[System Notification: Evolution Complete.]
[Ability Acquired: {Multiple Minor Five Elements Clone} (Gold)]
[Description: You can now generate multiple concurrent elemental clones. Each clone possesses semi-autonomous intelligence and can act independently.]
A simple description, but Ryker knew better. Sometimes, a single screw tightened in the right place could overhaul an entire machine.
Previously, his cloning ability was limited by his mental bandwidth—controlling three clones in Heaven's Arena had pushed him near his limit. But this fusion? It was a force multiplier. Now, he could potentially deploy thirty or more independent agents at once. It wasn't just an upgrade; it was an army in his pocket.
Feels good.
Ryker stood over the headless corpse of Tocino, a genuinely pleasant smile on his face.
"You... you bastard! You actually killed him?!"
Dalzollene's voice cracked through the speakers, trembling with rage. "Tocino was just following my orders! It was a standard stress test for new recruits! Why didn't you hold back?"
He couldn't believe it. His authority as Captain had been shattered in seconds. He had planned to intimidate the rookies, to establish the pecking order. Instead, his most trusted lieutenant was now painting the floor red.
"Why is a security guard barking so loudly? Did I eat your lunch or something?"
Ryker looked at the screen with bored irritation.
"Tocino opened fire on everyone here. If I were weaker, I'd be dead. Do you think the Nostrade family pays death benefits to temp hires? I have no kin in this world. If I die here, I die for nothing."
He gestured vaguely at the corpse. "He even used his Nen puppets to try and stab us. In your world, if the weak die during a test, it's 'natural selection.' But when I lightly tap him and he explodes? Suddenly I'm the villain?"
Ryker scoffed. "He shot at me first. I defended myself. Frankly, I think I was remarkably merciful. I could have killed you through the screen."
Damn it. It felt like a PhD candidate applying for a janitorial job, only to be grilled by the night shift manager. If Ryker didn't have such high professional standards, he would have already hunted Dalzollene down and ended this conversation permanently.
"What... what are you talking about?" Dalzollene sputtered.
Kurapika stepped in front of Ryker again, chains rattling, eyes scanning the room for threats.
"Tsk, tsk. I really like this bad boy attitude~" Baise murmured, her eyes glued to Ryker.
"I didn't see that coming," Basho muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. "For a Two-Star Hunter, his temper is... explosive."
"It's not just temper," Melody whispered, her face pale. She clutched her chest, trying to calm her own racing heart. "He's... terrifying. Even when he killed that man, his heartbeat didn't change. Not even a flutter. It was like he swatted a fly."
She looked at Ryker with genuine fear. To her heightened senses, he felt less like a human and more like a calamity wrapped in skin. She wanted to run, job be damned.
"I don't like repeating myself," Ryker announced, walking over to the main chair in the hall and sitting down. He crossed his legs, looking down at the other applicants like a king on his throne.
"Go tell your boss. From this moment on, I am the Captain of the bodyguard unit. If the idiot on the TV screen has a problem with that, tell him to pack his bags and get lost."
He smirked. "Kurapika will be the Vice-Captain. If any of you have an issue with this arrangement, the door is open. If you want to stay, shut up and follow orders."
"Wow... so domineering. Big sister loves it. Do you need a girlfriend, handsome?"
Baise swayed her hips, walking toward him with a seductive smile. She licked her lips, leaning in close.
Slap!
The sound was crisp. Baise spun around, stumbling back, her face stinging.
"I have no interest in a mouth that's tasted half the city," Ryker said coldly. He hadn't even stood up. No one had seen his hand move.
[DING! You defeated Baise. 10% chance to plunder Trait...]
[DING! Success. Acquired: {180-Minute Love Slave} (Purple)]
Trash.
Ryker dismissed the notification. A Manipulator ability, but only Purple tier? He didn't even want to waste his Luck talent on it. Blue tier abilities were basically white noise at this point.
Her ability was simple: kiss a target, and they become her slave. It was how she had climbed the ladder, kissing her way through the underworld. Ryker had standards. He had a metaphorical cleanliness disorder when it came to used goods.
Should I crush it for XP?
He paused.
Wait. Maybe I'll keep it.
In his hands, the ability would evolve. Instead of a temporary enslavement, it could become absolute loyalty. He was here to conquer the world, not play romance games, but... a harem of absolutely loyal, high-powered subordinates? That wasn't a terrible contingency plan. He was a transmigrator, after all. A little indulgence was a perk of the job.
Baise clutched her swelling cheek, stunned. Her charm—her greatest weapon—had failed instantly. She realized with horror that if she tried to use her ability on him, she would end up like Tocino.
"This is the first and last warning," Ryker said, his voice dropping an octave. "If you try to use your Nen on me again, I guarantee your face will end up looking worse than that watermelon over there."
"U-Understood..."
The seductress shrank back, nodding rapidly. Beside her, Basho and Melody looked like they wanted to disappear into the floor.
Squala, the dark-skinned man with the dogs, was trembling. He was the second hidden examiner. Tocino had been the first test; he was supposed to be the backup. Now, he felt like a man standing on a landmine.
"So... anyway," Basho laughed nervously. "Captain, I write haikus. Should I... compose one for your inauguration?"
Damn it! Who isn't scared?! Ryker was a demon. He killed a pro Hunter like he was taking out the trash. No one wanted to be next.
"Gulp..." Squala swallowed hard. He was stuck. Dalzollene was his boss, but Ryker was... Ryker was right here, and he was lethal.
Suddenly, Squala snapped to attention.
"Captain! Reporting for duty!"
He stepped forward and executed a perfect salute, sweat pouring down his face.
"I am also an undercover examiner! Tocino was a Hunter, but I'm just a Manipulator! My ability is controlling dogs! I'm the kennel master! All the dogs on the estate are under my control! They can monitor intruders and attack on command! Please instruct me, Captain!"
Basho and Baise stared at him, jaw-dropped.
What a sellout!
This guy flipped sides faster than a coin toss. He not only surrendered but completely exposed his own undercover status and ability. If there was a gold medal for betrayal, Squala just won it.
"Oh?" Ryker looked at him, amused. "Not bad. You have excellent survival instincts. What's your name?"
Ryker scanned him. Blue traits across the board. Garbage stats. But that attitude? That was promotable.
"Squala, sir! But you can just call me Little Squala!" he said with a fawning grin.
He had done the math. Offending Dalzollene meant getting yelled at or fired. Offending Ryker meant getting decapitated. It wasn't a hard choice. Plus, hugging the golden thigh of a Two-Star Hunter? That was a career upgrade.
"Alright, Little Squala. You can stay. The rest of you?" Ryker asked.
"I-I'll stay!"
"Me too!"
"And me!"
They all agreed instantly. No one dared to leave. The heat from Ryker's presence was burning their seats, but the fear of walking out was worse.
"Good. The more the merrier. Saves me the trouble of recruiting," Ryker nodded. "As for the Hunter Association? Don't worry. Tocino attacked first. It was self-defense. Netero has better things to do than investigate the death of a weakling."
The strong make the rules. The weak tremble beneath them.
"You..."
On the screen, Dalzollene was shaking. He knew Ryker was right. He saw the power. He saw the license. But his pride was screaming. He was Light Nostrade's appointed captain. If he folded now, his reputation was dead.
"What's his name again?" Ryker pointed at the screen.
"Dalzollene, sir! His name is Dalzollene!" Squala answered eagerly.
"Dalzollene. Where are you? I'll come find you," Ryker said, standing up.
He stretched his arms, and the marble floor beneath his feet cracked audibly, spiderwebs of fissures spreading out from his shoes.
On the screen, Dalzollene's face went pale. He gritted his teeth. This was the greatest humiliation of his life. He was a professional. He had dignity.
Thud.
Before Ryker could take a step, Dalzollene dropped to his knees on the screen.
"This humble one is named Little Dal! I await your orders, Captain! Your strength has completely conquered me! I am willing to call you the Strongest!" Dalzollene shouted, his forehead practically touching the camera lens.
Damn it!
He was a master of standardized testing in his youth.
Question: Which is more important, your life or your pride?
Answer: Life.
He knew how to solve the problem.
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