Elias stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows of his new penthouse suite, looking down at the ruined city.
This wasn't the abandoned, dusty apartment he had slept in a few days ago. This was a ten-million-dollar luxury suite in the heart of the Military Safe Zone, fully paid for and furnished by the Aegis Guild.
Silas had moved fast. Driven by the sheer terror of having his soul extracted by a Death Knight, the newly self-appointed Guild Master of Aegis had wired massive funds to secure Elias's comfort.
Elias took a sip of hot coffee, enjoying the rare luxury, and pulled up his system interface. It was time to review his assets.
"Status."
> Status Window <
Name: Elias
Level: 17
Class: Absolute Necromancer
Title: Pioneer of Catastrophe (+10% all stats)
Health: 2,500
Mana: 1,400 / 1,400 (Enhanced by Heart of the Abyss)
Strength: 55
Agility: 52
Intelligence: 85
> Shadow Legion (45/50) <
Commander Grade: Blood (Lv. 20 Death Knight)
Elite Grade: Iron (Lv. 15 Hobgoblin Chieftain)
Standard Grade: 30 Shadow Trolls, 5 Shadow Knights, 8 Shadow Mages.
Elias dismissed the glowing blue screen with a thought. He was essentially a one-man army. If he wanted to, he could probably wipe out an entire military battalion overnight. But brute force without strategy was how he died in his past life. He needed to be smarter. He needed a front.
His new smartphone, a highly secure line provided by Vance Tech, buzzed on the marble counter.
Elias picked it up. "Speak."
"B-Boss!" Silas's nervous voice crackled through the speaker. Even over the phone, the man sounded like he was sweating. "The media swallowed the story perfectly. Aegis is being hailed as a heroic guild. We've had over five hundred low-rank Hunters apply to join us this morning alone."
"Good," Elias said smoothly. "Accept the gatherers and the healers. Reject anyone with an inflated ego. I want obedient workers, not 'heroes'. What about my crystals?"
"Delivered to your private vault in the basement, exactly as you asked. Two hundred mid-grade crystals and five high-grade," Silas reported eagerly, desperate for approval. "But... there is a slight complication, sir."
Elias's eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"It's the government," Silas said, dropping his voice to a whisper. "They're panicking about the unregulated Hunters. They just passed the 'Awakened Conscription Act'. Any registered Hunter between the ages of 16 and 25 is required to enroll in the newly established National Hunter Academy. If you refuse, they revoke your Hunter License and freeze your assets."
Elias took another sip of his coffee. He remembered this. In his past life, the Academy was a heavily corrupted institution where the children of wealthy politicians and elite guild masters were given the best training and gear, while the commoners were used as fodder for dangerous practical exams.
"They're doing a mandatory public assessment next week for all enrollees to sort them into classes," Silas continued anxiously. "Sir, you're a registered B-Rank. They'll definitely draft you. I can try to bribe some officials to forge a medical exemption if you want—"
"No," Elias interrupted.
"Sir?"
A slow, predatory smile spread across Elias's face. "Don't interfere. I will attend the Academy."
Silas was stunned. "But Boss, you're a monster—I mean, a powerhouse! You have a Death Knight! What could those military instructors possibly teach you?"
"Nothing," Elias replied simply. "But the Academy has exclusive jurisdiction over all 'Unstable Gates'—the high-yield dungeons the military deems too dangerous for public guilds. Furthermore, all the future S-Rank prodigies of this country are about to be gathered in one building. Why would I miss the opportunity to recruit them... or crush them before they become a threat?"
Silas gulped loudly through the phone. He suddenly felt a wave of pity for the arrogant, pampered elite students at the Academy. They were about to be locked in a school with a demon.
"I understand, Boss," Silas said. "I'll handle your enrollment paperwork. You'll be entering as a B-Rank Summoner."
"Ensure my background check looks boring," Elias ordered. "I want to be completely underestimated."
"Consider it done."
Elias hung up the phone and looked back out the window. The sky was still choked with smoke, but to him, it looked like a canvas waiting to be painted black.
The Academy arc was about to begin. It was time to show the arrogant elites of this new world exactly what the bottom of the food chain looked like.