Chapter 25: Military Attention.

Spending the rest of the week with Gwen, he browses the skills and knowledge section of the trading site and buys an upgraded version of his knowledge when the next session comes.

Named skills such as 'Mount Hua Swordsmanship', 'Heaven Pathway Footwork', 'Acupuncture point','Konoha Taijutsu' and more are bought by him. All the named item are listed at more than 3000 tc.

"I want to buy more, but it's hard to do that if I have no one to compare it to. If I didn't digest the skill and knowledge first, then all of this will be pointless."

Although it's a named skill, necessary energy should be used to accompany it. In which he bought the 'Energy mimicry by Archmage Path'. It'll allow you to mimic other types of energy using your magic circuit skills.

Two weeks pass by quickly, and now he gets the magic circuit skill. When it's integrated into his body, he feels like his entire body is boiling. "Agrh", he gritted his teeth when the feeling turned to pain.

His other body 'Kai' needed to be shut down to make sure the process went smoothly. Skye panicked because Kai fainted suddenly. But that is a story for another time.

"Damn it, I didn't expect that!" He woke up after an hour, finishing the integration. His body feels more powerful now, and his energy seems endless.

He knows this is an illusion of powerfulness created by the magic circuit skill as mentioned by the guidebook, but he can't help it." This is only the first level?" If he wanted to, he could destroy his entire house even with the first level.

Magic circuit magic opens up magic Pathway on his body, starting from his dantian, and spreading out to his arm and legs.

He notices that his magic circuit skill has limitations for his clone. He can only use ⅕ of the magic reserve for the clone if he want to.

After asking around, Mythic told the theory that magic requires mind, soul, and body. He can split his mind to his clone, but his body is still the same. If he wanted the clone to have magic, he needed to buy another skill for it.

Ryan contemplates whether to buy another magic circuit for his clone, when QueenElf interjects.

Queenelf: Why don't you buy another type of energy for the clone? That way you can still do something in case magical energy isn't useful.

Hydra : Wouldn't it cause backlash?

Mythic : I don't think it will, if there's backlash maybe it'll be on your mind and soul, but after you split yours, it won't matter. Maybe it can make your mind and soul become more powerful. I know a guy in my world who did that and became a genius warrior.

The doctor : You know if your mind is powerful enough, you can split another clone.? I have one ready anytime you want.

Ignoring the doctor, Ryan took Queenelf and Mythic's advice on the energy thing. He searched around, and decided to settle on "Essence Energy Art'' for his clone.

People who practise this art can also have a companion beast that follows them. He decided to have his clone to check it out later. Essence Energy Art could be upgraded with enough essence energy crystal so he's not worried about it.

In the gym in his penthouse, the sound of metal falling is continuously heard. Ryan is now getting used to his body's new strength, skills, and energy. Gwen isn't staying at his house for a week because she went back home with her parents.

George did throw a fuss when he found out they are living together, but Ryan has Rodrigue by his side, constantly appeasing George and complimenting Ryan. It does make George wonder if Ryan made the prosthetics just to gain backup in his fight to steal his daughter.

The moment he finished practicing his swordsmanship, Ryan is greeted by Hiddle, who was granted all time access to his house through ALBUS. "Young master, when did you know how to practice swords?"

"I've been practising for a while", He said while wiping his sweat using a towel.

"You need an instructor to make sure you don't get hurt during practice. I'll arrange one for you right away" Hiddle says. He only said it as he didn't see Ryan actually practising his sword, if he did, then he would know that it's not necessary.

"Why did you come here, Hiddle?" Ryan quickly moves away from the topic.

Hiddle, who still has a poker face said "Your prediction is right, the military has been trying to reverse engineer your invention."

"As you have put encryption on it, it seems that they are changing targets to you instead. They have been wanting to meet you for a while, and pulling all sorts of favours with your father. "

" The Knights family has been in the military faction , even as there's only you and your father left, we still keep close ties to some military generals and officials. I'm sorry to say this young master but you're gonna have to meet them. "

Hiddle spoke slowly and clearly to placate his young master. Ryan did warn them about what will happen when the product comes out, and gives them necessary information and guidance to battle it.

But now the military plays the relationship card, they have no choice but to respond to it. Hiddle does feel guilty in forcing his master to do it.

Ryan agrees reluctantly to it. They'll be meeting military representatives tomorrow at the company. He does agree, but it doesn't mean that he's going to compromise on it.

The meeting comes quickly. "This is Lieutenant Gregory from the military Research and Development Division, and Lieutenant Well, from the United States Army." Tim introduces the representative to his son.

Gregory shook hands with Ryan, "Mr Ryan, I heard so much about you, it's an honour to be able to meet you." Gregory does think it's an honour.

Ryan's research that he published has allowed many new inventions to be created by the military. And if there's an opportunity to work together, he will gladly do it.

Lieutenant Wells also shook hands with Ryan, but with a stern face. Ryans malice talisman gives some mild reaction, so he knows he has to be careful in this meeting. But not so much.

Now he has magic, he can use the many magic knowledge he bought from before. Like magic grimoires, Hogwarts year 1-7 curriculum and many more. He can do it chantless and without a wand.

He uses legilimency to read the surface thoughts of Lieutenant Wells. Turns out he's from Hydra, and his purpose today is to ruin the cooperation between the Knight family and the military.

Then the Hydra faction will swoop in, and bring the Knight family to their side when the situation worsens.

Ryan snickered in his heart. If this was before he got magic, maybe he'll worry a bit. Not very much, just a little bit of worry.

If Hydra does try something before, he just needs to put some document on the rest of a certain pirate, and watch Hydra get bit.

As expected, the conversation didn't go smoothly. Gregory asks him for cooperation.

"We have been interested in your artificial limb. We think that there is big potential for this invention. I'm hoping we can work together on it to make it better!"

But Wells asks him to hand over his core programming immediately, his excuse is to give benefit to disabled veterans of the US army, and Ryan should do that if he is a citizen of the United States.

Tim doesn't take this lightly, and before an argument occurs, Ryan stops Tim, and asks calmly. "Is this the decision of the military, or is it your decision Lieutenant Wells."

Wells snorted and said. "I represent the US army in this matter, my decision is the US army decision." He says arrogantly.

"Then come by when you have a seizure warrant from the country, or do you want to answer to the public why the military is forcing their citizens into unlawful entrapment?"

Wells gets mad at the instigative word of Ryan. "What we want is for the benefit of the army"

"What you actually want is to recycle the abandoned soldier, by turning their limb into a weapon." Ryan interjected.

Wells forgot to refute it before saying "So what if they turn them into weapons, they should be honored to serve the country"! Loudly.

Ryan smiles as Wells is already in his trap. As a Hydra agent, he is actually pretty capable, but Ryan casts confundus charm to confuse him and make him susceptible to suggestion, forcing him to make mistakes. "If not, then maybe his true colour won't be shown"

Gregory, who didn't get a word in, already knows that the negotiation broke down when Wells said that. He wants to save whatever is left, but Wells continues.

"If you hand over the blueprint and programming, I'm sure that your work overseas, your refugee center and school, will be protected by the US army."

Ryan almost laughed out loud for the pissy threat. But he continues to instigate. "So the military doesn't protect the interest of citizens overseas, as it should in the constitution right?"

Tim got the shudder as he saw how his son manipulates the man. Wells blows up after hearing that "You f*cker!" and lunges towards Ryan before Gregory intervenes and holds him back. Security comes into the meeting hall quickly. Ryan then left with Tim.

Tim now labeled his son as 'scary if he is forced to do something he doesn't want to do.' Wells' next move is actually to instigate military officials against the Knight family after the negotiations are ruined, but something else happened.

Anonymous information appears at several top tier journalists in the media, even the original recording where the Lieutenant of the US army admits they want to turn the disabled into weapons, causing the media to have a party. Several accusatory headlines appear causing a lot of heat on the military.

Wells' action to forcibly seize company property also didn't sit well with the capitalist of the country, making the officials even more pressured.

American Associations for people with disabilities started to protest on the street, making the situation even more chaotic.

The military does try to contain the media about the issue, but with social media already in place, the leaked recording has been shared to millions of people.

Even Stark industry, who is the bosom friend of the United States Army, doesn't want to get involved in dealing with this.

The protest attracted more people, and then quickly turned into riots. In the end, even the White House suffers the blame on 'Inhuman act towards the disabled'.

With the leaked conversation, Hydra's plan turns to dust, and Wells now has to face military court.

The military has to save their reputation, by placing a large order of Knights prosthetics and giving them away for free towards the disabled veterans. Only then the situation eased a little.

Ryan doesn't care about the aftermath. He may have had some bad reputation in the military after this, but he didn't think he did something wrong.

He had already seen how leaders twist their word, manipulate opinions on wars, trick the young by the word of patriotism, sending them to their death, all because of money and power.

"Even in my previous life, things didn't change."

"War is where the young and stupid are tricked by the old and bitter into killing each other." He still remembers the quote from a game he used to play.

When he's going to sleep at night, he can sense a slight malice detected from his talisman. "It seems like Hydra is monitoring me? They are so cute"

After he mocked them, he apparated to the source of malice. In the next building, a sniper is targeting him inside the house. But he could only monitor the living room, not the bedroom.

"Target is going to bed. Should I go in and kill him?" The killer asks using his earpiece. The voice from the other side said "No, just monitor him for the moment"

Suddenly, the agent screams. The voice from the other side yelled "What's going on?"

The killer is now dead. But the earpiece is still asking him. Ryan smiles and picks up the earpiece. He changed his voice and said "Nothings wrong. Just a cockroach"