Yes, the thought echoed, firm and resolute in the sudden, charged silence of the study. Absolutely yes.
As the mental command solidified, the azure screen flickered, the previous prompt dissolving and reforming into a sleek, primary interface. It hung there, projected onto the air itself, sharply defined yet completely invisible to anyone but him.
[SYNKAR CORE SYSTEM]
[STATUS][ACQUISITION][QUESTS][INVENTORY](LOCKED)[NETWORK](LOCKED)[LOG](LOCKED)[HELP]
Rhyse focused his intent on [STATUS]. The azure projection rearranged itself, revealing a concise and straightforward display of vital data.
[STATUS]
Name: Rhyse Synkar
Age: 13 Standard Years
Title: Heir Apparent of House Synkar, Acting Head
Lineage: Synkar (Nexus Architect Legacy - Dormant), Hawthorne (Merchant Lord)
Mana Veins: Defective (Inert)
Aura Channels: Defective (Inert)
Synkar Core: Active (Unlinked to Synkar Network - Potential Untapped)
Current Condition: Fatigued, Stressed
Active Effects: None
Registered Liquid Assets: 0 [Network Link Required for Access]
Defective. Inert. The words still stung, but the line about the Synkar Core felt different now: Unlinked to Synkar Network. What did that mean? And the asset line required him to direct establish a connection. The lingering panic began to recede slightly, replaced by intense curiosity. He focused on [ACQUISITION].
The screen changed, but it wasn't the overwhelming catalogue he might have expected. It presented a tiered structure.
[ACQUISITION - TIER 0 (Basic Access)]
Direct Purchase (Instantly Available):
[Basic Ward (Rank 0) - Duration 10 Min] - Cost: 100 Gold
[Minor Sensory Boost (Hearing - Rank 0) - Duration 1 Hour] - Cost: 150 Gold
[Nutrient Paste Concentrate (Emergency Ration)] - Cost: 10 Gold
Task-Based Acquisition:
[Skill: Basic Threat Assessment (Rank 0)] - Task: Analyze recent security threats.
[Item: Standard Communication Scrambler Rune (Rank 0)] - Task: Acquire secure communication device.
[Skill: Summon Basic Bodyguard (Rank 1-2)] - Task: Secure loyal personal protection.
Higher Tiers Locked (Requirements Not Met)
It was limited. Only a few basic items could be bought outright. Anything substantial required a system-guided task. This wasn't just a shop; it was an interactive guide, demanding action in the real world.
Just then, the System chimed softly in his mind.
[Threat Analysis Complete (Uncle/Cousin Encounter).]
[Risk Assessment: Low (Immediate Physical Threat Subsided, Political/Subterfuge Threat Elevated).]
[Reward: Skill: Basic Threat Assessment (Rank 0)][Cost: 100 gold][One free use]
Rhyse was quite startled. The system had evaluated the danger posed by his uncle and cousin, fulfilling the necessary requirement and gifting him the Skill: Basic Threat Assessment, complete with a single complimentary use. He immediately thought about using it, and another system pop up appearead:
[Skill: Basic Threat Assessment (Rank 0) initiated…
No direct threat found. Switching to general assessment.]
[System Recommendation: Enhance Personal Security & Situational Awareness.]
[New QUEST Issued: [Secure Loyal Protection]
[New QUEST Issued: [Link to the Network]
"A new quest!"
He mentally selected the new quest under the [QUESTS] menu.
[QUEST: Secure Loyal Protection]
Objective: Hire or assign demonstrably loyal and competent personnel (Rank 1-3) for immediate personal protection detail.
Requirements: Personnel must pass loyalty verification (System-Assisted). Vetting process required.
Reward: [Personnel Contract Rank 3], [System Advancement +10].
Status: Initiated.
This new quest reinforced the System's earlier recommendation – securing personal protection was clearly a top priority. He switched to the second quest:
[QUEST: Link to the Network]
Objective: Activate the first phase of the Synkar Network Link for immediate access.
Requirements: Seal of the Synkar. High user compatibility.
Reward: [Active Network Link], [System Advancement +10].
Status: Initiated.
"The seal!" Rhyse grabbed the seal from its box, bringing it closer to his body. The seal resonated strongly with the Synkar Core.
[Synkar Core found. Key found. High compatibility detected. Initiating System Network. User may experience great shock while the link activates.]
"Uh? Great shock?!" Before he could fully consider the warning, Rhyse experienced a potent rush of energy originating from within, accompanied by a vast influx of information. He felt a wireless connection establish between his body and the entirety of the Ancestral Manor, a sensation entirely new to him. It was a considerable shock, and he dropped to his knees, unable even to cry out.
[Synkar Core: Active (Linked to Synkar Network - Phase One). Direct Link Established.]
After a few minutes spent struggling to regain his composure, Rhyse slowly pushed himself up from his knees. The residual energy of the network link still coursed through his veins, leaving him feeling strangely numb and acutely aware of the thrumming power now accessible at his mental command. He braced himself against the polished obsidian desk, needing a moment to steady himself before fully assessing the implications of what had just transpired. The potent surge had left him feeling drained, but beneath the exhaustion lay a burgeoning sense of control, a vital shift in the balance of power within the room, and, he suspected, within the entire Synkar estate.
His hands trembled slightly as he reached for a glass of water, the crystal cool against his feverish skin. The world seemed to have subtly altered. He focused on the [NETWORK] tab.
The screen displayed complex, flowing charts and symbols he didn't fully grasp, but one line pulsed brightly:
[Synkar Network Link: ACTIVE]
[Estimated Total Assets Accessible via Core: **************************** Sovereigns (Real-time Fluctuation)]
The string of asterisks representing the total assets was dizzyingly long, even if hidden. The vaults, the accounts, the revenue streams – the Core wasn't just accessing a vault, it was tapped into the entire lifeblood of the Synkar empire systems. It was something even more complete and complex than the Synkar Seal. In fact, Rhyse could do everything the Seal was able to do and more - even overrule it. Even if his Uncle Marius takes the seal now, it would be useless as long as he had the Synkar Core System.
Although the money was physically in the vaults, it was also recognized by the system and appeared in real-time for Rhyse to use. Currently, money wasn't the barrier for his growth. He had plenty. The barrier was the System itself, demanding specific actions and expenditures to unlock its rewards. He could simply buy an army stright away with gold, but he had to follow the tasks and quests to earn the rewards and advance the system.
He felt a wave of vertigo, not from fear this time, but from the sheer scale of the power – and responsibility – now potentially at his fingertips. Was his father also aware of the Synkar Core System? How much of it did he have access to?
Unlike him, his father had aura and was even a powerful Rank 6 Knight, but he never once heard him mention the system, even when he explained about the mysterious Synkar Core.
Right now, Rhyse felt hope. He now had a weapon that could turn the situation around and prevent the downfall of the Synkar House at his hands. Currently, the Synkar had a few key personnel that needed to be retained at all costs, but how many of those were truly loyal to him? to a thirteen year old?
His first thought was about the one that currently held most of the obligations and power inside the Synkar. His father's Seneschal and right hand man, Master Valerius.
Rhyse activated the arcane communicator crystal, his voice more composed this time, "Master Valerius, please attend me in my father's study immediately. There are urgent matters."
"At once, my lord."
While waiting, Rhyse dismissed the System screen with a thought, the azure light vanishing as if it had never been. He needed to appear calm, in control. When Valerius entered moments later, his expression etched with concern, Rhyse gestured towards a chair opposite the desk.
"My lord," Valerius began, "Is everything alright...?"
Although Rhyse was the heir apparent of the Synkar Dukedom, the king still hadn't conferred the title upon him after his father's passing. It was common occurrence for the title to be inherited, but the politics of the Royal Palace were not easy to follow.
"Uncle Marius and Livia paid a visit," Rhyse confirmed calmly. "They offered their... guidance. And reminded me of the pressures facing the Synkar." He decided against mentioning the attempt on the Seal; it added little now and might provoke unnecessary alarm. The key was moving forward.
Valerius nodded slowly. "Their interest is pronounced. And, as I feared, the Valtari Syndicate is intensifying its efforts. Three senior Artificers received exorbitant offers yesterday – Elmsworth, Vanya, and Thorv. All refused, citing loyalty, but such pressure is difficult to sustain without clear leadership."
"Leadership they will have," Rhyse stated firmly. "The quarterly reports Livia mentioned – bring them to me. Along with any outstanding contracts requiring immediate review." He saw the flicker of surprise in Valerius's eyes but pressed on. "I will handle them. But first, security."
"My lord?"
"My uncle's visit," Rhyse chose his words carefully, linking his request to the recent, plausible event, "was a crude reminder of my current vulnerability. My parents always maintained exceptional security, but with their passing… I want an immediate reinforcement of my personal protection." He met Valerius's gaze. "I need loyal, competent guards assigned directly to me, separate from the general manor detail. People whose loyalty is beyond question."
When his Uncle attacked, did any of the guards outside even worry for his security?
This also aligned perfectly with the System's task.
Valerius frowned slightly, not in disagreement, but in thought. "An understandable precaution, my lord. House Synkar employs an elite internal security force, the Core Guard. Highly trained, rigorously vetted. Your father handpicked Captain Marek himself. Assigning a dedicated detail from the Core Guard would be standard procedure."
"Standard procedure might be too predictable," Rhyse countered, guided by an instinct sharpened by the System's prompt for demonstrably loyal personnel. "The Core Guard might be handpicked, but there are too many outside forces capable of influencing them, like the Hawthornes." He let the implication hang. "I want personnel whose loyalty is unquestionable, perhaps even individuals with personal ties or debts to my parents, vetted through channels you trust implicitly, Master Valerius. Discretion is paramount." He was essentially asking Valerius to help him fulfill the System's vetting requirement without revealing the System itself.
Valerius absorbed this, his expression growing serious. He recognized the subtle distrust Rhyse was expressing, and the wisdom in seeking layers of security beyond the official chain of command in such uncertain times. "I understand, my lord. There are… possibilities. Former members of your father's Knightly Order retainers, perhaps. Or individuals indebted to your mother's direct patronage. It will require careful, discreet inquiries. And funding for severance from current duties or external hiring."
"I authorize the necessary funding," Rhyse said, "I don't care what it costs. I trust your judgment on the candidates. Report back to me with options as quickly as possible."
The seneschal straightened, a determined glint in his eyes. This was a concrete, strategic action, not the flailing of a grieving boy. "It will be done, Lord Rhyse. Discreetly and swiftly." He paused. "And the reports?"
"Bring them later," Rhyse confirmed. "I may require your assistance in understanding the finer points, but the decisions will be mine."
Valerius bowed, a renewed sense of purpose evident in his posture. "As you command, my lord." He departed, leaving Rhyse in the echoing silence.
He had the money – more than he could comprehend. He had the System, a strange and demanding guide. And now, he had initiated his first Quest. The path forward was still shrouded in danger, but for the first time since his parents' death, Rhyse felt like he wasn't just adrift. He was holding the rudder, even if the sea ahead was stormy and the course dictated by an unseen, demanding force.