Evolution Online: I Can Fuse With All Things-Chapter 60: The Excitement of More

Lucien possessed civility in the most unexpected ways, harboring values and principles that many in society dismissed—society itself having normalized these transgressions.

Examination malpractice, for instance. Though undeniably criminal, students rarely viewed it as wrongdoing among themselves. The practice had deteriorated so severely that students expected their brilliant colleagues to assist them during exams, and when refused, they resorted to bullying.

This wasn’t Lucien’s way. Beyond examination malpractice, Lucien despised cheating in any form. His smooth progress in the game had nearly made him feel like he was cheating through it all.

Of course, that was balanced by how brutally difficult it had been to kill the Godzilla and the Palebranch Kage. Then there was the eye incident. No, none of those victories came easily.

Some advantages he could control, others lay completely beyond his reach—the kind people attributed to luck.

He believed that since he couldn’t control what fortune delivered, the least he could do was maintain moral standards in this small regard.

Hence his cold, razor-sharp response to the man’s generous offer.

Accept help from a Tier 10 Adventurer, rocket to Tier 5 himself, and claim sweet rewards? It sounded revolting.

Besides, where was the thrill in this endeavor if he started skipping stages?

The man’s blue eyes radiated frost. He remained indifferent, but a seismic shift swept through the room, as if storm clouds had gathered outside and a thunderstorm was about to unleash its fury.

The intensity was suffocating. The Guildmaster paled and began sweating, subtly moving toward the man and whispering urgently.

"Hey Alt. He’s just a boy."

Lucien, who moments ago felt he’d commanded the atmosphere, was instantly plunged into a bottomless abyss. Cold, invisible tendrils slithered down his spine, threatening to snap it with their glacial touch.

He had no idea when sweat had begun trickling down his face behind the mask.

The man did nothing dramatic. At least, it appeared that way.

All he did was stare intensely at Lucien, and the entire room seemed to scowl at him.

The subtle shift from before now felt like a reckless act of defiance he should never have dared.

He felt himself plummeting endlessly into something—or rather, something was rising with terrifying speed, dwarfing his presence and making him feel like he was sinking.

The rising force was dark and menacing. He felt on the verge of being devoured, lost in the horror of the unknown before he could even attempt to identify it.

His mind, his senses were cowering, fracturing.

He was frozen and trembling pathetically.

Gaya glanced at him, her expression darkening with a scowl. As she turned toward the man, her icy voice cut through the tension:

"I don’t have much patience, young man... so you’d better cage that thing back in."

The man’s eyes widened momentarily, then he smiled, and the entire room brightened again. Even the air seemed to gasp with relief that they could breathe once more.

Lucien remained looking down, somewhat lost in thought... even as the man chuckled and said:

"I apologize—revealing your juvenile fangs must have rattled me a little. I’m quite shameless. Ah ah ah."

He laughed briefly before fixing his gaze on Lucien.

"And why wouldn’t you, you ask?"

He looked up thoughtfully for a moment and smiled.

"What a peculiar question, but the path to power—especially in Evolution Online—is incredibly treacherous. This game has been running for five years, and none of us has ever broken into level 500. Can you imagine how devastating that is? Do you think we’re some lazy bunch who can’t grind properly? Most of us are as dedicated as anyone can be, and I’m certain many of us have done far more than you.

"You’re blessed with luck, which isn’t rare in a game. However, don’t count on it for eternity. You will exhaust your luck, and when you do, you’ll wish you had accepted my offer then. Because you’ll try your damndest, and you’ll feel stagnated no matter what you do—it’s something both players and NPCs in this game can relate to."

He exhaled and smiled once more, slowly withdrawing a panama hat from the table.

"I do hope that at the very least, you can make proper use of your opportunities and luck. Well, I believe our paths will cross again. When they do, I want you to remember—Altair."

He fitted the hat snugly on his head and tapped the Guildmaster’s shoulder before walking toward the exit. However, he never reached the door—he simply vanished from the room.

The Guildmaster exhaled heavily, his shoulders sagging. It was evident he’d been holding tremendous tension throughout the encounter.

He looked at Lucien with a kind smile, his full beard spreading wide.

"Player Cien."

He glanced at the lady as well.

"Young, resplendent lady."

He gestured to the seats before his desk.

"Please, take your seats."

Lucien’s steps were sluggish. Not only was he burdened by the man’s words, but it was impossible to forget—or dismiss—the terrifying display he’d witnessed.

He had never in his life felt so small and insignificant.

And he couldn’t help but wonder:

’There are more people like that in this game?’

It was normal to encounter people stronger than him. It was normal to be gripped by such terror that his legs would buckle and sweat would drench his face.

However, it wasn’t normal to be grinning from ear to ear.

Lucien didn’t know why, but his heart was hammering wildly, as though trying to burst from his chest.

His blood was boiling, surging with strange energy—excitement. He just wanted to keep playing the game. In fact, the sixteen-hour limit suddenly made his heart ache with longing.

’I need to make money. I need to buy the capsule...’

"Player Cien."

He raised his head slightly at the Guildmaster’s call. The handsome attendant from before was standing behind them.

"Your reputation precedes you. We’ve heard of the astonishing things you accomplished."

Curious, Lucien asked:

"Heard? How?"

The man looked slightly taken aback by the question, but he simply cleared his throat, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

"In Rhamira, and across the continent, we have special people whom—according to our culture—are called Canal Whisperers. They echo the deeds of the otherworlders. How these deeds reach them is mysterious. Some say they have the backing of the god who once formed words—the Man birthed from the first words of the world itself, Little Whisper. Much of what they say can be counted as nonsense, but we cannot afford to dismiss everything."

The man settled comfortably into his chair and leaned forward, crossing his hands on the table.

"Although, your case was rather different. There were people—so many people—echoing the words of your deeds, even amongst the otherworlders. One would have to be extremely introverted and living as a hermit in a cave not to know about the great player Cien."

Lucien couldn’t find anything to say for a moment.

Fortunately, another person was eager to speak.

Gaya raised her shoulders with a grin.

"What can I say? He’s an awesome man."

The Guildmaster and Lucien looked at her, though their stares—even though only one could be seen—were vastly different.

The man smiled.

"Who are you to Master Cien?"

Gaya folded her hands above her ample chest. Her voice seemed to soar with pride.

"Me? Consider me somewhat of a..."

"Sidekick."

The Guildmaster looked back at Lucien, who had spoken up just in time.

Gaya scowled.

"What?"

The Guildmaster chuckled.

"Ahahahah, I see! That was the case!"

Lucien also chuckled with him.

"Hehehee, that’s exactly the case. She’s a very bold and rude sidekick!"

"Oh? That’s not surprising. These younglings can be very rude..."

"Yes! Especially when they’re strong!"

"Yes, indeed, Master Cien, and beautiful too. It seems sometimes that young beautiful ladies think they get to have a free pass at life just because they’re beautiful, when in truth they’re nothing but empty eggshells."

Lucien paused, frozen.

’Wow... does he have a personal vendetta against beautiful ladies?’

And Gaya was sitting with them, staring and blinking simultaneously.

Lucien let out a hollow chuckle, glancing repeatedly to gauge her reaction.

Eventually, the Guildmaster’s laughter also quieted, and his eyes grew deep and intense as he asked:

"So, Master Cien? Do you really want to take the Adventurer’s trial?"

Lucien frowned slightly at the question. Aside from it being obvious, the Guildmaster asked with a tone that suggested something more.

"Naturally. That’s why I’m here."

The Guildmaster’s eyes deepened again, this time with a calm, cold light.

"Then will you take my suggestion?"

Lucien looked at the man strangely. Even though his facial expression couldn’t be seen, it was evident in his eyes.

"And what would this suggestion be?"

The man leaned back from the table and exhaled.

"Usually, the guild wouldn’t do something like this, but seeing as you are a coming that has never come—maybe, just maybe, I’m clinging to too much hope. But at the same time, I want to be right about you, and if I am right about you, then I’m willing to stake my all."

Lucien raised his brow, confused.

The man sighed again.

"There’s been a situation in the west of the outcoast of the kingdom—a severe goblin problem."

Lucien smiled slightly.

’Oh, I know where this is going.’

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