Leveling Up by Executing Monsters

This latest contact with the Supreme One undoubtedly elevated Him even further in Jenkins's eyes.

The Supreme One had responded to his pleas, demonstrated a profound understanding of Destiny and prophecy, and even provided a final answer. This left Jenkins astonished by His unfathomable nature, yet it also filled him with a sense of security and warmth.

Beings of such a high station willing to respond to a mere Tier Five were a rare and precious thing.

The Saints, in their high-and-mighty perch, disdained to respond to those beneath them—especially the Redemption Saint of Eternal City...

Jenkins gradually realized that his feelings toward this mysterious Supreme One had evolved—from fear at the beginning, to awe after their first actual contact, to respect after introducing a new member, and finally, to reverence.

He became all the more convinced of his judgment: the future and hope of humanity, the world's Destiny and Redemption, lay right before him.

By comparison, the huge price he had paid all those years ago had not been in vain.

Jenkins pondered this to himself. The gloom that had settled in his heart from the failed prophecy began to dissipate, and his spirits lifted. He started to consider how he should "hand over" the client to someone from the Wisdom system.

The Supreme One hadn't specified how to make the handoff, or to whom. Jenkins would have to decide that for himself.

He felt this was perfectly normal. The fact that the Supreme One was willing to respond to his plea and provide an answer was already more than he could have hoped for. Of course, He wouldn't spell out every little detail.

He could handle these minor details himself. As a veteran Prophet, he had countless ways to make the client walk right into the trap. Moreover, he knew a few friends in the Wisdom system.

What did trouble Jenkins, however, was the question of what kind of tribute to offer once the matter was concluded.

He was practically destitute. Other than the Chessboard and a few antique trinkets that would be meaningless to the Supreme One, he had nothing of value to offer.

The payment promised by the client, on the other hand, consisted of vulgar things like Universal Coins, gold bars, and bonds. They might even be a little "dirty," and he would never dare sully the Venerable's eyes with them.

He couldn't help but look in the direction of his home. It seemed he had no choice but to swallow his pride and make a trip back.

The collection he'd spent the better part of his life amassing was all still at home...

"I'll go home and have a look first. Then, as usual, tonight is the seminar. I can discuss things and make some trades with everyone there."

Jenkins muttered to himself, having made up his mind. He then added in a low voice:

"I hope Milly isn't home..."

............

After Lloyd helped Old Zhan resolve that "little problem" during the trip, the rest of the journey was uneventful. They arrived quietly at Radiant City's airship port.

He disembarked from the airship first. When he turned back, he saw the escort team following him down with the recovered materials, their faces still etched with vigilance, not letting their guard down in the slightest.

"Do you have to be so serious?"

Lloyd couldn't help but mutter.

However, thanks to his disguise, they didn't hear him at all. They just pushed the black recovery container past him as if he weren't there and left.

Lloyd didn't give it much thought. It was already afternoon, and he was eager to get home and prepare a nice dinner for his sister to celebrate his "release from his sentence."

So he made his way back, taking the subway to the superstore near his home. He bought a mountain of ingredients, and the moment he got home, he dove into the kitchen, which soon produced a series of GURGLE GURGLE sounds, as if from an alchemist's laboratory.

In the end, he proudly presented five dishes:

British-Style Chopped Pepper Fish Head, Singing Fishy Pie, Eggplant and Crab Stew, Black Pepper Bitter Melon Salad, and Tomato Red Wine Mushroom Soup.

A balanced mix of meat and vegetables, nutritionally complete, and crafted with unique ingenuity.

Lloyd had told Evelor he'd be home today before he left, so he was sure his sister would be back early.

He then started cleaning the apartment, continuing until he heard the sound of eager footsteps outside the door.

"Yi!"

Evelor threw the door open. Her face alight with a smile of joyous anticipation, she rushed into the apartment and threw herself into Lloyd's arms, nuzzling him affectionately.

Then, she narrowed her eyes, a bewitching expression on her face, and reached out to cup Lloyd's cheeks, guiding his head toward hers.

Just like when they were children, they affectionately bumped their foreheads together. Only then did Evelor let her little brother go.

"Yi, you're finally back! Quick, let your big sister see if you've lost any weight..."

Perhaps because they had gone hungry so often as children, her greatest fear was her little brother not having enough to eat.

As she spoke, Evelor reached out to touch her brother's face, then patted his chest.

"Oh? Yi, you feel sturdier."

"Yeah. There wasn't much to do where I was, so all I could do was work out every day... Anyway, come on, let's eat."

Lloyd said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Okay~"

Evelor slipped off her leather shoes, revealing her feet in their fine white stockings. She then changed into a pair of cute cartoon animal slippers, leaving her fair, rounded heels peeking out from the back.

As they ate, Evelor was too busy fussing over her brother to even comment on his cooking:

"Yi, were you cold where you were?"

"Was the work difficult?"

"Were the showers okay?"

"Did you meet any new friends?"

Lloyd answered her questions one by one, then asked a few of his own:

"How's the magazine going? Are you busy?"

"Miss Desda hasn't been dragging you into anything weird, has she?"

They asked each other all about their past week.

The one thing neither of them asked, however, was whether the other had missed them.

Because that was a question to which they both already knew the answer.

After their heartwarming dinner, Evelor took a shower. She emerged, fragrant and still slightly damp, and climbed onto one end of the sofa, carrying an unfinished manuscript and hugging a Hammerhead Shark Puppet.

Lloyd was sprawled out on the other end, reading the latest issue of his sister's magazine.

The siblings chatted about their thoughts on what they were reading.

As they talked, Lloyd sensed a cute little caterpillar squirming its way toward him.

He turned his head and saw Evelor scooting closer to him on the sofa, her lovely, delicate little feet now right beside his hand.

"Yi, I'm a little cold..."

Evelor said suddenly in a sweet, delicate voice.

Lloyd quickly took hold of his sister's little feet, placed them on his lap, and gave them a gentle squeeze.

They were cool, smooth, and soft, with the temperature and texture of an ice cream bar.

He then pulled her feet into his lap, cradling them and gently rubbing them to warm them up.

This was a familiar, comforting ritual for the two of them.

During their time living on the streets, he had often rubbed her feet like this to help ease her exhaustion and warm her up.

It always seemed that once her feet were warm, her whole body would warm up, and even her heart would feel a little warmer, too.

"Hee hee, it feels like you're holding me in the palm of your hand."

Evelor giggled, a faint blush rising on her adorable cheeks, making her look like a small, tempting apple.

"That's because you're so petite, sis."

As Lloyd spoke, he took the opportunity to use [Probe] on his sister.

[Target: Evelor]

[Status: Normal]

[Rationality: 21]

[Spiritual Power: 10]

[Inspiration: 8]

[Cognition: 22]

'Holy cow, how can her Attributes already be on par with an Executioner's?'

Lloyd remembered the last time he'd [Probed] his sister's stats. Her highest Attribute, Rationality, was only 15, and her lowest, Spiritual Power, was just 3.

'And now, not long after, her numbers have ballooned to this level?'

'A growth rate like this in a Krypton Gold Mobile Game would have players screaming 'cash grab'...'

"Sis, did you become that Ms. Landis's student?"

Lloyd asked quickly.

He thought Evelor had undergone the Enlightenment behind his back.

"Nope."

Evelor shook her head.

"Ms. Landis did bring it up with me again, but I still haven't agreed. After all, all my energy is focused on the editorial department right now... Besides, for something so important, of course I'd talk it over with you, Yi."

'Hearing her say that, Lloyd found the situation even more absurd.'

'To have stats like these without even entering the Extraordinary System... if she actually became an Extraordinary Being, how powerful would she be?'

He had already realized his sister was exceptionally talented. Back then, he thought, 'My sister, Evelor, has the potential to be a great power!'

Looking at her now, it had become, 'My sister, Evelor, probably has the potential to be a Saint!'

Terrifying... truly terrifying...

And his own attitude about his sister getting involved with the supernatural had also shifted. At first, it was, 'I don't want my sister to have anything to do with the mysterious or the extraordinary.'

Then it became, 'I should respect my sister's choice and let her live the life she wants.'

And now, it was, 'Sis, maybe you should reconsider? It would be a loss for all of humanity if you don't become an Extraordinary Being!'

'Too bad his sister really didn't seem to be interested in any of it...'

'And I already told her that I would respect her choice and encourage her to do what she loved.'

'Am I about to become an enemy of all humankind?'

Lloyd wondered.

But then he had another thought. 'I'm not exactly powerful myself, and I'm totally broke. If my sister really became an Extraordinary Being, I couldn't offer much help, provide any resources or equipment, or even guarantee her safety.'

'So, I have to get stronger first. Once I've accumulated enough power, wealth, and connections, then I can think about guiding my sister into the world of the mysterious and the extraordinary. That would definitely be safer and more reassuring.'

And so, the siblings chatted for a little while longer before Lloyd made the excuse that he was tired and wanted to get some rest, then returned to his room.

He then slipped under the covers, eagerly took out the amethyst earring, and fiddled with it gently.

'It had been a long time since he'd seen Weiya. He missed her.'

Soon, a voice responded from the earring:

"Hmm? Who is this? Why are you contacting my daughter so late?"