While Atlas had genuinely enjoyed his time in this city, a place that truly felt like paradise for anyone with enough coin. He knew better than to grow too comfortable. Every moment here had to count.
That evening, he returned to the Awakener Association for a formal presentation, followed by interviews and selection rounds with those interested in joining him.
The event was held in a spacious chamber lined with rows of chairs, all facing a modest stage prepared for Atlas and his team.
He stood at the front, surveying the crowd. Even now, he and his subordinates wore masks to conceal their identities. That much, they couldn't compromise on.
Still, this was the moment. He had to recruit as many capable candidates as possible. People he could bring back to serve as the backbone of his new forces.
Once everyone had gathered, a final count came in: around seventy people had shown up. A respectable turnout. But no, he couldn't afford to take nearly half of them. His standards were firm, and he doubted all would meet the criteria.
He had already laid out his requirements: a minimum level of 35, and a spread of combatants, support, and workers to cover his immediate needs. Judging from the crowd, the range of experience and specialties looked promising.
With a calm breath and a confident smile, Atlas stepped to the front of the stage and began.
"Three days ago, I was just an Awakener with a rank-F spear talent," Atlas began. At that moment, the room was still filled with scattered chatter. Clearly, they weren't paying him much attention.
"My other abilities? Useless in combat. Barely scraping by with B and C ranks. I was trash. No. I was trash among the trash."
This time, the room grew quiet. Eyes locked on him. Was it curiosity? Doubt? Maybe even disdain. After all, who cared about a so-called trash Lord? They were likely here just to find work, not to hear the sob story of someone who barely scraped through awakening.
"But tonight," he pressed on, "that so-called 'trash' spear talent, rank-F? It's now rank-B. And I've awakened a new, superior rank-S talent. Those pathetic B and C skills? They've evolved into rank-A."
The change was subtle but undeniable. The crowd was listening now, and the quiet skepticism in the air began to shift.
A few people began to murmur again, some clearly wanting to speak. But Atlas raised his hand slightly, a calm yet commanding gesture that kept them quiet.
"Not only that," he said, motioning to the figures seated behind him, "I also have people I trust at my side. And yes."
He gestured to Karian, the most imposing of them all.
"You're welcome to challenge K, the Dragon Warrior, one-on-one. Any of you. He won't even break a sweat."
He looked back out at the crowd.
"All of this. In just three days."
A pause. Just long enough for the weight of it to settle in the room.
"I'm confident I can lead my island to greatness. And if anyone here doubts that..." His voice sharpened. "...you're free to challenge my words."
Hands shot up across the room. One, two, ten, twenty... until nearly everyone had their hand raised. But they weren't volunteering. Not yet. They were eager to challenge Atlas, to tear apart what they saw as a delusional claim.
One man stood abruptly. "That's ridiculous! Who the hell would believe that nonsense? No one accomplishes that in three days. Either you're a liar, or you're here to exploit us."
Atlas offered a thin, unreadable smile. He remained perfectly still.
"If you can recruit powerful subordinates so easily," someone else called out, "why bother recruiting us?"
"And where exactly did you come from? You don't look like you belong in this region."
"A Lord with just one combat talent? Pathetic."
"Talk is cheap. If you want us to believe you, then prove it. Show us your power."
"Yeah, let's see it, right here, right now!"
Atlas finally spoke again once the barrage of questions and criticism had died down.
"To build a great island, I need a variety of talents," he said. "And I'm starting with those who are willing to join me at this early stage. Those who will grow alongside the island and reap the greatest rewards as it rises."
He continued without hesitation, "Where I come from isn't what matters. Lords aren't tied to Unions or strictly bound to the lower lands."
Then, stepping down from the stage, Atlas walked toward them with steady, confident strides.
"Power is power," he said. "If you have access to it, no matter the method. That's a victory. And in the world of Lords, victory is all that matters."
In his hand, he held a single ticket. One he had prepared in advance, ensuring this pull would be a guaranteed Rank-A at the very least.
With a slight smile, he flicked the ticket into the air.
"What's he doing?" some of them whispered.
"Is that a high-grade item from one of his supporters?"
The ticket floated midair, completely still. The tension in the room thickened. For a moment, it seemed as if nothing would happen.
Then, without warning, it split apart! Sliced by unseen blades. Once. Twice. Again and again, until it dissolved into glowing fragments that scattered across the floor like stardust.
From the remnants, a radiant magic circle erupted, spinning with arcane energy. Inside it, a shadowed figure began to emerge.
What is that?
Suddenly, the shadow fragmented. Splitting into a dozen blurry shapes that shot across the room like spirits. The crowd gasped.
"Watch out! Incoming attack!" someone shouted.
One of the figures rushed toward a group of onlookers with blinding speed. They barely had time to brace. Arms rose instinctively.
But just before impact... the shadow vanished.
One by one, each doppelganger dissolved into mist. Until only a single form remained, standing quietly before Atlas.
The remaining shadow fell away, revealing the true figure: a beastkin.
An elder, it seemed. A rat, cloaked in aged gray fur. An eyepatch covered his right eye. He wore a traditional ninja's attire, sleek and reinforced with layered armor.
The beastkin lowered himself, kneeling in a deep, composed bow.
"My Lord," he said with a calm, steady voice, "I am Kurogasa, the Shadowed Fang. From this day forward, my life, my skill, and my shadows are yours to command."
[You have received Rank-A Character: Kurogasa – The Shadowed Fang]