Rise Of The Hoarder

"Come in."r

This would be my first time hearing the camp leader speak up close, and so far I wasn't all that impressed.r

Theodore opened the door, leading me in while waiting behind as he shut the door. Of course, I quickly scanned the office, taking note of the neat order in which it was kept.r

While it wasn't as impressive as a high-class place, the chairs and tables were arranged properly. The floor was neat, and I could tell from the ambiance that it was well-maintained.r

My eyes went to the leader, a middle-aged person in his late thirties or so, having a dignified and refreshing look. Of course, his serious demeanor also did him justice as a boss.r

Beside him was the woman Lily had told me was his assistant. She had a difficult face to read, so I didn't bother.r

"Welcome, Jeremy. I've been expecting you." The man said, giving me a mature smile.r

I nodded, staring blankly. There was no need to act so buddy-buddy with him.r

Seeing as this was going to be my play, Charles, as he was called, decided to change his play.r

"You may leave." He told Theodore, who patiently waited by the door.r

"O-okay."r

He left the office, looking a little disappointed. Perhaps he thought he would be compensated for the little errand he ran by fetching me. r

"Now then… I'll get down to it. Who… are you?!" Charles asked, eyeing me suspiciously.r

His eyes suddenly changed, same as his expression. They turned dark and untrusting.r

'Looks like this is it. I didn't expect it to happen this fast…'r

A smile formed on my face as I returned his glare with my own depraved grin. The moment I did this, his assistant dashed from her location at a terrifying speed. r

Even at my level, it was quite impressive to watch a human move so fast.r

I quickly dodged her first attempt to catch me, leaping a few meters away.r

"You're not getting away!" She yelled, instantly rushing to me at a faster pace.r

My eyes bulged in excitement at my first scene of action in quite a while. I was already beginning to get bored.r

The woman launched her fist at me, causing me to instinctively raise my hands to block it… an error in retrospect.r

>CRACK<r

I felt my bones crack in an instant as her blow impacted me.r

"arrrghh!!!" I let out, quickly escaping her range.r

'What's the meaning of this?!' My mind rang.r

I was surprised, to say the least.r

'There should be no one even close to my level here!'r

Fortunately, I only suffered an injury on one of my hands, but the situation was not as I had expected at all. I knew they were dangerous, but not to this level!r

"I'll ask you one more time… who are you?!" Charles said, still seated behind his desk as he glared at me.r

'Ah, I see how it works now… He's the brain, and she's the muscle.' I grinned.r

"Come on, you should know that already." I smiled, shrugging off the pain I felt.r

Compared to the others I had suffered, this was nothing. Plus, with my level already so high, such an amount of pain meant very little to me.r

"Oh? So you know already… of my abilities?" Charles grinned.r

I returned his gesture, refusing to say any more than I already had. Using the opportunity, I glanced at both of them and saw what I needed to know. r

'Just as I thought. It has to be-'r

"Well, it doesn't matter. When we capture you, you'll talk eventually!" Charles said, snapping me out of my thoughts.r

Taking this as her cue, the woman jumped in to assault me once again, but I wasn't going to accept being injured another time.r

"[Subspace]… <Summon>"r

In a flash, several of my Core 2 daggers appeared, all at locations I had designated, piercing the woman in various parts of her body.r

"Guarkkkk!!!" She yelled in pain, completely immobilized due to me striking all her major areas of movement.r

Blood splurged from her body, and in a second, she fell to the ground in a thud, making pained sounds. However, I wasn't done with her yet.r

Summoning an extra dagger in my hand, I pierced her back with it, causing her to scream in greater pain.r

"Ah, too loud!" I groaned, feeling the unpleasant sound of the agonizing woman disturb my ears.r

Using my palm, while also controlling my strength, I slapped her on her face.r

"Urkkk!" She finally gave one final sound before passing out.r

'If I didn't control that, I would have snapped her neck.' I reasoned, turning my face to the mastermind behind this whole thing.r

"N-no way…." Charles let out, trembling as he watched his assistant drown in her pool of blood.r

He must have been very confident that she would win and capture me. That was why he made such arrogant statements while seating on his chair. r

While I understood his actions, seeing that I was an enemy with suspicious intent, I still couldn't forgive his actions against me.r

After all, he had dared to look down on me, someone who has suffered through real death situations, while he merely sat on his seat acting high and mighty.r

"You must have felt good about yourself, seeing as you have such a reliable partner and lucky-ass Gifts." I grinned.r

His lips quivered as I approached him, staying silent as though he was mute. Other than the shrieks he made at intervals, Charles couldn't let out a word.r

"… You've sure had your fun, playing captain in a sinking ship, being called leader and respected by everyone around you. It must have felt nice being at the top of the food chain here… but, that all ends now." I smiled, moving closer to him.r

"Y-you… I-I…" His tiny voice squeaked.r

I banged my hand on his desk, sending him once again into silence.r

Beads of sweat formed on his face as I drew my face closer to his. My mouth finally reached his ear and I whispered the most frightening words for someone like him.r

"Now that I'm here, your little act is over. I'm taking over!"r