Arjun slowly lowered his gaze to the hand gripping his wrist.
"Let go," he said calmly.
The middle-aged man immediately released him. Up close, Arjun noticed something different about him. Despite the worn clothes and tired face, his posture wasn't that of a laborer. His eyes were sharp—calculating. Intelligent.
"Why," Arjun asked evenly, "should I help you?"
The man straightened slightly. "Because I'm not just some beggar. I'm a scientist. I was a senior research analyst before all this happened. I'm from Tamil Nadu… same as you."
Arjun's expression shifted for a fraction of a second—almost imperceptibly.
The man noticed and quickly continued. "We're both outlanders. We understand each other. We should support one another in this foreign system."
"Scientist?" Arjun repeated flatly. "In what field?"
"Energy systems. Applied physics. I worked on advanced material research." His voice steadied as he spoke about his past. "I may not look like much right now, but outside the Tower, I led projects worth crores."
Arjun crossed his arms. "And that helps me how?"
The scientist swallowed but pressed on. "I was wealthy. I still am—if the old world remains. If we return, I'll give you fifty percent of my assets. Properties. Investments. Everything."
Arjun stared at him for a long moment.
Then he gave a short, humorless laugh.
"Why should I believe you're wealthy?"
"I can prove it once we return—"
"That's the problem," Arjun cut in smoothly. "You're speaking about 'once we return.'"
The scientist faltered.
Arjun gestured toward the Town Hall. "This world runs on Tower gold. On levels. On fragments and skills. Not bank balances."
He stepped closer, voice lowering slightly.
"Even if Earth still exists… do you really think currency will hold the same value after global integration into the Tower?"
The scientist's confident posture wavered.
Arjun continued, calm and precise. "Economies collapse when power structures change. Right now, power belongs to those who climb."
The two people behind the scientist shifted nervously.
"So," Arjun finished, eyes sharp, "offer me something that has value."
The man clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles turned white.
"…Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "If you support me, I'll work for you."
Arjun blinked.
For a split second, genuine surprise flashed across his face.
Then—
"HAHAHAHAHA!"
His laughter rang out across the Town Hall steps.
It wasn't warm.
It wasn't amused.
It was sharp. Mocking.
A few nearby adventurers turned to glance at them.
The scientist's jaw tightened. He understood exactly why Arjun was laughing.
After a few seconds, Arjun wiped the corner of his eye, still chuckling faintly.
"You'll work for me?" he repeated. "That's your grand offer?"
He straightened, expression cooling.
"You said you're an energy-related scientist."
"Yes," the man replied stiffly.
Arjun gestured around them. "The world has changed. The dominant energy now is mana."
He tapped his own chest lightly.
"By getting stronger, humans can control mana directly. Enhance their bodies. Strengthen weapons. Cast skills."
His gaze sharpened.
"No machines needed. No reactors are used. No external systems required."
He stepped closer.
"So tell me… what use are you?"
The words hit harder than any insult.
The man's breathing grew uneven.
"…I know," he muttered bitterly.
Arjun paused.
"My boss said the same thing," the scientist continued, eyes dark. "Before we were separated during domain assignment. He said once he leaves the Tower… he'll fire me."
Arjun frowned slightly. "Your boss is here?"
The man nodded. "Yes. He adapted quickly. Awakened a combat-related talent. Gained levels fast." His lips trembled faintly—not from fear, but humiliation. "He told me research minds are useless here. That brute strength matters more."
A heavy silence fell between them.
Arjun studied him carefully now—not as a beggar, but as a discarded tool.
"You believed him?" Arjun asked quietly.
The scientist hesitated.
"…I don't know anymore."
Arjun folded his arms.
Mana can replace electricity.
Strength dictated hierarchy.
But systems—no matter how mystical—still followed rules.
And rules could be studied.
His eyes narrowed slightly in thought.
After a long moment, he spoke.
He said it slowly, almost instinctively.
"Energy can neither be created nor destroyed."
The scientist blinked.
"That's… basic law," he replied cautiously. "The law of conservation of energy. Everyone knows that."
Arjun gave a small nod. "Exactly."
The man frowned slightly, unsure where this was going.
"But," Arjun continued, "energy can be converted."
The scientist's expression sharpened.
"In this world," Arjun said, raising his palm slightly as faint mana shimmered around his fingers, "mana is converted into fire when someone casts fire magic."
He closed his fist and the glow faded.
"It's converted into kinetic force when someone enhances their strength."
He mimicked a punching motion carefully, wincing slightly from his wounds.
"It becomes wind when someone uses wind blades."
"Lightning when it's discharged as electrical magic."
"Ice when thermal energy is drained and crystallized."
"Even healing—mana is converted into accelerated cellular regeneration."
The scientist nodded slowly, his breathing becoming more focused.
Arjun stepped closer, lowering his voice.
"So mana is a base energy form in this system. A convertible medium."
The man swallowed.
"Yes… that would be consistent."
"Then," Arjun said calmly, "if mana can convert into other forms of energy…"
He paused deliberately.
"…other forms of energy should theoretically be convertible into mana."
The words hung in the air like a silent explosion.
The scientist froze.
His dull, defeated eyes suddenly widened.
"Wait," he whispered.
Arjun didn't interrupt.
The man's breathing quickened as thoughts began racing behind his gaze.
"If conversion works bidirectionally… then kinetic energy… thermal energy… even electrical discharge…" he muttered.
He grabbed his own head as if trying to contain the flood of ideas.
"Mechanical systems that harvest motion… heat differentials… chemical reactions…" His voice trembled—not with fear, but excitement. "If properly interfaced with mana resonance…"
Arjun watched quietly.
The defeated beggar was gone.
In his place stood a researcher again.
"Artificial mana generation," the scientist whispered.
"Or amplification," Arjun corrected calmly. "Even partial conversion would be revolutionary."
The man looked up at him as if seeing him for the first time.
"You're saying… I'm not useless."
Arjun's expression remained unreadable.
"I'm saying," he replied evenly, "that brute strength dominates now because no one is thinking."
He glanced toward the Town Hall.
"In a system built on energy… an energy scientist might be more dangerous than a swordsman."
The scientist's dull eyes now burned with possibility.
Ideas were forming.
Calculations.
Theories.
For the first time since entering the Tower—
He was no longer begging.
He was thinking.