Chapter 77

In Pandora, aside from the subjects were truly extraordinary that masters every field of expertise after being nurtured to the extreme, each subject had to undergo a test to verify their various qualities and qualifications.

The subjects can be given several tasks in the form of missions to serve as the subjects test. Missions with different scales like nurturing a country to prosperity while hiding in the shadows, assasinating an important political or any famous figures, and many other more that can't be easily completed by anyone or could be rated as impossible to accomplish.

However, missions in Pandora couldn't be simply considered as simple tests as this missions greatly benefitted Pandora. One of these effects was making Zero who was the founder of Pandora to become the world's richest man that greatly surpasses the amount of wealth that anyone could possibly have because of the successes of his subjects.

Seeing that Zero decided to give him a mission instead of pushing his return at Pandora, Zero felt a slight curiosity what mission would be given to him.

As Zero's Masterpiece, his importance in Pandora was very high compared to the other subjects resulting his mission to be more difficult but so far, he had no record of failing a single mission assigned to him allowing him to be treated so highly in the secret facility.

"I see."

Zephyr mumbles with his monotone voice and an indifferent expression devoid with any signs of emotions. Even he was given a mission out of nowhere, he had no rejection towards it as this would benefit Pandora and especially him.

Even he didn't want to return to Pandora for the time being because he wanted to experience the world outside of the facility, he didn't dislike Pandora as he was only out from the secret facility due to his curiosity.

As a subject nurtured by Pandora, Zephyr had a certain attachment to it like the rest of the subjects especially if the entire Pandora would fall into his control in the future aside from being the best in there, he was also the son of Zero making him the rightful heir.

"The details will be given to your phone in a moment."

Saying that, Zero started leaving and went to the direction of his super car. Before he enters his car, he then took a final glance at his expressionless son.

"Just don't waste your talent in meaningless things as you have already surpassed me."

Saying those final words, Zero then entered his car and left the emotionless Zephyr. Looking at the leaving silhouette of the car, Zephyr mumbles.

"Yes."

Knowing what kind of person Zero is, he knew is a busy man and have little time to spare so he didn't attempt to hold him back for any explanations.

He then continued his way back to his apartment acting like nothing happened. Strelizia who was on the side of Zephyr didn't talk about what happened earlier as she could tell that it was a sensitive matter.

On her mind was currently in a slight turmoil as she had accidentally taken a glimpse of his true identity. Looking at the fast leaving supercar, she thought in her mind.

'To think you're not an ordinary person at all...But even so, that doesn't matter as I still want to be even closer to you."

Even discovering that Zephyr also came from a prominent background, Strelizia didn't think much about it as she didn't want to stick to Zephyr just because of it.

For her, wealth doesn't mean much as she was also the daughter of the owner of the Zesteria Corporation. It is the second of the biggest companies in the world. The top 2 among the 20 biggest companies in the world.

As the heir of such corporation, Strelizia doesn't measure someone's value just because of money. If she would only know that Zephyr came from a more prominent background that she is, even with her background, she would still surely feel a certain amount of shock.

Unfortunately, she didn't know but even so, she might not care because of her pure affection towards Zephyr. Arriving in the intersection, Zephyr then stop for a moment and turned his gaze at Strelizia.

"Aren't you going home too? Do you still want to keep following me?"

Faced with his straight forward questions, Strelizia slightly blushed as she forgot about going home for a moment as all she wanted for the meantime is to be by his side.

"Ummm..."

She then stutters as she tried to find some words to reply to him. The panicked Strelizia might look cute to the onlookers but to Zephyr, he felt nothing seeing it even she was very cute in this moment.

"If you have nothing to say then let's part ways here. Also I appreciate your company for the day."

Zephyr said with his monotone voice with eyes that was devoid with any emotion. Strelizia who heard that recovered to her senses as she understands that Zephyr simply wanted to go home and rest.

She then sheepishly replied with a crimson colored cheeks.

"I also enjoyed being with you today and... be careful on your way."

Seeing her charming innocent smile, Zephyr simply nodded and turned around. He then started walking away and left to the direction of his apartment.

Looking at the leaving silhouette of Zephyr, Strelizia felt satisfied of being able to spent time with him even something unexpected happened. Suddenly, a black limousine stopped at her sides.

"Do you enjoy your day today young miss?"

A beautiful attendant in a made uniform said to her after stepping out from the limousine. Strelizia then turned her attention towards her maid.

"Yes it is."

She said with a genuine smile. Seeing her innocent smile, the maid smiled as she replies in a courteous manner.

"Good for you young miss. I'm sure the masters will be happy for you too."

Strelizia immediately panicked when she heard that. She then rapidly replied in a shy manner.

"No need to tell them. I'm sure mom and dad will tease me and I think I would not be able to handle it."

The maid simply smiled without replying as she found the reaction of the young miss very adorable as this was the first time she saw her being this flustered.

Strelizia on the other took a glance where the direction of Zephyr before she entered the limousine.

****

Arriving at his apartment, Zephyr then laid lazily to his bed. He then mumbles.

"Some stuffs sure happened this day."

He then took out his smartphone and look at the email that had just arrived.

[Exclusive Mission]

Diificuty Level : ★★★★★

Objective : Create a utopia in Tensura.

It was simple but Zephyr could clearly understand what it implies. In the real world, Zero had already done this as most of the powerhouse in the world were within his grasp so it's safe to say that he is the most influential man in this world.

With the authority of Zero, ordering a country's president is not impossible at all as his status transcendent theirs. One could say that the entire world was built to be his empire.

However with the newly released virtual reality game, in the new world of Tensura where lies an infinite number of possibilities, Zephyr could guess that his father, Zero is simply interested to have the same authority in the virtual world.

His mission was also rated as a 5 stars meaning it was categorized as the most difficult among the rest as each star indicates the difficulty as it starts with 1 star to 5 stars.

Thinking about his mission, being the calculative man he had originally been unlike his carefree one, Zephyr plotted three short term goals he needed to achieve now.

1. Finding several pieces needed to establish a solid foundation.

2. Gather talented pieces of players who could be treated to be worthy of my command and who will obey me unconditionally.

3. Establish a guild that won't lose to anyone to have enough military powerhouse if the time of establishing a territory has arrived.

All three parts of the plan were intricately linked and failure at any part will be a big dent in his long term vision for the utopia.

Onto the part one of the plan, Zephyr knew that establishing a solid foundation would make the long term goals to be easier so that the future variables would not be out of his hands at that time.

Onto the second part of the plan, Zephyr considered recruiting some great players or rankers and there were some fitted for his plan.

With his current vague plan, Zerphyr muttered to himself with a serious demeanor with eyes that was devoid with any emotion.

"The time is not ripe yet. The pieces has not been placed."

*****

[Welcome to 'Tensura'.]

Zephyr logged in after waiting for the server to open again. Appearing back in Ascalor, he then saw Ericson who just also logged in at the same time as him.

"Good day to you Brother Zephyr."

Ericson immediately greeted him after seeing that Zephyr with outmost courtesy.

"Hmmm."

Zephyr simply nodded at him as he wondered what he would gonna do today. Remembering that he is currently the number 1 player of Tensura, a thought flashed in his mind.

'For this mission to come into fruition, it seems like I need to sacrifice being low key and start to appear at the light instead of the darkness.'

He secretly thought in his mind as he glanced at Ericson.

'Should I start placing the pieces?'

Looking at the one following him who he considered a useful pawn who is coming from the number 1 martial family, he decided to hatch a plan.

As Ericson turned his gaze at Zephyr, he suddenly felt nervous being stared by that eyes that was devoid with emotion. He was naturally nervous seeing the stature of the man in front of him.

"Brother Zephyr...Ummm...Do you have any business with me?"

Ericson asked with uneasiness in his voice.

"I won't delay you for long..."

Zephyr then pretended in deep thought but if anyone in Pandora would see him, they would totally say.

'You are watching a master at work.'

"I am planning to make a guild only for elites. I am thinking to gather only the finest talents in a guild together. As you see, I need capable players alongside with me though will you be interested."

Ericson was taken aback of what he had just heard and his heart almost stopped beating even this was just in the virtual world. That's just how shocking what Zephyr had said.

He initially thought that Zephyr has no interest in such things and just wanted to casually play the game but to think he would want to create a guild.

'Is this real?'

Was on his Ericson's mind in this moment as he felt everything was surreal. However, this is something he can't easily decide as a matter about guild's need to be taken into the elders and the patriarch of his clan.

Seeing his reaction, Zephyr laid out a bait to trick Ericson.

"Well if you refuse and not going to be by my side at all times, you'll never surpass me."

Ericson immediately felt tempted hearing those words as what he currently desire is to surpass the genius that exceeded him that made him say the words that Zephyr tricked him too.

"I will accept your gesture...to surely surpass you someday."

Ericson's hear moved again as he realized that Zephyr was actually bestowing more and more favors on him. He suddenly felt undeserving in being in Zephyr's guild.

He felt a sense of possessiveness and promised to work hard and prove his worth to the future guild and to Zephyr.

"Although I'm not currently deserving, it would be my honor."

Zephyr manipulated Ericson's feelings making him forget his true value aside from him being an undisputed martial arts genius, he also possessed a legendary class. The way he easily manipulated Ericson's feeling without the latter noticing could be called the greatest schemer in Pandora.

Seeing his attempt was an easy success, Zephyr doesn't even feel elated as he knew he was still far from the first step of the plan.

'Should I include those guys in my pieces?'

Zephyr thought in his mind as he remembered the players he had once in a party with.