hearing his name Mary look at him awe. It not just her but rest of people ignore them till now stop their work and focus their gazes on him.
They were curious because he had a full name but today was not time these things. He swiftly put his PTD from pocket and give his basic information to Mary.
Man beside him also remain indifferent maybe he is curious for result or that monster core.
Mary regain her composure and guide duo to follow her to the underground floor. Awakening sphere required controlled environment of mana photons so most of awakening spheres stored underground facilities.
Lawrence observed there was not much of talk or anything between man and Mary so he can't find dynamics of them. Also Mary is head of this centre and employees he seen before were all total staff they had.
'Vroosh!'
They were at underground level, Mary open a large metallic door after entering code. Door open and spine chilling cold escape the room.
"You understand the basic rules right? In three minutes we will get results. Not always but you may experience headache, nausea. If first try failed, you can still try one more times."
Mary explain him rules and other things with professionalism before entering room.
In summary, because of outdated tech and maintainance issues they can't spend more than ten minutes in awakening room. So after his awakening he needs to leave room immediately.
Now as they enter the room Lawrence eyes fixed blue sphere at centre of room. Lawrence goes to sphere and stand front of it.
Mary and man stand at control panel at corner of room. She start pressing different buttons and calibrate the sphere.
"Put your hands on sphere." She spoke him.
Lawrence take a deep breaths and remember all hard work, preparation he was doing till now. He put his hands on sphere.
Unlike coldness of room sphere full of warmth. Seconds pass and nothing happens but at next moment like nail hitting his head it start throbbing in pain. Following head his whole body begins trembling in pain.
It was not just painful but also brutal. Not even when he was transmigrated or dying from poison feel this much painful.
'Aaahh!'
Room filled with his screams and heavy breathing.
(Mary's POV)
"He definitely get response by sphere but why results taking so much? And how bad pain he is experiencing for screaming like that?"
Mary question man with extreme urgency.
" It high level talent so naturally it takes time. As for pain, it is fucking hell. His body is being torn part and restructured." Man replied with grin.
"Restructuring?? just how high his talent to undergo early body restructuring. Where hell did such kid?" Mary all earlier professionalism was gone and replace with disbelief and astonishment.
"I didn't found this fucker, he come to me." Man stated proudly and Mary look at him blankly.
Body restructuring generally hunters experience after reaching particular point but few individuals experience it their awakening. These people are gifted geniuses who has heaven defying talent. Such person came looking for him.
Mary feel his lie most absurd thing she heard in her life.
" His survival instincts worser than of cockroach." Moment man spoke all indicators became red on Mary's control panel.
Because of outdated tech and Lawrence body restructuring which cause to recalibrate sphere which increases flow of mana photons in his body.
Mary trying her best to fixed calibration but man unfazed by her worries smiling creepily.
(Lawrence's POV)
Suddenly his pain increase by thousandfolds but like how it was started, very next moment his pain, trembling all stop.
All he can feel was something blocking him very long was removed. Unknown memories start surging in mind but before he recollect them, understand them he was greeted by etheral voice. He can't distinguish whether it was man's or woman's voice nor it is even adult or child.
[
[ Please think or say 'Status' to check stats and skills.]
Lawrence follow the instruction and think of status and start checking panel front of him.
Status
Name : Lawrence Medic
Title : Merchant by blood (common), Wolf in sheep's clothing or perhaps monster (uncommon)
Class : Master trader (Rank : AA+)
Level : 0
Race : Human
Physique : None
Bloodline : None
Class Compatibility : 100%
Stats :
Strength : 125
Endurance : 160
Agility : 128
Intelligence : 135
Vitality : 124
Mana : 130
Class Skills :
Art of negotiation Level 1 (A), Art of conversation Level 1 (AAA), Regeneration Level 1 (A-)
Other skills :
Master level sword mastery(AAA+), Master level blade mastery (AAA+), Master level modern weapons mastery (AAA+), Master level various close combat techniques mastery (AAA), Master level wilderness survival mastery (AAA), Master level tracking mastery (AA+), Master level human anatomy mastery (AA), Adavance level medical mastery (CCC+), Advance level technician mastery (CCC+), Advance level explosives and trap mastery (CCC).
He start reading his status and trying understand things but halted by Mary who signing him to leave the room.
"I liked to apologise for miscalibration during awakening." Mary bow to him and apologise sincerely. She thinks it's her mistake for not double checking all safety programs properly.
"You don't need bow. You did it your part but that thing even anyone else can't predict of. Moreover your senior than me, please don't show this much courtesy." He speaks hurriedly with awkwardness.
His mind filled with only awakening before so didn't give much thought but now Mary's overly formal behaviour truly give him embarrassment.
" Kid let us see your status." Man poke in their conversation.
"Look like someone can't wait for their payment."he spoke with grin and place his hand on tabloid Mary was carrying.
Two minutes pass but shock expressions still can't fade from Mary's face.
"Why you more than 120 in all stats? It was more than enough for first adavancement also your endurance is 160???" She question him as she seen a ghost.
Reason for such professional lady's bewildered expressions was normal people generally have 5 to 8 in all stats and just awakened person have anywhere between 10 to 20 in all stats. Each level up grant 5 stats increase in each stat.
This person in front of her get more than 20 level up worth of stats at awakening.
"Illogical! Completely illogical -
" First adavancement?what is it? Do you difference between awakeners and hunters?" He throws bait to her and try to catch more information she spill.
Upon hearing his question Mary's face became pale and she realised what had she had done but before she tries to salvage the situation man interrupt the Lawrence.
"Mary look at his other skills, your answer is there. Fucker already got two titles. Both of them suits your nasty personality." He speaks with annoyed face.
Lawrence clearly understand man's interruption means so he didn't press further on Mary.
"What the fuck?? seven master level masteries and three advanced one. Moreover all of at perfection or near perfection. Who you are heir of some top guild or something?" Mary shocked, annoyed and questioning her life choices but she didn't stop.
"You got two titles also, first one merchant by blood (common): Business runs through your very blood. Possess naturally high business acumen. And second title, wolf in sheep's clothing or perhaps monster (uncommon): People easily fooled by your youthful, naive apperance and can't see through what kind of monster hidden underneath. All you need some sharp metal pieces, electronic and ofcourse little explosives for mass genocides. Effect: Easily blend in group and increase stealth. Decrease chances of getting caught during stealth."
She read out loud description of both titles. First title she read without any difficulty but reading second one she look at him pale face.
Like all her colours are gone and someone pour bucket of cold water on her. Reaction was far worser than he bait her before.
All innocent, charming smile of Lawrence now look like psychopath locking his target to her.
"Pretty good titles aren't they?" Man enjoying the situation question him smirk face.
"Ya, they're are good titles. Can we leave this place now? Even with regeneration I am still tired so can we?" He asked politely to Mary which cause her to snaps out from her imagination.