They all call me Great Master

"Good morning, Mr. Kledos!"

"Good morning!"

As Arthur carried breakfast bought from a small food stand, with today's newspaper tucked under his arm, and walked past "Eivor's Mobile Snack Stand" from West Mok Avenue into Cork Street, he encountered many early rising neighbors sending their children to school. The children at the public carriage stop each greeted Arthur enthusiastically, and he smiled and nodded back to each of them.

Being a "Spirit Medium", having cats, dogs, and birds, along with his performance at the "Swordsmanship Competition", Arthur's appeal to these children was absolutely stacked.

In other words, looking at Arthur made the children inwardly shout: Awesome!

But the adults were different.

Though they too had heard and even seen Arthur's performance at the "Swordsmanship Competition" and had praised his character,

when they interacted with Arthur in person, they thought more about the rumors of Arthur's 'misfortune'.

So, as their children greeted him, the parents would retreat a few steps with their children, pulling them away from Arthur, while maintaining a polite but awkward smile.

And after Arthur had walked away, they would repeatedly caution their children—

"Stay away from him!" Stay connected via My Virtual Library Empire

"Why? Is Mr. Kledos a bad person?"

"He's not a bad person, but you must stay away from him!"

"Why?"

"Not so many whys; you'll understand when you grow up!"

As parents began to order their children using their authority, Arthur had already reached the front door of No. 2 Cork Street, and he didn't take such conversations to heart.

During one's youthful days, naïve cheerfulness eventually gets replaced by prudence.

People call this maturity.

Arthur didn't disagree.

Because the world was just like that, the real world taught those naïve children to learn to mature, to grow up, to take on more responsibilities, but it seldom told those children to make sure to be happy.

Arthur hadn't known this before.

Having died once, Arthur naturally came to understand it.

Therefore, Arthur hoped to live happily, and if he could live even longer...

That would be great!

So, as he opened the door to No. 2 Cork Street—

"Pendragon, I'm back!

Did you miss me?

Come, let's have a hug from Daddy!"

Arthur set aside the breakfast and newspaper on a nearby shelf, took off his coat, and went to hug Pendragon waiting at the door, but Pendragon dodged him disdainfully.

Then, the cat even elongated its tone in a meowing manner.

It sounded quite dirty.

"How can a little kitty speak like that?

I had serious matters last night!

How would you get your fish treats if I didn't go hunting?"

Arthur reached out to hug Pendragon again.

This time, the little cat did not dodge, but still looked disgusted, and then even raised its paw to block Arthur's mouth wanting to give a kiss.

But it only blocked it briefly.

Then, it let go and rubbed itself against Arthur voluntarily.

Pendragon's intelligence far exceeded that of an ordinary cat.

It naturally knew the dangers Arthur faced every time he went out.

It chose its own ways to comfort Arthur.

Arthur was aware of this, too.

So, everything was developing in a wonderful direction.

Until—

Pendragon saw the dog head Kuliqi emerge in Arthur's shadow.

Kuliqi swore, it was just showing its head simply, definitely with no other intent.

But Pendragon would not have it.

It thought that compromising with Arthur was an extremely embarrassing affair, and now this embarrassing incident was witnessed by a dog, so...

This dog had to die!

With a woof, Pendragon broke free from Arthur's embrace and charged at Kuliqi.

Cat cat flying kick!

Cat cat combo!

Kuliqi stood there dumbfounded, allowing Pendragon's paw pads to slap across his face — it wasn't that he didn't want to fight back, but Arthur wouldn't let him.

Facing Arthur's favoritism, Kuliqi whimpered incessantly.

'It's okay, Pan didn't even stretch out his claws!

Let him pat a few times!'

Arthur signaled his hound with his eyes, then picked up some food and the newspaper and headed for the kitchen.

Today's breakfast was bought at a newly opened food stall.

Five egg and ham sandwiches with sauce and a porridge named 'Tacke'.

The latter was highly recommended by the owner, supposedly a special product of Seberlin, made by simmering both rice and millet, with pumpkin, crushed peanuts, and syrup added.

The texture was soft with a hint of crunch, and the sweetness was just right.

And the words that appeared in front of him took Arthur's taste experience to a new level —

[The performance you showed at the Swordsmanship Competition amazed people, earned their praises, and more people learned your name. Even those who didn't pay attention to you before are noticing you now. Your name is starting to become a household word in South Los; XP+500]

[The events in South Town have caught the attention of Mystic Side Persons. They do not dare to approach it in the true sense, but they speculate more about you. Rumors that you are the current "Black Cat" of the 'Cat Faction.Black' are being acknowledged by more Mystic Side Persons; XP+300]

...

800XP!

An unprecedented bounty!

A smile curled the corner of Arthur's mouth as he began to speed up the cleaning of the table.

As for contemplating which secret technique to boost?

Arthur had already decided.

800 XP seemed like a lot, but in reality, it wasn't enough to last, not even enough to learn all the secret techniques he possessed once.

A beginner's course in Gliding Technique alone costs 500 XP!

Although Arthur was really curious about what the secret technique created by Hercules would look like if pushed to its limits, he really couldn't afford to learn it recklessly with limited XP.

More so since Arthur already had a target —

Swift Bird Swordsmanship and...

Extreme Illusory Shadow Technique!

The former, because the bloodline of Serpent of Death was still fragmentary, Arthur wanted to experiment whether learning Swift Bird Swordsmanship could complete the Serpent of Death bloodline.

After all, the noble's swordsmanship was originally invented to stimulate and complete a bloodline.

As for the Extreme Illusory Shadow Technique?

This technique, which he had ranked as second tier, Extreme Illusory Shadow Technique. Remnant!

This bloodline-determining secret technique!

As his bloodline advanced to Serpent of Death - Remnant and removed a debuff, the necessary XP for entry increased instead of decreased, changing from the original 300 XP to 400 XP.

And Extreme Illusory Shadow Technique. Remnant turned into Extreme Illusory Shadow Technique!

Clearly, its drawbacks had vanished.

This technique, which Harris could use to freely shuttle through shadows, had long been coveted by Arthur.

Such a life-saving technique naturally attracted Arthur.

Especially as he was about to head to Inner Bay, it was essential for him.

Even though he had wrapped himself in layers of 'tiger skin'.

But what if the Old Lion of Inner Bay flipped the table?

Even if Mother Tigress avenged him in the end, what good would it do?

He would be dead.

Arthur definitely did not want to see such an outcome.

So—

"XP, apply points!"