Preparation [3]

"Huh, did my charm stat increase?"

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∟ CHARM: F+ [●○○○○]

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It jumped an entire level.

"But I didn't pour any stat points into it…"

It was most likely because of his recent interactions with Amy and Rachel.

"So that means if I do the action, then the stat would increase…"

A plausible theory.

But something he could test at another time.

Retrieving his phone, he dialed a number.

Ring… Ring… Ring… Click-

[Lord Moriarty, what can I do for you?]

After conversing with Alpha a lot, Brandon had gotten used to Alpha's subservience to him.

After their recent operation, Alpha had proven his usefulness to him.

Which is why he could entrust him with the next task.

"I need you to protect someone."

[I don't think I'm strong enough to protect you, Lord Moriarty… But I will not allow anyone to harm y–]

"Not me."

He flatly stated.

Since Amy was the only witness, Osborn Company would most likely put all their resources into finding her.

Worse, kidnap her.

Whatever they plan on doing with her is most likely on the bad side.

After all, the Osborn Family were…

'Wraith Cultists.'

In truth, they weren't the company that invented the shiftporters.

They killed the original company's CEO and absorbed the entire company. Thus, founding Osborn Corporation.

After seizing all the rights to the Shiftporters, they rose to the top of the market.

Since Amy was the heir to Ashfield Company, the leading manufacturer for potions, it wouldn't be difficult to find information about her online.

In short, Amy was in danger, and she was unaware of it.

Calling the police was a mistake, she should've just kept everything to herself.

Beep-

After informing Alpha, Brandon ended the call.

What he needed to do next was to brainstorm.

To come up with a skill that could help him win against Raven.

He had already tried world altering skills like [Time Stop] [Black Hole] [Invincibility]. But the system didn't allow it.

For [Time Stop], it said that he needed the Time affinity. For [Black Hole], he needed the Space affinity, and for [Invincibility], he needed the Life affinity.

But those options weren't even possible, he had none of those.

But it was then when an idea sparked in Brandon's mind.

'That's it! A Brain processing skill.'

A skill that could enhance his thoughts to the maximum.

Not only can he use it to memorize all forms of martial and sword arts in a second, but it could help him come up with plans and schemes.

Adding to that, it could significantly help him in academics.

No longer will he be a measly ranked 1,890.

It was the perfect skill for him.

If Brandon was right, and it was in the same branch as [Mana Disruption], then the ability would be correlated to Pure Mana, something that all mages already had.

Seated on the couch in their apartment, Brandon decided.

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[Are you sure?]

[Yes.]

[Initializing Skill Weaver.]

[Downloading data.]

[ETA: 1 Minute.]

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.

.

[Skill Weaver successful.]

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[Skill Tab]

∟ [Elemental Manipulation]

∟ Ice

∟ Lightning

∟ Fire

∟ Wind

[Mana Disruption]

∟ Disrupts mana, causing it to never take shape and scatter. Can only target one specific location.

[Accelerated Cognition]

∎ Timer: 10 Minutes.

∎ Cooldown: 10 Hours

∟ The user's cognitive functions are turbocharged, enabling them to think and process information at an accelerated rate.

∟The user experiences heightened focus and concentration, allowing them to maintain clarity of thought.

∟ By speeding up neural transmission, the user's reflexes and reaction times are significantly enhanced.

—---------------------------

"Eh…? This is…"

The skill was more than he bargained for.

After reaching level 3, [Skill Weaver] had significantly improved in creating skills.

"This is perfect!"

He'd expected the skill to have a timer. But what he didn't expect was for it to have a cooldown.

A pity.

But regardless, Brandon could undoubtedly agree that this was the best skill he had at the moment.

After checking the time, he realized that it was still 11:00 AM.

"If I go to a bookstore now and chunk up as much information as I can, then the cooldown would be over around 9:00 PM."

Thus, Brandon decided to go to a nearby bookstore.

***

After finishing her lecture, Rachel decided to go to one of her family's bookstore branches.

Growing up, her Father and Mother had always bickered with one another.

They were typically set up in an arranged marriage, to help foster each others' businesses.

Asami Inc.

The largest bookstore chain in the entire world.

Ashfield Company.

The leading manufacturer of potions.

But to the Ashfield Family's surprise, her father, Rafael Asami, had never planned on getting his company absorbed.

This led to a fallout between the two families, and with the arranged marriage setup, there was no love between her parents.

With bickering after bickering, it eventually led to a divorce.

In the end, Rachel decided to go with her Father, while Amy stayed behind with their Mother, Samanta Ashfield.

By orders of the Ashfield Family, Rachel wasn't allowed to bear any relations with the Ashfields.

But regardless, she kept in close contact with her twin sister, Amy.

Since Rachel was about to enter one of their branches, she decided to don a disguise.

She didn't want any of the staff to freak out, alerting other customers.

It's already happened before.

'It was embarrassing…'

With a pair of shades and a cap, her disguise was foolproof.

Entering the bookstore, she headed towards a peculiar section of books.

One of the reasons she donned a disguise was because…

'Okay, here we are, the light novel section.'

She was a closet otaku.

Rachel had always loved reading books.

But after discovering the light novel genre, she–once was a bookworm, had become a full fledged otaku.

She knew it was an embarrassing hobby, but she couldn't help it.

Regardless, she had to put on her typical cold maiden act when she's out in public.

But in bookstores, she could be her real self, with a disguise of course.

After picking out the books she planned on reading, she immediately checked them out with the cashier.

"That'll be 20 silver coins, Miss… Hold on… you look familiar."

"Here."

She immediately looked down, placing the coins in front of the cashier.

"...Thank you, enjoy your purchase."

She then walked towards the reading section, from behind her she could hear the staff murmuring.

"I swear I've seen her before."

"Must've been your imagination."

"Haa…"

She breathed out a sigh.

It was a close call.

After entering the reading section, she tried to look for an empty place to sit.

While trying to scan the room, it was then when she saw a familiar face.

"Is that…?"

Pale-white hair and blue eyes, and he seemed to be wearing his signature black sweater.

It was none other than–Brandon Locke.

And he seemed to be busy, reading a book…

Not book, but books!

There were one… Two… Five.. Ten… Thirty… Forty…

He was reading way too many…

"At the same time...?"

All of the books were spread out open, filling the entire table.

From beside him, were the other customers, looking at him like he was some weirdo.

And…

"Aren't his eyes moving way too fast?"

Was he just skimming?

Then what was the point in buying all those books?

The bookstore had a no-borrow policy. Meaning, if you wanted to read a book, you had to buy them.

If they wanted to borrow books, then they should opt for a library instead.

Her initial impression of Brandon wasn't really anything.

The first time he entered the lecture, he was significantly late.

But it was the first time Rachel saw someone bold enough to speak to Professor Vanessa, like how he did on that day.

Most students would typically be afraid of crossing their Professors, in fear of expulsion.

Astrea Academy was a school for the elites after all.

Thus, she was curious about him.

Was he that strong that he didn't fear expulsion?

From what she heard, Brandon had the Lightning Affinity, and he had great control over it, being the first to shatter the magic orb.

He was interesting, to say the least.

But when she found out the rank he placed, her interest fell off.

Yet for some reason, Brandon didn't seem disheartened, as if he wanted it to happen.

For what reason?

When he provoked Felix during the party, he didn't seem like the same person who placed really low in the rankings.

There was a sense of confidence in the way he spoke that night, as if he was sure he could beat Felix, who placed somewhere in the 200s.

She was curious who would win between the two.

But Felix died, just after the party. The same party they attended.

She didn't know if she was relieved or afraid.

She hated Felix, but she didn't want him to die.

Regardless, she wasn't involved.

'But could Brandon be?'

After all, he stayed behind the party.

'No, it'd be absurd to think so.'

His eyes may have been cold, and he may have seemed distant compared to the others in the group. But Brandon didn't strike her as the type to openly murder someone.

Since Brandon was busy with whatever he was doing, Rachel didn't bother him, finding a different place to sit.

As Rachel continued to read her book, an audible laugh reached her ears.

A really loud one at that.

"Hahaha! This is crazy!"

When she tried to trace the source, she realized it was Brandon, laughing loudly for all to hear.

He seemed to have figured something out… With all the books he was simultaneously reading.

'Was he always this weird?'