Second World

Jack stopped using his remaining ruling powers after the Mass Drill. In the past, he couldn't utilize his sovereign powers that assisted wartime. Now that he had this remote monarch system, he could. Two powers were useful to have during wars. These powers were War Rally and War March.

War Rally increased all soldiers' attributes for one day, while War March increased all soldiers' marching speed for three days. War Rally cost 20 ruling powers and War March cost 10 ruling powers.

He saved the remaining 35 ruling powers for these two sovereign powers.

Finally done with the task, Jack went to check the recruits.

"Moment of truth," John stated.

"Do you think there is another eternal-grade recruit again?" Jack asked. He had summoned his Runestone of Luck when he used the Call to Arms.

"You are one click away from finding out, aren't you?" John returned.

"That's right. Why do I ask you? Of course, there is!" Jack exclaimed with confidence. He opened the recruit list and scrolled to the top. Up there, he found… no eternal-grade recruit.

"Well, that's a letdown," John said.

"Do you people think the eternal grade is so easy to pop out?" Peniel chided. "Even with all the boosts you have, you just happened to be extremely lucky for getting Elayne the last time. Don't expect to get another eternal grade anytime soon. In fact, don't expect to get another one, ever! If somehow it happens again, consider it a miracle."

"Wow, that is such a demoralizing speech, lady," Jack said.

"Hmph. I'm just stating the fact," Peniel harrumphed.

"You got two mythical grades, though," John said.

"Yeah, better than nothing," Jack said.

Peniel felt like slapping Jack. Other countries would have jumped for joy for getting even one mythical-grade recruit. This buffoon said it like he had just lost a gamble.

"Hm… Let's see which one I should recruit for my eleventh royal agent," Jack said while comparing the stats of the two mythical-grade recruits.

"Neither," John said. "I didn't mention this because I thought you would be getting another eternal-grade recruit. Since you don't, you can leave those two recruits to train normally with the other soldiers. I have a better candidate for your new royal agent."

"You have?" Jack turned to John with surprise.

John called one of the soldiers guarding outside. "Go and call Hatori," he said to that guard.

"Hatori?" Jack asked.

"Remember Hashi?" John asked in return.

"The top assassin from the Assassins Guild?"

John nodded. "He was looking for you the next day after he and the others gave you their factions' blessings. He didn't know you left for another country immediately after their blessings."

"Why is he looking for me?"

"He wanted to ask Themisphere to accept one of his faction members into our army," John said. "Well, ex-faction member, to be precise."

"I assume this is that Hatori guy," Jack said. "Why?"

"Hashi's story is that Hatori had made a mistake and offended the faction. Sort of like what Oswald did. In his case, he went to assassinate someone the faction had warned him not to touch. Apparently, Hatori had bad blood with this person for hurting someone dear to him. The faction was supposed to punish Hatori for his transgression with something they called an endless assassination punishment."

"What the heck kind of punishment is that?" Jack asked.

"It's as the name suggests. They put a price on his head and every assassin in the faction will go for his life."

"Damn, isn't that a death sentence? Hey… why does that sentence sound very much like that old movie?"

"What movie?" John asked.

"That movie. The one that has your name in its title," Jack laughed.

"You and your movie reference," John shook his head. "Anyway, Hatori happened to be someone close to Hashi. Hashi even called Hatori a brother, which I know is not literal because the two of them is of different race. Hashi managed to persuade his elders to let Hatori go. Because the elders didn't want to offend Hashi, they yielded to his demand. Hatori was pardoned but he was chased out of the faction."

"Then it's a happy ending. Why does Hashi come to ask us to accept Hatori into Themisphere's service?" Jack asked.

"Because Hashi didn't believe the elders would just let this matter go. They might have yielded on the surface, but Hashi worried they might still do something behind the curtain. If Hatori joined another powerful faction, that might discourage the elders from taking action for fear of offending that faction."

"I see," Jack said.

"Hashi happened to get to know you after that incident with Janus, and Hatori is a human. Hence, he saw Themisphere kingdom as the right place to shelter Hatori."

"Is he strong?" Jack asked.

"He is a level 83 mythical grade," John answered. "Hashi stated that Hatori was the second-best assassin in his faction."

"I see." Jack understood now why John told him to not choose between the two recruits. It would take time to develop them. It was better to choose a high-level mythical-grade combatant if one was available."

"I must warn you, though," John said. "The guy is less… manageable. I placed him as the lowest rank after accepting him into our army, and he didn't mask his dissatisfaction to me."

"It's better that than he hides his dissatisfaction and stabs you in your back," Jack remarked.

"Hm… Well, then I can't see him as a good assassin because of that," John said.

"You want him to stab you in your back?" Jack asked.

The conversation was cut when the door was opened and someone with a body-tight black suit walked in. Each of this person's steps or movements didn't produce any sound in the slightest.

'Wow, classic ninja attire. He just lacks a ninja mask,' Jack said in his mind.

Hatori appeared to be in his thirties. He had a serious face that expressed a no-nonsense attitude. He knew he was in the presence of the king. He gave Jack a bow.

"Hatori, is it?" Jack started the conversation. "I will cut to the chase. I heard that you are strong and you don't like your current station. I need a royal agent. Are you willing to be one?"

It took Hatori a few seconds before he replied. "I heard from Hashi that Your Majesty can do a perfect mana concealment?"

"I can," Jack didn't try to be humble.

"Show me," Hatori said.