Currently, in the city of Tosided.
Screams could be heard from the red light district. People from the surroundings looked at the pale faced fleeing 'workers' and 'customers' with questioning gazes.
Guards were soon called to the scene.
Questioning the fleeing people, they found out that people have died in the casino owned by Mr. Shigoto.
Heading to question the man himself, they were all turned away at his office door.
Actually turned away that is. The guards were physically turned around. Walking in the direction of the door, you couldn't even near it before finding yourself walking in the opposite direction.
Yelling for him to open the door also had no response.
The guards had soon called on the knight captain to take care of this and were waiting patiently with a few still trying to enter.
The arrival of the knight captain was met with relief. After questioning the guards and employees about situation, he neared the door and opened it without a problem.
Shooting the guards an annoyed look, a voice could be heard telling him to enter and as he did, the door closed and silence resumed.
There was still no way for anyone to enter.
As a last ditch effort the guards tried to call upon the city lord. He will soon arrive.
...
"Now then. Let's start some friendly negotiations shall we?"
Screams were heard from the first floor.
"And what type of negotiations do you have in mind?" asked Shigoto.
"A simple give and take relationship." Mizuki awnsered.
"You say friendly but what about those screams?"
Shigoto crossed his arms and leaned back after Mizuki cancelled her space magic.
"Friendly in the means of neither you nor I will get injured. The customers below I am using as an example to show you that I am not to be trifled with. It is very simple to understand, no?"
Shigoto narrowed his eyes.
"Then what do you wish of me Mrs. M?"
Before she could awnser, an employee tried to enter the room, so Mizuki cast a simple spell to turn them around when nearing the door.
"Mrs. M?"
"Ah yes. Someone tried to enter during our talk. So I stopped them."
"Right."
"Anyway. What I want from you is easy. Loyalty and Information."
"And what do I receive in return?"
"Besides keeping your life, a new boss and money what else do you need?"
Placing his elbow on the table and leaning on his hand, Shigoto thought for a moment before awnsering.
"The simple awnser would be power. Not only individual strength but also political influence."
"So something on the level of a guild leader or higher?"
"If possible. Then more."
"Ruler?"
Shigoto only showed a slight smile.
"You're a greedy one."
"You need to be greedy in this line of work. Besides greed you need the intuition to know what calls to make and when. For example.."
A sudden bolt of lightning flew from Shigoto's right horn right at Mizuki's eyes, unlike other types of lightning bolts, this one didn't split at all. It was almost like a beam of light.
Before it could reach Mizuki's left eye, it stopped.
A silent 'Tch' could be heard as tens of other lightning bolts were released from all around the room.
"Using the lightning element in such a fashion along with your [Mana Condensation] skill is truly very innovative."
Mizuki spoke as every bolt was stopped and then all dissapeared one by one.
"They can be manipulated from a distance to home in on and follow enemies along with making sudden changes in their trajectory if your control is good enough."
A similar bolt came out of a ripple in space as it bounced around the room yet didn't leave a single scortch mark.
"A very interesting spell you have there. I wonder who wrote it."
In this world, spells can only be written by great magicians and sages. While some can be found in the occasional monster den chest, that hapening would be extremely rare.
The bolt finally stopped right infront of Shigoto's face and condensed into a ball like shape, then dissipated.
"Well then. Now that we are done with the show and tell, back to buisness. I assume your [Buisnessman] title isn't just for show?"
"You got me. You're the better lightning user between us."
"Yes I know. So what I will offer in turn for your loyalty is simple. Power, fame and money. Fame so you can start gaining popularity and sooner or later some political power due to your increase in fame. Power through different spells and magic circles and money, about 20 or so platinum coins should do for a down payment right?"
"That is fine it's not like I have much of a choice."
"Then I guess I should say welcome."
Reaching out his hand, Mizuki refused it.
"Don't try to use that unique skill on me boy."
Shigoto sat back down with a bead of sweat on his forehead.
'Aren't Unique grade skills automatically blocked for all [Identify] and [Appraisal] users? What skills does this person have?'
At this exact moment, a strong aura was approaching the door.
'Perfect timing.'
Disarming her spell for a moment, she waited for the door to open and said in a calm manner.
"Feel free to enter."
The moment the knight captain entered, he was enamored by Mizuki. He was then quickly forced to kneel with space magic.
"Spread the word. Shigoto is now a direct subordinate to a pirate lord. Everyone under him should be proud and everyone against him should be ready to get wiped from time and space."
With Mizuki casting a concealing barrier around this building, she let out her full aura that almost made the captain faint and Shigoto heavily sweat.
'Luckily she outdid me in this talk of ours. If I had fooled her I would be dead.' was what he thought.
Concealing her aura and braking the barrier, Mizuki told the knight captain to take his leave and not forget to spread the word.
She was about to continue to talk to Shigoto but before she could open her mouth, a notification appeared.
[This is a worldwide announcement.
A Rank [World] Sanctuary has spawned in the Southern Sea of the Western Continent.
Luck is wished to those who will challenge the Sanctuary.
End of announcement.]
Suddenly nearly every face on the planet went pale.
A world rank sanctuary was no walk in the park. It couldn't even be considered a marathon through hell.
The last time a high ranking Sanctuary appeared was nearly 50 years ago and it was a rank below world. Even though, the system still made an announcement to everyone on the eastern continent. Because of that sanctuary, half the continent was almost burned off the map. The stone spikes were remnants of the final boss battle that came after the so called 'breach'.
A rank above that was now threatening the existance of nearly every race on the planet, and it appeared only a few tens of kilometers from Mizuki's current position.
An earthquake that made the entire Western continent shake soon started. And before the sanctuary could even fully spawn, hundreads had already died due to sudden cracks in the earth and 10 meter tall waves.
[[World] Rank Sanctuary [Dungeon of Fireflies] has fully engraved itself in the planet.
Luck is wished for the challengers.
If the Sanctuary is not cleared within [10] days a Breach shall occur and all entities within the Sanctuary shall escape it's confines.]
"Well. Stand up and get going, don't forget your orders."
The knight captain ran out of the room with a pale face.
"Now that he is gone. Mr. Shigoto."
Turning her gaze from the door to her new subordinate, Mizuki could see Shigoto almost in prayer.
"How about you tell me the information I need now."
"... How are you calm after that announcement?"
"Simple. I found a fast and efficient way to increase your fame, which will remove one of your conditions to fully follow me with all your being."
Mizuki's eyes slightly narrowed as Shigoto opened his eyes, looking almost in denial.
"Now. Mr. Shigoto."
Mizuki stood up and looked him in the eyes.
"How do you feel about clearing a Sanctuary with me?"