The night passed peacefully, and the next morning, Jacob's eyes opened in a spacious bedroom.
Although he looked asleep, he was on high alert, and the moment he sensed something, he could instantly react. He had formed a habit of sleeping like his in the ocean. He could even sleep in a meditative state now.
He still wore his mask and hood since no one asked him to take them off, but he knew he had to show his face eventually, and his appearance was quite catchy.
So, he decided to make it less catchy. He went into the bathroom and then took off his mask, clothes, and armor, revealing his face, long shining silver hair, and body.
The next moment, a sharp knife appeared in his hand, and the next moment, he started shaving his head until he was completely bald.
But he wasn't done. He then started making scars over his head and face like battle scars. Although they looks fresh, he knew with his current recovery ability of his body, they would soon start to fill and look like old wounds.
Until they're completely filled, he would be long gone from here, and everyone would think he was just a scar-filled warrior, just like the picture he painted in front of Milan.
After he was done with the makeover, his entire body was dyed red in his own blood, but he remained expressionless. He then took a bath, washing all the bloodstains, and just as he thought the bleeding was already stopped.
Now, he looked in the mirror and saw his own hideous scarred face and head. He looked nothing like before. But he was still not done as a small vial appeared in his hand which was filled with a dark inky substance.
He opened it and painted his eyebrows black with it, and now no one would suspect that he had silver hair. He was planning this for a while, and this was the easiest way to fool any authorities.
Even if he fled this place, he could easily restore his appearance, and no one would guess who he was as long as they didn't check his star watch profile.
'Knock…'
A knock rang on the door at this moment.
Jacob donned his armor and clothes, as well as his mask and hood. He looked just like yesterday without revealing his face.
Then he opened the door and saw the wolf-head orc standing outside in his uniform. He politely said, "Sir Jack, Deputy Admiral, invites you for breakfast."
"Alright, led the way." Jacob nodded and followed the orc toward the exit of the building.
They soon embarked on the military jeep and drive toward another large group of buildings.
The White Ocean Base was quite large, and there were many buildings and barricades around to stop intruders from invading and no army personnel from wandering.
Soon they entered a military compound where many army guards were patrolling.
The Orc Chief Officer led Jacob to a large building that was filled with Golden Swords Navy Officers.
Jacob looked around the building, and it was just like a typical army building with many corridors and rooms.
When they reached a closed door, the Orc Chief Officer knocked before Milan's voice sounded, "Come In."
When they entered the room, it looked like a dining room, and a table full of different dishes with stemming oozing from them was there. Around this table sat Milan and another creature.
He had dark gray skin and a brawny build with a menacing face with a deep old scar on his bald head. Jacob instantly identified this creature as the Mountain Troll which was quite famous in the rare freedom plains.
Furthermore, this Mountain Troll was probably more powerful than Milan as Jacob could feel slightly threatened by him, which he never felt from Milan.
"Chief Officer, thank you for bringing our guest. You may leave now." Milan amiably smiled toward Jacob, "Come, my friend, I put together this feast for you since I wasn't able to join you last night."
Jacob nodded in acknowledgment and took a seat around the table. But he wasn't in the mood to eat because he could feel a faint hostility from that troll who was glaring at him for some reason.
Milan also sensed the tense atmosphere and quickly introduced the troll, "My friend Jack, this gentleman is from West Golden Sword Province, District Secretary Douglas. He'll be your handler for your appointment in Golden Swords Country.
"Secretary Douglas, this is Friend Jack I told you about. He's an Ascetic Expert far from here and will be joining our big family. Please go easy on him, for my sake."
Jacob nodded in plain greeting. "Secretary."
Douglas also nodded in acknowledgment. "Mr. Jack, pleased to meet you."
Milan smiled in satisfaction when he saw the introduction go well, "Alright, let's have breakfast before we talk about official business."
Douglas merely grunted in agreement.
While Jacob's lips curled slightly under his mask, 'So, they wanted to see my face while putting up this fa?ade of friendly breakfast? If I don't show my face, they might think I'm hiding something and become suspicious about my intentions.'
No one knows if that was what they truly were aiming for, but Jacob came prepared for this. Even last night, he didn't dine with others to not reveal his face.
If Milan had asked to see his face when they met, Jacob would've had no choice but to reveal it since he was caught off guard at that time.
Furthermore, he was already in the other party's home ground now, and even if they asked directly to show his face, he wouldn't be able to reject it unless he wanted to turn hostile.
Only upon coming here did Jacob understand he might only just scratch the surface of the rare freedom plains' four powers, and tier-8 fighters like him might not be as rare as he thought them.
Nevertheless, as long as they didn't have an extraordinary act, he didn't mind playing along with them for now.
Jacob took off his black mask just as though Milan and Douglas's eyes flashed with light as they glanced at him simultaneously.
But when they saw Jacob's scare-filled face, they were astonished and wondered just what kind of experience he had gone through.
"What? Never seen a warrior's face before?" Jacob sneered coldly before he started eating without caring about the other two.
"Heh, you're more like us barbarians with those glorious markings on your flesh." Milan laughed happily as he also cared little about appearances.
Douglas also nodded, as he also cared little about appearances.
Since they both confirmed that Jacob wasn't some wanted man and didn't belong to any known species, they were more at ease since this could make Jacob's vagabond background even more solid.
Douglas suddenly spoke, "Mr. Jack, if you don't mind me asking, what are your species? If you don't want to reveal it, please pretend I didn't ask. I'm just curious since your skin color and trails were like elves, but your hair and ears are different from theirs."
Jacob expected this kind of question so he was prepared in advance and said, "I also didn't know what my kind is since I was born and grown in a small village far away from here in the wilderness. But we all called ourselves Faceless Ancient, so it's all there is to it."
Jacob knew there weren't any humans present in rare plains, so he just pretended to be ignorant about his race and used that annoying name as a sham to trick them.
His name had already been revealed, and he knew it wouldn't be long before society would know he was here. But when he thought about how the Golden Swords Country hated them, he didn't mind letting them take care of those skulls for him.
They won't let them attack one of their personnel within their territory, or they would turn into a laughingstock of the rare freedom plains if the news got out.
"I see." Douglas nodded in understanding, but it wasn't clear if he believed Jacob's story or not.
Afterward, no one asked questions and they all have a peaceful breakfast before Milan led everyone to his office, which was right beside the dining room.
After they all sat down, Douglas finally spoke business. "Mr. Jack, since you don't want to be in the navy, we won't force you, and that's why they sent me here as well. But first, I want to make one thing clear to save us the future misunderstanding."
"Please speak freely." Jacob nodded.
Douglas said, "Since you were not born in Golden Sword Country and didn't have any family, or species living or registered in our country we have to register you as a new species and will give you Level-2 Citizenship which we only give to a family member who had lived in our country for at least fifty years.
"But according to the new species citizenship law, you have to serve the Golden Swords Country for Fifty Years as well!"
