Daniel smiled after hearing William's response; then, his gaze fixed upon the two girls.
— "The two of you... give me a reason not to erase your memories regarding everything you have heard."
The young women were caught off guard and left perplexed.
"Can he really erase our memories?" Jéssica thought, terrified.
But before she could articulate a response, her friend was quicker.
— "If the Lord would also accept me as he accepted William, I too can be useful!" Estela expressed promptly.
She didn't quite understand why William had yielded so easily after that fascinating man touched the space between his brows. Nor did Estela care for nations or ideological causes; her only desire was to have control over her own life, something impossible due to the family she belonged to. However, that stranger conveyed the conviction that by following him, she would achieve an extraordinary existence.
"And also... having such an attractive boss would be very pleasant!" she reflected, her face flushing at the future possibility.
— "And... I can be useful too!" Jéssica shouted immediately after, casting a frustrated look at her companion.
"This brat is being bold; I need to be careful not to be left behind!" she reflected, noting the false shyness in her friend's countenance.
With an air of curiosity, Daniel walked until he stood before both of them.
— "William possesses a rare talent, which is why I chose him. I do not see the same in you... but I will give you an opportunity to explain yourselves."
If it weren't for the fact that the pair reminded him of Sindy and Lúcia, his two former pupils, Daniel would not be so benevolent, as their potential was low.
"At most, they would reach the Unfettered Realm, if they are lucky," he evaluated mentally.
However, he found it intriguing that they offered themselves without even understanding the reasons that led William to follow him.
— "We... Estela and I belong to two extremely influential lineages in the world: the Rothschilds and the Waltons. My name is Jéssica Walton, and she is Estela Rothschild."
Daniel showed a slight surprise upon hearing them. He hadn't imagined that those young women belonged to such giants, especially the Walton Family, often cited as the richest on the planet. As for the Rothschilds, they had their fortune fragmented among many heirs, but their influence held a global character, and should their total wealth be exposed, it would surpass that of the Waltons.
Daniel did not recall either of them when dealing with those families previously; he had never heard their names, which led him to deduce they held no relevance in their respective clans. Still, he decided to allow them to present their cards.
— "You have secured a reason to be heard, but only that. If you are here in space, it is because you are fleeing, correct?"
— "Yes..." Both Estela and Jéssica smiled bitterly as they confirmed.
This time, Estela took the lead:
— "Indeed, we are escaping our family's influence. Besides our lineage and a few million dollars, we don't possess much, but... if the Lord is willing to continue listening to us, it is because you feel we can benefit you, isn't it?"
Daniel pondered. He was not a tyrant, and it had only been an hour since he arrived in this timeline. Having influential individuals assisting in minor matters such as finance, logistics, and organization would save many headaches. He remembered that in the future he came from, those two families had split: one side allied with the Murim world, while the other fought for humanity's independence.
"If it weren't for that schism, we could have resisted for longer," he reflected.
— "I have one condition," he declared. "I will give you the necessary capability and time, but I want something simple: I want each of you to become the leader of your respective family. Only then will you be fit to follow me!"
William, watching it all, became increasingly stunned. He knew his colleagues possessed some influence, since while he worked himself to death studying to earn his place, the two simply presented their surnames and Director Alisha granted them the spots, albeit reluctantly.
If he was shocked, Jéssica and Estela looked as if they had seen a ghost. They didn't know if he was rejecting them with an impossible request or if he was speaking seriously.
— "What say you?" Daniel questioned, indifferent to their shock.
— "You... can you really help us lead our families?" Jéssica asked, refusing to give up. She felt, in her core, that this was the chance of a lifetime, as unreal as it seemed.
— "I will give you the competence for it, but how you act will be your own work. A small test for me to decide if it is worth investing in both of you."
Jéssica and Estela looked at each other. It was all too frantic and fantastical to be true; it seemed like complete madness. They bit their lips, hesitating for a few moments, until determination shone in their eyes. They accepted the proposal.
— "Very well. Read and sign!"
Daniel raised his hand, and mana condensed into particles, molding two contracts that floated with an ethereal glow. They took the documents with trembling hands, stunned by the supernatural origin of the paper. As they read, they swallowed hard.
The contract stipulated that if they even considered betraying him, their hearts would explode and their blood would flow in reverse. Should they reveal his secrets without consent, they would suffer a lancinating pain, worse than death, for one hour. They would have only three chances; after the third failure, the result would be death.
Despite the terror of the clauses, the benefits were tempting. The first was the ascent to the command of their families; the second was that, through good service, he would help them reach unimaginable powers, allowing them to rule lands in other worlds after the conquest. Once he established control over Earth, he would grant them both royal titles and fitting authority.
As they finished reading, the young women began to comprehend the magnitude of the man's plans. Did he intend to dominate the entire planet as a Monarch? Global unification under a single flag. It was something impractical for current nations, even for the USA, despite being the hidden dream of many rulers.
— "So, Jess, what do you think? It seems impossible, but my instincts say this man can, in fact, fulfill what he promises!" Estela whispered.
— "Indeed! I feel it too, even though I'm terrified of the punishments... I don't know about you, Estela, but I'm going to grab this opportunity with teeth and nails!" Jéssica exclaimed, taking the golden pen that floated in the air to sign her name.
Immediately, the contract disintegrated into a beam of light, and she felt the information being engraved in her mind, making it impossible to forget.
Seeing her friend's attitude, Estela also signed. Both were decided to risk their lives; the temptation of what was offered was too great to resist.
Daniel scratched his chin, slightly surprised. That was a Rank S magic: Subordination. However, he had altered it so they would maintain their free will and receive fair rewards, although he kept the severity against betrayal.
"I thought they would back down, but it seems their ambition outweighs their fear of death... Well, no matter. I will reward those who deserve it and punish those who are necessary. Simple as that!"
Turning to William, Daniel was direct.
— "William, I showed you about myself because I intend to make you my first disciple in this timeline..."
William blinked twice, somewhat bewildered by the speed at which everything was happening; however, remembering martial arts films, he understood he should revere his master. The man, who had already stood up, moved his 180 kg body, which trembled with every step, and prostrated himself before Daniel, performing three bows.
— "I, William Dimas, revere my master!"
Daniel smiled.
— "Very well. You were meant to be my 1,101st disciple, but since we are in another timeline, you are now the first!"
Jéssica and Estela couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. While they had to risk their lives by signing the contract to follow this powerful man... William, whom they previously despised, could accompany him without consequences. That truly left a bitter taste in their mouths.
The two beautiful young women—one belonging to the prominent Walton Family and the other to the imposing Rothschilds—were they no better than a fat old man over a hundred kilos, who was sexually impotent and smelled of sweat? It was difficult to understand what this "talent" was that their handsome boss spoke of...