Chapter 29- The Offer

Arthur hadn't entirely understood the secondary effect of his evolved skill at first- the wording was a little ambiguous- but after having tested this so-called overhealth on some very willing patients, he had learnt of the effects the skill now possessed, as well as its limits and Arthur was very happy with the results.

The overhealth basically served as a Regeneration skill stored in advance on an individual that was engaged when said person was injured, and with the full capacity of 100 healing affinity ether Arthur was currently able to infuse the someone with, it was able to bring back the average level 20 individual from a debilitating injury.

Secondary Effect: one-hundred healing affinity Ether may be stored as OVERHEALTH in the target of this ability to be used for recovery when the individual is injured. This stored Ether works under Host-Use efficiency levels.

Overhealth cannot be stored in the host.

Working under the same ratios as the skill used on him, the host, meant that it wasn't reduced in effectiveness by 50% like usual. With his insane health pool of 3200, the skill with its current cap of 100 healing affinity ether, was able to regenerate an individual's health pool by a grand total of 160 over the course of five minutes.

With the average human vitality sitting around 60, it meant his skill at level 1 was enough to bring someone back into fighting shape.

It gave weaker monster hunters a second chance at life and acted as a failsafe for the more experienced ones so that they could take on more threatening beasts. All in all, it was an amazing addition to the skill's already great effects, and once word had gotten around about the healer with the ‘dope ass skill’ courtesy to the teenage party he had tested it on, many people had started to come around to request his services. As far as he knew, it was unique to him, and no other healer, save Mira, was even close to achieving such a high proficiency in any of their abilities.

They simply didn’t have enough ether to practice with.

Besides the fact that Julia Addams was not at all pleased with the latest quirk her strange worker had developed, everything was going perfectly for Arthur. Almost too well in fact, and Arthur was starting to worry that his luck would soon fail him. It was like a cold feeling that always accompanied him; sometimes forgotten but always there, one that kept him from truly relaxing.

Arthur was certain that the feeling wasn’t normal. It reminded him of the Shadow Panther’s aura of depression, almost as if the beast’s resentment was targeting him from beyond the grave. And yet Arthur could do nothing about it. A lack of information was something everyone was suffering from right now, and his affliction was definitely unique. At least that was what his inquiries had told him. No one else felt that same sense of impending doom.

On the bright side of things, Arthur now at least had an extra source of income besides the pitiful wages the hospital paid him. Except, the parties that requested his aid offered a much more interesting sort of wealth; sometimes offering cash, but more often than not, strange things they’d found in the wild.

They were usually monster parts that could be used for all sorts of creations, mostly alchemical, as the world was rapidly learning.

It was a shame, however, that Arthur had absolutely no idea how to use his growing pile of treasures, and he didn't want to risk losing something valuable without knowing its worth whilst ‘experimenting.’

All in all, Arthur was very happy with his rapid progress, he’d achieved what he’d expected would take a month in a matter of days, and that was why he had decided to finally get around to asking Frank if he would be so kind as to teach him his Rejuvenation skill. He highly doubted the man would be able to give him actual tuition, what with the system currently doing all of the heavy lifting for him, but it would give him some much-needed information to progress in his own skill. Arthur estimated he'd run at least three thousand ether through the skill matrix but it had yet to gain even a single level since evolving.

Other people had obviously tried learning new skills, and yet whilst no one had yet been able to, Arthur was sure it was possible. After all, Julia Addams actively encouraged the practice, offering incentives in the form of a reward for the first person who managed to accomplish the feat.

There’s really not much point in me staying here anymore, is there except that I signed that contract.

It wasn’t really his fault; he simply hadn’t expected his regeneration skill to evolve at level ten, completely eschewing his initial goal of reaching the fifteenth level of the ability whilst in the workplace. The way things were going, it would probably take him a year and Arthur wasn't willing to delay his levelling for so long.

If things came down to it though, Arthur was fully prepared to pay the fine for breaching the contract. After all, if there was one thing he didn’t lack right now, it was money.

Rachel had informed him that Frank was in the staff room taking a short break when Arthur had asked her where her cousin was. That had been three minutes ago, and Arthur now found himself standing outside the room he’d spent the least time in whilst working in the hospital.

Praying that the man was in a good mood, Arthur crossed his fingers as he pushed open the large wooden door. It seamlessly swung inwards on well-oiled hinges, and Arthur stepped forwards.

He immediately sighed when he entered the room, all hopes of meeting an agreeable Frank gone out of the window as soon as he saw him. The man looked livid, a vein pulsing in his head, face completely red as he paced up and down the room muttering obscenities under his breath.

Frank looked up quickly at Arthur when he heard the door open, briefly acknowledging his presence with a nod before going back to his rage-filled walk. Arthur wasn’t the most social butterfly, but even he could tell that now was NOT a good time to ask for favours.

After two minutes of awkward silence, Arthur decided to break the silence.

“Something bad happened, I guess. Is Robert being a dick again?”

Frank didn't answer for a while, and Arthur got ready to leave. His presence clearly wasn’t wanted here and it’d be better if he came at a later time. Preferably when Frank didn’t look like he hadn’t shat in three days and nature was banging on his backdoor.

“No, it’s not Robert. He’s been real quiet since Miss Adams spoke to him."

"I’m just frustrated.”

Frank finally spoke, before collapsing down onto a chair. Arthur too returned to his seat and sat opposite the troubled man.

“Why, what happened? Is there anything I can do to help?”

Frank looked surprised for a moment as if he hadn’t expected Arthur to be so willing to lend him aid. The hospital’s golden goose had made it clear over the past few days that he wasn’t very fond of needless communication, not that anyone had given the young man a chance, to be honest.

Frank muttered something under his breath too low for Arthur to catch, before seemingly coming to a decision. He straightened his back and took a deep breath.

“It's nothing really,” he eventually said. “Just that I hate how everything works right now. Based on levels and power. Like a fucking video game. How the hell did we start judging people by numbers so fucking quickly. It’s like everyone's gone batshit-crazy, chasing the next level up like it’s a drug or something.”

“All the time I spent studying my ass off before the system came was for nothing, all invalidated when I got handed a shitty healing affinity for all my troubles. I can’t do fuck all with it except healing ungrateful brats that could probably kill me in a second if I ever offended them."

"I know I sound pathetic, but life is just so... unfair man. I just wish things could go back to how they used to be. I’d just be your run-of-the-mill guy, but then so would everyone else.”

"I don't want to be scared for the rest of my life, man."

Frank finished his long rant in a quiet voice, almost whispering by the end of it, before he fell into silence, looking down at his hands in frustration. Arthur took a moment to try and empathise with how the man in front of him must feel. It wasn't difficult.

Impotence.

Rage.

Frustration.

Envy.

Fear.

Arthur knew exactly how it felt to want something so bad and yet be powerless to do anything with the hand that fate had dealt him. The frustration and rage were all too familiar feelings for Arthur Ward, and he knew too well how you could lose yourself travelling down those self-destructive roads. There was nothing but darkness at the end, a journey to nowhere good.

Arthur wracked his brain trying to think of a way he could help the unfortunate man, and he quickly came up with an idea that he hoped would solve both his problem with learning a new skill and Frank's unfortunate situation. He honestly felt a little bad that he hadn’t thought of it sooner.

Arthur took a breath before speaking. Hopefully, this would work out.

“Actually Frank, I might have a way to help you, you know. If you're willing to help me out with something in return. A trade.”

Frank looked at him with anger, anger quickly colouring his cheeks red.

“I don't need your pity, man. There's nothing you can do for me and you know it, so stop taking the piss. Unless someone decides to help me power-level or something, then I'll be stuck as a little bitch for-....”

He trailed off, realisation dawning on his face as he came to understand what exactly Arthur was offering him.

“You mean you'll help me raise my level,” Frank whispered in amazement, hope creeping into his voice. It was quickly smothered in the cold embrace of pragmatism, and Arthur saw the suspicion in the man’s eyes.

“But I have nothing I can give you, and I can't afford the outrageous prices that people are demanding for such services.”

Arthur certainly wasn’t the first to have considered offering such services, and people were already raking in massive profits by power-levelling rich kids.

Arthur smiled when he saw that much of Frank's anger had already disappeared, replaced by the much more positive emotions of hope and anticipation. There was of course still a healthy dosage of caution there, so at least the redhead wasn’t a complete fool.

“Yes, that's exactly what I’m offering you, actually, Frank and don't worry about payment. There's something you have that I need very badly.”

Fuck, that made me sound like a pervert.

Frank's hopeful face was quickly covered in cautious suspicion. He should have known there’d be a catch. Arthur seemed like a good guy but there was no way he could be that nice, even if they were colleagues on the same team.

Arthur tried to not let the embarrassment show on his face and quickly clarified what he had meant.

“That came out sounding much more sinister than I expected. A little creepy as well. Sorry about that. What I meant was that I want you to teach me your Rejuvenation skill, and I'll help you power level in return.”

Frank was shocked. Many people had already started to try and learn each other's skills and so far none of them had been successful. What Arthur was asking for was an intangible reward that he had almost no chance of obtaining for a service he could gain so much wealth from.

He was taking such a huge gamble and still offering Frank a great opportunity despite his low chances of success. It was stupid, but Arthur didn’t look like a dunce.

“Are you sure that's what you want? I have no experience in teaching whatsoever, you know, and you might not even be able to learn it to begin with,'' Frank eventually said.

He wanted to get it off his chest now instead of dealing with a dissatisfied Arthur further down the line. The young man just smiled and nodded his head.

“All I want is the opportunity to learn the skill. Whether or not I can learn it just rests on my aptitude. You just teach me to the best of your abilities and I’ll make sure to get you to level 50, okay.”

Frank was silent for a moment, a mixture of emotions racing through him, gratitude for the young man’s offer of assistance, and frustration that he needed to accept before he held out his hand for Arthur to shake.

“I hope that you gain as much as I do out of this deal of ours.”

Arthur took his hand in his own.

“Don't worry, I intend to. I always get my money’s worth, no matter what.”

The two talked for a short while longer, ironing out the details of the exchange they had made, and it was eventually decided that they would wait for at least five days before doing anything.

Frank already looked much better than he had when Arthur had first entered the room, hope and anticipation now brightening his face with a smile. Arthur left the staffroom feeling good about himself.

He knew that he was getting the short end of the stick in their deal, but he didn't mind so much as he was helping out a colleague in a task that would take him literally no effort. The past few days had taught Arthur that his stats were far from normal.

VERY, VERY far.

He'd been a little too paranoid in his caution.

His job at the hospital had been going on for six days now and Arthur was happy to finally be getting a day off to rest on Sunday.

Arthur walked towards Julia’s office, greeting the few people he had gotten to know whilst working on his way there. At the threshold of the intimidating woman’s room, Arthur hesitated for a moment, but then chided himself for being a coward. He knew that his boss still didn't trust him and kept an eye on him at all times whilst he was on the premises, but Julia Addams did not strike Arthur as a bad person. Perhaps a tad bit too cold and unfeeling, but she had a job to do and the persona she adopted for it served her well. She wouldn’t do anything to fuck him over now, would she?

Knocking thrice on the wooden door, Arthur entered the office when he heard Julia call out.

“Come in.”

The room looked exactly the same as it had the last time he had been in it, albeit without the four chairs in front of the imposing desk. Instead, Arthur now had to stand awkwardly in silence, as the government official observed him keenly with shrewd eyes like he was a piece of meat she was appraising.

Eventually, she sighed, rubbing her temple in small circles.

“I just can't figure you out. You’ve been true to your words, and not caused any problems in the past week, but I simply don't understand why you still choose to work here. You've even gone and evolved your skill.”

She sighed loudly, mumbling about how she didn’t get paid enough to deal with this sort of stress.

Arthur was quickly getting irritated at the constant suspicion that was thrown his way by the woman but tried to control his growing temper by reminding himself that what he was doing wouldn't make any sense from an outsider's perspective. Heck, it didn’t make much sense to him anymore.

“Still, I guess I should consider myself lucky that the best healer in the city works at my establishment. Probably one of the best on the planet. I know that these accusations may be getting tiresome for you, but you must know that I simply can't in good conscience trust you.” Julia explained wearily.

Arthur felt a little mollified. At least the woman had the decency to acknowledge how annoying she was, which was a lot better than a lot of the dicks he’d met in his near two decades of life.

“Don't worry, I understand, and you don't have to worry about me. I have no ulterior motives here at all.” Arthur said with a smile on his face.

“Uh-oh,” Julia replied. “No Arthur, I worry. I worry a lot. I was about to send someone to call you here, you know, and you somehow being here before that is just uncanny. You’re a little creepy, you know that?”

Arthur just shrugged at that. Unable to respond to the woman's blunt honesty.

Juliah sighed. Again. That was quickly getting annoying.

“Anyway, I didn't want to see you just to get on your case. Well maybe a little bit,” she admitted.

“But I actually wanted you here to tell you that a very specific request had been made for your unique services.”

She said the word like it left a bad taste in her mouth.

“From some very, very important people, might I add.”

Arthur was curious and a little weary when he heard that.

“But don't worry about that. We both know that I can't force you to do anything you don't want to, and I don't think you’d appreciate me trying to blackmail you in any case.” Julia said, trying to ease some of the cautions that had appeared on Arthur's face. She didn't want to antagonise this golden goose.

“So what is it exactly that they want from me?” Arthur asked.

“I’m sure there must be some pretty unique circumstances that they required my specific skill set to handle.”

Julia smiled when Arthur said that. It meant he was interested. No matter what the young man said, it wasn’t like he actually had a choice in the matter, though it’d be better for everyone involved if he thought he did. The people behind her insisted on his cooperation.

“Well, have you heard of the Zaibatsu corporation?” Julia asked him.

When she saw the confusion on Arthur's face, she quickly explained. She hadn’t expected him to know much but she was a little surprised. After all, her investigations had said that he used to supply illegal firearms on the streets.

“They basically supply one-seventh of the guns currently in circulation in the United States.“

Arthur blanched when he heard that. I knew I'd seen that name somewhere.

“As you can guess, it's in the government's best interest to keep those people as happy as possible.”

Arthur swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. One fucking seventh. He blanched when considering the powers they would no doubt hold. He might survive getting shot at now, with his high physical stats, but he wasn’t willing to put it to the test.

“And you said that they want my help,” Arthur asked. He was more than a little confused, equally weary and intrigued by what such a request meant. The risk of getting involved with such a powerful group was great, but so too were the potential rewards if he managed to form a connection with them.

Julia smiled when she realised that Arthur was hooked. Like a fish biting on bait. Now she just needed to reel him in.

“Well you see, the CEO of the company, Tatsumi, has a son about your age, and the two of them managed to awaken with the extremely rare affinity of blood magic. As you can no doubt guess, the man spent a lot of resources to push the two of them to incredibly high levels. At least that's what we’ve been told.”

Her tone made it clear that she didn’t believe a word of what she was saying. Arthur nodded along, following the explanation with rapt attention, even if it was probably filled with misinformation.

“Well you see, the extreme power levelling has resulted in certain complications occurring in the CEO’s son.”

“Complications that have not been disclosed,” Julia quickly added when she saw Arthur's inquisitive glare.

”They said they want to meet with you and discuss the details in person.”

Arthur was immediately wary of the entire thing being a trap, But nothing short of death would stop him from going there once he heard Julia’s next words.

“They’re offering a monster core as payment if you go to visit them.”