The Dreamer's POV

"Yes, his parents would be so proud."

I watched as Theo and the beautiful woman twirled about, Theo was elated and the woman? Well, let's just say I couldn't read her expression very well.

She seemed to want to seem happy, but the best she could force was a stoic countenance, and her smiles were forced.

I thought little about it, perhaps the dance was taking too long, or perhaps she thought he was a terrible dancer. I wouldn't be surprised if it was the latter.

That was until she glanced at me and smirked. I froze, a little confused, it seemed as if she knew me, and I was certain that we were meeting for the very first time.

"She seems a little strange."

I decided to activate <Absolute Appraisal> and I was surprised.

The lady who danced with Theo was from earth, the system had recognized her, and it seemed like she recognized me.

[STATUS WINDOW]

-Name: Lizbella Awfaun

-Race: Human

-Level: 23

-Life Force: 120

-Energy Level: 210/210

-Combat Ability: 213/213

-Stat points: 12

-Currency: 1600

Her information was displayed with my skill and from the wink she gave when she turned to me, I could tell that she had realized that I had appraised her.

I clicked my tongue.

'What's an Earthling doing here? Is she trying to blend to this new world?'

Though she was powerful, she was no match for me, and I could tell that she knew I was much stronger than her, discouraging her from my funny business.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Though she was one of us, and like me, I couldn't let my prejudice surface and think she was up to no good, it wasn't healthy, and besides, Lucy Fer was a ranker, and she was exceptionally nice.

'Wait, if she's here, then chances are that there are others as well.'

I kept <Absolute Appraisal> activated and then subtly released Black to scout for strange activities.

I looked to Drius, and nodded,

"I will be away for a short time, keep your eyes on Theo, don't let him out of your sight, and protect him." The faithful soldier beat his chest in affirmation and I left the scene, and began scouting for others that were from earth.

I haven't known the system participants to be the most peaceful bunch, it was like the system had made us a little bit more eccentric, I included.

My eyes glowed dimly with a yellow light as I searched. I could also feel Black's position –the shadow crawled and went into little holes and spots that I couldn't reach even if I wanted.

After about twenty minutes, the dance had stopped and Black had come back, my elite shadow didn't catch anything that seemed suspicious.

"Maybe I was worrying needlessly."

I gave up my search and headed back to where I had left Drius–back to Theo.

******

A young handsome tall man stood in the midst of nobles, part of his face obscured by a cat mask he had on, but his blue eyes and white hair were telling features that captured the women's attention.

He had a circle around him and he entertained his new admirers with stories.

As he did this, he saw an odd man, odd in the sense that he had a different air to hin compared to the others, and aside from dressing as a butler, there was something he thought was interesting about him.

'A participant perhaps?' he thought, and his eyes glinted a blue light as he momentarily activated <Absolute Appraisal>

He smirked seeing what was revealed, slouching his shoulders and putting a hand over his mouth to prevent himself from bursting out of laughter.

'It is him. Mikey Rael!'

Excitement poured into him, they hadn't expected him here.

'He could foil our plans, but… I still can't believe it. His stats and skills.'

In the middle of his monologue, a voice pulled him back to reality.

It was the king, and he was addressing his people.

"Over these past months, there have been news all across the continent, news of destruction, of chaos and anarchy. You may think that these things are the norm, but they aren't, not at this frequency. We believe that these terrible incidents are not just happenstance, not just bandits committing acts of aggression, but planned attacks meant to scare us, to terrorize us. I have sat down in meetings with leaders across the continent from the Theocracy to the Western Republic, and they too have noticed this problem, these festering can of troubles.

"We have come to agree, and we are in the middle of creating an alliance to target this bunch. And as for you my dear nobles, I want to know where you all stand, do you stand for the kingdom or not?" He stopped and there was a silence.

Everyone knew it was a rhetorical question, one that needed no answer, for they were nobles and would always stand for their people and their kingdom, incompetent and vainglory as they may be, they still cared about holding their positions, change to them was dangerous, especially one that was as violent as these ones.

"I have been the target of assassination, something that hadn't occurred in the six thousand years of this kingdom's history. And yet I still stand, protected by the spirits of the previous kings and by Ilysa, these people have made their message clear, there's no compromise, only total annihilation." The Lord finished his speech and then took a glass of juice, and he raised it.

"But tonight, dance my subjects, dance and forget your troubles."

"Oh they will forget." The blue-eyed man said with a mischievous grin.

"What did you say Lord Francis?"

"Tell us more stories." Women took his arms, not giving him any chance to move.

Though he showed them a smile, he was totally disgusted inside.

'Noble women are unfathomably stupid.'

And soon after this thought, like it was its trigger, a loud boom came from the front of the hall, above the stairs where the king was and there were flames.

The people screamed.