GCLopes

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 20: A Fighter's Heart

Jamie nodded while explaining how to get to the old Fat Pig. However, the moment he mustered the strength to stand up, the exhaustion of the day, combined with his injury, made him collapse as his vision went dark.

When Jamie finally opened his eyes, night had fully enveloped the world. Twin moons hung high in the sky, their soft glow streaming through the window beside his bed.

‘Two moons,’ Jamie mused, a faint smile touching his lips. ‘It's a quick way to know I'm still in...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 19: The Hartfield

“What am I doing?!" he chastised himself aloud.

The three goblins remained oblivious to his presence, their gazes locked onto their terrified prey. They moved with predatory intent, crooked knives ready at their hands as they closed in on the trembling girl, hemming her in against the grimy alley wall.

Jamie’s mind raced, desperate to formulate a plan. He scanned his surroundings for anything that could serve as a weapon, but the situation seemed hopeless. He hadn't thought to...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 172: Battling in a Mecha

- Oliver -

"Just perfect," Oliver muttered under his breath.

In any other situation, for most people, piloting a mecha in a fight against three Red Orks might have been a sign that things were going well. But trapped inside a leaning skyscraper, with a five-meter-tall mech barely fitting in the cramped spaces, piloted by someone as inexperienced as himself, and with a robot lacking proper weaponry—the odds were decidedly not in Oliver's favor.

"At least I ...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 18: Monster Rush

| Member Slot consumed

| 1# Member: Eliza Oakbarrel
| Trust: [30/100]
| Class: Cook
| Level: 1
| Experience: [262/1000]

"Cook?" Jamie murmured, eyebrows raised in surprise at Eliza's class. 'Isn't that more of a profession than a class?' he thought. 

The notion puzzled him, lingering in the back of his mind. It wasn't the right moment to question further, as it might reveal his ignorance of common knowledge. Even Jay’s memories offered no answer, leaving ...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 171: Rescue

- Oliver -

Oliver gripped the control sticks firmly, feeling the responsive tension beneath his hands. Taking a deep breath, he steadied his nerves. "Here goes nothing," Oliver muttered under his breath.

As soon as he twisted one of them, the mecha lurched forward. Small bursts of energy erupted behind the wheels embedded in its feet, propelling it across the tilted surface. The building was leaning dangerously, and Oliver used that to his advantage, sliding the m...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 17: First Member

Over the next several days, Jamie and Jay awaited the arrival of someone from the City Guard, expecting the necessary documents to be delivered at any moment. However, things did not proceed as the captain had promised. An entire week passed before a soldier finally appeared at the Broken Eagle Tavern, seeking the bard.

Jamie sat at a secluded corner table, quill in hand, scribbling his customary notes. The warm glow of the hearth cast a gentle light over the parchment, and the hum of c...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 16: The Gangmaker

"Error. Gangmaker System Unlocked."

Jamie stared at the sudden message that flickered before his eyes, golden letters hovering in the air for only a moment before fading away. Though surprise coursed through him, he kept his expression neutral, not allowing even a flicker to betray his thoughts. Beside him, Jay floated inquisitively, the ethereal being's eyes widening as he tried to glimpse the mysterious notification.

"Thank you for your time, Captain. I'll be at the Broken Eagle...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 15: Four Pieces of Gold

The lieutenant commanding the soldiers stepped forward, unrolling a parchment with a flourish. "By order of the Captain of the City Guard," he proclaimed, his voice sharp and authoritative, "this establishment is hereby closed. The proprietor, Mr. Bones, is to be detained and investigated for conspiracy and attempted murder against three members of the City Guard."

Even before the officer had finished speaking, Mr. Bones erupted in protest. "This is an outrage!" he bellowed, his face fl...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 14: The End For The Pig

Above the soldier's head, delicate script shimmered into view

A soldier stews with a fiery ire,
His heart consumed by a burning desire.
With prejudice sharp and a vengeful jig,
He dreams to destroy the golden fat pig.

As the trio of soldiers settled themselves among the tavern's patrons, their stern faces momentarily softened by the allure of music, Jamie's lips curved into a subtle, knowing smile.

Between songs, Jamie called over the servin...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 13: The Last Piece

| Your words of revolution set your listener’s hearts on fire

| + 100 Experience Points

Jamie stared at the glowing notification hovering before his eyes, his gaze widening in surprise. He hadn’t expected to receive experience so frequently, and the realization brought a broad grin to his face.

He imagined the bard card before him, causing his status page to materialize.

| James Frostwatch (Soul: James Murtagh)
| Experience: [160 / 2000]

"Maybe it's not so...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 12: The First Performance

Jamie tapped his foot impatiently against the tavern's worn wooden floor, his eyes fixed on the stage where the old bard stubbornly clung to his performance. Despite the copious amounts of wine he'd consumed, the minstrel seemed remarkably resistant to its effects, lasting several hours longer than anyone anticipated. At long last, the wine claimed victory, sending him stumbling off the stage and silencing his off-key humming.

"Thank the gods," Jamie muttered, massaging his weary ears. ...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 11: The Fat Pig

Jamie's eyes gleamed with excitement as the lively sounds of the city enveloped them. "First things first," he grinned. "We find a tavern."

Though Jamie seemed sure of his plan, finding the perfect target for their first move in Hafenstadt was far from simple. He and Jay spent hours roaming through the city’s bustling commercial district, where taverns lined the streets. Yet it soon became apparent that this part of town already belonged to a local gang.

In the crowded avenues, ...

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 10: Hafenstadt

Jamie had never been particularly drawn to music or instruments. As a child, his parents forced him to learn a bit of classical piano, but those memories and skills faded long ago. Yet now, he felt a stirring within—a latent talent was awakened by his new class as a bard.

Atop a stubborn mule, Jamie and Jay traveled at the very end of the bishop's entourage. It was clear the others preferred to keep their distance as if wishing to avoid any association with him.

The young man di...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 170: Atlas-M

- Oliver -

The building had been hit.

Oliver felt the staircase vanish beneath his feet, a sudden lurch that sent his stomach plummeting. Instinctively, he lunged upward, his fingers clamping onto a metal railing bolted to the wall. The cold steel bit into his palms, but he held on with desperate strength. With his other hand, he grabbed Hector's arm just as the floor collapsed entirely, leaving a yawning chasm where the solid ground had been moments before.

My next story just got to Royal Road

The Crime Lord Bard is a LitRPG (Progression) Fantasy that follows the story of Jamie, a Crime Lord in the real world. You will follow him on his journey as he is summoned to another world to become a hero. A hero?! Maybe this other world needs a villain.

This is a story with an anti-hero. Expect plenty of progression, adventure, D&D, and a bard doing bard things. Plus, a protagonist who doesn’t care about the Geneva Convention.

If you're an @Ranger I will start posting the ...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 169: Retreat

- Oliver -

"Ladies and gentlemen," the android's voice resonated. "Let us start our auction."

As the android's announcement echoed throughout the grand hall, the attendees began to make their way to their seats. Unfortunately for Oliver and Hector, their seats were near the back of the auditorium—perhaps a subtle reminder of their last-minute registration or their perceived lack of importance in such elite circles.

"We will begin with the more common items...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 168: The Report

- General Stewart -

The double doors slid open with a soft murmur, disappearing seamlessly into the walls, as if the mansion itself acknowledged the General's presence.

General Stewart walked in with a weary grace. Tall and slender, his hair a blend of black and white, he prepared himself for yet another daunting meeting. Clad in his official uniform, a white cloak flowed softly around his silent footsteps. Eyes as dark as the depths of space swept across the room...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 167: Auction

- Oliver -

"N-no need to worry. I can arrange that for you," Hector said, a confident smile spreading across his face.

‘Jackpot!’ Oliver thought, careful not to let his excitement show. This was the opportunity he'd been waiting for.

"It's still going to take some time before it starts, but if you're going to participate in the auction, it's better if we sign you up," Hector suggested, stepping away from his booth with a purposeful stride.

"Isn't i...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 166: Atlas

- Oliver -

Oliver straightened his suit, taking a deep breath to steady himself. "Time to buy some mechs.".

As he passed through the entrance of the grand hall, Oliver was greeted with the breathtaking sight of the hotel's convention center. It was almost impossible to believe that all of this was on the seventieth floor if not for the enormous glass panes showcasing the city sprawling below. The sheer scale and opulence made it feel as though he had stepped into ...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 165: The Festival

- Oliver -

Unfortunately, they wouldn't have the same leisure time tomorrow. With preparations needed for the upcoming exercise, tonight had been a brief respite—a momentary breath of freedom—before the next days passed, and the time came for them to depart for Cygnus.

With everything ready for the start of the exercise, Oliver was awakened earlier than usual. At 5 AM sharp, his alarm jolted him into consciousness.

All that remained was to wait until his...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 164: 31st Floor

- Oliver -

"Cassius Blackstone—Asteroid Mining Entrepreneur."

Oliver studied the man's face; there was no resemblance between them whatsoever.

The hologram appeared like a short video, showing Cassius on an icy planet with a few rocks around him. His figure looked imposing, dressed in orange mining gear. At the same time, his belly was slightly protruding, as if, despite exercising and working on something so exhausting, he still had a monstrous appetite.<...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 163: Cygnus

- Oliver -

"Great, thank you," Oliver replied, a determined glint in his eye as he turned toward his fellow Rangers. ‘It's time to catch up,’ he thought.

Despite his confident demeanor, Oliver's body felt heavy. The effects of [Prometheus] weighed on him, especially after using it on such sensitive parts of his body. A dull ache throbbed behind his eyes, and his limbs felt leaden. He could feel the strain that the technique imposed, but he wasn't about to let ...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 162: Armor Morph Control

- Oliver -

Determined, Oliver steadied himself. "I still need to test this with someone," he resolved, his voice echoing softly in the empty chamber.

Yet, despite his determination, it was already late into the night. As he stepped out of the training room, he found the corridors deserted. Not a single recruit was in sight on the first floor or on any of the levels above. Even the staircase was shrouded in shadows.

With no one around, Oliver had no choice bu...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 161: A New View

- Oliver -

"Finally. Time for another gamble," Oliver thought.

Yet another day had slipped by without him learning how to alter his armor using his Energy. Frustration gnawed at him; the deadline for the practical exercise was approaching fast, and he was no closer to mastering the synchronization that seemed to come so effortlessly to his peers.

| New Technique Acquired

| [Infiltration] Silent Steps
| Progress: 20.33%

Using his [Left Eye of L...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 160: The History

- Oliver -

As Oliver activated his [Insight], he braced himself for the familiar onslaught of information—a torrent of hundreds of thousands of data points flooding his mind. Usually, only a fragment of this flood would linger long enough to grant him a deeper understanding of a system's mechanics or schematics.

But this time, nothing happened.

No surge of knowledge. No cascade of images or blueprints flashing before his eyes. His mind remained blank.

The Crime Lord Bard - Chapter 9: The Entourage

"How fortunate!" Jay exclaimed, hovering at Jamie's side. "The lady Vivi accepted easily—now I’m free- I mean, we’re free!"

"Yes, though something tells me she didn't want this marriage anyway. So it's great for everyone," Jamie replied as he walked toward his chamber.

Upon arriving, he found two soldiers standing guard outside his door alongside Tom, the captain of the guard.

"I told you I'd be rewarded," Jamie said, shaking a pouch that jingled with gold coins.

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 159: [Insight]

- Oliver -

There was a general murmur of agreement among the group, but Oliver hesitated. Slowly, he raised his hand. "Not yet," he admitted.

Dante scratched his beard thoughtfully—the face he wore still altered from his earlier demonstration—and stepped closer to Oliver, studying him intently. "That's going to be hard," the officer remarked. "You have very little time."

"Won't six months be enough?" Oliver asked in surprise. He recalled that Katherine h...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 158: Silent Chamber

- Oliver -

"Sir," Oliver began, once Dante acknowledged him. "If you're capable of altering your appearance and clearly have more experience than us, why aren't you the one going on this mission?"

Dante scratched the back of his neck thoughtfully, his gaze drifting momentarily as he considered how to explain.

"Understand. Although there was an attack by the Children of The Past, they are still not the highest priority for the Empire. We still have the Tenth ...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 157: Surveillance & Counter Surveillance

- Oliver -

"The staircases open at 0600 hours sharp," Darius explained. "All training sessions start at 0800. If you don't reach the first floor before classes begin, they consider you unfit to participate."

As soon as Darius finished explaining, he quickened his pace, taking the stairs two at a time. Oliver hurried to keep up, their footsteps echoing against the metallic steps of the colossal spiral staircase. At first, they remained close, matching each other's ...

I'll Be The Red Ranger - Chapter 156: The Silo

- Oliver -

Suddenly, everything went black.

When Oliver finally regained consciousness, he found himself lying flat on a narrow bunk. A dim light flickered overhead, casting elongated shadows across the metallic walls of the small room. The steady hum of the fortress's life support systems filled the air, a constant reminder of their subterranean location.

"Ah! Finally awake, are we?" a voice commented wryly. "It's normal—the General doesn't take kindly to...