3 Chapter 3 - Convincing The Crowd

Crowding the impact zone, the masses began to break into discussion with their wild theories.

"By the Eight deities! Look at all those rubbles and the big hole in the ground!" said one of the crowd exclaimed shockingly.

"Just what in the world had crashed here? by the looks of it, the object should be really sturdy to collide through all those mountains and rocks..." said another person.

"It could have been one of the immortal treasures from the legends! Our village has struck it rich this time! HAHA!" expressed another man with unkempt appearance while jumping up and down merrily, feeling extremely happy.

"Pa!" the sound of a head being slapped on the back could be heard from the man.

"Rich your mother! That rice field is mine and was just about to ripen for harvest this month! How am I going to feed my family now?" one of the villager vented painfully while stomping on the ground with his feet and his forefinger pointing to the big hole, waving his arms up and down in a panic.

"What are you babbling on about?! Look over there, tall grasses could be cut down and boiled into a soup for your family to eat! Its not such a big deal! I've even done it many times!" replied the unkempt man.

"You dare?! What do you think my family are?! A bunch of cows like you to graze the grasslands?! How about I feed your skinny bones to my dogs instead eey?"

"Hmph! You think I'm scared of your stupid dog? One of these days I'm gonna boil it into a soup!"

...

Just as they were debating, a crisp voice suddenly appeared from behind them.

"Greetings peasa.. *cough* ehem! I mean dear villagers.. May I know where this place is?" greeted Theo after approaching them silently from behind. The villagers were shocked to see him. What more is that he seems like a sorcerer!

Most of his facial features are covered by the robe's hood. Only his sharp chin and tender lips could be seen, and his glowing silvery eyes makes him look mysterious. To add up to that image, his voice was crisp and clear while both of his hands are clasped on his back giving rise to the looks of a man that seems to know many things in the world.

[Ting!]

[Ruler's influence is activated, from now on, successful convincing of a person will give out experience points for the abilities to level up.]

[Ruler's Influence (Lv1) - able to subconsciously instill ideas on a person. Opinions, views and decisions are more likely to be accepted (Limitations: peasants only). Exp 0/10]

Surprised by the system, he quickly reviewed what the notification is all about. A smile broke onto his face.

"...Holy mother! An ability to beguile people to listen to me? Fantastic! seems like its tailored out to be made just for me!" nodded Theo to himself silently, feeling satisfied with what the deity has gifted him.

Meanwhile, surprised by his sudden appearance, the crowd of men took a step back subconsciously, not knowing from where did this distinguished figure with white robes hailed out from. They could only hold out their breaths and stare warringly, albeit careful not to show it onto their face. After all, that would be quite disrespectful towards a sorcerer. But their fear seems to build up now.

Some of them even secretly made a decision in their hearts to throw out their fellow villagers to the front to cover up for their retreat should the sorcerer in front of them to suddenly turn hostile. After all, a man with a sorcerer's robe is an indication that he could use magic, and nothing good will come out if a sorcerer decides to become a lunatic. The young man who lead the crowd before slowly made his way out from the masses and asked Theo with a respectful tone.

"Great Sorcerer, this humble place is called the village of Kol's, it is barren and not worth a lot of money to be extorted from. We asked of you to let us go and we could treat you to a sumptious meal." he said.

Hearing this, Theo was quite stumped! to think that the young man would suddenly talk about extortion and the sorts out of the blue when he only meant to greet them? The f*ck? Did they think that he is some kind of a mountain bandit or something? Or was his image too dazzling that they couldn't see him properly and turn blind?

Theo gave two dry coughs and wave out his right hand in a gesture to let them know that they misunderstood him while shaking his head slowly. He then clasped back both of his hand on his back in a gentle manner. Giving the disposition of an expert.

"All of you are misunderstanding something.." said Theo with a gentle tone.

"I came from a faraway place and was tasked by the great cosmic being to lead this world to safety. I meant no harm to everyone here." as he continued to explain with a tender voice and chuckled softly, as if a father doting on his children.

Hearing this, the crowd exclaimed in shock!

They were then finally able to piece out the puzzling phenomena before.

"So that the fiery object that descended from the sky must have been this man all along!" thought one man.

"To think that he was sent by the 'cosmic-something' from above must have meant from the heavens realm! And he was tasked by the great deities!" murmurred the unkempt man.

"He must have been one of the heroes from the legends!" said another man as he recalls something that they used to hear all the time from their parents when they were still children as part of their bed time stories.

"Oh hero! Forgive us for this shameful display!" said the young man.

"We ask for your forgiveness! Had we known that you are the chosen ones by the deities, we would bow and kowtowed towards you!" he continued with a tone of exageration.

" In fact, we could have lined up here and brought you gifts! I myself would have ran to notify the King personally of your descension to our lowly realm.."

[Ting!]

[You have gained 10 exp points on an ability: Ruler's influence.]

[Ting!]

[Ruler's influence leveled up! (Lv1 -> Lv2)]

[Ruler's infuence (Lv2) - People would now accept your ideas, views and opinions with an even higher success rate. You can now command them to do menial tasks (Limitations: peasants only). Exp 0/300.]

"Oho? I've leveled up my ruler's influence? That was quite fast!"

".. and what's this?.. Able to command people now? Wahahahahaha my life is gonna be fun now!" Theo excitedly laughed in his heart. However the next moment his eyes caught onto something.

"But what in the world?! ... Previously the exp requirements was just 10, now it jumped up to 300 all of a sudden? This shi*ty system!"

Theo was mad right now, looking at the crowd of exactly 10 people in total, would mean 1 exp for each of them to level up his abilities previously! Now that the next level requires 300 exp, it would basically mean that he would need to convince 300 people!

Slowly shaking his head and cursing silently to himself, he decided to just accept it as it is, given his bullshitting true arts, beguiling 300 people would only be a matter of time. In fact, he is confident enough that when he speaks, even he himself would be convinced! He then turned back his attention towards the young man who just spoke.

Theo thought to himself that this young man sure knows how to talk, given his looks of a mere villager, had he run to the palace to inform the King, not to mention getting inside, even his approach towards the castle gate to send the news would be met with a clean chop to his neck by the guard's halberd for speaking like a deranged person. Who in the world would believe that a hero was sent by the deities in this day and age! However, feeling amused by this young man's a*s licking, Theo couldn't help but to ask.

"Young man, what is your name?"