"Firstly, I'm your step-dad now. So, If you don't find it uncomfortable, call me, Dad or Daddy, alright? I'll appreciate it." Max said and despite what he was feeling deep in his heart as he said these words, his expression did not change in the slightest. "Secondly, tell me, was this the first time you saw someone being killed?"
Nia's face turned red and she lowered her head hearing the first half. When she heard the latter half, she lightly nodded, "Mm."
"I understand." Max said, "If you have looked through the window during the first few days, you would have seen countless people dying. We are no longer living in the peaceful times, Nia. Right now, if we stay soft and weak, it won't be long before someone comes along and kills us all."
Pausing for a bit, he added, "Those three, they had followed my friend's group, wanting to use them to enter your home. Now, you are smart enough to not need to spell it out for you what they would have done if I hadn't dealt with them, isn't that right?"
Nia shook, realizing the truth of his words. But she still didn't dare to raise her head and just nodded, "I understand. T-Thank you."
Max sighed in his heart and gently rubbed her head, "No need to thank me. We are family now and I just did what I was supposed to."
Saying this, he went silent for a moment, letting Nia relax. Then he asked, "Is Juan sleeping?"
"Yes."
"Good. Now, can you come down for a bit?"
"Yes."
"Alright, let's go." Saying this, Max turned around and walked away. Nia hastily followed him.
After coming down, Max went into the kitchen for a few moments before coming out. Then, he headed out and had Nia lock the gate, but before she did, he said, "There is some drinking water and a few slices of bread in the kitchen. Give one slice each and some water to Tommy and others. The rest is for Juan, Ruth and you."
Saying this, he was about to walk away when he heard Nia ask, "Y-You'll return soon, right?"
Max looked at her, a warm smile on his face, "Of course."
Nia fidgeted slightly before whispering with a red face, "I'll wait for you... Dad."
Max stared at her blankly for a moment before his lips curled up into a grin.
Waving his hand bye, he walked away.
When he was about to take the turn to head in the direction of Governor's Mansion, he saw Samson tirelessly digging a hole in the corner of the children's park. The corpses of the trio were lying beside him.
Seeing him, he paused. After thinking for a moment, he opened his status screen.
[Name: Maxwell Williams]
[Level: 4 (0/50)]
[Physical: 13]
[Spiritual: 11]
[Harem: 2]
[Harem Points: 203]
[Abilities: Discerning Eyes Lv 2. (0/50)]
'200? Not bad.' He thought to himself before opening the system shop and writing, 'A technique or ability that can ensure people's loyalty to me.'
As he hit enter, one Harem Point was deducted.
[Harem Points: 203→202]
However...
Instead of a list of techniques for him to choose like it had happened previous times, a short message appeared on the pop up screen in front of him.
[Alert: The System Shop does not have any skills, techniques or abilities to sell.]
Max couldn't help but narrow his eyes when he read this. After a few moments, he looked at Samson and sighed.
He had planned to take Samson, Tom, Hank and Harman as subordinate using some technique or like from the system which would ensure they wouldn't ever birth the thought of betraying him.
As for why... Well, simply because he knew there would be things that would either be a waste of time for him to do but would be important, or he might not be able to do due to some things. So, in these types of situations, he would need other people's assistance.
However, with the absence of techniques needed for this purpose in the system shop, he had no choice but to temporarily drop the idea.
Just as he was about to continue on his way, another screen popped up in front of him.
[Notice (Compensatory): Level 3 Discerning Eyes should fulfill the host's current purpose.]
Seeing this, Max couldn't help but nod in satisfaction. The one harem point he spent to find the techniques wasn't wasted.
Looking at the current Harem Points, he decided to level up [Discerning Eyes (Lv. 2)].
Soon, 50 Harem Points were deducted and he immediately felt a burning pain in his eyes.
Though he was already prepared for it and his pain tolerance seemed to have increased after leveling up to level 4, he barely managed to endure it and was still left out of breath.
After regulating his breathing, he looked at his status screen.
[Harem Points: 202→152]
[Abilities: Discerning Eyes Lv. 3 (0/100)]
Closing the windows, he walked toward Samson.
From how he seemed to be taking his sweet time to go to the Governor's mansion, one might think his mother didn't have much importance in his heart, but only he knew how wrong was that.
The reason he had been subconsciously dragging his feet was because he was afraid... afraid to face her, afraid to ask her the reason she left him and... afraid to find out that maybe she already had a new family of her own.
...
Kacha! Swoosh!
Kacha! Swoosh!
While digging, Samson heard the sound of footsteps from behind and hurriedly jumped around, brandishing the shovel like a weapon, ready to attack whoever was coming.
But when he saw Max, he sighed in relief and lowered his weapon. "You are here, sir?"
"Yeah. I was heading somewhere and saw you." Max nodded, looking at the already half feet deep, seven feet long and two feet wide hole in surprise.
If he wasn't wrong, from the moment he told him to deal with the corpses till now, only 10 or so minutes had passed. Given the fact that it should've taken him more than five minutes to drag the corpses here since he dragged one at a time, he had dug this hole in less than five minutes.
This feat... even for a well-fed, experienced worker, would have been impressive, but Samson was starved, probably for days and should have no strength left in his body. For him to do this was indeed very surprising.
With a thought, he activated the [Discerning Eyes] and Samson's information appeared in front of him.
[Name: Samson Smith]
[Gender: Male]
[Age: 17]
[Level: 3]
[Constitution: Herculean Body]
[Loyalty: 10]
[Status: Hopeful, Nervous, Angry, Worried.]
'Hm?' Max's pupils constricted when he saw his status, or to be exact, the [Physique] section.
'He has a special constitution.' His breathing deepened and the look in his eyes turned grim when he considered the implications of this discovery.
If he had a special constitution, this meant others might also have it. And since there were always many types of constitutions mentioned in the fantasy novels, the contents of which were turning out to be real, the chances were many people might have had those special constitutions and might have also found the way to control them.
If this was true, which he felt it most likely was, this world wasn't as simple as it seemed before.
'Fuck! Now, it won't be so easy to become invincible.' Though he cursed in his heart and this revelation worried him a little, strangely enough, he also felt excited.
"Are you alright, sir?" Samson's concerned voice snapped him back to his senses.
"Yeah, I'm alright." Nodding, Max took out a slice of [Nutritious Bread] from his pocket, "Here, eat this before continuing."
Samson's eyes lit up when he saw the slice of bread. Hurriedly dropping the shovel and wiping his hand on his shirt, he took it with both hands, looking incredibly moved, "Thank you, sir! Thank you so much!"
Saying this, he tore the slice in two, carefully put one in his chest pocket and began eating the other.
Meanwhile, Max was looking at Samson's [Loyalty] section, his gaze bright.
[Loyalty: 10→20]
The simple act giving him a slice made his loyalty jump from ten to twenty, a very significant leap.
After concentrating on the [Loyalty], he had received some information about it and therefore knew once someone's loyalty toward him reached more than 20, as long as he treated them well or something that affected their psychology happened, the chances of them betraying him were very less.
With Samson's loyalty reaching 20, as long as he didn't abuse him and someone didn't try to tempt him, with enough benefits, to betray him, he will be loyal.
Max, however, wasn't willing to take risks. So he wanted to increase his loyalty to fifty at least. Once it reached fifty, the chances of Samson betraying him would drastically decrease.
Of course, he knew increasing loyalty wasn't easy as it all depended on the person's personality and mindset.
Fortunately for him, Samson was currently in a very susceptible state. Anything he did could affect him deeply.
So, he looked at him and curiously asked, "You are saving the half, why?"
Samson finished half slice, chewed it a few times with an ecstatic expression on his face before gulping it down. He then looked at him and cautiously said, "I-It's for my younger b-brother."
'Indeed. 20 isn't enough.' Max sighed inwardly, but his expression remained the same as he asked, "What about your other family members? Are they... alright?"
Samson's eyes turned red and mist began pooling within them when he heard this. Gritting his jaws to control his emotions, he shook his head, "...No. They all died."
Max briefly looked at the [Status] section of his information and saw there were only two words there—Anger and Hatred.
Seeing this, Max knew what might have happened to his family and couldn't help but sigh in pity.
However...
He realized he could take advantage of his current vulnerability to increase his loyalty and that was exactly what he did.
Taking a small step forward, he placed a hand on Samson's shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly, "I'm very sorry for your loss."
"Mm." Samson nodded, taking deep breaths.
"I can help you take your revenge if you want."
Shua!
As soon as Max said this, Samson raised his head and looked into his eyes with such intensity that Max almost took a step back.
"Can you..." He asked, his voice low and deep, "...Really help me?"
"Yes." Max calmly nodded.
Samson stared at him for a few moments and then suddenly...
Thud!
He kneeled on one knee, his head lowered, "If you accept, I'm willing to serve you, sir. I'll do whatever you want me to do. Just promise me two things."
Max didn't answer because the moment Samson took the knee, his mind went blank and a strange, unfamiliar yet also familiar and... pleasant sensation permeated his entire being.
After a few moments, he came back to his senses, and asked, "What two things?"
'Hm?' He raised his brows in confusion because his voice, without him trying, was deeper and... authoritative?
Before he could ponder over this change, Samson began speaking.
"Firstly, I want you to promise me that you'll indeed help me take revenge, and secondly, I want you to do your best to make sure my younger sister lives a safe life if I were to die someday and... please don't do anything to her against her will."
Max's eyelids twitched when he heard his second request.
Did he think he was some disgusting pervert? 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
As this thought crossed his mind, his face turned a shade redder. Maybe he was?
Coughing lightly, he nodded and solemnly promised, "I promise you both. But you need to find and identify the people you want to kill yourself because I might not have the time."
Hearing this, Samson raised his head and nodded, "I understand, and please forgive me for saying the bread was for my brother when it was for my sister."
"Don't worry about it. I understand. Now, stand up." Max said while glancing at his loyalty.
[Loyalty: 20→40]
Seeing the jump, he nodded in satisfaction. Though it was still 10 points less than the ideal 50, it was enough for him to trust him with some small matters.
Then, with a thought, he took out another slice of bread and a handful of [Corpse Decomposing Powder].
"Here, this one is for your sister." He said, giving him the slice, then he handed him the powder, "And sprinkle this on the bodies. It'll save you time."
Samson's eyes lit up and he hurriedly took the bread, stored it in his pocket before taking the powder with a puzzled look on his face.
Max didn't explain and instead said, "When I'm back, bring a water bottle. Also, make sure no one is around when you use the powder."
Finished saying this, he turned around and walked away.
Samson watched him disappear from his sight with a slightly dazed look on his face. He was finding it hard to believe that Max had just given him—however little—food and promised to protect his sister, help him take the revenge and pretty much told he would give him water too.
While it was true he was helping him take care of the bodies and had just agreed to become his servant, he knew these two things were nowhere enough, especially in the current time, for the things he just got.
He, of course, knew the promises were worth nothing until they were fulfilled, but he got the feeling that he would really keep them.
Shaking his head, he stopped thinking and looked around. Seeing no one was in vicinity, he slowly sprinkled the powder on the corpses all the while thinking how it would save him time.
A few moments later, he got his answer when, to his astonishment, the corpses began sizzling as if they were being fried, and then rapidly disintegrated into piles of dust.
"..."
With a blank look on his face, he stared at the piles of dust, disbelief clear in his eyes. Then, he blinked a few times to see if he was hallucinating—he was not.
Pat! Pat! Pat!
Suddenly, he looked at his palms and hurriedly slapped them against each other, removing every last bit of the powder off them.
Only after he was done and relaxed a little did he realize that he had overreacted. He had it in his hands for quite some time, but it didn't react at all, meaning it wasn't harmful to living beings.
"How could he have something like this?" He wondered before shaking his head. It was not advisable to think too deeply about some things.
Quickly moving the piles of dust and unharmed clothes into the pit, he covered it with some mud though it wasn't necessary.
Then he picked his shovel and headed toward his home with a smile on his face. Today, his sister wouldn't sleep with an empty stomach.
...
After over half an hour, Max arrived before the Governor's Mansion, his brows furrowed.
Although everything seemed calm and quiet, he could feel the tension in the air.
'Let's just find Mom and take her away.' He thought and looked toward the mansion's gate. Immediately, he noticed two men looking at him from the other side and his pupils constricted.