Level up
"I don't doubt it. You're dismissed," declared the Baron, and without waiting for an answer, he set off back the way he'd come.
At the same moment, Barbara arrived with a bag full of gold coins and placed it in Maxime's hands.
Maxime thanked Barbara and she simply bowed before setting off again to carry out her duties.
Before Romuald's astonished gaze, the bag suddenly became thinner, as if there were nothing left inside, and Maxime quickly tucked it away inside his pockets.
What kind of magic is this?" asked Romuald curiously.
"Haha, there's no such thing as magic, it's just a handy little trick," replied Maxime with amusement.
Obviously, he wasn't going to reveal the system's capacity to anyone in this world.
At the same time, he brought up his status screen again.
Identity: Maxime Valdreuve
Class:
Peasant level 1 (+3% to physique) (0/10)
Swordsman level 1 (+5% physics) (0/20)
Unlocked a new class: 0/50
Physique: 1.35 (+0.1)
Qi: 0
Skills :
Swordsmanship level 1 (42/100)
Franc language proficiency level 2 (21/100)
Passive trait :
+5% physicality when wielding a sword
+10% sword training efficiency.
Talent: NOX LIMIT level 1 (rank unknown) (0/1000)
Money available: 210 gold coins.
Mercenary:
Andrew: Three-star potential. Physique: 1.3.
Terry: Two-star potential. Physical: 1
James: Two star potential. Physics: 1.1
Piedro: Two star potential. Physics: 1.1
Izo: Two star potential. Physics: 1.1
Peter: Two star potential. Physics: 1.1
Alessandro: Two star potential. Physics: 0.9
Ronny: Two star potential. Physical: 0.9
Pending approval:
Romuald: One-star potential and a minor talent in physics. Physique: 1.6
Maxime's eyes sparkled at the sight of so much gold, but he would think later about how to use it.
What surprised him most was Romuald's physique, which seemed to have exceeded the limit of his potential!
If he had level 1 sword skills of at least 60/100, he'd fit right in with the elite soldiers!
Unfortunately, Maxime couldn't see that kind of information about individuals in this world. But what he did have was more than enough.
While Maxime was deep in thought, and was leaving the manor accompanied by Romuald, the latter sighed and exclaimed:
"The Baron is as impressive as ever."
Maxime snapped out of his thoughts and only nodded in response, he himself had felt the deep gulf between commoners and nobles.
Instead, he asked with a slight smile:
"Romuald, it might be time for you to discover the advantages of joining my mercenary group."
"Advantages? Don't tell me you possess a magical talent?" asked Romuald curiously.
"A magical talent?" asked Maxime, not understanding what he was talking about directly.
Romuald looked disappointed for a moment, but then explained seriously:
"Magical talents are diversified and super-powerful talents about which no one has found a term to group them."
"Normally, individuals' talents are rather simple, such as strengthening the physique, improved training efficiency, better reaction time - in short, it improves certain aspects of the body or brain."
"That's what some geniuses rely on to surpass their limits, and I'm one myself!" he announced proudly.
Maxime listened seriously to his explanations, and so waited quietly for the rest.
On the other hand, Romuald changed his expression to one of admiration:
"But there are certain monsters in this world who have a talent that can be applied to all their subordinates, but only if those subordinates are mercenaries."
"That makes all mercenaries geniuses, even if to a small extent."
"Indeed, the world is fair and just. Generally magical talents have lesser effects than individual talents, but it's still heaven-defying since the latter can add up on the same person."
"If one person in a hundred has a physical talent, then only one person in a hundred thousand has a magical talent!"
"That's how rare they are!"
But seeing Maxime's lack of reaction, Romuald didn't elaborate any further and calmed down.
"It doesn't matter if you don't possess one, there are many mercenary group leaders who don't and yet are extremely respected and in demand everywhere."
"Anyway, what are the advantages you mentioned?" asked Romuald without too much expectation.
"Good comrades, a good salary and an excellent future," Maxime replied with a smile.
But while Maxime knew what he meant when he said "excellent future", Romuald only understood it as comfort.
Out of curiosity, Romuald questioned Maxime on a certain point:
"You mentioned that you could make me stronger, I'd like to know what you meant by that?"
After all, that was the reason he'd had him convinced to join Maxime's group.
"The same thing I meant when I said excellent future."
Romuald's constant evasion of the point irritated him, even giving way to a certain rage in his words.
"Look kid, I just gambled my life joining you and now I can't go back. So keep fooling around with me and I'll smash your pretty face to the ground."
At the same time, Romuald's face had come dangerously close to Maxime's.
Yet, despite his words, Maxime's face and eyes didn't change in the least.
"The magical talent you speak of, I have. And quite a powerful one," Maxime declared, meeting Romuald's gaze.
Astonishment appeared on Romuald's face as he backed away slightly, but still retaining a certain irritation.
"There you go, whenever you like. Be more direct next time", he declared, waiting to see the effects.
However, Maxime's reaction was not long in coming as he threatened:
"However, talk to me like that again, and your excellent future will be spent at Lucifer's side."
Once again, Romuald felt Maxime's famous charisma, the same one that had convinced him to join him.
His aura was completely different from that of the Baron. This was the real Maxime, the one who could express himself completely when he had no constraints.
This somehow eased Romuald's heart, proving that he hadn't made the wrong choice.
On the contrary, he laughed heartily, not taking Maxime's words at all seriously.
"Haha I like that temperament chief, keep it and I'll stay with you until the dawn of time."
Maxime also laughed lightly as he replied:
"Stay alive until then."
"Don't worry chief, I intend to stay alive and enjoy the view when we get to the top!"
The discussion over, they continued strolling down the street.
A few minutes later, they found a bar which they entered.
As luck would have it, they soon found the members of the saber-toothed tiger mercenary group.
However, the situation didn't look particularly good, as Maxime heard:
"Haha then little redhead what a feeling it is to have good beer on your hair!"
Maxime had seen his 8 mercenaries laughing merrily together and the next moment a mercenary passing behind spilled an entire pint of beer on Andrew's hair.
Andrew kept his head down for seemingly endless seconds as beer continued to fall on him.
A score of burly men seated around a large table nearby laughed loudly at this action. They seemed to be his comrades, as the rest of the bar remained silent.
Most were eagerly awaiting the reaction of the redhead and his comrades.
Romuald was also looking forward to what was to come. It was the first time in a long time that he could enjoy a bit of action without having to intervene as a guard.
Yet he saw Maxime from behind slowly advancing towards them.
"No, that would be too fortuitous, wouldn't it?" Romuald mentally asked himself with a slight touch of irony.
It wasn't just Romuald; everyone saw Maxime moving slowly towards the author of the current scene, since he was the only person moving.
2 mercenaries blocked his path.
However, Maxime didn't slow down in the slightest, continuing as if there were no obstacle as he whispered:
"System, raise the level of the peasant and swordsman classes to level 2."