Chapter 253 Chapter252-Captain John
The war room, usually bustling with activity, plunged into an eerie silence.
Even Duke Dinan, the empire's Prime Minister, known for his unflappable demeanor, found himself stunned into stillness.
In the world of Godslayer, power was the true ruler.
Those in high positions were usually of high levels, but even Duke Dinan, the second most powerful figure in the Northern Myst Empire, was just Level 480, still a ways off from becoming a demigod.
In the entire Northern Myst Empire, save for a few reclusive and mysterious old monsters, only one individual was widely acknowledged to have attained the level of demigod—the Emperor of the Northern Myst Empire himself.
Duke Dinan silently observed John, his eyes shimmering with an inexplicable light.
He'd known beforehand that John was a formidable force; after all, this was the man who had banished the Desire Devil Mammon back to the abyss.
When they had first met, he also found he couldn't determine John's actual level.
But he hadn't dared to guess that the young man had actually reached the status of a demigod.
How could this be?
The man was so young, radiating a youthful exuberance.
Even if he'd started his training in his mother's womb, it seemed inconceivable that he'd have reached demigod status so soon.
Duke Dinan screamed inwardly, though his exterior remained impassive.
"You... you're actually a demigod?"
It was Saphir, the one most familiar with John, who first broke the silence.
She stood up abruptly, her face filled with astonishment.
The others, startled by Saphir's exclamation, all turned their incredulous eyes toward John.
Seeing John nod with a smile, Saphir plopped back into her chair, moaning, "Oh, my God... If I had known you were this high-level, why did I bother with all those complications? I could've just dragged you directly to AGHHO headquarters and settled it."
Hearing Saphir's outburst, Duke Dinan cleared his throat softly and spoke with measured detachment.
"Saphir, the most pressing matter at hand is dealing with the devil invasion. Your personal vendettas can wait until this crisis is resolved. Let's not allow personal matters to compromise the greater good."
John blinked, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
It was evident that Saphir's story was well-known among the Imperial Capital's elite.
At least, everyone in the war room seemed fully aware of her vendetta.
Saphir wore a sullen expression, unable to refute Duke Dinan's admonishment.
After all, he was a man of principle, aware that in times like these, the interests of the empire must override any personal concerns.
Aside from Saphir, all eyes were now fixed on John, each expression betraying a different sentiment.
Some were filled with reverence, others showed disdain, and yet others bore a hint of ambiguity.
Yes, the one with the ambiguous look was none other than the irresistibly seductive Lady Luxuria.
Her eyes danced with a sort of predatory allure, as if she wished to devour John whole.
He was a true demigod-level powerhouse, one among a very select few in all of Godslayer Continent.
Lady Luxuria, a high-level Enchantress by vocation—a supportive class with no combat abilities—was born and raised to be a plaything for the elite.
Although she had managed to escape the clutches of those who sought to manipulate her destiny, seizing control of her own fate, her road had not been easy.
A woman as beautiful as she, born into the Enchantress class—a class naturally skilled at driving men mad—how incredibly difficult must it be for her to assert her independence in a world like this?
Over the years, Lady Luxuria had carved out a certain reputation for herself in the ancient and illustrious capital city, though primarily through the leverage of others.
She had always sought a perfect pillar of strength upon which to anchor her life—yet that pillar remained elusive.
Now, she was confronted with John, a young man of formidable prowess.
Though his face was concealed behind a grotesque mask, the clarity of his eyes alone attested to a handsome visage.
Could Lady Luxuria be unmoved?
Yet, despite her multiple attempts at casting beguiling glances his way, John remained aloof, as though oblivious to her.
This left Lady Luxuria flush with embarrassment—like batting her eyelashes at a blind man.
John had, of course, noticed Lady Luxuria's advances, but his lack of response was born out of intense caution.
The Enchantress class had always been synonymous with cunning schemes.
Although John couldn't pinpoint her exact relationship with the Northern Myst Empire's royalty, his earlier encounter with a bevy of equally stunning Enchantresses at Silverglow's Silver Manor had left a lasting impression.
He didn't have to ponder long to know there was likely a deep connection.
A class long considered extinct couldn't suddenly appear en masse without reason.
For all he knew, those attendants at Silver Manor could have been groomed by the enchanting Lady Luxuria herself for the imperial family.
"According to our traditions, strength dictates hierarchy. Since Mr. Galewind is the highest-leveled among us, it stands to reason that he should lead this elite squad," Duke Dinan lightly clapped his hands, setting the matter in stone with a veneer of levity.
No one in the room offered a counterargument.
Clearly, they were accustomed to this meritocratic mode of establishing rank, with power as its ultimate arbiter.
[System Notification: You have been appointed as the leader of the elite Devil-hunting squad...]
John lightly furrowed his brows and shook his head. "Prime Minister, I fear I lack the depth of knowledge and experience to assume such a vital role. I'm more accustomed to a freewheeling life and am unprepared to shoulder such grave responsibilities."
Duke Dinan's expression shifted, intrigued.
He never anticipated anyone could be so indifferent to the lures of power and prestige, especially when a lofty position was laid out before them like an offering.
The role of squad leader was no trivial designation.
The composition of its members alone spoke volumes.
This elite unit was a microcosm of the Northern Myst Empire's multifaceted powers—royalty, nobility, the church, and the military were all represented by renowned figures.
Securing their loyalty was tantamount to gaining endorsement from the Empire's major factions, paving a path to an unclouded future.
Duke Dinan couldn't believe that the young man before him, known as Galewind, failed to see this.
Yet Galewind had rejected the role unequivocally, an act that puzzled the Duke deeply.
After a moment's silence, Duke Dinan chuckled softly. "Mr. Galewind, don't be too hasty in refusing. If there are concerns, feel free to address them with me directly. Given the diverse backgrounds of your prospective team members, it will take someone of your caliber to unify them."
"The adversary you're up against is a Devil from the abyss, a being comparable to a deity. You'll need to collaborate wholeheartedly to combat such a monstrosity... If you decline the leadership role, entrusting it to any other member may cause division within the squad."
"Then, do you think you'll still possess the strength to defeat the Devil?"
Duke Dinan's earnest entreaty furrowed John's brows even further.
However, John did not immediately relent; instead, he sank into thoughtful contemplation.
Duke Dinan chuckled lightly, "Very well, Mr. Galewind. Feel free to share your thoughts."
After a pause, John spoke nonchalantly, "I'm not opposed to assuming the role of squad leader, but as I mentioned earlier, I'm a free spirit, ill-suited for the day-to-day duties of leadership. I will handle combat alone."
"Coordinate and train amongst yourselves, appoint a deputy to manage it. When a Devil is located, just summon me. Furthermore, I have my own affairs to attend to; aside from combat, nothing else should disturb me."
This was John's carefully considered compromise.
After all, as a player, he could not invest all his time and energy into Devil-hunting in the same way these NPC elites did.
The expression of the room twisted once again.
This man truly was unexpectedly nonchalant.
To dare to make such audacious demands to Duke Dinan, a man of meticulous ways and considerable influence, was unprecedented.
Yet, to everyone's astonishment, Duke Dinan contemplated briefly and quickly agreed to John's terms.
The assembled elites were now picking up their jaws from the floor.
John nodded satisfactorily, only to find his companions Blue Sea and Adam staring blankly, as if still shell-shocked.
Hadn't introductions been completed?
Though there were complaints about their low levels, no one questioned their presence since they arrived with John.
Why did they seem so flabbergasted?
It dawned on John that they were likely stunned by his refusal to lead.
Had either of them been given such an opportunity to rise swiftly through the ranks of the Northern Myst Empire, they would have eagerly accepted.
...
Subsequently, Duke Dinan methodically ironed out the logistics for the formation of the elite squad.
There was no denying his exceptional capability.
Each member, under his meticulous arrangement, found their roles and responsibilities clearly defined.
He even designated a specific location for the squad's training and accommodations.
Everything was prepared, save for the yet-to-be-located Devil.
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