Yuan Lin stared at Treasurer Mo's message, his mental screen illuminating his pale face in the dim light of his office. He felt a strange mixture of terror and pride. They had repelled his "attack," and interpreted it as an immense power protecting the "nest" of the demonic plague he had just invented.
"My god," he thought, rubbing his forehead. "They're giving me more credit than I deserve. If they keep this up, they're going to accidentally make me a real immortal."
The thought that he had gained 100 Chaos Points and raised his "authority" level because he was good at lying made him want to laugh. But the fear that they might send something stronger next time—a "second-degree scrying leech?"—was enough to curb any sense of amusement.
"Lin?"
He looked up to see Su Ling standing at his cubicle, holding her bag, about to leave. Most of the employees had already left. She looked at him with genuine concern.
"You're still here? I thought you'd go home early after what happened. You still look really tired."
Yuan Lin forced his lips into a smile. "I'm fine, just finishing up a few things. Thanks for worrying."
"Well," she said hesitantly. "Just... take care of yourself, okay? Don't overwork yourself." She gave him a gentle nod and then left.
He watched her go, once again feeling that sense of detachment. She was worried about him because he was overworked. The truth was, he was exhausted because he had just fought a psychic battle with a demonic curse accidentally sent by the treasurer of the Ninth Hell. How do you even begin to explain that in a casual conversation?
He gathered his things and left the office shortly after. The air outside was beginning to cool, and the city lights twinkled like a man-made galaxy. He walked down the street, lost in thought.
"So, 'Lord Authority Level' is now 2," he thought as he summoned his mental interface. "What does that mean, exactly? Do I get a discount on skills? Or maybe better customer service from the System?"
He asked the System directly: "What are the benefits of 'Lord Authority Level 2'?"
[Lord Authority Level 2 grants the following abilities:]
1. Enhanced Leadership Aura (Passive): A subtle psychic influence on beings with weaker wills. Increases the probability of compliance with simple requests and generates a vague sense of respect.]
2. Access to Second-Degree Faction Commands (Currently locked due to no active faction in this world).]
Yuan Lin froze in the middle of the sidewalk. "Enhanced Leadership Aura?" He read it again. "A subtle psychic influence?" This sounded dangerous and incredibly interesting.
As he was processing this new information, his feet and the smell of delicious food led him to a small shawarma stand on the side of the road. The stand was crowded, and the owner, a large man with a thick mustache, was yelling at the customers.
"We're out of pickles! Next! What do you want? Hurry up!"
Yuan Lin felt hungry, and he decided this was the perfect place to test his new power. It wasn't an evil idea, but a scientific experiment... sort of.
He stood in line, and when his turn came, the large vendor looked at him impatiently. "Yeah?!"
Yuan Lin took a breath and tried to summon the feeling of the "Lord" he pretended to be in the chat. He looked the vendor directly in the eyes and said in a calm, normal voice, but one that carried a hidden intent. "One chicken shawarma, please."
"Fine, 800 dinars. You want it spicy?" the vendor said gruffly as he wrapped the sandwich.
"Yes," said Yuan Lin. Then he added the important part of the experiment. "And... could I get some extra garlic sauce?"
The vendor paused for a moment. He was about to refuse; Yuan Lin could see it in his eyes. But suddenly, something shifted. The large man's expression became confused for a second, and he looked at Yuan Lin as if seeing him for the first time. He didn't understand why, but he suddenly felt that this young man in front of him wasn't just another customer. He felt a strange urge to please him.
His tone of voice changed completely. It became polite, almost respectful. "Extra garlic sauce? Of course, sir. Absolutely. I'll put plenty for you."
Yuan Lin watched in amazement as the man opened a container of garlic sauce and added a very generous amount to the shawarma, much more than he had given anyone else.
"Here you are, sir," the vendor said as he handed him the sandwich, even adding a small smile. "I hope you enjoy it."
Yuan Lin took the shawarma, paid the money, and walked away in a state of pleasant shock.
It had worked.
It had worked perfectly. He had just used the "Leadership Aura" of a demonic lord to get extra garlic sauce.
He stood on the side of the street, under a lamppost, and took a bite of the shawarma. It was delicious. The garlic sauce was overpowering and wonderful.
He looked at the passersby around him, at their normal lives and their ordinary worries. Today, he had fought a battle with a demonic entity, terrified his followers, been reprimanded by his boss, and now he stood here, victorious, with the best shawarma he had ever eaten in his life.
A muffled laugh escaped him.
"Well," he thought as he took another bite. "Maybe being a demon lord has its little perks after all."
For the first time, he wasn't thinking of power only as a means of self-defense. He was starting to think of it as a way to make his daily life... a little bit easier.
And that thought, in its simplicity, was more dangerous than any monster or curse. It was the beginning of a new path.