Chapter 15 Part3 (1/2)
<chapter 15.=”” new=”” relations.h.i.+p=”” -=”” 3=””>
[Rather than using a sound argument, you used your actions and the mood to impress others. You lied so naturally that they weren't even suspicious of you! The Acting skill has become Lv10. If you 'dress up', your acting ability increases further.]
The moment he successfully accepted Paul 47 as his subordinate, his Acting skill naturally leveled up. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo, who was neither a general or a knight of the Empire, was able to put up quite the convincing act, so it was only natural that he was able to make Paul 47, who was originally a soldier of the Empire, into his subordinate.
'Is it at the level where I can naturally fool others, even if I don't lie...!?'
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was impressed by his own accomplishment. Though it was a spur of the moment thing due to the favorable situation and mood, he was able to get a taste of a higher leveled skill due to its level up and the experience he'd gained was no joke! He felt overwhelmingly confident that he'd be able to lie his way out any situation!
”You fraud...”
”Paul Zero, you're amazing...”
Seeing that, Jin was amazed, and narrowed his eyes and muttered. However, it seemed Kratia was touched by Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's speech and Paul 47's declaration as she applauded. She may be good at magic but that's all; she was completely fooled.
”Will you be able to inherit their wills?”
[Of course, Captain!]
”Good. Bone Reinforcement!”
Paul 47 had much more backbone than Jin. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo looked back at Jin and shook his head at him, as if saying 'look at him' (Jin looked like he'd burst into tears), and repeatedly used Bone Reinforcement on Paul 47.
There were some of the bones he'd bought off Kratia mixed in; they were level 2 or 3 bones that wouldn't have much effect on him, so he'd bought them to reinforce the Pauls.
[Ugh, it feels like my body will break.]
”Go ahead, break! And then, be reborn!”
[I understand, Captain! I'll be reborn as a new Paul 47!]
[Please allow me to inherit their wills as well, Captain!]
[Me too... Please allow me to as well!]
Seeing Paul 47 being strengthened in real time, as well as inheriting the wills of the deceased knights and soldiers, the other Pauls realized that Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's words were no lie; sure enough, each of them scrambled and extended their bones forward, pestering him to reinforce them.
Originally, all the Pauls here didn't trust Lee s.h.i.+n Woo 100%, and some of the Pauls amongst them just thought of him as 'an ally and superior, but they didn't need to pledge their loyalty to him'; in other words, a 'company commander'. Though there were those that had thought of him as such, that didn't really matter anymore.
Since to them, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo was someone who loved the Empire beyond any other, and was a hero who inherited the wills of the dearly departed!
[I feel their wills living and breathing within me. I'm Paul 101; I'll protect the Empire, fight within the Empire, and die with the Empire!]
”s.h.i.+n Woo, isn't this a bit dangerous?”
Jin was frightened, seeing the Pauls absorbing several dozens of bones in place with about half of them yelling crazily, and spoke into Lee s.h.i.+n Woo's ear. Lee s.h.i.+n Woo just calmly nodded his head.
”Of course it's dangerous. They're filled with incomplete memories already and I've mixed in several dozens of foreign memories into them, so it wouldn't be strange for them to lose themselves.”
”Then why did you do it all at once...”
”Since it'll be easier to fool them then. Plus, it'd be helpful in planting a false sense of loyalty in them.”
Within their feeble minds, the Pauls anch.o.r.ed themselves onto one thing amidst the flowing memories: their hatred towards the curse that had destroyed the Empire.
Lee s.h.i.+n Woo had instigated that hatred, and was giving them cause to follow him blindly. It was fine if he erased all the unnecessary memories, so long as their combat techniques remained!
”You're a demon!”
[My name is Paul 49... Henceforth, I'll follow Captain and stake my life on reclaiming the light of the Empire!]
”What a great goal, Paul 49. Then, next! Paul 102!”
[I'm all ready!]
It seemed like a pseudo religious baptismal ceremony, and also the site of collective madness! The Pauls approached Lee s.h.i.+n Woo in order, offering their bones; about half of them kneeled before him, and while maintaining his solemn expression, Lee s.h.i.+n Woo targeted them and used Bone Reinforcement.
After going through Bone Reinforcement, the Pauls who had been slightly suspicious of Lee s.h.i.+n Woo acted as though they would stake everything for him instead, and the mood stunk of solemnity. Extremely speaking, it was like they were willing to forfeit the last remaining drumstick to him after ordering chicken!
”Are you the last one?”
[That's right, Captain. Though there aren't that many, I did kill these guys.]
”Oh...”
The last remaining Paul was Paul 41. However, the bone that it was carrying was a masterpiece. It was a level 4 Skeleton Knight's hand bone!
”You fought him one on one?”
[That's correct.]
It may seem obvious, but each of the Pauls were born in a different environment from the others and partic.i.p.ated in different experiments, so they each possessed different latent potential and starting abilities. They were all similarly level 3, but as there were some level 3s who possessed stats close to 400, there were also level 3s with stats close to 800.
If it was able to take down a level 4 Skeleton Knight, then it must be really close to an 800 stat total. Its posture was different from the other Pauls and seeing as how it waited for all the other Pauls to be reinforced before coming forward, it seemed to have a solid intellect as well.
'But what if I were to steal this bone and use it on myself?'
It definitely didn't seem like a very attractive option. The opportunity cost of using the level 4 Skeleton Knight bone was much too high, as it would just provide him with subpar stat gains and experiences compared to an elite level 4 monster. If that's the case, then... Lee s.h.i.+n Woo nodded his head and raised the hand bone, placing it atop Paul 41's forehead.
”Their wills will make you even stronger than before. Bone Reinforcement!”
[Thank you, Captain! I'll trust and follow you!]
[By consuming the Lv4 Skeleton Knight's hand bone, the Lv3 Elite Cursed Skeleton - Paul 41 is being reinforced. You have made him into your subordinate.]
But at that very moment, a blinding light surged from Paul 41's body. And simultaneously, the curse that covered his body was amplified and covered his entire body. (In the secret facility where the Paul 40 line of skeletons were born, they attempted to block the undead curse by steeping them into a curse beforehand; that curse was an 'aging' curse. Since they were skeletons, they weren't weakened by the curse.)
It was similar to when he had first awakened as an elite monster, but comparatively, it was a much more powerful outburst of energy! Lee s.h.i.+n Woo thought that perhaps... and soon had a hunch. This guy... was leveling up right now! He had completely pa.s.sed the threshold of 800 total stats!
[Your subordinate, Paul 41, has evolved into a Lv4 Elite Doom Factor. He has learned a method of releasing the curse energy surrounding him to destroy others. The day he learns to use this to its full ability will be the day he is reborn as a true disaster.]
What a cool name! It could be even cooler than a Joker Apprentice. But the moment Lee s.h.i.+n Woo writhed in jealously, his own skill underwent a trivial... no, a huge change.
[The Bone Reinforcement skill has become Lv6. You have learned how to select the best bones. When you personally defeat a monster, you can obtain two bones if you are lucky.]