With a straight face and clear eyes, Kieran looked at Dr. Riley and uttered a phrase that made her mind go blank. "When I leave this place, I'd like for you to come with me. I would like you by my side."
Dr. Riley froze, blinking in subtle shock while gulping. "You want me to come with you? But what about my agreement with the Magnate Families that built this place?"
Kieran crossed his arms and scoffed. "Agreement? Ignore that agreement. Whereas you merely work for this place, what I acquire will be yours. I'll ensure that you're free to venture into any research you please. It may take time… but trust me when I say I'll obtain the relationships that you require."
However, although Kieran said this, he had a better alternative in mind, which was related to his meeting with Dr. Riley, to begin with.
The only reason he was confident enough to seek her out at that time was his recollection of the sequencing of the refined location obfuscation algorithm.
With that algorithm active, even the most sophisticated system would require days, if not weeks to pinpoint the location of Kieran's access point. All of this was possible because of one individual, who at this time should be an underground existence.
'If I bring him to my side, there'll be no reason to seek needless relationships. I'll merely have him hack into the necessary databases. After all, in this timeline, he has yet to become responsible for the fortification of all data banks. In a sense, they're all vulnerable right now,' Kieran thought.
Though, if Kieran wanted to meet with that individual, he'd had to sacrifice time inside Zenith Online.
Unfortunately, due to the individual's paranoid nature, he moved around frequently.
Thankfully, Kieran knew that he stuck to a rotation of chosen spots in chosen in a seemingly sporadic manner but there was a method to the madness. All Kieran had to do was recall that pattern and stake out one of the locations.
'With someone of his skill, you wouldn't expect them to mingle amidst the slums, but to maintain his anonymity, he prefers to do so. Maneuverability in that place is high compared to the crowded city setting,' Kieran thought.
In the meantime, Dr. Riley chewed on her lip.
Although the silence of being alone was conducive to her critical thinking, the silence of being alone was also lonesome. If Kieran could put together a team of excellent researchers, this feeling of loneliness would no longer plague her.
Not to mention, Kieran's last words made her heart flutter and her stomach fill with butterflies.
He wanted her by his side?
This was the first time anyone had ever openly voiced this desire to her.
As it was her first experience, it was naturally overwhelming for Dr. Riley.
Of course, Aspaira noticed Dr. Riley's reaction and covered her mouth with a meaningful look in her eyes. "So you guys are a couple!"
"We are not!" Dr. Riley blurted, instinctively covering Aspaira's mouth.
Kieran laughed to the side and shook his head. "We're not a couple, but my words stand. I would like you by my side, Lillian. This place isn't making use of your potential. Your research would be stuck in its current position, if not for my appearance."
Before Kieran's appearance, Dr. Riley's role was tending to the injured people that were brought to this place. Sadly, none of them were abnormal enough for her to extract valuable data from.
Meanwhile, Kieran had supplied her with ample subjects, including a truly abnormal one.
"Okay. Okay. Please stop. You're overwhelming me. I will gladly join you, but I won't do so until you can guarantee that everything is ready for me. I can't just up and leave this place without having another place prepared for me," Dr. Riley said, settling her palpitating emotions.
"That's a given. I wouldn't extract you from the comfort of this place without providing a more sound location. Give me time—a month at most. I'll have everything prepared by then," Kieran promised.
"A month?" Dr. Riley and Aspaira muttered in unison, shocked by Kieran's confident and expedited expectations.
"Yes," Kieran confirmed, revealing his confidence in his claim.
In the current day and age, acquiring a building and state-of-the-art equipment would cost upwards of $100 million. Add in the other minutiae involved in the matter, and by the end of it, even the most basic state-of-the-art facility could cost nearly a quarter of a billion dollars.
To claim to be able to amass that ungodly amount of funds within a month was absurd!
Yet Kieran did exactly that.
But when it came to the reason for his confidence, it wasn't as straightforward as it seemed. Kieran's mind and sight were set on numerous paths of income.
Unsurprisingly, every path revolved around Zenith Online, whether directly or indirectly.
Since they had stumbled across the matter of amassing funds, Kieran looked toward Aspaira.
"You were among those who decided to give me their initial trust. While Sorcia is of tremendous talent when it comes to alchemy, I am partial to you. So… I have a question."
"A question?" Aspaira parroted, her ears perking up as she listened to Kieran tentatively, awaiting his continuation.
"I would like to know if you're interested in becoming the Chief of the Alchemy Department. As the Chief, you'll receive exclusive rights to some recipes, including the rarer ones that happen to be single-use," Kieran stated.
However, before Aspaira could impatiently and enthusiastically agree, Kieran interrupted.
"Before you agree, I'm not finished. This is something you should give deep consideration to before agreeing. I will not tolerate mediocrity. That being said, your rewards will be accompanied by demanding tasks," Kieran said.
"What are those tasks?" Aspaira asked, tapping her fingers against her lips anxiously.
"One, you'll be mandated to uphold the best success rate in the department. Not just overall, but in whatever specialization you choose well," Kieran voiced.
This stipulation alone made Aspaira fall silent, judging if it was possible.
Though her special trait related to Alchemy was an advantage, she couldn't overlook the fact that others could possibly have similar, if not superior, traits also.
As he pondered, Kieran's second demand came. "You'll be responsible for recruiting Alchemists of moderate to immense value. Whenever you recruit one and they successfully pass my evaluation of character and ability, I'll personally reward you."
"That one is reasonable," Aspaira agreed, seeing no faults in this demand.
Afterward, Kieran continued to speak. "Finally… I want you to claim every achievement for Alchemy there is."
"What?!" Aspaira screamed out loud, letting out a whimper afterward.
How was that last demand reasonable at all?
Claiming every achievement for Alchemy meant he wanted her to become an uncontestable presence in the world of Alchemy.
Although she developed a knack for it due to her previous job, the profession became more demanding of her focus, timing, precision, and delicate touch.
As the profession progressed, the materials she interacted with gradually became more dangerous. One misstep with a potion like the Madness Potion and she'd end up suffering a death from malpractice!
Despite her whimper, Kieran didn't falter.
In fact, he ignored her pleading expression altogether. As he stated before, he wouldn't be tolerating mediocrity.
No matter their starting point, Kieran intended to mold everyone close to him into a monster of absurd proportions.
Except for Kieran's second request, the rest was all absurd. Truly absurd.
Yet, Aspaira didn't understand why she felt the urge to agree bubbling inside of her.
"Once you return to Zenith Online, the building's alchemy station should be completed, so I need your answer before you return—are you confident enough to become my Chief Alchemist? Can I depend on you?"
Kieran's questions made Aspaira question herself. And this wasn't the first time. During their first dungeon run, Aspaira questioned herself and realized that she was poorly suited for combat.
Recalling this matter made Aspaira clench her fist until they turned white.
Where she failed in combat, she would succeed in production.
A few moments later, Aspaira lifted her head and stared into Kieran's gaze with a confident nod. "You can depend on me. I'll adopt the role of the Chief Alchemist and strive to fulfill your demands."
Kieran grinned from ear to ear.
"Excellent response. When you return to Zenith Online, I have a present awaiting you, and congratulations on ascending to your position. I expect great things from you because you'll become a financial pillar of the guild."
"Guild?" Aspaira gasped excitedly. "What will the name be?"
"You'll have to wait and see." Kieran chuckled. "However, I'll say this now—the name will naturally encompass everything well."
Aspaira would be lying if she said she wasn't excited.
"When you return, there will also be a request for you to join the Godhand Consortium, accept it. As a Chief, you'll be given the role of an Administrator, which can discipline and reward. Exercise this authority well," Kieran revealed.
After settling the matter of having Aspaira become the Chief Alchemist, Kieran and the two ladies ate a decent meal, most of which was devoured by Kieran as he was completely famished.
Over the meal, Kieran discussed Aspaira's task in greater detail, advising her to search for people in the Alchemist's Circle as he organized a recruitment event to post on the forums.
As he had no intentions of revealing the location of the Godhand Bazaar until it was time, Kieran decided it was best to conduct the recruitment through Aspaira, who could unobstructedly enter the building for Alchemists thanks to her ranks as a True Alchemist.
While Aspaira logged in, however, Kieran went downstairs to approach the larger training room.
'Soulless' words were too alarming. These so-called phases of inhuman evolution, I must know how I compare. No, I need to know if my transformation has begun.'
Though it was somewhat difficult to gauge, Kieran estimated that, with everything he had experienced thus far, he should be capable of wielding 20% of his former strength.
Once within the large training room, Kieran prepped himself to exhaust all of his energy without fail. He needed to understand what this 20% entailed.
If he had to go to war, he had to ensure he was ready to partake in it.
