Elias remained still against the cold stone wall. The purple screen hovered in his peripheral vision, glowing with a soft,ethereal light. It felt strange to see a game interface in such a realistic setting.
He could see the dust motes dancing in the light right next to the translucent text.
'I need to know the rules. If this really is a slave system, how does it work in a world that feels this real?'
He spoke quietly, his voice barely a whisper in the empty room.
"System, explain the subjugation process. How do I make someone a slave?"
A new window materialized. It bled into existence like ink spreading through water.
[Subjugation Protocol]
[Condition 1: Vulnerability] The target must be in a state of significant physical, mental, or emotional weakness. This includes near-death states, extreme debt, or total despair.
[Condition 2: The Mark] The Host must make physical contact with the target and exert his will.
[Current Capacity: 0/3] Capacity increases with the Host's level and Soul Power.
Elias nodded slowly. It was a cheat, but it wasn't an instant win. He couldn't just walk up to a king and snap his fingers.
He had to find someone who was already broken or at least cracking. In a town like Oakhaven, that wouldn't be hard.
He stood up and walked toward the door. The wood was old and scarred with deep grooves.
When he turned the iron handle, it felt heavy and cold. He pulled the door open, and the sound of a bustling tavern below drifted up the stairs.
The hallway was narrow. The floorboards were covered in a thin, worn rug that had lost most of its color.
He walked toward the staircase, his mind already cycling through the lore of the game.
'If the timeline is the same as the starting quest, Oakhaven is currently under heavy taxation from the local Count. The people should be miserable. Perfect for my needs.'
He descended the stairs. The air grew thicker with each step. It smelled of roasted meat, stale ale, and the sweat of working men.
The tavern was crowded. Men in leather aprons sat at long tables, shouting over one another.
He didn't stop to talk. He kept his head down, moving toward the front exit. He felt the weight of a few copper coins in his pocket.
It wasn't much, but it was enough to buy a cheap meal if he needed to.
He pushed the heavy front door open and stepped out into the street. The sunlight hit him like a physical blow.
It was hot and bright. The dirt road was filled with people. Merchants were yelling about their wares. Children ran between the legs of travelers.
Oakhaven was a town built on a hill. It was surrounded by a massive wooden palisade. From where he stood, Elias could see the outer gates.
Beyond them lay the Whispering Woods, a place he knew was filled with low-level goblins and rare herbs.
He began to walk. He didn't have a destination yet, but he knew the layout of this town like the back of his hand.
He steered clear of the main plaza where the guards were stationed. Instead, he moved toward the lower districts. That was where the desperate people lived.
As he walked, he noticed small details. A beggar with a missing arm sat in an alleyway.
A woman was crying over a broken ceramic jar. The realism was staggering. He could hear the flies buzzing around piles of trash.
'I need a target that has value. A common beggar won't help me level up.'
He turned a corner into a quieter street. This area was filled with shops that looked like they were struggling to stay open. The signs were faded, and the windows were dirty.
That was when he saw her.
A woman was being pushed out of a small apothecary shop. She stumbled, nearly falling into the mud.
The man who pushed her was a stout, balding merchant with a face reddened by anger.
"Don't come back until you have the gold, Lyra! I don't care if your father is dying. This medicine costs more than your life is worth!" the man shouted. He slammed the shop door shut, the bell above it ringing mockingly.
The woman stood there for a moment, her head bowed. She was striking, even in her disheveled state. She wore a simple, sleeveless tunic that was tight across her chest, highlighting a very generous and full bust that seemed to strain against the thin fabric.
Her waist was narrow, flaring out into wide, curvaceous hips that filled out her rough trousers.
As she turned to walk away, the fabric pulled tight over a round, thick backside that moved with a heavy sway. She had long, tangled auburn hair that fell down her back in messy waves.
Elias felt a pull in his chest. It wasn't just physical attraction.
[Target Detected]
[Name: Lyra Vane]
[Potential: B-Rank]
[Condition: Extreme Despair]
[Subjugation Probability: 85%]
Elias stopped. He watched her walk toward a small, leaning shack at the end of the alley. She moved with a sense of defeat, her shoulders slumped.
Her physical beauty was a contrast to the filth of the lower district. She looked like a high-tier unit that had been dropped into a trash pile.
'An apothecary's daughter? Or maybe an apprentice? Her potential is B-Rank. That's incredibly high for a starting town NPC.'
In the game, B-Rank characters were rare. They had the potential to become powerful mages or elite warriors. Most NPCs in this area were F-Rank or D-Rank at best.
"This is it," Elias whispered to himself.
He stayed in the shadows of the alley, watching her enter the shack. He needed to play this carefully. He wasn't a hero coming to save the day. He was a master looking for a servant.
He checked his system one more time.
[Tutorial Quest Updated: Bind Lyra Vane.]
Elias felt a surge of adrenaline. This was the first real step. He walked slowly toward the shack.
The wood was rotting at the base. He could hear the sound of soft sobbing coming from inside. It was a lonely, hollow sound.
He reached for the door. It wasn't locked. In a place this poor, there was nothing worth stealing.
He took a deep breath, adjusting his tunic. He needed to look like someone who had answers, not another victim of the town.
He knocked softly on the wooden frame. The sobbing stopped instantly.
"Go away," a muffled voice said. It was sweet but raspy from crying.
He leaned against the doorframe, his expression calm.
"I heard you need gold for medicine," he said. "And I might be the only person in Oakhaven willing to give it to you."
There was a long silence. Then, he heard the sound of footsteps. The door creaked open just a few inches. One bright, green eye peeked out at him. It was rimmed with red from tears.
"Who are you?" she asked.
"My name is Elias," he replied. "And I'm the man who is going to solve all your problems. But everything has a price, Lyra."
The door opened a bit wider. She looked him up and down. Elias stood his ground. He didn't look like a threat, but he didn't look like a friend either.
'The hook is set,' he thought. 'Now I just need to reel her in!'